Chapter XLI.

In Which the Squirrel Falls,--the Adder Flies.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon.

The king, full of impatience, went to his cabinet on the terrace, and kept opening the door of the corridor, to see what his secretaries were doing.

M.Colbert, seated in the same place M.de Saint-Aignan had so long occupied in the morning, was chatting in a low voice with M.de Brienne.

The king opened the door suddenly, and addressed them.