"Adamas," he said, "bring me the keys of the storeroom.
"Yes, monsieur," was the reply "I have them about me, here they are; but——"
"Come in," said the councillor to Adamas.
And, when he had obeyed, he added:
"Give me the keys, and remain in this room."
Adamas seemed overwhelmed. He felt in the pocket of his doublet, and replied to the councillor, with a surprising lack of self-possession:
"Yes, sire."
At that word, the councillor, as if attacked by vertigo, laid aside his suave manner, rushed across the room, and hurriedly closed the door between himself and his men, which had been left open.
"To whom do you think you are speaking?" he cried, "and why do you address me so?"
Adamas stood as if dazed, and his confusion was amusing to the last degree.