"I will not excuse every thing that took place to-day," said the deputy, with a shrug. "But confess at least, madame, that the people conducted themselves very well."
"Sir, the king and I are convinced of the natural good-nature of the people; they are only bad when they are led astray."
Some other deputies approached the dauphin, and directed various questions to him, in order to convince themselves about his precocious understanding that was so much talked about.
One of the gentlemen, speaking of the day that had gone by, compared it with St. Bartholomew's night.
"The comparison does not hold," cried another: "here is no Charles the Ninth."
"And no Catherine de Medicis either," said the dauphin, quickly, pressing the hand of the queen to his lips.
"Oh! see the little scholar," cried the by-standers. "Let us see whether he knows as much about geography as about history!"
And all pressed up to him, to put questions to him about the situation and boundaries of France, and about the division of the French territory into departments and districts. The prince answered all these questions quickly and correctly. After every answer he cast an inquiring glance at the queen, and when he read in her looks that his answer had been correct, his eyes brightened, and his cheeks glowed with pleasure.
"Our dauphin is really very learned," cried one of the deputies. "I should like to know whether he has paid any attention yet to the arts. Do you love music, my little prince?"
"Ah, sir," answered the dauphin, eagerly, "whoever has heard mamma sing and play, must love music!"