"Ovid shall have his abbey, never fear, my fair Maecenas," said the king.
"Ah, how fortunate are you, Sire, to have the power of disposing of so many benefices and offices at your pleasure! If I could only have your power just for one short hour!"
"Haven't you it always, ingrate?"
"Really, have I, my Lord? But you haven't given me a kiss for two whole minutes! That's right, dear. So you say that your power is always at my command? Don't tempt me, Sire! I warn you that I shall avail myself of it to pay the enormous claim which Philibert Delorme has presented to me, on the ground that my Château d'Anet is finished. It will be the glory of your reign; but how dear it is! Just one kiss, my Henri!"
"And for this kiss, Diane, take for your Delorme the sum produced by the sale of the governorship of Picardy."
"Sire, do you think that I sell my kisses? I give them to you, Henri. This Picardy governorship is worth two hundred thousand livres, I should think, is it not? And then I can take the pearl necklace which has been offered me, and which I was very anxious to wear to-day at the wedding of your dear son François. A hundred thousand livres to Philibert, and a hundred thousand for the necklace; this Picardy matter will do very well."
"Especially as you estimate it at quite double its real worth, Diane."
"What! is it worth only one hundred thousand livres? Well, then, it's a very simple matter for me to let the necklace go."
"Nonsense!" said the king, laughing; "there are three or four vacant companies somewhere which will pay for the necklace, Diane."
"Oh, Sire, you are the most generous of kings, as you are the best beloved of lovers."