Patting his cheek with her little round hand, she blushed, but not for shame, as she did not cast down her eyes, but answered with a glowing glance the tender looks of her lover. She blushed only from an internal passionate excitement, while her bosom stormily rose and fell.
“You are very saucy, Alexis,” said she, but at the same time lightly kissing him upon the forehead, and smiling; but then her brow was suddenly clouded, for the door was again opened and once more the lackey appeared upon the threshold.
“The French ambassador,” said he, “the Marquis de la Chetardie, begs the favor of an audience.”
“Ah, the good marquis!” cried the princess, rising from her reclining position. “Conduct him in, he is very welcome.”
The lackey opened both wings of the folding-door, and the marquis entered, followed by several servants with boxes and packets.
“Ah, you come very much like a milliner,” laughingly exclaimed Elizabeth, graciously advancing to receive the ambassador.
Dropping upon one knee, the marquis kissed her offered hand.
“I come, illustrious Princess Elizabeth, to beg a favor of you!” he said.
“You wish to mortify me,” responded Elizabeth. “How can the ambassador of a great and powerful nation have a favor to ask of the poor, repudiated, and forgotten Princess Elizabeth?”
“In the name of the king my master come I to demand this favor!” solemnly answered the marquis.