s.
Besides, I think so little of reports, that I should not listen to them
if I heard them."

"It is then your opinion, madame, that one should despise reports?"

"Absolutely, sire; particularly kings and queens."

"Why so, madame?"

"Because, as every one talks of us, we should have enough to do to
listen to them all."

"Well, I believe you are right, ma mie, and I am about to furnish you
with an excellent opportunity of exercising your philosophy."

Marguerite believed that the decisive moment had come, and rallied all
her courage.

"So be it, sire," said she.

Henri began in the tone of a penitent who has some great sin to
acknowledge.

"You know the great interest I take in Fosseuse?"

"Ah!" cried Marguerite, triumphantly, seeing he was not about to accuse
her; "yes, yes; the little Fosseuse, your friend."

"Yes, madame."

"My lady in waiting."--"Yes."

"Your passion--your love."

"Ah! you speak now just like one of the reports you were abusing just
now."

"It is true, sire, and I ask your pardon," said Marguerite, smiling.

"Ma mie, you are right, public report often lies, and we sovereigns have
great reason to establish this theory;" and he laughed ironically.

"Well; and Fosseuse?" said Marguerite.

"She is ill, ma mie, and the doctors do not understand her malady."

"That is strange, sire. Fosseuse, who you say is a pearl of purity,
ought to allow the doctors to penetrate into the secret of her illness."

"Alas! it is not so."

"What!" cried the queen; "is she not a pearl of purity?"

"I mean that she persists in hiding the cause of her illness from the
doctors."

"But to you, sire, her confidant, her father."

"I know nothing, or at least wish to know nothing."

"Then, sire," said Marguerite, who now believed that she had to confer
instead of asking a pardon; "then, sire, I do not know what you want;
and wait for you to explain."

"Well, then, ma mie, I will tell you. I wish you--but it is asking a
great deal."

"Speak on, sire."

"To have the goodness to go to Fosseuse."

"I go to visit this girl whom every one says has the honor of being your
mistress; a thing which you do not deny."

"Gently, gently, ma mie. On my word you will make a scandal with your
exclamations; and really I believe that will rejoice the court of
France, for in the letter from my brother-in-law that Chicot repeated to
me, there was these words, 'Quotidie scandalurn,' which must mean 'daily
scanda