“That is to say, that I quitted Paris. I had some little business at Bar-sur-Aube, and, to tell the truth, I did not know I was so necessary to your majesty as to be obliged to ask leave for an absence of eight days.”

“Have you seen the king?”

“No, madame.”

“You shall see him.”

“It will be a great honor for me; but your majesty seems very severe towards me—I am all trembling.”

“Oh, madame, this is but the beginning. Do you know that M. de Rohan has been arrested?”

“They told me so, madame.”

“You guess why?”

“No, madame.”

“You proposed to me that he should pay for a certain necklace; did I accept or refuse?”