"Charlatan?" repeated Gilbert warmly. "You are right. The name comes from the Italian word meaning to patter, to talk freely—and no one was more ready than Cagliostro to talk instructively where the seed would fall on fruitful ground."
"This Cagliostro whom you praise was a great enemy of kings," observed Louis.
"Rather say of queen's," retorted Gilbert.
"In the trial of Prince Rohan, his conduct was equivocal."
"Sire, then as ever he fulfilled his mission to mankind. He may have acted mistakenly then. But I studied under the physician and philosopher, not under the politician."
"Well, well," said the King, suffering under the wound to his person and his pride; "we are forgetting the countess who is in pain."
"I will awaken her presently, for here is the casket coming."
In fact the messenger was arriving with the small box which he handed to the King. He nodded his satisfaction and the officer went out.
"Sire, it is my casket: but I would remark that it contains papers damning to the countess and——"
"Carry it away unopened, sir," said the monarch coldly. "Do not awaken the lady here, I detest shrieks, groans, noise."