"And you say he wishes to get you killed."
"That is that excellent person's present idea."
"Be easy; I will defend you, if he be in the wrong."
"Ah! There is an 'if!'"
"Of course: answer me as candidly as if it were some one else's affair instead of your own, my poor Saint-Aignan; is he right or wrong?"
"Your majesty shall be the judge."
"What have you done to him?"
"To him, personally, nothing at all; but, it seems, I have to one of his friends."
"It is all the same. Is his friend one of the celebrated 'four?'"
"No! It is the son of one of the celebrated 'four,' instead."