")
"And who," asked the king, with impatience, "may the lady be?"
"Madame de Bearn, a lady of quality in her own right, and of high
nobility on her husband's side."
"Yes, he was a
, and the son has just left the
pages. Ah! she will present you then. That's well; I shall
feel favored by her."
"Would it not be best, sire, to tell her so yourself?"
"Yes, yes, certainly; but after the ceremony."
"And why not previously?"
"Why? because I do not wish to appear to have forced
your presentation."
"Well, then," I replied, striking the floor with my foot, "you will
not do for me what you would do for a woman who is a complete
stranger to you. Many thanks for your excessive kindness."
"Well, well, do not scold. Anger does not become you."
"No more than this indifference suits you; it is cruel. If you
recede from saying a word, what will you do when I tell you of
the conditions of madame de Bearn?"
"What does the good comtesse ask for?"
"Things past conception."
"What?"
"She has stipulations unlimited."
"But what are they then?"
"A hundred thousand livres for herself."
"What, only that? We will grant so much."
"Then a regiment for her son."
"Oh, he is the wood they make colonels of, and if he behave well--"
"But then! She wishes to be annexed in some station or other to
the household of the future .
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