Simon cried aloud with laughter and delight, and could scarcely control himself, when, kneeling before the queen, as the players do in the grand plays at the theatre, he handed her a cigar.
But he did not see the supplicatory look which Toulan fixed upon the queen; he did not see the tears which started into his eyes, nor hear her say, during his inordinate peals of laughter, "I thank you, my faithful one!"
"Is it enough if I take the cigar in my mouth, or must I burn it?" asked the queen.
"Certainly, she must burn it," cried Simon. "Light the cigar for her, Citizen Toulan."
Toulan drew a bit of paper from his pocket, folded it together, kindled it, and gave it to the queen. Then, as soon as the dry cigar began to burn, he put out the light, and threw it carelessly upon the table.
The queen put the little smoking cigarette into her mouth. "Bravo, bravo!" shouted the officials and Simon.
"Bravo, Citizen Toulan is a perfect brick! He has taught Widow Capet how to smoke."
"I told you I would," said Toulan, proudly. "Widow Capet has had to comply with our will, and that is enough. You need not go on, madame. You have acknowledged our power, and that is all we wanted. That is enough, Simon, is it not? She does not need to smoke any longer, and we, too, must stop."
"No, she does not need to smoke any longer, and there will be no more smoking in the antechamber."
The queen took the paper cigarette from her mouth, put out the burning end, and laid the remaining portion in her work-basket.