those behind. And with that he too wheeled round and went back.
to the fire.

I stared, a first faint suspicion of the truth aroused in my
mind. Before I could act upon it, however--in such a situation
it was no easy task to decide how to act--a third advanced with
the same measured steps. 'By appointment I think, sir?' he
said, bowing lower than the others.

'Yes,' I replied sharply, beginning to grow warm, 'by appointment
at noon.'

'M. de Marsac,' he announced in a sing-song tone to those behind
him, 'to see the King of Navarre by appointment at noon.' And
with a second bow--while I grew scarlet with mortification he too
wheeled gravely round and returned to the fireplace.

I saw another preparing to advance, but he came too late.
Whether my face of anger and bewilderment was too much for them,
or some among them lacked patience to see the end, a sudden
uncontrollable shout of laughter, in which all the room joined,
cut short the farce. God knows it hurt me: I winced, I looked
this way and that, hoping here or there to find sympathy and
help. But it seemed to me that the place rang with gibes, that
every panel framed, however I turned myself, a cruel, sneering
face. One behind me cried 'Old Clothes,' and when I turned the
other hearth whispered the taunt. It added a thousandfold to my
embarrassment that there was in all a certain orderliness, so
that while no one moved, and none, while I looked at them, raised
their voices, I seemed the more singled out, and placed as a butt