"

"Your entrance, madame, is certainly somewhat abrupt."

"I must crave pardon if it is so. Since this lady has been the
governess of my children I have been in the habit of coming into her
room unannounced."

"As far as I am concerned, you are most welcome to do so," said her
rival, with perfect composure.

"I confess that I had not even thought it necessary to ask your
permission, madame," the other answered coldly.

"Then you shall certainly do so in the future, madame," said the king
sternly. "It is my express order to you that every possible respect is
to be shown in every way to this lady."

"Oh, to _this_ lady!" with a wave of her hand in her direction. "Your
Majesty's commands are of course our laws. But I must remember that it
_is_ this lady, for sometimes one may get confused as to which name it
is that your Majesty has picked out for honour. To-day it is
De Maintenon; yesterday it was Fontanges; to-morrow--Ah, well, who can
say who it may be to-morrow?"

She was superb in her pride and her fearlessness as she stood, with her
sparkling blue eyes and her heaving bosom, looking down upon her royal
lover. Angry as he was, his gaze lost something of its sternness as it
rested upon her round full throat and the delicate lines of her shapely
shoulders. There was something very becoming in her passion, in the
defiant pose of her dainty head, and the magnificent scorn with which
she glanced at her rival.

"There is nothing to be gained, madame, by being insolent," said he.

"Nor is it my custom, sire."

"And yet I find your words so."

"Truth is always mistaken for insolence, sire, at the court of France."

"We have had enough of this."

"A very little truth is enough."

"You forget yourself, madame. I beg that you will leave the room."

"I must first remind your Majesty that I was so far honoured as to have
an appointment this afternoon. At four o'clock I had your royal promise
that you would come to me. I cannot doubt that your Majesty will keep
that promise in spite of the fascinations which you may find here."

"I should have come, madame, but the clock, as you may observe, is half
an hour slow, and the time had passed before I was aware of it."

I beg, sire, that you will not let that distress you. I am returning to
my chamber, and five o'clock will suit me as well as four."

"I thank you, madame, but I have not found this interview so pleasant
that I should seek another."