he fancied she knew how ardent was his desire to see her, and also the subject uppermost in his mind.
“Yes, Madame,” he said, “and I think it very singular.”
“The affair of the bracelets,” she exclaimed, eagerly, “you mean that, I suppose?”
“Yes, Madame.”
“And you think the king is in love; do you not?”
Guiche looked at her for some time; her eyes sank under his gaze, which seemed to read her very heart.
“I think,” he said, “that the king may possibly have had an idea of annoying some one; were it not for that, the king would hardly show himself so earnest in his