e with the King of France on the subject, explaining
the circumstances, and asking him to rearrest the supposed fugitive
and send him back.

[Sidenote: Gloucester writes to the King of France.]

So he went to the Duke of Gloucester, and, stating the case to him,
asked his grace to write to the King of France, informing him that
Champchevrier had escaped from his parole, and asking him not to give
him refuge, but to seize and send him back. Gloucester was very
willing to do this. It is probable that he knew that Champchevrier was
a friend of the cardinal's, or at least that he was attached to his
interests, and that it was altogether probable that his going into
France was connected with some plot or scheme by which the cardinal
and his party were to derive some advantage. So he wrote the letter,
and it was at once sent to the King of France. The King of France at
this time was Charles VII.

[Sidenote: Champchevrier arrested.]

The king, on receiving the letter, gave orders immediately that
Champchevrier should be arrested. By this time, however, the painting
was finished, and Champchevrier was on the way with it from Lorraine
toward England. He was intercepted on his journey, taken to Vincennes,
and there brought before King Charles, and called upon to give an
account of himself.

[Sidenote: The whole story comes out.]

Of course he was now obliged to tell the whole story. He said that he
had not broken his parole at all, nor intended in any manner to
defraud his captor in England of the ransom money that was due to him,
but had come to France _by the orders of the King of England_. He
explained, too, what he had come for, and showed Charles the painting
which he was carrying back to the king. He also, in proof of the truth
of what he said, produced the safe-conduct which King Henry had given
him.

King Charles laughed very heartily at hearing this explanation, and at
perceiving how neatly he had discovered the secret of King Henry's
love affairs. He was much pleased, too, with the idea of King Henry's
taking a fancy to a lady so nearly related to the royal family of
France. He thought that he might make the negotiation of such a
marriage the occasion for making peace with England on favorable
terms. So he dismissed Champchevrier at once, and recommended to him
to proceed to England as soon as possible, and there to do all in his
power to induce King Henry to choose Margaret for his queen.

[Sidenote: Trouble