gave them their dismissal, and exhorted them to ‘serve the good king.’ These were his own words, of that I am
“Well, Blacas, what think you of this?” inquired the king triumphantly, and pausing for a moment from the voluminous scholiast before him.
“I say, sire, that the minister of police is greatly deceived or I am; and as it is impossible it can be the minister of police as he has the guardianship of the safety and honor of your majesty, it is probable that I am in error. However, sire, if I might advise, your majesty will interrogate the person of whom I spoke to you, and I will urge your majesty to do him this honor.”
“Most willingly, duke; under your auspices I will receive any person you please, but you must not expect me to be too confiding. Baron, have you any report more recent than this, dated the 20th February, and this is the 3rd of March?”
“No, sire, but I am hourly expecting one; it may have arrived since I left my office.”
“Go thither, and if there be none—well, well,” continued Louis XVIII , “make one; that is the usual way, is it not?” and the king laughed facetiously.
“Oh, sire,” replied the minister, “we have no occasion to invent any; every day our desks are loaded with most circumstantial denunciations, coming from hosts of people who hope for some return for services which they seek to render, but cannot; they trust to fortune, and rely upon some unexpected event in some way to justify their predictions.”
“Well, sir, go;” said Louis XVIII , “and remember that I am waiting for you.”
“I will but go and return, sire; I shall be back in ten minutes.”