Madame la Princesse withdrew the knife from the animal's throat, glanced around with the look of an Amazon in her eyes, handed the dripping knife to the captain of the hunt, and remounted. Lenet thereupon drew nigh.
"Does Madame la Princesse wish me to tell her," said he, with a smile, "of whom she was thinking when she cut the poor beast's throat a moment since?"
"Yes, Lenet, I should be glad to have you tell me."
"She was thinking of Monsieur de Mazarin, and would have been glad to have him in the stag's place."
"Yes," cried the princess, "that is quite true, and I would have cut his throat without pity, I swear to you: but really, Lenet, you are a sorcerer!"
She turned to the rest of the company.
"Now that the hunt is at an end, messieurs," said she, "please follow me. It is too late now to start another stag, and besides, supper awaits us."
Cauvignac acknowledged this invitation by a most graceful bow.
"Pray, what are you doing, captain?" queried Ferguzon.
"Pardieu I am accepting! Didn't you hear Madame la Princesse invite us to supper, as I promised you that she would?"