We heard his real Majesty
saying to Gaspard, 'M. le Marquis, since you are King of the Bean,
command that we should be like all other revelers, and sit up till
morning.'
My boy looked up to me, and read in my face that he must not presume.
'Ah! sire,' said he, 'though we are called kings, these ladies are
the higher powers.'
It was applauded as a grand witticism, although Gaspard meant it in
all simplicity, and had no notion of the meaning attributed to it.
Nay, he thought all the praise was approval of him as a good boy
inducing the King to be obedient.
After the children had gone to bed, including Mademoiselle's three
little half-sisters, dull little girls of whom she spoke
contemptuously but always treated very kindly, she led the way to the
apartment where her father was sitting by a great fire, fretful with
gout, and wanting the amusement which she tried to give him by
describing the children's diversions. Some one came and whispered
something to her, and in the tone of one who has an excellent joke
to rehearse she went up to the Duke of Orleans, exclaiming--
'Monsieur! Here is news! We are all to start for St. Germain this
very night!'
Monsieur made no answer, and immediately after bade her good night.
She then went to her stepmother's room, and I remained with some of
the other ladies, who were pretty well convinced that it was a true
report, and that the Queen had been only waiting the arrival of the
troops from the Low Countries to quit Paris and crush the resistance
of the Parliament.
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