"Yes, yes," said the King, "among the most faithful and most disinterested. When I came back, there was established a very partition of offices and places, or honors, titles, crosses and stars, in which you took no part. Now you know you are one of those to whom I could refuse nothing."
"Well," said the Prince, "your majesty gives me courage to make one request, to obtain which I come hither."
"Bah!" said the King, "speak out my old friend, if the matter depends on me—"
"Cannot the King do any thing?" said the Prince.
"The King can do very little," said Louis XVIII.
"When your majesty says 'I will—'"
"Others say, 'We will not.'"
"Who will dare to use such language?"
"The true Kings of France—the ministers—for they are responsible while I am not. To tell the fact, though, I have credit with them and will use it—"
"Yet the King is King," said the Prince.