Cornelius was frightened,
thinking he had in some way offended his dangerous master.
"Devil or angel, I have him, the guilty man!" cried Louis XI.
abruptly. "If you are robbed again to-night, I shall know to-morrow
who did it. Make that old hag you call your sister come here," he
added.
Cornelius almost hesitated to leave the king alone in the room with
his hoards; but the bitter smile on Louis's withered lips determined
him. Nevertheless he hurried back, followed by the old woman.
"Have you any flour?" demanded the king.
"Oh yes; we have laid in our stock for the winter," she answered.
"Well, go and fetch some," said the king.
"What do you want to do with our flour, sire?" she cried, not the
least impressed by his royal majesty.
"Old fool!" said Cornelius, "go and execute the orders of our gracious
master. Shall the king lack flour?"
"Our good flour!" she grumbled, as she went downstairs. "Ah! my
flour!"
Then she returned, and said to the king:--
"Sire, is it only a royal notion to examine my flour?"
At last she reappeared, bearing one of those stout linen bags which,
from time immemorial, have been used in Touraine to carry or bring, to
and from market, nuts, fruits, or wheat.
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