“As thou wishest, Marie Antoinette, I can refuse thee nothing.”
“Oh, my God,” cried Marceline. “Hear what he called me in that strange voice!”
The guests were obviously uncomfortable, and did not know what to make of his peculiar behavior. The song was a vulgar song of the Regency period, and certainly not for such a gathering as was at this party. He sang it with the old French air:
Tou joli belle mimiere—
Tou joli, moulin.
CHAPTER V
Théophraste Remembers Himself
THEOPHRASTE sang the song in loud, strident tones, his eyes sparkling, glass in hand. It was with indescribable surprise that the company received it, and despite the richness of the rhyme, the couplet was followed by no applause. An awkward silence followed, and all the ladies looked to Marceline for an explanation.