'I am glad, cousin,' said
the Queen, 'that you know your fault. You see you have taken a bed
method of obtaining what you ask. Now your conduct is to be
different, I will see whether I can give you what you desire.'
In spite of her fright and the Queen's chilly pride, Cecile, feeling
that this was her only chance, fell almost on her face before the
Queen, with Maurice by her side, and cried: 'Grace, grace, great
Queen, for my husband.'
My little Marquis, as he told me, could not bear to see them thus
alone, so he ran forward, and knelt on her other side, holding her
hand. And he heard a horrid little laugh, something about a new
edition and an imitation; but the Queen, who had forgotten all about
her, asked who she was and what her husband was.
Then, when it was explained that the Count d'Aubepine had drawn his
sword and tried to aid Boutteville, there was another smile. Perhaps
it was that the contrast might mortify the poor Princess, but the
Queen said:
'There! stand up, Madame la Comtesse! We will send orders that the
Count shall be released. He has expiated his own zeal, and will know
better another time.'
Can any one conceive our Cecile's joy? She rose up and embraced both
the boys passionately, and Gaspard could not refrain from
congratulating her with the words, scarcely complimentary: 'My aunt,
is it not indeed the lion and the mouse? Now my uncle must love you,
as my papa loved my mama.
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