"Signé Louis.
Soussigné Louvois."
Briefly St. Georges said to Louvois:
"And if I fail in this second behest, what then? What if I refuse to quit France?"
"That I leave you to imagine. Sir, our interview is at an end;" and he rang a bell as he spoke, and when it was answered by a gorgeous footman, said:
"Escort this gentleman to the courtyard."
St. Georges, however, made no sign of following the servant, but, instead, advanced a step closer to Louvois, so that when he stood nearer to him than he had hitherto done, the latter gave unmistakable signs of apprehension. Yet, seeing that there was no threatening appearance on the other's face and that his sword hung idle and untouched by his side, he said:
"You do not hear me, sir, it would seem. Our interview is at an end."
"Not yet," replied St. Georges, very calmly. "You have delivered your decision—I refuse to believe it is the king's. And until I receive it from his own lips, I shall neither quit Paris nor France."
"You will not?"