The marshal was sorely puzzled but he had some consolation when at evening he saw the delight of the Parisians on reading the posters proclaiming the disgrace of Aiguillon.
“Do you think, Rafté, that the duke will get out of this scrape?” asked the old intriguer of his valet and confidential man, who rather deserved the name of Crafty.
He had been forty years in his service.
“The King will.”
“Oh, the King will always have a loophole. But the King has nothing to do with this case.”
“Why, my lord, if the King can get through, Lady Dubarry will follow, and lead my lord of Aiguillon with her.”
“You do not understand politics, Rafté.”
Rafté was as keen as his master.
“Well, my lord, our lawyer, Flageot, who is member of Parliament, he thinks the King will not get out of it.”
“Who will net the lion?”