The King now came back.

We all ran to kiss his hands; but me he no sooner noticed than rage and fury took possession of him.

He became black in the face, his eyes sparkling fire, his mouth foaming.

'Infamous CANAILLE,' said he; 'darest thou show thyself before me?
Go, keep thy scoundrel of a Brother company!' And so saying, he seized me with one hand, slapping me on the face with the other,'-- clenched as a fist (POING),--'several blows; one of which struck me on the temple, so that I fell back, and should have split my head against a corner of the wainscot, had not Madame de Sonsfeld caught me by the head-dress and broken the fall.

I lay on the ground without consciousness.