icating vigor, and the mock
humility which La Mole introduced into his supplication.

Henriette's eyes turned from La Mole, to whom she had listened till he
ended, and rested on Coconnas, to see if the expression of that
gentleman's countenance harmonized with his friend's ardent address. It
seemed that she was satisfied, for blushing, breathless, conquered, she
said to Coconnas, with a smile which disclosed a double row of pearls
enclosed in coral:

"Is this true?"

"By Heaven!" exclaimed Coconnas, fascinated by her look, "it is true,
indeed. Oh, yes, madame, it is true--true on your life--true on my
death!"

"Come with me, then," said Henriette, extending to him her hand, while
her eyes proclaimed the feelings of her heart.

Coconnas flung his velvet cap into the air and with one stride was at
the young woman's side, while La Mole, recalled to Marguerite by a
gesture, executed at the same time an amorous _chassez_ with his friend.

Rene appeared at the door in the background.

"Silence!" he exclaimed, in a voice which at once damped all the ardor
of the lovers; "silence!"

And they heard in the solid wall the sound of a key in a lock, and of a
door grating on its hinges.

"But," said Marguerite, haughtily, "I should think that no one has the
right to enter whilst we are here!"

"Not even the queen mother?" whispered Rene in her ear.

Marguerite instantly rushed out by the exterior staircase, leading La
Mole after her; Henriette and Coconnas almost arm-in-arm followed them,
all four taking flight, as fly at the first noise the birds seen
engaged in loving parley on the boughs of a flowering shrub.

CHAPTER XX.

THE BLACK HENS.

It was time the two couples disappeared! Catharine was putting the key
in the lock of the second door just as Coconnas and Madame de Nevers
stepped out of the house by the lower entrance, and Catharine as she
entered could hear the steps of the fugitives on the stairs.

She cast a searching glance around, and then fixing her suspicious eyes
on Rene, who stood motionless, bowing before her, said:

"Who was that?"

"Some lovers, who are satisfied with the assurance I gave them that they
are really in love."

"Never mind them," said Catharine, shrugging her shoulders; "is there no
one else here?"

"No one but your majesty and myself."

"Have you done what I ordered you?"

"About the two black hens?"

"Yes!"

"They are ready, madame."

"Ah," muttered Cathari