"But others saw her!" the Queen rejoined sharply. "Madame
Paleotti, who was with the gentleman, saw her also, and knew
her."
"At a distance of fifty paces?" the King said drily. "I don't
attach much weight to that." And then, rising, with a slight
yawn. "Madame," he continued, with the air of command which he
knew so well how to assume, "for the present, I am tired! If
Madame de Conde is here, it will not be difficult to get further
evidence of her presence. If she is at Brussels, that fact, too,
you can ascertain. Do the one or the other, as you please; but,
for to-day, I beg that you will excuse me."
"And that," the Queen cried shrilly--"that is to be--"
"All, madame!" the King said sternly. "Moreover, let me have no
prating outside this room. Grand-Master, I will trouble you."
And with these words, uttered in a voice and with an air that
silenced even the angry woman before us, he signed to me to
follow him, and went from the room; the first glance of his eye
stilling the crowded ante-chamber, as if the shadow of death
passed with him.
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