“False! Your proof, Monsieur?”
Taking the rouleau out of his pocket, he tore the envelope and showed that it was lead skilfully worked.
The Queen turned pale.
“Did you notice who put it on the table?” she asked.
M. de Chalabre at first denied, but on the Queen’s insisting confessed that it was the young Comte de ——, whose father was an ambassador, and was then abroad. The Queen desired him to keep the affair secret, and the next evening when the young Count approached the tables she said, smiling—
“Monsieur le Comte, I promised Madame, your mother, to take you under my guardianship during her absence. Our play is too high for a young man; you will play no more pharaon at Court.”
The lad understood, blushed crimson, and retired, profoundly grateful for being let off so easily. Neither was the lesson lost upon him; after this he played no more. [24]
FOOTNOTES:
[20] Died 1789.
[21] Afterwards Duchesse d’Angoulême.