"I thank you, madame," said he, "for the deference you have shown to my wishes, but I think you want two of the studs, and I bring them back to you."
With these words he held out to the queen the two studs the cardinal had given him.
"How, sire?" cried the young queen, affecting surprise, "you are giving me, then, two more: I shall have fourteen."
In fact the king counted them, and the twelve studs were all on her Majesty's shoulder.
The king called the cardinal.
