So unfortunate, you know, just at this time." And her eyes
twinkled with malicious amusement.
"Madame,"I said, "may I speak plainly to you?"
"I never heard that you could speak otherwise," she answered
quickly. "Even his friends never called M. de Rosny a wit; but
only a plain, rough man who served our royal turn well enough in
rough times; but is now growing--"
"Madame!"
"A trifle exigeant and superfluous."
After that, I saw that it was war to the knife between us; and I
asked her in very plain terms If she were not afraid of the
queen's enmity, that she dared thus to flaunt the King's favours
before her.
"No more than I am afraid of yours," she answered hardily.
"But if the King is disappointed in his hopes?"
"You may suffer; very probably will," she answered, slowly and
smiling, "not I. Besides, sir--my child was born dead. He bore
that very well."
"Yet, believe me, madame, you run some risk."
"In keeping what the King has given me?" she answered, raising
her eyebrows.
"No! In keeping what the King has not given you!" I answered
sternly.
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