Ten Years Later: Louise de la Valliere by Alexandre Dumas Chapter 36 Page 17

“Well, all you have to do is, when the king comes to-morrow, to be obliged to go away on a most pressing matter of business, which cannot possibly be postponed, and stay away for twenty minutes.”

“What! leave the king alone for twenty minutes?” cried Saint-Aignan, in alarm.

“Very well, do as you like; don’t pay any attention to what I say,” said Malicorne, moving towards the door.

“Nay, nay, dear Monsieur Malicorne; on the contrary, go on — I begin to understand you. But the painter — ”

“Oh! the painter must be half an hour late.”

“Half an hour — do you really think so?”