All this ran swiftly through his mind, and she as swiftly read it off in the brown eyes which gazed at her.
"You have something you came to say, and now you have not the heart to say it.

God bless the kindly heart which checks the cruel tongue." "No, no, madame," said Louis; "I would not be cruel.

I cannot forget that my life has been brightened and my court made brilliant during all these years by your wit and your beauty.

But times change, madame, and I owe a duty to the world which overrides my own personal inclinations.
For every reason I think that it is best that we should arrange in the way which we discussed the other day, and that you should withdraw yourself from the court." "Withdraw, sire! For how long ?" "It must be a permanent withdrawal, madame." She stood with clenched hands and a pale face staring at him.
"I need not say that I shall make your retirement a happy one as far as in me lies.

Your allowance shall be fixed by yourself; a palace shall be erected for you in whatever part of France you may prefer, provided that it is twenty miles from Paris.