"Madam," he said, "some one is in your rooms to see you, I am told."
"Sire," she answered, abjuring all thoughts but of royal dignity, "you have orders to give. Here are Lords Lambesq, Bezenval and the Marshal Duke Broglie. What orders for your generals?"
"What do you think of this matter, duke?" he inquired hesitatingly of old Broglie.
"Sire, if you retire your troops, the Parisians will say they daunted them: if you let them stand they will have to defeat them."
Lambesq shook his head, but Bezenval and the Queen applauded.
"Command the forward march," went on the duke.
"Very well, since you all wish it, let it be march!" said the King.
"But at this moment a note was passed to the Queen who read:
"Do not be in a hurry! I await an audience." It was Count Charny's writing.
"Is my lord Charny waiting?" she asked of the messenger.