His head had drooped upon his breast; his cap, pulled forward on his
forehead, hid his eyes. Thus seated in his high chair, surmounted by
the royal crown, he seemed crouched together like a man who had fallen
asleep in the midst of some deep meditation.
At this moment Tristan and his cortege crossed the canal by the bridge
of Sainte-Anne, about two hundred feet from the entrance to Plessis.
"Who is that?" said the king.
The two courtiers questioned each other with a look of surprise.
"He is dreaming," said Coyctier, in a low voice.
"Pasques-Dieu!" cried Louis XI., "do you think me mad? People are
crossing the bridge. It is true I am near the chimney, and I may hear
sounds more easily than you. That effect of nature might be utilized,"
he added thoughtfully.
"What a man!" said de Daim.
Louis XI. rose and went toward one of the windows that looked on the
town. He saw the grand provost, and exclaimed:--
"Ha, ha! here's my crony and his thief. And here comes my little Marie
de Saint-Vallier; I'd forgotten all about it.
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