If the devil had a trick to play on me, you understand, sire, as he knows the man with whom he has to deal, he would choose the moment when I should not be there.

My duty and the peace of my conscience before everything, sire." "But such duty will kill you, monsieur." "Eh! sire, I have performed it for thirty years, and in all France and Navarre there is not a man in better health than I am.

Moreover, I entreat you, sire, not to trouble yourself about me.

That would appear very strange to me, seeing that I am not accustomed to it." The king cut short the conversation by a fresh question.

"Shall you be here, then, to-morrow morning ?" "As at present?
yes, sire." The king walked several times up and down his chamber; it was very plain that he burned with a desire to speak, but that he was restrained by some fear or other.