fle exigeant and superfluous."

After that, I saw that it was war to the knife between us; and I asked
her in very plain terms If she were not afraid of the queen's enmity,
that she dared thus to flaunt the King's favours before her.

"No more than I am afraid of yours," she answered hardily.

"But if the King is disappointed in his hopes?"

"You may suffer; very probably will," she answered, slowly and smiling,
"not I. Besides, sir--my child was born dead. He bore that very well."

"Yet, believe me, madame, you run some risk."

"In keeping what the King has given me?" she answered, raising her
eyebrows.

"No! In keeping what the King has not given you!" I answered sternly.
"Whereas, what do you gain?"

"Well," she replied, raising herself in the bed, while her eyes
sparkled and her colour rose, "if you like, I will tell you. This
pleasure, for one thing--the pleasure of seeing you there, awkward,
booted, stained, and standing, waiting my will. That--which perhaps
you call a petty thing--I gain first of all. Then I gain your ruin, M.
de Rosny; I plant a sting in that woman's breast; and for his Majesty,
he has made his bed and may lie on it."

"Have a care, madame!" I cried, bursting with indignation at a speech
so shameless and disloyal. "You are playing a dangerous game, I warn
you!"

"And what game have you played?" she replied, transported on a sudden
with equal passion. "Who was it tore up the promise of marriage which
the King gave me? Who was it prevented me being Queen of France? Who
was it hurried on the match with this tradeswoman, so that the King
found himself wedded, before he knew it? Who was it--but enough;
enough!" she cried, interrupting herself with a gesture full of rage.
"You have ruined me, you and your queen between you, and I will ruin
you!"

"On the contrary, madame," I answered, collecting myself for a last
effort, and speaking with all the severity which a just indignation
inspired, "I have not ruined you. But if you do not tell me that which
I am here to learn--I will!"

She laughed out loud. "Oh, you simpleton!" she said. "And you call
yourself a statesman! Do you not see that if I do not tell it, you are
disgraced yourself and powerless, and can do me no harm? Tell it you?
When I have you all on the hip--you, the King, the queen! Not for a
million crowns, M. de Rosny!"

"And that is your answer, madame?" I said, choking with rage. It had
been long sinc