“Does your majesty repent of having allowed me this little indulgence?” “No, no, on the contrary, amuse yourself, my son. How are you?” “Sire, I have a fever.” “Really, your face is red; let me feel your pulse, I am half a doctor.” St. Luc held out his hand with visible ill-humor. “Oh!” said the king, “intermittent--agitated.” “Yes, sire, I am very ill.” “I will send you my doctor.” “Thank you, sire, but I hate Miron.” “I will watch you myself. You shall have a bed in my room, and we will talk all night.” “Oh!” cried St Luc, “you see me ill, and you want to keep me from sleeping. That is a singular way to treat your patient, doctor.” “But you cannot be left alone, suffering as you are.” “Sire, I have my page, Jean.” “But he sleeps.” “That is what I like best, then he will not disturb me.” “Well, come and assist at my going to bed.” “Then I shall be free to come back to bed?” “Perfectly.” “Well, so be it. But I shall make a bad courtier, I assure you; I am dying with sleep.” “You shall yawn at your ease.” “Sire, if your majesty will leave me, I will be with you in five minutes.” “Well, then, five minutes, but no longer.” As soon as the door was shut, the page jumped up. “Ah! St. Luc,” cried she, “you are going to leave me again. Mon Dieu! I shall die of fright here, if they discover me.” “My dear Jeanne, Gaspard here will protect you.” “Had I not better go back?” “If you really wish it, Jeanne,” said St. Luc, sadly, “you shall. But if you are as good as you are beautiful, if you have any feeling in your heart for me, you will wait here a little. I shall suffer so much from my head and nerves that the king will not long keep so sad a companion.” “Go, then,” said Jeanne, “and I will wait.” “My dear Jeanne, you are adorable. Trust me to returns as soon as possible, Besides, I have an idea, which I will tell you when I return.” “An idea which will restore your liberty?” “I hope so.” “Then go,” “Gaspard,” said St. Luc, “prevent any one from entering here, and in a quarter of an hour lock the door, and bring me the key to the king’s room. Then go home, and tell them not to be uneasy about Madame la Comtesse, and come back to-morrow.”