In the morning she requested an audience of _Madame_, which was immediately granted, and she earnestly implored of her not to report what had passed to his Majesty. "I know not what I might do on another occasion," was the reply, "but in the present case I have only to express my regret that the King is already fully informed upon the subject." "It will be upon me then," promptly observed Helene, "that his wrath must fall, since my generous defender is dead." "Dead! the Vicomte de Benavent-Rhodés! You are pleased to think so," remarked this depraved woman, in a bantering tone. "Certainly it is not owing to him and his associates that some of the King's servants did not perish. Happily, there has been more noise than actual injury; but this gentleman and four other musketeers are in the custody of the grand-prevot, and they must answer to justice for an armed attack, at midnight, on a royal residence. The laws of France attach capital punishment to such an outrage." Mademoiselle de Pal---- uttered a piercing shriek, and fell into violent convulsions, which excited great alarm in the mind of _Madame_, lest the death, or even the severe indisposition, of the young beauty, should be imputed to her indiscretion. She sought to assuage her sufferings, and when restoratives had produced relief, strongly advised her to apply to his Majesty, who was of a merciful disposition, and would not refuse pardon to the musketeers at her intercession. The dread of the price which would be demanded for this favor contributed to diminish the pleasure which the hope of clemency excited. Nevertheless she resolved to meet the peril, trusting to overcome it, and to conquer culpable intentions by purity of heart and the innate power of virtue. When she ascertained that Louis XV had arrived, she proceeded to the saloon. The conversation was gay, brilliant, and varied. Mademoiselle displayed the intrepidity which is so frequently the attendant of innocence, and although her face was suffused with blushes, her voice was distinct and unfaltering, as she gracefully and respectfully besought the King to pardon the five prisoners. Louis reverted to his feelings towards herself, and observed that it lay in her power to induce him to interfere in a matter which involved a direct offence against his personal safety and his rights. He indulged in the chivalrous levity which has so often characterised the Bourbons, remarking that he was her slave, but that even a slave should not be exasperated. Finally, he gave her distinctly to understand that the fate of the prisoners depended on her compliance. She demanded four days' interval, which the King acceded to, adding that she could not follow a better example than that of Jephtha's daughter. Two days had elapsed, the King was going to Mass, when a priest placed himself in front of the cortege. "Monsieur l'Abbé," said the Duc de Richelieu, "stand aside, you impede his Majesty's passage."