“I hasten to do so.”
The duke left the royal presence with the speed of a young man; his really sincere royalism made him youthful again. Louis XVIII remained alone, and turning his eyes on his half-opened Horace, muttered:
“ Justum et tenacem propositi virum. ”
M. de Blacas returned as speedily as he had departed, but in the antechamber he was forced to appeal to the king’s authority. Villefort’s dusty garb, his costume, which was not of courtly cut, excited the susceptibility of M. de Brezé, who was all astonishment at finding that this young man had the audacity to enter before the king in such attire. The duke, however, overcame all difficulties with a word—his majesty’s order; and, in spite of the protestations which the master of ceremonies made for the honor of his office and principles, Villefort was introduced.
The king was seated in the same place where the duke had left him. On opening the door, Villefort found himself facing him, and the young magistrate’s first impulse was to pause.
“Come in, M. de Villefort,” said the king, “come in.”
Villefort bowed, and advancing a few steps, waited until the king should interrogate him.
“ M. de Villefort,” said Louis XVIII , “the Duc de Blacas assures me you have some interesting information to communicate.”
“Sire, the duke is right, and I believe your majesty will think it equally important.”
“In the first place, and before everything else, sir, is the news as bad in your opinion as I am asked to believe?”