ill at her feet, "I have told you I
was that."

"The chief thought of your life, then, is your love, dear La Mole!"

"It is the only thought, madame, the sole thought."

"Well, be it so; I will make of all the rest only an accessory to this
love. You love me; do you wish to remain near me?"

"My one prayer is that God will never take me from you."

"Well, you shall not leave me. I need you, La Mole."

"You need me? Does the sun need the glow-worm?"

"If I will tell you that I love you, would you be wholly devoted to me?"

"Ah! am I not that already, madame, and more than wholly?"

"Yes, but, God forgive me, you still doubt!"

"Oh! I am wrong, I am ungrateful, or, rather, as I have told you and
repeated to you, I am a fool. But why was Monsieur de Mouy with you this
evening? why did I see him this morning with Monsieur le Duc d'Alencon?
Why that cherry-colored cloak, that white plume, that affected imitation
of my gait? Ah! madame, it is not you whom I suspect, but your brother."

"Wretched man!" said Marguerite, "wretched man to suppose that Duc
Francois would push complacency so far as to introduce a wooer to his
sister's room! Mad enough to be jealous, and yet not to have guessed! Do
you know, La Mole, that the Duc d'Alencon would run you through with his
own sword if he knew that you were here, this evening, at my feet, and
that instead of sending you away I were saying to you: 'Stay here where
you are, La Mole; for I love you, my fine gentleman, do you hear? I love
you!' Ah, yes! he would certainly kill you."

"Great God!" cried La Mole, starting back and looking at Marguerite in
terror, "is it possible?"

"Everything is possible, my friend, in these times and at this court.
Now, one word; it was not for me that Monsieur de Mouy, in your cloak,
his face hidden under your hat, came to the Louvre. It was for Monsieur
d'Alencon. But I, thinking it was you, brought him here. He knows our
secret, La Mole, and must be carefully managed."

"I should prefer to kill him," said La Mole; "that is shorter and
surer."

"And I, my brave gentleman," said the queen, "I prefer him to live, and
for you to know everything, for not only is his life useful to us, but
it is necessary. Listen and weigh your words well before you answer. Do
you love me enough, La Mole, to be glad if I were really to become a
queen; that is, queen of a real kingdom?"

"Alas, madame, I love you enough to wish what you wish, even should this