"I believe not, sire."
"You speak of persons who did not wish to arrest M. de la Fere. Who are those persons, may I ask?"
"I should say those whom your majesty intrusted with that duty."
"But it was you whom I intrusted with it," exclaimed the king.
"Yes, sire; it was me."
"And yet you say that, despite my orders, you had the intention of not arresting the man who had insulted me!"
"Yes, sire—that was really my intention. I even proposed to the comte to mount a horse that I had had prepared for him at the Barriere de la Conference."
"And what was your object in getting this horse ready?"
"Why, sire, in order that M. le Comte de la Fere might be able to reach Havre, and from that place make his escape to England."
"You betrayed me, then, monsieur?" cried the king, kindling with a wild pride.