“It is true, Sire,” answered the Duke.  “I remembered that the last occasion upon which I had seen your Majesties together you were both in excellent spirits, and trusting to find it the case today, when we are all anticipating the birth of a second Prince, I have brought you some offerings which are sure to please you, as they cannot fail to gratify those to whom they are distributed in your name, a distribution which I trust may take place this evening in your presence and that of the Queen.”

“Although she says nothing to you,” laughed the King, “according to her custom of pretending to be asleep, she is as thoroughly awake as myself, but she is very angry with both of us.  However, we will talk of that some other time.  And now let us see your presents.”

“They are not perhaps, Sire,” said the Grand Master, “such as might be expected from the treasurer of a wealthy and powerful monarch; but such as they are, I feel convinced that they will afford more real gratification to those for whom they are intended, and excite more gratitude towards your own person, than all the costly gifts which you lavish upon individuals who, as I well know, only repay your profuse liberality by ingratitude and murmurs.”

“I understand you,” exclaimed the King; “it is useless to explain yourself further; rather show us what you have brought.”

The Duke made a signal to his secretaries to approach the bed.  “Here, Sire,” he said, “in my despatch-bag, are three purses filled with gold tokens, with a device expressive of the love borne towards your Majesty by your people.  One of these I offer to yourself, another to the Queen, and the third to Monseigneur le Dauphin, or rather I ought to say to Mamanga,[312] if her Majesty does not retain it, as she has always done on similar occasions.  In the same bag are eight purses of silver tokens with the same device—­two for yourself, two for the Queen, and four for La Renouillere, Caterina Selvaggio, and any other of the ladies who sleep in the chamber of her Majesty.  The second bag contains twenty-five purses of tokens in silver, to be distributed among Monseigneur le Dauphin, Madame de Montglat, Madame de Drou,[313] Mademoiselle de Piolant,[314] the nurses and other attendants of Monseigneur and his sister, and the waiting-maids of the Queen.  In the third bag there are thirty sacks, each containing a hundred crowns in half-franc pieces, coined expressly for the purpose, and so large that they appear to be of twice the value.  These are intended for all the attendants of subordinate rank attached to the household of her Majesty and the royal children, according to your orders.  I have left, moreover, in my carriage below, in the charge of my people, two great bags, each containing a hundred crowns in twelve sous pieces, making the sum of twelve thousand sous, for division among the poor and sick upon the quays of the river near the Louvre, which are, as I am told, already crowded; and I have in consequence sent twelve