"
"That is a very small thing," I said bluntly, wondering much why
he had made so great a parade of the matter, and still more why
he seemed so ill at ease. "Yet, after such a prelude, if any but
a friend of your tried loyalty asked it, I might expect to find
Spanish liquorice in the cup."
"That is out of the question, in my case," he answered with a
slight assumption of offence, which he immediately dropped. "And
you say it is a small thing; it is the more easily granted, M. de
Rosny."
"But the King goes and comes at his pleasure," I replied warily.
"Of course, he might-take it into his head to descend at your
house. There would be nothing surprising in such a visit. I
think that he has paid you one before, M. de Perrot?"
He assented eagerly.
"And he may do so," I said, smiling, "to-morrow. But then,
again, he may not. The chase may lead him another way; or he may
be late in returning; or--in fine, a hundred things may happen."
I had no mind to go farther than that; and I supposed that it
would satisfy him, and that he would thank me and take his leave.
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