“Sire,” replied the queen, with a faltering voice, “because, in the midst of such a crowd as this, I feared some accident might happen to them.”
“And you were wrong, madame. If I made you that present it was that you might adorn yourself therewith. I tell you that you were wrong.”
The voice of the king was tremulous with anger. Everybody looked and listened with astonishment, comprehending nothing of what passed.
“Sire,” said the queen, “I can send for them to the Louvre, where they are, and thus your Majesty’s wishes will be complied with.”
“Do so, madame, do so, and that at once; for within an hour the ballet will commence.”
The queen bent in token of submission, and followed the ladies who were to conduct her to her room. On his part the king returned to his apartment.
There was a moment of trouble and confusion in the assembly. Everybody had remarked that something had passed between the king and queen; but both of them had spoken so low that everybody, out of respect, withdrew several steps, so that nobody had heard anything. The violins began to sound with all their might, but nobody listened to them.
The king came out first from his room. He was in a most elegant hunting costume; and Monsieur and the other nobles were dressed like him. This was the costume that best became the king. So dressed, he really appeared the first gentleman of his kingdom.
The cardinal drew near to the king, and placed in his hand a small casket. The king opened it, and found in it two diamond studs.
“What does this mean?” demanded he of the cardinal.