The determination to punish him began to take form in my mind, and very quickly I regained my composure.

Still I was for giving him one chance.

Accordingly I stooped once more to Madame de Bruhl's ear, and begged her to spare me the embarrassment of telling my tale.

But then, finding her pitiless, as I expected, and the rest of the company growing more and more insistent, I hardened my heart to go through with the fantastic notion which had occurred to me.
Indicating by a gesture that I was prepared to obey, and the duchess crying for a hearing, this was presently obtained, the sudden silence adding the king himself to my audience.

'What is it ?' he asked, coming up effusively, with a lap-dog in his arms.