"You are not wanted here, my little Gretchen," he said; "and, indeed, all
the world is so busy to-day that I scarcely know what to do with thee."
"Take me to Monsieur Maurice!" I said, coaxingly.
"Ay--so I will," said my father; "with him, at all events, you will be out
of the way."
So he took me round to Monsieur Maurice's rooms, and told me as we went
along that the King had only given him six hours' notice, and that in
order to furnish his Majesty's bed and his Majesty's supper, he had bought
up all the poultry and eggs, and borrowed well-nigh all the silver, glass,
and linen in the town.
By this time we were almost at Monsieur Maurice's door. A sudden thought
flashed upon me. I pulled him back, out of the sentry's hearing.
"Oh, father!" I cried eagerly, "will you not ask the King to let Monsieur
Maurice free?"
My father shook his head.
"Nay," he said, "I must not do that, my little Maedchen. And look you--not a
word that the King is coming here to-night. It would only make the prisoner
restless, and could avail nothing. Promise me to be silent."
So I promised, and he left me at the door without going in.
I spent all the afternoon with Monsieur Maurice. He divided his luncheon
with me; he gave me a French lesson, he told me stories.
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