"Myself, Monsieur le Gouverneur."
"Will you explain what has happened? for I have all the difficulty in the world not to take it for a dream."
"I will explain to you, monsieur, that when I talked about the extraordinary question and the ten pots of water I thought, on my honor, that I was gilding the pill."
"You mean to say that you were convinced—?"
"That I was bringing you here to be broken on the wheel, monsieur."
"Thanks!" said Canolles, shuddering in spite of himself. "But have you any opinion now as to what has happened?"
"Yes, monsieur."
"Do me the favor to tell me what it is, monsieur."
"It is this, monsieur. The queen must have realized what a difficult mission it was that she intrusted to you. As soon as the first angry outburst had spent itself, she must have repented, and as you are not a repulsive fellow, all things considered, her gracious Majesty has thought fit to reward you because she had punished you too severely."
"Impossible!" said Canolles.