He said he would put the ten thousand
there for me, but I refused, saying that I had never before made a
request of him, and that if he did not see fit to grant this, I should
never make another, but should leave Whitehall at once."
"Ah! the little woman with a big motive pouts if the mountain moves too
slowly. I should like to have heard you talking to him," I said.
"And perhaps you would have spoiled it all," she answered. "We walked
down the path for perhaps three or four minutes, but at length the king
spoke, stammeringly, and said that if I would bring the treaty to his
closet this evening at nine o'clock, he would sign it."
"The dog!" I exclaimed.
"After a long pause, I answered hesitatingly, telling him that I could
not accede to his request, and that I withdrew my petition, craving
permission to leave Whitehall to-morrow. Thereupon he fell into an
ecstasy of entreaty, and when we parted he was very happy, for I had
promised to take the documents to him at nine o'clock. He said I was to
come to the privy stairs leading from the river to his closet and go up
to him for his signature and seal, when he would execute the treaty
immediately and send it by a trusted messenger to the Abbe du Boise."
"Ah, but how will you get away from the closet?" I asked.
"If he will permit me to be the messenger, I can easily escape, but
for fear he will not, you and George shall act as my watermen.
Pages:
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323