"I acknowledge," said Chicot, "that I dealt wickedly by my cousin Condé, whose wife I betrayed; and I repent bitterly."
"What is that you are saying?" cried the King. "There is no good in mentioning that. It has all been forgotten long ago."
"Oh, has it?" replied Chicot; "then we will pass on to something else."
"Answer," said the voice.
"I acknowledge," said the false Henri, "that I behaved like a thief toward the Poles, who had elected me their king, in stealing away to France one fine night, carrying with me all the crown jewels; and I repent bitterly."
"Idiot!" exclaimed Henri, "what are you talking about now? Nobody remembers anything about that."
"Let me alone," answered Chicot, "I must go on pretending to be the King."
"Speak," said the voice.
"I acknowledge," continued Chicot, "that I snatched the throne from my brother D'Alençon, who was the rightful heir, since I had formally renounced my claims when I was elected King of Poland; I repent bitterly."
"Rascal!" cried the King.