The order was immediately obeyed. Then, continuing the conversation, he said: “And you do not find the lamb too fat?”
“No, sire, the fat falls down at the same time as the gravy does, and swims on the surface; then the servant who carves removes the fat with a spoon, which I have had expressly made for that purpose.”
“Where do you reside?” inquired the king.
“At Pierrefonds, sire.”
“At Pierrefonds; where is that, M. du Vallon — near Belle-Isle?”
“Oh, no, sire! Pierrefonds is in the Soissonnais.”
“I thought you alluded to the lamb on account of the salt marshes.”