"Who has taken it from me, I pray to know?"
"His Majesty."
"His Majesty!"
"Himself, so you see that the disaster is irreparable."
"When was it done?"
"This morning. If I had not been detained by my duties at the Louvre, you would have been sooner apprised of it."
"You are mistaken, Marmagne; it's some false report set afloat by my enemies, and which you are in too great haste to repeat."
"I would be glad for many reasons if it were so, but unfortunately I was not told of it; I heard it."
"You heard it? what?"
"I heard the king with his own month present the Grand-Nesle to another."