Philippe bowed. “My sister, madame, has already had that grief; I am much more useless to your majesty.”
The queen started as she remembered that Andrée had asked for her congé on the day following her first visit to Charny in the doctor’s apartments. “It is strange,” she murmured, as Philippe remained motionless as a statue, waiting his dismissal. At last she said abruptly, “Where are you going?”
“To join M. de la Pérouse, madame.”
“He is at Newfoundland.”
“I have prepared to join him there.”
“Do you know that a frightful death has been predicted for him?”
“A speedy one,” replied Philippe; “that is not necessarily a frightful one.”
“And you are really going?”
“Yes, madame, to share his fate.”
The queen was silent for a time, and then said, “Why do you go?”