ful and anxious, would no doubt have answered by a
new question, had not Gillonne suddenly entered the apartment.

"The King of Navarre!" she cried.

"How is he coming?"

"By the secret corridor."

"Take monsieur out by the other."

"Impossible, madame. Listen."

"Some one is knocking?"

"Yes, at the door to which you wish me to take monsieur."

"Who is knocking?"

"I do not know."

"Go and see, and come back and tell me."

"Madame," said De Mouy, "might I venture to remark to your majesty that
if the King of Navarre sees me at this hour and in this costume in the
Louvre, I am lost?"

Marguerite seized De Mouy and pushed him towards the famous cabinet.

"Step in here, monsieur," said she; "you will be as safe and as well
protected as if you were in your own house; I give you my word of
honor."

De Mouy entered hastily. Scarcely was the door closed when Henry
appeared.

This time Marguerite had no anxiety to hide--she was merely gloomy, and
love was far from her thoughts.

As to Henry, he entered with that mistrust which in the most dangerous
moments caused him to notice the smallest details; whatever the
circumstances, Henry was an acute observer. Therefore he at once saw the
cloud on Marguerite's brow.

"You are busy, madame?" said he.

"I? Why, yes, sire, I was dreaming."

"You do well, madame. Dreaming is becoming to you. I too was dreaming;
but contrary to you who seek solitude, I have come on purpose to share
my dreams, with you." Marguerite gave the king a gesture of welcome, and
indicating an armchair to him, seated herself on a chair of sculptured
ebony, as delicate and as strong as steel. There was an instant's
silence; then Henry broke it.

"I remembered, madame," said he, "that my dreams as to the future
corresponded with yours in so far as although separated as husband and
wife, nevertheless we both desire to unite our fortune."

"That is true, sire."

"I think I understood you to say also that in all the plans I might make
toward our mutual rising, I would find in you not only a faithful but an
active ally."

"Yes, sire, and I ask only one thing, that in beginning the work as soon
as possible, you will give me the opportunity to begin also."

"I am glad to find you of this mind, madame, and I trust that you have
not for one instant doubted that I would lose sight of the plan I
resolved to carry out the very day when, thanks to your brave
intervention, I was almost sure of b