ST. CLOUD. 149 



and necessity urged you on. Here, take this money, and 

 poach no more; and leave the king's game alone for the 

 future." 



" Sire, I swear ! Oh, what an excellent man is the king ! 

 I have done with poaching for ever !" And he commenced 

 shouting with all the force of his lungs, Vive le Roi! in a 

 manner sufficient to leave no doubt of his loyalty. 



Ten days after this event, the king, in his usual costume 

 neglige and grey casquette, was again taking his morning walk 

 towards Yilleneuve 1'Etang, on his way to visit Madame la 

 Dauphine. 



His majesty was alone, his mind a good deal preoccupied 

 by what had taken place in the cabinet council on the pre- 

 vious day, during which the prime minister had freely 

 exposed the then political situation of the country. Whilst 

 walking gently onwards through the grande allee, a woman, 

 apparently of about twenty-five years of age, passed him, 

 dressed in her gayest Sunday garments, but with a counte- 

 nance expressive of extreme grief or, at all events, some 

 great embarrassment. 



The king was struck by her appearance, and asked her in 

 a familiar way where she was going, dressed so finely, as it 

 was neither a fete-day nor Sunday. 



" Where am I going, my good sir *? where am I going 1 

 Alas ! I know not. You see before you a woman on the 

 borders of despair." 



"What has happenened to you?" said the king, much 

 interested in the adventure. 



" Oh, mon Lieu, sir, I think I shall go out of my mind; but 

 as you appear so kind, and to take interest in me, I will tell 

 you. Only imagine, my cousin Francois faithfully promised 

 to stand godfather to my child, which is now waiting to be 

 baptized, but just as we were all ready to go to church, 

 a letter has arrived from him to say that his affairs prevent 



