Lenet turned with a smile to Madame de Cambes.
"This is the moment, madame," said he, "to prove to their Highnesses that you have forgotten nothing."
"What do you mean, Lenet?"
"He means, madame, that I am fortunate enough to be able to offer you a paltry sum, which I have collected with much difficulty from my farmers. The offering is a very modest one, but I could do no more,—twenty thousand livres!" she continued, hesitating and lowering her eyes, ashamed to offer so small a sum to the two first ladies in the realm next to the queen.
"Twenty thousand livres!" they cried with one accord.
"Why, it's a fortune in times like these," continued the dowager.
"Dear Claire!" exclaimed Madame la Princesse, "how can we ever repay our obligation to her?"
"Your Highness will think of that later."
"Where is this money?" inquired Madame de Tourville.
"In her Highness's apartment, whither I bade Pompée, my squire, to carry it."