paltry coins could make up for my jar! I'll be bound, for my part,
that this idle wench was romping and playing with--"

"Come, come; you have made her cry enough!" the King interrupted--and,
indeed, the girl was sobbing so passionately that a man could not
listen without pain. "Let her go, I say, and do you attend to Sully.
You have forgotten that it is New Year's Day--"

"A jar of majolica," the Queen cried, Utterly disregarding him, "worth
your body and soul, you little slut!"

"Pooh! pooh!" the King said.

"Do you think that I brought it from Florence, all the way in my own--"

"Nightcap," the King muttered. "There, there, sweetheart," he
continued, aloud, "let the girl go!"

"Of course! She is a girl," the Queen cried, with a sneer. "That is
enough for you!"

"Well, madam, she is not the only one in the room," I ventured.

"Oh, of course, you are the King's echo!"

"Run away, little one," Henry said, winking to me to be silent.

"And consider yourself lucky," the Queen cried, venomously. "You ought
to be whipped; and if I had you in my country, I would have you whipped
for all your airs! San Giacomo, if you cross me, I will see to it!"

This was a parting thrust; for the girl, catching at the King's
permission, had turned and was hurrying in a passion of tears to the
door. Still, the Queen had not done. Mademoiselle had broken a jar;
and there were other misdemeanours which her Majesty continued to
expound. But in the end I had my say, and presented the medals, which
were accepted by the King with his usual kindness, and by the Queen,
when her feelings had found expression, with sufficient complaisance.
Both were good enough to compliment me on my entertainment; but
observing that the Queen quickly buried herself again in her pillows
and was inclined to be peevish, I cut short my attendance on the plea
of fatigue, and left them at liberty to receive the very numerous
company who on this day pay their court.

Of these, the greater number came on afterwards, to wait on me; so that
for some hours the large hall at the Arsenal was thronged with my
friends, or those who called themselves by that name. But towards noon
the stream began to fail; and when I sat down to dinner at that hour, I
had reason to suppose that I should be left at peace. I had not more
than begun my meal, however, when I was called from table by a
messenger from the Queen.

"What is it?" I said, when I had gone to him.