"Know everything first—then temporize! Diplomacy will do more than defiance."
Having read the letter through, she of course knew all. It was simple enough—a monstrous proposal which the King of France was ready to adopt. She felt real physical nausea at contact with so much infamy.
But she folded the document neatly and carefully, then looked quietly at the King.
"The Duke of Cumberland is generous," she said, forcing herself to smile.
"Heu, heu!" assented Louis lightly, with a return of his wonted bonhomie. Matters were shaping themselves to a truly satisfactory end.
"Do I understand that your Majesty would desire us to accept his Grace's proposal?"
"What think you yourself, Madame?"
"It is worth considering," she mused.
"Parbleu! And you are a true woman!" exclaimed Louis XV, beaming with delight. "Full of wisdom as a statesman should be. To think that we could ever have mistrusted so clear a head and so sound a judgment."
"Your Majesty, I hope, will always remember that my sole desire is to serve France and her King!"