“Eh, I should like to know the reasons?”
“Circumstances, my lord. The King having cancelled the Parliamentary decree about Duke Aiguillon, we reply by ‘burning our ships.’”
“I did not know you Parliament gentlemen had any ships.”
“Both Houses have refused to proceed with any cases before the courts until the King withdraws Lord Aiguillon.”
“You don’t say so?” exclaimed Richelieu.
“What, they won’t try my case?” said Lady Bearn with a terror she did not try to dissimulate. “This is iniquitous—rebellion to our Lord the King!”
“My lady, the King forgets himself—and we forget our duty too,” rejoined the lawyer loftily.
“You will be lugged into the Bastile.”
“I shall go, singing, and my colleagues will escort me, bearing palms.”
“The man is mad,” said the lady to the nobleman.