ise. Should I give a signal, lift yonder red curtain at its
farther end, and hide there in silence until I come again."

I partook of the coarse food eagerly enough, yet my eyes were ever upon
her, my lips even finding time for speech.

"Have you some plan, Madame?" I questioned anxiously. "You said but
now this house was held under heavy guard."

"I spoke truly. I may not step forth into the air but some savage is
at my side driving me back again. Oftentimes they peer within when the
Queen is absent, to assure themselves that I am safely caged."

"And this Naladi--does she treat you well?"

The swift color mounted into her clear cheeks.

"Not ill, so far, at least, as relates to the physical," she responded
gravely. "No hand has been angrily laid upon me since I was dragged
forth from the altar-house. Yet there are other forms of torture; and
she constantly mocks me with my helplessness, and, I believe, even
hates me for no better reason than that I stand between her and the
Chevalier."

"You have seen him?"

"No; but have heard his voice while he held private converse with her,
the shameless wanton; have listened to words ill suited to the ears of
a wife. She is a witch, and the slumbering devil in her has made snare
for his weakness."

"I greatly fear there may be truth in this," I returned, scarcely
knowing how best to speak at such a time, marking the agitation of her
breathing. "Naladi is a fair woman, softly spoken and seductive when
it is her purpose to please. There are not many men who could resist
her wiles. Yet possibly, Madame, were you to have converse with the
Chevalier your plea might break the spell."

She turned toward me with proud, impetuous gesture, and I was surprised
at the sudden indignant light glowing within her dark eyes.

"No, Geoffrey Benteen, that will never be. I am this man's wife. He
has vowed himself to me before the sacred altar of Holy Church. Think
you that I, a lady born of France, would abase myself to beseech his
loyalty? Not though life or death hung upon the issue! If he can cast
me aside for the caresses of this savage harlot, he may forever go his
way; never will my hand halt him, or my voice claim his allegiance. I
am his wife before God; to the end I will be true unto my solemn
pledges to Holy Church; yet I hope never to look again upon the false
face of Charles de Noyan."

"Are you not over-hasty in such decision?" I ventured, conscious of a
g