"You have
ruined me, you and your queen between you, and I will ruin you!"
"On the contrary, madame," I answered, collecting myself for a
last effort, and speaking with all the severity which a just
indignation inspired, "I have not ruined you. But if you do not
tell me that which I am here to learn--I will!"
She laughed out loud. "Oh, you simpleton!" she said. "And you
call yourself a statesman! Do you not see that if I do not tell
it, you are disgraced yourself and powerless, and can do me no
harm? Tell it you? When I have you all on the hip--you, the
King, the queen! Not for a million crowns, M. de Rosny!"
"And that is your answer, madame?" I said, choking with rage.
It had been long since any had dared so to beard me.
"Yes," she replied stoutly; "it is! Or, stay; you shall not go
empty-handed." And thrusting her arm under the pillow she drew
out, after a moment's search, a small packet, which she held out
towards me. "Take it!" she said, with a taunting laugh. "It
has served my turn.
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