"I take him for a true and loyal friend of his sovereign," said Louis, "and I only wish that I possessed one as faithful. But I am not at all astonished to hear of the congratulations, since the courier started off with the news a week ago."
"Your majesty knew it, then?"
"A king must know all things," said he gravely. "Are you not of my opinion, count? Is it not proper that a sovereign should possess a knowledge of every important letter which comes into his kingdom or leaves it?"
"I believe so, your majesty," replied the count, somewhat confused.
"I am convinced of it, and so is the Empress of Austria," said the king, with a laugh. "She is admirably well posted in all that concerns foreign courts, and not a document leaves the French embassy in Vienna of which she has not a copy. Is it not so, Count von Mercy?"
"I do not believe, sire, that there is any person in the French embassy capable of betraying the interests of his country, or of revealing its secrets."
"Then change your creed, count, for in every country there are men open to bribery. But," continued he, turning to the queen, "we have wandered from our subject—your majesty's letters from Vienna. Have you good news?"
"It is merely official, sire," replied the queen, handing the letter to the king.
Louis looked it over; then replacing it upon the table, said, "And the other letters?"
"Which other letters?" asked the queen.