”

Manicamp perceived that they had returned to the question again.

As for the king, he saw he had allowed himself to be hurried away a little too far, and therefore continued: — ”And I will punish him — not because there is any question of Mademoiselle de la Valliere, although I esteem her very highly — but because a lady was the object of the quarrel. And I intend that ladies shall be respected at my court, and that quarrels shall be put a stop to altogether.”

Manicamp bowed.

“And now, Monsieur de Manicamp,” continued the king, “what was said about Mademoiselle de la Valliere?”

“Cannot your majesty guess?”