"May I ask what the object of this interview is ?" "You have had the condescension, sire, on more than one occasion, to ask my humble advice, and even to express yourself afterwards as being pleased that you had acted upon it." "Well?
Well?
Well ?" growled the monarch.
"If rumour says truly, sire, you are now at a crisis when a word of impartial counsel might be of value to you.

Need I say that it would--" "Tut! tut! Why all these words ?" cried the king.

"You have been sent here by others to try and influence me against Madame de Maintenon." "Sire, I have had nothing but kindness from that lady.

I esteem and honour her more than any lady in France." "In that case, abbe, you will, I am sure, be glad to hear that I am about to marry her.

Good-day, abbe.