Here is another adventure, which happened at Aix. The King had the habit, on leaving the Casino in the evening, to go back with me in the hotel-omnibus, which was reserved for his use: he found this easier than taking a cab. One evening, just as we were about to step in, a visitor staying at the hotel, a foreign lady, not knowing that the omnibus was reserved exclusively for the King, went in before us, sat down and waited for the 'bus to start. As I was about to ask her to get out:
"Let her be," said the King. "She's not in our way."
We got inside in our turn; I sat down opposite the King; the omnibus started; the lady did not move. Suddenly, the King broke silence and spoke to me; I replied, using, of course, the customary forms of "Sire" and "Your Majesty."
Thereupon the lady looked at us in dismay, flung herself against the window, tapped at it, called out:
"What have I done? Heavens, what have I done?" she cried. "I am in the King's omnibus! Stop! Stop!"
And turning to the King, with a theatrical gesture:
"Pardon, Sire."
The King was seized with a fit of laughing, in the midst of which he did his best to reassure her: