THE ARCHBISHOP. Even that has been questioned, your Highness. One hardly recognizes in you the grandson of Charles the Wise. CHARLES. I want to hear no more of my grandfather. He was so wise that he used up the whole family stock of wisdom for five generations, and left me the poor fool I am, bullied and insulted by all of you. THE ARCHBISHOP. Control yourself, sir. These outbursts of petulance are not seemly. CHARLES. Another lecture! Thank you. What a pity it is that though you are an archbishop saints and angels dont come to see you! THE ARCHBISHOP. What do you mean? CHARLES. Aha! Ask that bully there [_pointing to La Trémouille._] LA TRÉMOUILLE [_furious_] Hold your tongue. Do you hear? CHARLES. Oh, I hear. You neednt shout. The whole castle can hear. Why dont you go and shout at the English, and beat them for me? LA TRÉMOUILLE [_raising his fist_] You young— CHARLES [_running behind the Archbishop_] Dont you raise your hand to me. It’s high treason. LA HIRE. Steady, Duke! Steady! THE ARCHBISHOP [_resolutely_] Come, come! this will not do. My lord Chamberlain; please! please! we must keep some sort of order. [_To the Dauphin_] And you, sir: if you cannot rule your kingdom, at least try to rule yourself. CHARLES. Another lecture! Thank you. LA TRÉMOUILLE [_handing the paper to the Archbishop_] Here: read the accursed thing for me. He has sent the blood boiling into my head: I cant distinguish the letters. CHARLES [_coming back and peering round La Trémouille’s left shoulder_] I will read it for you if you like. I can read, you know. LA TRÉMOUILLE [_with intense contempt, not at all stung by the taunt_] Yes: reading is about all you are fit for. Can you make it out, Archbishop? THE ARCHBISHOP. I should have expected more commonsense from De Baudricourt. He is sending some cracked country lass here— CHARLES [_interrupting_] No: he is sending a saint: an angel. And she is coming to me: to me, the king, and not to you, Archbishop, holy as you are. She knows the blood royal if you dont. [_He struts up to the curtains between Bluebeard and La Hire._] THE ARCHBISHOP. You cannot be allowed to see this crazy wench. CHARLES [_turning_] But I am the king; and I will. LA TRÉMOUILLE [_brutally_] Then she cannot be allowed to see you. Now! CHARLES. I tell you I will. I am going to put my foot down— BLUEBEARD [_laughing at him_] Naughty! What would your wise grandfather say? CHARLES. That just shews your ignorance, Bluebeard. My grandfather had a saint who used to float in the air when she was praying, and told him everything he wanted to know. My poor father had two saints, Marie de Maillé and the Gasque of Avignon. It is in our family; and I dont care what you say: I will have my saint too.