“Why, upon all that I have said to you, monsieur.”
“Yes, sire, no doubt——”
“And you have only waited for an opportunity of retracting your words?”
“Sire!”
“You hesitate, it seems.”
“I do not understand what your majesty did me the honor to say to me.”
Louis’s brow became cloudy.
“Have the goodness to excuse me, sire; my understanding is particularly thick; things do not penetrate it without difficulty; but it is true, when once they get in, they remain there.”
“Yes, yes; you appear to have a memory.”
“Almost as good a one as your majesty’s.”