"That is a very small thing," I said bluntly, wondering much why
he had made so great a parade of the matter, and still more why
he seemed so ill at ease. "Yet, after such a prelude, if any but
a friend of your tried loyalty asked it, I might expect to find
Spanish liquorice in the cup."

"That is out of the question, in my case," he answered with a
slight assumption of offence, which he immediately dropped. "And
you say it is a small thing; it is the more easily granted, M. de
Rosny."

"But the King goes and comes at his pleasure," I replied warily.
"Of course, he might-take it into his head to descend at your
house. There would be nothing surprising in such a visit. I
think that he has paid you one before, M. de Perrot?"

He assented eagerly.

"And he may do so," I said, smiling, "to-morrow. But then,
again, he may not. The chase may lead him another way; or he may
be late in returning; or--in fine, a hundred things may happen."

I had no mind to go farther than that; and I supposed that it
would satisfy him, and that he would thank me and take his leave.
To my surprise, however, he stood his ground, and even pressed me
more than was polite; while his countenance, when I again eluded
him, assumed an expression of chagrin and vexation so much in
excess of the occasion as to awaken fresh doubts in my mind. But
these only the more confirmed me in my resolution to commit