Judge of his surprise, sire,' I continued, looking round and speaking slowly, to give full effect to my words, 'when he recognised in him no other than the husband of the lady who, by picking up and again dropping the velvet knot, had contributed so much to the success of his search!' 'Ha! these husbands!' cried the king.

And slapping his knee in an ecstasy at his own acuteness, he laughed in his seat till he rolled again.

'These husbands! Did I not say so ?' The whole Court gave way to like applause, and clapped their hands as well, so that few save those who stood nearest took notice of Madame de Bruhl's faint cry, and still fewer understood why she rose up suddenly from her stool and stood gazing at her husband with burning cheeks and clenched hands.

She took no heed of me, much less of the laughing crowd round her, but looked only at him with her soul in her eyes.

He, after uttering one hoarse curse, seemed to have no thought for any but me.