of it was to let him know the sense of the people with respect to Absalom, and the recall of him: hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee; he suspected that this was not a scheme of her own, but some considerable person had formed it, and made use of her to execute it, which was what he desired to know: and the woman said, let my lord the king now speak; ask what question he pleases, I am ready to answer.