"You think to wound me by that!" she cried,
breathing quickly. "But I have my grandfather's blood in me,
sire; and no King of France--"
"One King of France will presently make your uncle of that blood
sing small!" the King answered viciously. "So much for that;
and for the rest, sweetheart, softly, softly!"
"Oh!" she cried, "I will go: I will not stay to be outraged by
that woman's presence!"
I had now an inkling what was the matter; and discerning that the
quarrel was a more serious matter than their every-day
bickerings, and threatened to go to lengths that might end in
disaster, I ignored the insult her Majesty had flung at me, and
entreated her to be calm. "if I understand aright, madame," I
said, "you have some grievance against his Majesty. Of that I
know nothing. But I also understand that you allege something
against me; and it is to speak to that, I presume, that I am
summoned. If you will deign to put the matter into words--"
"Words!" she cried. "You have words enough! But get out of
this, Master Grave-Airs, if you can! Did you, or did you not,
tell me this morning that the Princess of Conde was in Brussels?"
"I did, madame.
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