"Does your majesty suppose that these drawings were made with the same benevolent intention?" said she, handing him a second paper. "Look at these indecent caricatures, made still more obnoxious by the vulgar observations attached to them. There is no disguise of his handwriting here, for this was not intended for my eye. "
"Too true," sighed the king—"the drawings and the writing are both my brother's. But who can have sent you these shameful sketches?"
"I told you just now, sire, that there are always people to be found, who stab their friends with borrowed weapons. The drawings were accompanied by a letter, informing me, that they were executed in the saloons of Madame Adelaide, and that the remarks were the joint productions of your majesty's brother and your aunts."
The king passed his handkerchief over his forehead, to dry the heavy drops of sweat that were gathering there, and rose up, with the paper in his hand.
"Where is your majesty going?" asked the queen.
"To my brother," cried he, indignantly. "I will show him this disgraceful paper, and ask by what right he outrages my wife and his queen! I shall tell him that his actions are those of a traitor and—"
"And when you have told him that, will you punish him as kings punish traitors?"
The king was silent, and the queen continued, with a sad smile.
"You could not punish him; for the traitor who outrages the queen is the brother of the king, and, therefore, he can outrage with impunity."
"He shall not do it with impunity! I will force him to honor and love you."