"I have dismissed my gentleman and my watcher; they are in
the next chamber. There, behind that partition, is a
solitary closet, looking into the ante-chamber, and in that
ante-chamber you found nobody but a solitary officer, did
you?"

"No, sire."

"Well, then, speak, my brother; I listen to you."

"Sire, I commence, and entreat your majesty to have pity on
the misfortunes of our house."

The king of France colored, and drew his chair closer to
that of the king of England.

"Sire," said Charles II., "I have no need to ask if your
majesty is acquainted with the details of my deplorable
history."

Louis XIV. blushed, this time more strongly than before;
then, stretching forth his hand to that of the king of
England, "My brother," said he, "I am ashamed to say so, but
the cardinal scarcely ever speaks of political affairs
before me. Still more, formerly I used to get Laporte, my
valet de chambre, to read historical subjects to me, but he
put a stop to these readings, and took away Laporte from me.
So that I beg my brother Charles to tell me all those
matters as to a man who knows nothing."