s the Countess d'Etampes has
but newly succeeded to her present exalted position and the king has
not yet discovered her many imperfections, I should certainly have
fallen asleep for weariness had I not chanced to overhear portions of
their conversation. The Countess d'Etampes, it seemed, was very angry.
'Your Majesty promised to send her home,' she said. 'But, my dear,
give me time,' pleaded the king. 'Pack her off at once,' she demanded,
raising her voice. 'Send her to her husband. That's where she
belongs. Think of him, poor fellow!' Laughing, his Majesty
capitulated. 'Well, well, back to her castle goes the Countess of
Chateaubriant!' Thereupon--"

"But the duke, mistress," interrupted the jester, who had become more
and more impatient during the prolonged narration. "The duke?"

"Am I not to tell it in my own way?" she returned. "What manners you
have! First, you pinch my arm until I must needs cry out. Then you
ask a question and interrupt me before I can answer."

"Interrupt!" he muttered. "You might have told a dozen tales. What
care I for the king's Jezebels?"

"Jezebels!" she repeated, in mock horror. "I see plainly, if you don't
die one way, you will another."

"'Tis usually the case. But go on with your story."

"If I can not tell it in my own way--"

"Tell it as you will, if your way be as slow as your tongue is sharp,"
he answered sullenly.

"Sharp! Jezebels! You deserve not to hear, but--the king, it seems,
had laid the duke's request before the Countess d'Etampes. 'Here is an
impatient suitor,' he said gaily. 'How shall we cure his passion?'
'By marrying him,' blithely answered this light-of-love. ''Tis a
medicine that never fails!' His Majesty frowned; I could not see him,
but felt sure of it from his tone, for although he neglects the queen,
yet, to some degree, is mindful of her dignity. 'Marriage is a holy
state, Madam,' he replied severely. 'There's no doubt about it,
Francis,' returned the lady, 'and therefore is the antidote to passion.
But a man bent on matrimony is like a child that wants a toy. Better
give it to him at once--the plaything will the sooner be thrown aside!'
'Nay, Madam,' he said reprovingly, 'the duke shall have his wish, but
for no such reason.' 'What reason then?' quoth she, petulantly.
'Because thou hast shown me love is a monarch stronger than any king
and that we are but as slaves in its hands!' he exclaimed,
passionately. 'I know I shal