I remember it was on that evening that I first heard the
name Frondeurs, or Slingers, applied to the speechifiers on either
side who started forward, made their hit, and retreated, like the
little street boys with their slings. I was to hear a great deal
more of that name.
It was not till after supper that I heard the cause of M. de
Solivet's visit. Cecile, who always retired early, went away sooner
than usual to leave us together, so did the Abbe, and then the baron
turned to me and said: 'Sister, how soon can you be prepared to come
with me to Paris?'
I was astounded, thinking at first that Eustace's illness must be
more serious than he had led me to suppose, but he smiled and said
notre frere de Volvent, which was the nearest he could get to Walwyn,
had nothing do with it; it was by express command of the Queen
Regent, and that I might thank my mother and the Queen of England
that it was no worse. 'This is better than a letter de catche,' he
added, producing a magnificent looking envelope with a huge seal of
the royal French arms, that made me laugh rather nervously to brave
my dismay, and asked what he called THAT. He responded gravely that
it was no laughing matter, and I opened it. It was an official order
that Gaspard Philippe Beranger de Bellaise, Marquis de Nidemerle,
should be brought to the Louvre to be presented to the King.
'Well,' I said, 'I must go to Paris. Ought I to have brought my boy
before? I did not know that he ought to pay his homage till he was
older.
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