ly one thing, Mademoiselle, and that
is the unhappy events which have clouded His Majesty's visit to Paris."

"Yes, indeed," replied Marie Pascal, "and in such a tragic way, too!"

"A tragic way, Mademoiselle? I imagine this has quite upset you."

"Yes."

The Marquis emphasized his words.

"So I thought, so I thought ... especially you."

The young girl lifted her pure blue eyes in surprise.

"The King spoke to me of you at great length," the Marquis added.

A quick blush overspread her face.

"Really.... The King spoke of me?"

"His Majesty told me you were charming. He noticed you the very first
time you went to see him."

"At the Royal Palace?... But he only got a glimpse of me through the
open door."

The Marquis smiled.

"Oh, it doesn't take long for a King ... or a young man to sometimes
dream of the impossible."

"Impossible ... yes, you are right."

Marie Pascal pronounced the last words in a serious voice. She was
making an evident effort to keep calm. The Marquis, on the other hand,
seemed inclined to joke.

"Impossible, why?... One never knows ... the will of the King knows no
obstacle." Then brusquely turning, he asked:

"You like the King, Mademoiselle?"

"Why ... why ..."

"Therefore, I'm wondering if the death of this unfortunate Susy is not
really a benefit."

"Oh, Monsieur!"

"Well, you know, Mademoiselle Marie, the happiness of one person is
made of the tears of another. You would have suffered. You would have
been jealous."

As though against her will, Marie Pascal repeated in a low voice:

"Yes, I should have been jealous."

"Terribly jealous, for Susy d'Orsel was pretty. Besides, a liaison with
her wasn't taken seriously by the King ... while with you it would have
been quite different ... why, I believe you would have reached the point
of wishing her death."

"No! no!" protested Marie feebly, "the King would have made his
choice ... frankly and loyally...."

"And suppose he hadn't chosen? Suppose he had hesitated before the
possible scandal of a rupture? Don't you care enough for him to realize
that the very idea of sharing him with another would have been
intolerable?... What I am saying sounds brutal, I know, but I am frank
with you.... Believe me, you would have been driven to hate the
unfortunate Susy."

"To hate her? Yes, ... perhaps ... for I should have been jealous!"

And then suddenly Marie realized what her words meant: that she had
betrayed her cher