At this moment the head of the Charnys appeared. He smiled to Andrea and remarked:
"That is advice which my brother will bear in mind during the dangers to the King as well as during his pleasures."
At the sound of the voice, for she had not seen him coming, Marie Antoinette started and rejoined with studied rudeness:
"I should have been astonished if that speech had come from any but your lordship, for it contains a foreboding."
Andrea saw her husband blanch, but he bowed without retort. He noticed her surprise that he bore it so patiently, for he quickly said:
"I am most unhappy that I can no longer speak to the Queen without offense."
"The 'No longer' was spoken with a fine actor's due stress on the important words in a line.
"Speech is only bad when the intention is so," snapped the Queen, through her teeth, locked with anger.
"The ear hears hostilely when the mind is hostile," was the repartie of Charny, more aptly than politely.
"I shall wait to reply till the Count of Charny is happier in his attacks," went on the Queen.