"If overheard, make things very unpleasant for M. de Perrot," I
said.

"And M. de Rosny?"

I shrugged my shoulders contemptuously. "Tush, man!" I said.
"Do you think that I sit in no safer seat than that?"

"Ah! But when Madame de Beaufort is Queen?" he said slily.

"If she ever is," I replied, affecting greater confidence than I
at that time felt.

"Well, to be sure," he said slowly, "if she ever is." And he
looked towards the King and his companion, who were still
chatting gaily. Then he stole a crafty glance at me. "Do you
wish her to be?" he muttered.

"Queen?" I said, "God forbid!"

"It would be a disgrace to France?" he whispered; and he laid
his hand on my arm, and looked eagerly into my face.

"Yes," I said.

"A blot on his fame?"

I nodded.