To dismiss a maid of honor is to attribute a crime to her--at the very least a fault.

What crime, what fault has Mademoiselle de la Valliere been guilty of ?" "Since you constitute yourself the protector of Mademoiselle de la Valliere," replied Madame, coldly, "I will give you those explanations which I should have a perfect right to withhold from every one." "Even from the king!" exclaimed Louis, as, with a sudden gesture, he covered his head with his hat.
"You have called me your sister," said Madame, "and I am in my own apartments." "It matters not," said the youthful monarch, ashamed at having been hurried away by his anger; "neither you, nor any one else in this kingdom, can assert a right to withhold an explanation in my presence." "Since that is the way you regard it," said Madame, in a hoarse, angry tone of voice, "all that remains for me to do is bow submission to your majesty, and to be silent." "Not so.

Let there be no equivocation between us." "The protection with which you surround Mademoiselle de la Valliere does not impose any respect." "No equivocation, I repeat; you are perfectly aware that, as the head of the nobility in France, I am accountable to all for the honor of every family.

You dismiss Mademoiselle de la Valliere, or whoever else it may be--" Madame shrugged her shoulders.

"Or whoever else it may be, I repeat," continued the king; "and as, acting in that manner, you cast a dishonorable reflection upon that person, I ask you for an explanation, in order that I may confirm or annul the sentence." "Annul my sentence!" exclaimed Madame, haughtily.