For a moment the King affected to be unaware of my presence, and
even turned his shoulder to me; but I observed that he reddened,
and fidgeted nervously with the boot which he was drawing on.
Nothing daunted, therefore, I waited until he perforce discovered
me, and was obliged to greet me. "You are early this morning,"
he said, at last, with a grudging air.
"For the best of reasons, sire," I answered hardily. "I am ill
placed at home, and come to you for justice."
"What is it?" he said churlishly and unwillingly.
I was about to answer, when the Queen interposed with a sneer.
"I think that I can tell you, sire," she said. "M. de Sully is
old enough to know the adage, 'Bite before you are bitten.'"
"Madame," I said, respectfully but with firmness. "I know this
only, that my house was last night the scene of a gross outrage;
and by all I can learn it was perpetrated by one who is under
your Majesty's protection."
"His name?" she said, with a haughty gesture.
"M. Pimentel."
The Queen began to smile.
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