Louis followed them with his eyes until they had shut the door, and when the tapestries had fallen behind them,--"You remind me by your presence, monsieur, of something I had forgotten to recommend to you, that is to say, the most absolute discretion." "Oh! sire, why does your majesty give yourself the trouble of making me such a recommendation?
It is plain you do not know me." "Yes, monsieur, that is true.

I know that you are discreet; but as I had prescribed nothing----" The officer bowed.

"Has your majesty nothing else to say to me ?" "No, monsieur; you may retire." "Shall I obtain permission not to do so till I have spoken to the king, sire ?" "What have you to say to me?
Explain yourself, monsieur." "Sire, a thing without importance to you, but which interests me greatly.

Pardon me, then, for speaking of it.

Without urgency, without necessity, I never would have done it, and I would have disappeared, mute and insignificant as I always have been." "How! Disappeared! I do not understand you, monsieur." "Sire, in a word," said the officer, "I am come to ask for my discharge from your majesty's service." The king made a movement of surprise, but the officer remained as motionless as a statue.
"Your discharge--yours, monsieur?
and for how long a time, I pray ?" "Why, forever, sire." "What, you are desirous of quitting my service, monsieur ?" said Louis, with an expression that revealed something more than surprise.
"Sire, I regret to say that I am." "Impossible!" "It is so, however, sire.