"Sister," said he, "why do I see tears in those beautiful eyes?"
"Why—sire—" said she.
"Monsieur is jealous, is he not, sister?"
She looked toward Monsieur, an infallible sign that they were talking about him.
"Yes," said she.
"Listen to me," said the king; "if your friends compromise you, it is not Monsieur's fault."
He spoke these words with so much kindness, that Madame, encouraged, she who had had so many griefs for so long a time, was near bursting, so full was her heart.
"Come, come, dear little sister," said the king, "tell me your griefs; by the word of a brother, I pity them; by the word of a king, I will terminate them."
She raised her fine eyes, and, in a melancholy tone—
"It is not my friends who compromise me," said she; "they are either absent or concealed; they have been brought into disgrace with your majesty; they, so devoted, so good, so loyal!"