"I do nothing for her, sire," she replied, with that little laugh that means everything but enjoyment. "At least, nothing that a mistress will not do for a faithful maid, and one whom she has so much reason to make a favourite."
"Oh, but you do," he answered; "I have seen, for instance, how you try to please the poor child with those gowns in which she looks so pretty."
"Had I known your majesty observed her so closely," she said, "I should hardly have dared to show my interest in her so plainly; but I ought to have guessed that you would feel a more than passing interest in a girl whom you had rescued so romantically."
"Then she has told you the whole story?" asked the King, with a shade of annoyance in his voice.
"Yes."
"Then you can understand the interest I must feel in her future."
"Perfectly," answered Mlle de Tricotrin. "It must have such a charming flavour of the old ballad for you."
"I am not very fond of ballads," said the King, a little distantly.
"I am sorry, sire," she answered simply, "because they have for me such a delicious savour of nature. I was going to ask you to tell me the name of the beggar in the story. I had a fancy for calling my maid by it."
"Do you not know?" asked the King, looking at her fixedly.