He raised his eyes.
'It is a part of your rôle; I understand,' said Frances. 'Then let us leave it, I should like to rest and be alone.'
She looked into his eyes.
'But what would the servants say? What would the people say if you dismiss me like that? It cannot be!'
'It cannot be otherwise!' Frances exclaimed. 'You can spend the night here on the sofa or in an armchair, I will lock myself in the bedroom.'
Brühl looked at her uneasily.
'Then permit me to go and change my clothes and to return here. Nobody will know what our mutual relations are, but nobody must guess it.'
'I understand that! It must be a secret and we must appear the most loving couple. Our platonic marriage will be very amusing. The men will envy you, the women will envy me; you are not bad-looking for the women; the king is better looking than you, but then he is a king! I prefer to be the mistress of the King secretly, than the wife of his minister openly.'
She began to laugh sarcastically.
'I can imagine how his Majesty will be afraid to look at me in the presence of his consort--'