rch.

"Is Michel de la Foret within?" he called; then stopped short, as though
astonished, seeing Angele. "So! so!" he said, with a contemptuous laugh.
Michel de la Foret's fingers twitched. He quickly stepped in front of
Angele, and answered: "What is your business here, my lord?"

Leicester languorously took off a glove, and seemed to stifle a yawn in
it; then said: "I came to take you into my service, to urge upon you
for your own sake to join my troops, going upon duty in the North; for I
fear that if you stay here the Queen Mother of France will have her
way. But I fear I am too late. A man who has sworn himself into service
d'amour has no time for service de la guerre."

"I will gladly give an hour from any service I may follow to teach the
Earl of Leicester that he is less a swordsman than a trickster."

Leicester flushed, but answered coolly: "I can understand your chagrin.
You should have locked your door. It is the safer custom." He bowed
lightly towards Angele. "You have not learned our English habits
of discretion, Monsieur de la Foret. I would only do you service.
I appreciate your choler. I should be no less indignant. So, in the
circumstances, I will see that the gates are opened, of course you did
not realise the flight of time,--and I will take Mademoiselle to
her lodgings. You may rely on my discretion. I am wholly at your
service--tout a vous, as who should say in your charming language."

The insolence was so veiled in perfect outward courtesy that it must
have seemed impossible for De la Foret to reply in terms equal to the
moment. He had, however, no need to reply, for the door of the room
suddenly opened, and two pages stepped inside with torches.

They were followed by a gentleman in scarlet and gold, who said, "The
Queen!" and stepped aside.

An instant afterwards Elizabeth, with the Duke's Daughter, entered.

The three dropped upon their knees, and Elizabeth waved without the
pages and the gentleman-in-waiting. When the doors closed, the Queen
eyed the three kneeling figures, and as her glance fell on Leicester a
strange glitter came into her eyes. She motioned all to rise, and with a
hand upon the arm of the Duke's Daughter, said to Leicester:

"What brings the Earl of Leicester here?"

"I came to urge upon Monsieur the wisdom of holding to the Sword and
leaving the Book to the butter-fingered religious. Your Majesty needs
good soldiers."

He bowed, but not low, and it was clear he