steps together, and I felt, rather
than heard or saw, the mutterings and the glances that followed us.

On the other side of the lawn, facing the Ladies' Terrace and leading
towards the riding-school, is a walk hedged in with high shrubbery on
either hand. We followed this about half way up its length, and then
passing through a narrow wicket found ourselves in a part of the
gardens to which few, if any, of the Court ever went. Here, amidst a
bewildering maze of rose bushes running almost wild, stood an old oak.
There was a little clearing at its base, around which a rough seat was
placed; and here, sitting by her side, I told mademoiselle what I knew,
and of the crisis that had arrived.

Invisible ourselves, we could from where we were see the Gallery of
Apollo and the council hall; and as I ended a figure appeared at one of
the windows and waved a 'kerchief in the direction of the Ladies'
Terrace. It was the King.

"See!" and I pointed to the window, "there is the King, and you can
guess to whom he signals. Whilst we talk here the council is over, and
the peril is at hand."

She did not flinch nor change colour, for she was brave, but she rose
and looked steadily at the council room, where we could now see other
figures moving in the shadow behind the King. Then she turned to me.
I had risen too, and was standing beside her.

"Do you think they will begin at once?" she asked.

"I cannot say. They will undoubtedly begin as soon as they can."

"It is horrible! Can nothing be done? Oh! why am I so helpless? Why
was I not born a man?"

"Mademoiselle, the game is not lost yet. There is still safety before
you. I have told the Queen, and she knows of this plot, but is
powerless to stay the course of these vampires. She can and will, I
know, help you to fly. Leave this place, to-night if possible, and I
will see you to the Palatinate, or the Swiss cantons. They cannot
touch you there. Mademoiselle, you trusted me once before, trust me
again; I will not fail you."

Without a word she held out her hand, and I took it in mine. So we
stood for a little, neither speaking, and then she said:

"But I know not how to leave this place; it has a thousand eyes, a
thousand ears----"

"We must blind those eyes and make those ears deaf. This evening at
dusk come to this spot. I will arrange that either Le Brusquet or De
Lorgnac will meet you here and take you to the gate behind the
riding-school. I shall