"Really, have I, my Lord? But you haven't given me a kiss for two whole minutes! That's right, dear. So you say that your power is always at my command? Don't tempt me, Sire! I warn you that I shall avail myself of it to pay the enormous claim which Philibert Delorme has presented to me, on the ground that my Château d'Anet is finished. It will be the glory of your reign; but how dear it is! Just one kiss, my Henri!" "And for this kiss, Diane, take for your Delorme the sum produced by the sale of the governorship of Picardy." "Sire, do you think that I sell my kisses? I give them to you, Henri. This Picardy governorship is worth two hundred thousand livres, I should think, is it not? And then I can take the pearl necklace which has been offered me, and which I was very anxious to wear to-day at the wedding of your dear son François. A hundred thousand livres to Philibert, and a hundred thousand for the necklace; this Picardy matter will do very well." "Especially as you estimate it at quite double its real worth, Diane." "What! is it worth only one hundred thousand livres? Well, then, it's a very simple matter for me to let the necklace go." "Nonsense!" said the king, laughing; "there are three or four vacant companies somewhere which will pay for the necklace, Diane." "Oh, Sire, you are the most generous of kings, as you are the best beloved of lovers." "Yes, you do really love me as I love you, do you not, Diane?" "He really has the face to ask such a question!" "But I, you see, dear, I adore you more and more every day, because you are every day more beautiful. Ah, what a lovely smile you have, sweetheart, and what a sweet expression! Let me kneel here at your feet. Put your fair hands on my shoulders. Oh, Diane, how lovely you are, and how dearly I love you! I could stay here and just gaze at you for hours, nay, for years. I would forget France, I would forget the whole world." "And even this formal celebration of Monseigneur the Dauphin's marriage?" said Diane, smiling; "and yet it is to be solemnized this very day and in two hours' time. And even if you are all ready in your magnificence, Sire, I am not ready at all, you see. So go, my dear Lord, for it is time for me to call my women. Ten o'clock will strike in a moment." "Ten o'clock," said Henri; "and upon my word, I have an appointment at that hour." "An appointment, Sire? With a lady, perhaps?" "With a lady." "Pretty, no doubt?" "Yes, Diane, very pretty." "Then it can't be the queen." "Oh, you wretch! Catherine de Médicis has a certain sort of beauty of her own, a stern and cold style of beauty, but undeniable. However, it is not the queen whom I expect. Can you guess who it is?" "No, I really cannot, Sire." "It is another Diane, dear,--the living memento of our young affections, our daughter, our darling daughter."