"We can eat this, and cache the dried stuff. We'll have
enough for an army in a week."
"As for me, I saw before me the raw material for our weapons.
When we had emptied the golden platter that held our "bread," I
secreted it under the cover of the granite couch. When the
serving-men called to remove the dishes they apparently did not
notice its absence. So far, success.
Some hours later Desiree paid us a second call. She appeared to
be in the gayest of spirits, and I eyed her curiously from a seat
in the corner as she and Harry sat side by side, chatting for all
the world as though they had been in her own Paris drawing-room.
Was it possible that she was really satisfied, as she had said?
What imaginable food could these black dwarfs find to appease her
tremendous vanity? Or was she merely living the motto of the
French philosopher?
Harry was demanding that he be allowed to visit her apartment;
this she refused, saying that if he were found there by the king
nothing could avert a catastrophe. Harry's brow grew black; I
could see his effort to choke back his anger. Then Desiree led
him away from the topic, and soon they were both again laughing
merrily.
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