With a hurried movement she withdrew her hand from him, and took from the table a roll of paper containing the new act of succession signed by the king.
"My lord," said she, "I have called you hither, because I would like to intrust a commission to you.

I beg you to carry this parchment to the Princess Elizabeth, and be pleased to deliver it to her.

But before you do that, I will make you acquainted with its contents.

This parchment contains a new law relative to the succession, which has already received the sanction of the king.

By virtue of this, the royal princesses are no longer under the necessity of uniting themselves with a husband who is a sovereign prince, if they wish to preserve their hereditary claim on the throne unimpaired.