“Ma mère, you are perspicacious,” replied her son. “We are conspirators.” But, not really believing him, she did not pursue the question, and indeed, before she could revert to it, Artamène looked very hard at his sister and asked her if she were not going to sing to them.
Roland added his entreaties, and attended Mlle de la Vergne to the harpsichord.
“What shall I sing?” asked she. “No, I do not need any music, thank you. You must join in the chorus, then, Monsieur, you and Artamène.” And with a mischievous smile she broke into the old children’s ronde of La Double Violette:
“J’ai un long voyage à faire,
Je ne sais qui le fera;
Si je l’dis à l’alouette
Tout le monde le saura!
La violette double double,
La violette doublera!
“Si je l’dis à l’alouette,