“Nevertheless, a week ago, you appeared wishful to stay in town when the Queen desired to despatch you to Italy.”
“I deemed my brother adequate for the position and reserved myself for a mission more difficult or dangerous.”
“Then count, this is the very time when I have a difficult task to entrust to you, that with danger to you in the future, that I spoke of the countess’s isolation and wished her to have a lady friend’s company while I took away her husband.”
“I will write to the countess, yes, write: for from the way she last received me, I ought in that manner acquaint her with my movements.”
“Say no more on this head; I will talk it over with the Queen during your absence,” said Louis, rising. “Faith, the medical lights are right to say that things look differently as you handle them before or after a hearty meal. Come into my study, count; I feel in a mood to talk straight out to you.”
Charny followed, thinking how much Majesty lost by this material side, for which the proud Marie Antoinette was always carping at him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE KING ATTENDS TO PUBLIC MATTERS.
THOUGH the King had been only a fortnight in the Tuileries he had two places fitted out completely for him. The forge was one, the study the other.
Charny walked up to the desk at which his royal master seated himself without looking round at the papers with which he was familiar.
“Count Charny,” began the King at last, yet seeming to halt, “I noticed one thing, on the night of the attack by the rioters, you stood by me while you set your brother on guard over the Queen.”