In a tightly shut room on the second floor of the Royal Palace, Lady Sangbellon shrank in fear.
Just over ten minutes ago she had been basking in the excitement of receiving an invitation from the Duke of Orleans, but now she was quivering anxiously, muttering, "Your Grace, I didn't... It was the Duke of Chartres who came to me on his own initiative... And truly, I didn't know I had contracted that kind of disease."
Her skin was smooth, showing no discomfort, indeed she had yet to enter the second stage of syphilis—many people with robust constitutions don't develop noticeable symptoms until two years after becoming infected.
The Duke of Chartres tried to comfort his own father, "Father, there's no shame in the disease of love, even the great Francis I had it..."
"Shut up!"
The Duke of Orleans interrupted him with a roar and then glared fiercely at Lady Sangbellon, "Tell me exactly what happened."
