was bent upon a struggle.
He was confounded by the Queen's presence, he could not guess why she
should have come; and that she was prepared for what she saw was clear.

"And brought an eloquent pleader with you?" She made a scornful gesture
towards Angele.

"Nay, your Majesty; the lady's zeal outran my own, and crossed the
threshold first."

The Queen's face wore a look that Leicester had never seen on it before,
and he had observed it in many moods.

"You found the lady here, then?"

"With Monsieur alone. Seeing she was placed unfortunately, I offered to
escort her hence to her father. But your Majesty came upon the moment."

There was a ring of triumph in Leicester's voice. No doubt, by some
chance, the Queen had become aware of Angele's presence, he thought.
Fate had forestalled the letter he had already written on this matter
and meant to send her within the hour. Chance had played into his hands
with perfect suavity. The Queen, less woman now than Queen, enraged
by the information got he knew not how, had come at once to punish the
gross breach of her orders and a dark misconduct-so he thought.

The Queen's look, as she turned it on Angele, apparently had in it what
must have struck terror to even a braver soul than that of the helpless
Huguenot girl.

"So it is thus you spend the hours of night? God's faith, but you are
young to be so wanton!" she cried in a sharp voice. "Get you from my
sight and out of my kingdom as fast as horse and ship may carry you--as
feet may bear you." Leicester's face lighted to hear. "Your high
Majesty," pleaded the girl, dropping on her knees, "I am innocent. As
God lives, I am innocent."

"The man, then, only is guilty?" the Queen rejoined with scorn. "Is
it innocent to be here at night, my palace gates shut, with your
lover-alone?" Leicester laughed at the words.

"Your Majesty, oh, your gracious Majesty, hear me. We were not
alone--not alone--"

There was a rustle of curtains, a heavy footstep, and Lempriere of Rozel
staggered into the room. De la Foret ran to help him, and throwing
an arm around him, almost carried him towards the couch. Lempriere,
however, slipped from De la Foret's grasp to his knees on the floor
before the Queen.

"Not alone, your high and sacred Majesty, I am here--I have been here
through all. I was here when Mademoiselle came, brought hither by trick
of some knave not fit to be your immortal Majesty's subject. I speak the
truth, for I am butl