'You come from the King of Navarre, I believe?
and on an errand to me.

You may speak openly.

The king has no secrets from me.' There was something in the gravity of his demeanour as he waited for me to speak: which strongly impressed me; notwithstanding that he was ten years younger than myself, and I had seen him so lately in a lighter mood.

I felt that his reputation had not belied him--that here was a great man; and reflecting with despair on the inadequacy of the tale I had to tell him, I paused to consider in what terms I should begin.

He soon put an end to this, however.