The king, charmed at having said this malicious speech, rubbed
his hands again.

"Really, sire," I replied, "I am astonished that this prince,
having such disgusting inclinations, can have much
attached to his name."

"Ah, that is because he has great qualities: he will not allow
himself to be cheated. Do you know that he is acquainted with
the disposal of his finances to the last farthing?"

"Sire, he must be a miser."

"No, madame, he is a man of method. But enough of him. As to his
majesty of Denmark, altho' he would have been as welcome to stay
at home, I shall receive him with as much attention as possible. The
kings of Denmark and Sweden are my natural allies."

The king changed the subject, and said, "There is an abbe, named
la Chapelle, whom I think half cracked. He flatters himself that
he can, thro' the medium of some apparatus, remain on the water
without sinking. He begs my permission to exhibit his experiment
before me; and if it would amuse you, we will have the exhibition
to-morrow." I accepted the king's proposal with pleasure.

On the next day we went in a body to the terrace of the chateau.
The king was near me with his hat in his hand; the duc de Duras
gave me his arm. M. l' abbe waited us in a boat: he flung himself
bodily into the water, dressed in a sort of cork-jacket, moved in