citizens upon whom I can rely to distribute the money conscientiously according to the necessities of each applicant.  All these poor people, and even the waiting-women of her Majesty, exhibit more delight on receiving these trifling coins, Sire, than you can well believe.  They all say that it is not so much for the value of the gift, as because it proves that you remember and regard them; and, moreover, the attendants of the Queen prize them in consequence of their being free to appropriate them as they think fit, while they are compelled to employ their respective salaries according to the instructions which they receive, as they thus have a hundred crowns to expend in any finery for which they may take a fancy.”

“And do you bestow all this happiness upon them without being rewarded even by a kiss?” asked Henry gaily.

“Truly, Sire,” answered the Duke, “since the day when your Majesty commanded them to recognize their obligation in that manner, I have never found it necessary to remind them of your royal pleasure, for they come voluntarily to tender their acknowledgments according to order; while Madame de Drou, devout as she is, only laughs during the performance of the ceremony.”

“Come now, M. le Grand Maitre,” persisted the King, “tell me the truth; which do you consider to be the handsomest, and consequently the most welcome among them?”

“On my word, Sire,” replied M. de Sully, “that is a question which I am unable to answer, for I have other things to think of besides love and beauty, and I firmly believe that they, each and all, pay as little attention to my handsome nose as I do to theirs.  I kiss them as we do relics, when I am making my offering.”

Henry laughed heartily.  “How say you, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, addressing the courtiers who thronged the chamber; “have we not here a prodigal treasurer, who makes such presents as these at the expense of his master, and all for a kiss?”

Of course the royal hilarity found a general and an immediate echo, which had no sooner subsided than the King exclaimed:  “And now, gentlemen, to your breakfasts, and leave us to discuss affairs of greater importance.”

In a few minutes all had left the room save Sully himself and the two waiting-women of the Queen, and he had no sooner ascertained that such was the case than Henry said affectionately:  “And now, sleeper, awake, and do not scold any longer, for I have, on my part, resolved not to think any more of what has passed, particularly at such a time as this.  You fancy that Sully blames you whenever we have a difference, but you are quite wrong, as you would be aware could you only know how freely he gives me his opinion on my own faults, and although I am occasionally angry with him, I like him none the less; on the contrary, I believe that if he ceased to love me, he would be more indifferent to all that touches my welfare and honour, as well as the good of my people; for do you