M. de Louvois stole a malicious glance at M. D’Orleans.
The Vicomte de Turenne bowed, hitched up his baldric, and left the chamber heavily.
The King’s face was clouded.
“What is amiss with M. de Turenne?” he asked haughtily.
“He has his moods, Sire,” smiled the Minister.
“He says the strangest things,” remarked Louis. “Why does he remind me he was once a heretic?”
“It gave Your Majesty the chance to remind him what procured his conversion,” answered M. D’Orleans.
Louis pulled out his handkerchief and pressed it to his lips.
“I will take M. de Turenne’s moods,” he said, “but no one’s comments on them.”