"Ah, no, no, m'sieur! I swear it is not so! By the—"
"I do not want your oaths," said Philip cruelly. "Am I to wait all night for my cravat, while you revile the good Jacques?"
François cast the box from him.
"Ah, misérable! The cravat! Malheureux, get thee gone!" He waved agitated hands at Jacques. "You hinder me! You retard me! You upset Monsieur! Va-t-en!"
Jacques obeyed meekly, and Philip turned back to the mirror. To him came François, wreathed once more in smiles.
"He means well, ce bon Jacques," he said, busy with the cravat. "But he is sot, you understand, très sot!" He pushed Philip's chin up with a gentle hand. "He annoys m'sieur, ah oui! But he is a good garçon, when all is said."
"It is you who annoy me," answered Philip. "Not so tight, not so tight! Do you wish to choke me?"
"Pardon, m'sieur! No, it is not François who annoys you! Ah, mille fois non! François—perhaps he is a little monkey, if m'sieur says so, but he is a very good valet, n'est-ce pas? A monkey, if m'sieur pleases, but very clever with a cravat. M'sieur has said it himself."
"You are a child," said Philip. "Yes, that is very fair." He studied his reflection. "I am pleased with it."
"Aha!" François clasped his hands delightedly. "M'sieur is no longer enraged! Voyons, I go to fetch the vest of m'sieur!"