"Sire, it is the voice of Heaven in anger." "Be it so," said the king.

"I agree to accept that peal of thunder as a warning, and even as a menace, if, in five minutes from the present moment, it is renewed with equal violence; but if not, permit me to think that the storm is a storm simply, and nothing more." And the king, at the same moment, raised his head, as if to interrogate the heavens.
But, as if the remark had been heard and accepted, during the five minutes which elapsed after the burst of thunder which had alarmed them no renewed repeal was heard; and when the thunder was again heard, it was passing away in so audible a manner, as if, during those same five minutes, the storm, put to flight, had traversed the heavens with the speed of the wings of the wind.

"Well, Louise," said the king, in a low tone of voice, "will you still threaten me with the anger of Heaven?
and, since you wished to regard the storm as a presentiment, will you still believe that presentiment to be one of misfortune ?" The young girl looked up, and saw that while they had been talking the rain had penetrated the foliage above them, and was trickling down the king's face.

"Oh, sire, sire!" she exclaimed, in accents of eager apprehension, which greatly agitated the king.

"It is for me," she murmured, "that the king remains thus uncovered, and exposed to the rain.