This day she practically took leave of her favourite son:
“As for you, William,” she said, “you know I have always loved you tenderly and placed my chief hope in you.”
She bade him be a support to the King, and not go against his brother.
But it was on this Sunday afternoon that the celebrated interview took place between the King and Queen, which perhaps was the most extraordinary, valedictory conversation between man and wife the world has ever heard of.
The Queen had been taking leave of her family; she turned sadly to her husband and drew from her finger a fine ruby ring he had given her at her coronation, and gave it to him back again.
“This is the last thing I have to give you.” she said. “Naked I came to you, naked I go from you. I had everything I ever possessed from you, and to you whatever I have I return. My will you will find a very short one; I give all I have to you.”
She then very solemnly repeated to him advice which she had often given him before; that he should marry again.
The King had been sobbing before; this advice brought on a passion of weeping, amidst which he made this remarkable and most characteristic response:
“Non, j’aurai des maîtresses.”
One would have thought that, King as he was, some one would have hushed him down, but the Queen seems to have very calmly answered: