The Infant's Skull; Or, The End of the World. A Tale of the Millennium. Эжен Сю

      "Fetch him back, he can not be far!" cried the King impatiently and with rising anger. "Bring him back here immediately!"

      One of the seigneurs hurried out to execute the King's orders, while Blanche letting herself down near him, said, smiling tenderly: "I shall try, my beloved seigneur, to enable you to wait patiently for the idiot's return."

      "Fetch him back. All of you run after him; the more of you look after him, the quicker will he be found."

      Bowing to the King's orders, the courtiers trooped out of the apartment in search of Yvon.

      CHAPTER IV.

      A ROYAL COUPLE

      Blanche remained alone with her husband, whose face, that for a moment had brightened up, speedily resumed its normal expression of lassitude. The Queen had thrown off her simple vestment of the morning to don a more elaborate costume. Her black hair, braided with pearls, was combed with skill. She wore an orange colored robe of rich material, with wide flowing sleeves, leaving half exposed her breast and shoulders. A collar and gold bracelets studded with precious stones ornamented her neck and arms. Still reclining on his lounge, now shared by his wife who sat down at its edge, Louis did not even bestow a glance upon her. With his head leaning upon one of the pillows, he was mumbling: "You will see the clumsy fellows will turn out more stupid than the idiot; they will not catch him."