"Jeanne de Cosse in St. Luc's room! A hole in the wall! such
a trick on me! Oh! they shall pay dearly for it!". And with a
vigorous kick he burst open the door.

Jeanne rushed behind the curtains to hide herself, while St.
Luc, his face full of terror, fell on his knees before the king,
who was pale with rage.

"Ah!" cried Chicot, from the bed, "Ah! mercy!--Holy Virgin! I
am dying!"

Henri, seizing, in a transport of rage, the trumpet from the
hands of St. Luc, raised it as if to strike. But St. Luc jumped
up and cried--

"Sire, I am a gentleman; you have no right to strike me!"

Henri dashed the trumpet violently on the ground. Some one picked
it up; it was Chicot, who, hearing the noise, judged that his
presence was necessary as a mediator. He ran to the curtain,
and, drawing out poor Jeanne, all trembling--

"Oh!" said he, "Adam and Eve after the Fall. You send them away,
Henri, do you not?"

"Yes."

"Then I will be the exterminating angel."