IV

In the Apartments of the Queen

Now that Plume had arrived at the palace with his letters of credit, the Queen said to him:

— Here’s the situation. The King is quite busy at the moment. You’ll see him later. If you wish, we’ll drop in on him together around five. His Majesty has a great liking for Danes, His Majesty will gladly receive you, in the meantime you and I could just take a little stroll.

Given how large the palace is, I’m always afraid of getting lost and suddenly ending up in the kitchens—a place, you understand, unbefitting of a Queen. Let’s turn here. I know the way well. Here’s my bedroom.

And they enter the bedroom.

— Seeing as we have two full hours to kill, perhaps you could read something aloud to me, but I have nothing very interesting on hand here. Do you play cards? But I have to admit I’d immediately end up losing.

In any event, don’t just stand there like that. It’s most tiring. Things quickly become such a bore when one’s seated. Perhaps we should lie down together on this couch.

And they lie down on the couch.

But she soon gets up again.

— The heat is always so unbearable in this room. If you helped me get undressed, you’d be doing me a real favor. Then we could chat away in proper fashion. I’m so eager to learn all about Denmark. Besides, this gown is quite easy to remove, I wonder how I kept it on all day. It just slips off without one realizing. Look, now that I’m raising my arms, any child could just snatch it away. Of course, I wouldn’t subject myself to this. I love children, but palaces are so full of gossip and besides, children are always mislaying things.

And Plume undresses her.

— Listen, don’t just stand there like that. To keep all one’s clothes on in a bedroom is so frightfully awkward and besides, this way I can’t see you, it looks to me as if you wanted to make a getaway and abandon me to the vastness of this palace.

And Plume gets undressed. Then he lies down in his undershirt.

— It’s only three fifteen, she says. Is your knowledge of Denmark sufficient to keep me entertained for a full hour and three-quarters? I won’t be that demanding. I understand how difficult this might prove. Let me give you a bit more time to mull it over. But seeing as how I now have you here, let me show you something that puzzles me greatly. I’m quite curious to know what a Dane might think of it.

As you can observe, I have three small signs under my right breast. Not three, but two small ones and one large one. You see the big one? It almost looks like . . . It’s pretty odd, don’t you think? And look, on my left breast, nothing! Completely blank!

Well, tell me what you think. But first, inspect it carefully, take all the time you need . . .

And Plume inspects it. He touches it, he fumbles around it with his fingers, and this quest for realities causes him to tremble as his digits pursue and repursue the trajectory of the curves.

And Plume is lost in thought.

— I see you’re wondering why, said the Queen after several moments. I now see that you’re something of an expert. You want to know whether I have any more. None, she said, blushing and all abashed.

And now, tell me all about Denmark, but snuggle up to me so that I can pay even closer attention.

Plume draws nearer. He lies against her and at this point is no longer able to dissimulate a thing.

And, in effect:

— Listen, she says, I thought you had more respect for the Queen than that, but since you now find yourself in this state, I wouldn’t want it to hinder our subsequent discussion of Denmark.

And the Queen draws him to her side.

— And please be sure to concentrate on caressing my legs, she said. Otherwise, I’ll become so absentminded that I’ll no longer know why it was I went to bed in the first place . . .

It was at this point that the King made his entrance!

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Most terrible adventures, whatever your weft, whatever your woof, most painful adventures, an implacable enemy at your root!