"You are a bad friend," said he; "I lost all, when I lost my former ones." "May I dare to say to your majesty that you hardly encourage the new ones." The king looked at him with an expression which he well understood.
"Ah! your majesty reproaches me with your benefits," said he, "but I do not reproach you with my devotion." "Lavalette," cried Henri, "you make me sad; you who are so clever, and could so easily make me joyful.

It is not your nature to fight continually, like my old favorites; but you are facetious and amusing, and give good counsel.

You know all my affairs, like that other more humble friend, with whom I never experienced a moment's ennui." "Of whom does your majesty speak ?" "Of my poor jester, Chicot.

Alas! where is he ?" D'Epernon rose, piqued.

"Your majesty's souvenirs, to-day, are not very amusing for other people," said he.
"Why so ?" "Your majesty, without intending it, perhaps, compared me to Chicot, which is not very flattering." "You are wrong, D'Epernon; I could only compare to Chicot a man who loves me, and whom I love." "It was not to resemble Chicot, I suppose, that your majesty made me a duke ?" "Chicot loved me, and I miss him; that is all I can say.