It sometimes happens that in a battle a chance ball may reach its mark: the observation which the king had made, without any particular intention, struck Madame home, and staggered her for a moment; some day or other she might indeed have reason to dread reprisals. "At all events, sire," she said, "explain what you require." "I ask, madame, what has Mademoiselle de la Valliere done to warrant your conduct toward her?" "She is the most cunning fomenter of intrigues I know; she was the occasion of two personal friends engaging in mortal combat, and has made people talk of her in such shameless terms that the whole court is indignant at the mere sound of her name." "She! she!" cried the king. "Under her soft and hypocritical manner," continued Madame, "she hides a disposition full of foul and dark deceit." "She!" "You may possibly be deceived, sire, but I know her right well: she is capable of creating dispute and misunderstanding between the most affectionate relatives and the most intimate friends. You see that she has already sown discord between us two." "I do assure you--" said the king. "Sire, look well into the case as it stood: we were living on the most friendly understanding, and, by the artfulness of her tales and complaints, she has set your majesty against me." "I swear to you," said the king, "that on no occasion has a bitter word ever passed her lips: I swear that, even in my wild bursts of passion, she would never allow me to menace any one; and I swear, too, that you do not possess a more devoted and respectful friend than she is." "Friend!" said Madame, with an expression of supreme disdain. "Take care, madame!" said the king: "you forget that you now understand me, and that from this moment everything is equalized. Mademoiselle de la Valliere will be whatever I may choose her to become; and to-morrow, if I were to determine to do so, I could seat her on a throne." "She will not have been born to a throne, at least; and whatever you may do can affect the future alone, but cannot affect the past." "Madame, toward you I have shown every kind consideration, and every eager desire to please you; do not remind me that I am master here." "That is the second time, sire, that you have made that remark, and I have already informed you I am ready to submit." "In that case, then, will you confer upon me the favor of receiving Mademoiselle de la Valliere back again?" "For what purpose, sire, since you have a throne to bestow upon her? I am too insignificant to protect so exalted a personage." "Nay; a truce to this bitter and disdainful spirit. Grant me her forgiveness." "Never!" "You drive me, then, to open warfare in my own family." "I, too, have my own family, where I can find refuge." "Do you mean that as a threat, and could you forget yourself so far? Do you believe that, if you push the affront to that extent, your family would encourage you?"