No, indeed, it seems that what has dissatisfied the king--" "I will tell you, monsieur le comte,--he is dissatisfied at finding himself the fourth person at a rendezvous of this kind.

How is it possible you could not have guessed that ?" "Why, how is it likely I could have done so, dear M.Malicorne, when I followed the king's instructions to the very letter ?" "Did his majesty really insist on your being present ?" "Positively." "And also required that the painter, whom I met downstairs just now, should be here, too ?" "He insisted upon it." "In that case, I can easily understand why his majesty is dissatisfied." "What! dissatisfied that I have so punctually and so literally obeyed his orders?
I don't understand you." Malicorne began to scratch his ear, as he asked, "What time did the king fix for the rendezvous in your apartments ?" "Two o'clock." "And you were waiting for the king ?" "Ever since half-past one; it would have been a fine thing, indeed, to have been unpunctual with his majesty." Malicorne, notwithstanding his respect for Saint-Aignan, could not help smiling.

"And the painter," he said, "did the king wish him to be here at two o'clock, also ?" "No; but I had him waiting here from midday.

Far better, you know, for a painter to be kept waiting a couple of hours than the king a single minute." Malicorne began to laugh aloud.

"Come, dear Monsieur Malicorne," said Saint-Aignan, "laugh less at me, and speak a little more freely, I beg." "Well, then, monsieur le comte, if you wish the king to be a little more satisfied the next time he comes--" "'_Ventre saint-gris!_' as his grandfather used to say; of course I wish it." "Well, all you have to do is, when the king comes to-morrow, to be obliged to go away on a most pressing matter of business, which cannot possibly be postponed, and stay away for twenty minutes." "What! leave the king alone for twenty minutes ?" cried Saint-Aignan, in alarm.
"Very well, do as you like; don't pay any attention to what I say," said Malicorne, moving towards the door.
"Nay, nay, dear Monsieur Malicorne; on the contrary, go on--I begin to understand you.