At this was heard a slight tapping at the door.
It was the servant to announce that the King had finished supper. Charny frowned with wonder.
"Tell his Majesty," said the Queen without sitting apart from her favorite, "that I have news from the capital, and will impart to him. Continue," she added to Charny: "the King having supped must be given time to digest."
This interruption had not weakened the woman's jealousy as a loving one, or as a queen.
"Your Majesty asks if I came back on account of my wife?" he asked as soon as the door was closed. "Do you forget that I am a man of my word and the engagement I made?"
"It is the oath that goads me, for in immolating yourself to my happiness, you give grief to a fair and noble woman—a crime the more."
"You exaggerate. Be it enough that I keep my word. Call it not a crime what was born of chance and necessity. We have both deplored this union which shielded the Queen's good fame. I have been obliged to submit to it these four years."
"Yes, but do you believe that I do not see your sorrow and chagrin translated under the form of the deepest respect?" reproached the Queen.
"For mercy's sake, do me justice for what you see me do; for if I have not yet suffered and made others suffer enough, I might double the burden without rising to the level of the gratitude I owe you eternally."
His speech had irresistible power like all emanating from a sincere and impassioned heart.