"and it depends entirely upon madame whether the audience shall be
private or public."

"I beg for a half hour of entire privacy," said Madame Adelaide,
with choler.

"A private audience, ladies!" called the queen to her maids of
honor, as motioning with her hand she dismissed them. Then she
directed her great brilliant eyes to the door of the antechamber.
"My lord grooms, in half an hour I should like to have my carriage
ready for Trianon."

The maids of honor withdrew into the great antechamber, and closed
the doors behind them.

The queen and Madame Adelaide were alone.

"Let us sit, if it pleases you," said Marie Antoinette, motioning
the princess to an arm-chair, while she took her own place upon a
simple ottoman. "You have something to say to me, and I am entirely
ready to hear you."

"Would to God, madame, that you would not only hear my words," said
Madame Adelaide, with a sigh, "but that you would take them to heart
as well!"

"If they deserve it, I certainly shall," said the queen, smiling.

"They certainly do deserve it," said the princess, "for what I aim
at in my words concerns the peace, the security, the honor of our