“Unfortunately I can prove it but too well. There are four witnesses: one is the captain of the hunt, who says he saw the queen go out two following nights by the door near the kennel of the wolf-hounds; here is his declaration signed.”
The king, trembling, took the paper.
“The next is the night watchman at Trianon, who says he saw the queen walking arm in arm with a gentleman. The third is the porter of the west door, who also saw the queen going through the little gate; he states how she was dressed, but that he could not recognize the gentleman, but thought he looked like an officer; he says he could not be mistaken, for that the queen was accompanied by her friend, Madame de la Motte.”
“Her friend!” cried the king, furiously.
“The last is from the man whose duty it is to see that all the doors are locked at night. He says that he saw the queen go into the baths of Apollo with a gentleman.”
The king, pale with anger and emotion, snatched the paper from the hands of his brother.
“It is true,” continued the count, “that Madame de la Motte was outside, and that the queen did not remain more than an hour.”
“The name of the gentleman?” cried the king.
“This report does not name him; but here is one dated the next day, by a forester, who says it was M. de Charny.”
“M. de Charny!” cried the king. “Wait here; I will soon learn the truth of all this.”