uddenly to recollect
having left his mantle on the queen's bed and begged their excuse for
receiving them in such a way; then, taking his mantle from the hands of
Marguerite, who stood blushing by his side, he clasped it on his
shoulder. Next, turning to his gentlemen, he inquired what news there
was in the city and at court.

Marguerite was engaged in watching out of the corner of her eye the
imperceptible signs of astonishment betrayed by the gentlemen at
detecting this newly revealed intimacy between the king and queen of
Navarre, when an usher entered, followed by three or four gentlemen, and
announced the Duc d'Alencon.

To bring him there Gillonne had only to tell him that the king had spent
the night in the queen's room.

Francois rushed in so precipitately that he almost upset those who
preceded him. His first glance was for Henry; his next was for
Marguerite.

Henry replied with a courteous bow; Marguerite composed her features so
that they expressed the utmost serenity.

Then the duke cast a vague but scrutinizing look around the whole room:
he saw the two pillows placed at the head of the bed, the derangement of
its tapestried coverings, and the king's hat thrown on a chair.

He turned pale, but quickly recovering himself, he said:

"Does my royal brother Henry join this morning with the King in his game
of tennis?"

"Does his Majesty do me the honor to select me as his partner?" inquired
Henry, "or is it only a little attention on your part, my
brother-in-law?"

"His Majesty has not so said, certainly," replied the duke, somewhat
embarrassed; "but don't you generally play with him?"

Henry smiled, for so many and such serious events had occurred since he
last played with the King that he would not have been astonished to
learn that the King had changed his habitual companions at the game.

"I shall go there," said Henry, with a smile.

"Come," cried the duke.

"Are you going away?" inquired Marguerite.

"Yes, sister!"

"Are you in great haste?"

"In great haste."

"Might I venture to detain you for a few minutes?"

Such a request was so unusual coming from Marguerite that her brother
looked at her while her color came and went.

"What can she be going to say to him?" thought Henry, no less surprised
than the duke himself.

Marguerite, as if she had guessed her husband's thought, turned toward
him.

"Sire," said she, with a charming smile, "you may go back to his majesty
if it se