"
"Would it be your wish that I should dismiss him? Do you give me
power to tell him that you extend no audience to him here?"
"Oh! do not do so," sighed Marie Antoinette. "He, too, is one of my
enemies, and we must proceed much more tenderly with our dear
enemies than with our friends."
Just then the Duke de Fronac ascended the last terrace, and
approached the queen with repeated bows, which she reciprocated with
an earnest look and a gentle inclination of the head.
"Well, duke, is it I with whom the chief manager of the royal
theatres wishes to speak?"
"Madame," answered the duke, "I am come to beg an audience of your
majesty."
"You have it; and it is, as you see, a very imposing audience, for
we stand in the throne room of God, and the canopy of Heaven arches
over us. Now say, duke, what brings you to me?"
"Your majesty, I am come to file an accusation!"
"And of course against me?" asked the queen, with a haughty smile.
The duke pretended not to hear the question, and went on: "I am come
to bring a charge and to claim my rights. His majesty has had the
grace to appoint me manager-in-chief of all the royal theatres, and
to give me their supreme control."
"Well, what has that to do with me?" asked the queen in her coldest
way. " You have then your duties assigned you, to he rightfully
fulfilled, and to keep your theatres in order, as if they were
troops under your care.
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