The duke hurried to him in obedience to the summons; but when he reached the door, and perceived Miss Stewart, he hesitated to enter. "Come in, and shut the door," said the king. The duke obeyed; and, perceiving in what an excellent humor the king was, he advanced smilingly toward him. "Well, my dear duke, how do you get on with your Frenchman?" "Sire, I am in the most perfect state of utter despair about him." "Why so?" "Because charming Miss Grafton is willing to marry him, but he is unwilling." "Why, he is a perfect Boeotian!" cried Miss Stewart. "Let him say either 'Yes' or 'No,' and let the affair end." "But," said Buckingham, seriously, "you know, or you ought to know, madame, that M. de Bragelonne is in love in another direction." "In that case," said the king, coming to Miss Stewart's help, "nothing is easier; let him say 'No,' then." "Very true; and I have proved to him he was wrong not to say 'Yes.'" "You told him candidly, I suppose, that La Valliere was deceiving him?" "Yes, without the slightest reserve; and, as soon as I had done so, he gave a start, as if he were going to clear the Channel at a bound." "At all events," said Miss Stewart, "he has done something, and a very good thing too, upon my word." "But," said Buckingham, "I stopped him; I have left him and Miss Mary in conversation together, and I sincerely trust that now he will not leave, as he seemed to have an idea of doing." "An idea of leaving England?" inquired the king. "I, at one moment, hardly thought that any human power could have prevented him; but Miss Mary's eyes are now bent fully on him, and he will remain." "Well, that is the very thing which deceives you, Buckingham," said the king, with a peal of laughter; "the poor fellow is predestined." "Predestined to what?" "If it were to be simply deceived, that is nothing: but to look at him, it is a great deal." "At a distance, and with Miss Grafton's aid, the blow will be warded off." "Far from it, far from it; neither distance nor Miss Grafton's help will be of the slightest avail. Bragelonne will set off for Paris within an hour's time." Buckingham started, and Miss Stewart opened her eyes very wide in astonishment. "But, sire," said the duke, "your majesty knows that it is impossible." "That is to say, my dear Buckingham, that it is impossible until the contrary happens." "Do not forget, sire, that the young man is a perfect lion, and that his wrath is terrible?" "I don't deny it, my dear duke." "And that if he sees that his misfortune is certain, so much the worse for the author of it." "I don't deny it; but what the deuce am I to do?" "Were it the king himself," cried Buckingham, "I would not answer for him."