Page:Famous stories from foreign countries.djvu/17

 course whether it is the same way in other countries to-day.

It was the King’s duty to revive the punishment of the old law. At his lever he thought earnestly over the fate of my great grandfather, Primus. When the Marquis Massimel de la Réole de Courtroy approached him laughing merrily he said: “What shall we do with this fellow, Primus? He has brought into fashion an old piece of stupidity.” The Marquis did not really know about the subject of conversation, so he said impulsively: “Sire, if it is a question of fashion, why not turn it over to my wife to decide?”

The entire court laughed, and His Majesty, who was an agreeable person, laughed too. He had procured delay—which was pleasing to him—so the fate of my great, great grandfather rested in the charming hands of the little Marquise Blanchefleure, who at that moment was tying the ribbons of the morning cap of Marie Antoinette. The lever of this enchanting, frivolous Queen began an hour later, but the Marquis, as husband of his wife, and messenger of the king, was already there. In the meantime he had informed himself about the case of Primus Thaller, and explained it to the Queen and the Marquise. Madame Blanchefleure clapped delightedly her little hands. A Swiss! How charming! I beg the handsome King of France to give him to me, to build a Swiss dairy for me in La Réole, and an Alp, and get me some dappled cows.

The Queen laughed and agreed.