We
stared at her. Then a lock of bright golden hair which had escaped from
the hood of her cloak gave us the clue. 'Madame!' the king cried.

'Madame de Bruhl!' I echoed, my astonishment greater than his.

Seeing herself known, she began with trembling fingers to undo the
fastenings of her mask; but the king, who had hitherto displayed a
trustfulness I had not expected in him, had taken alarm at sight of her,
as at a thing unlooked for, and of which I had not warned him. 'How is
this?' he said harshly, drawing back a pace from her and regarding me
with anger and distrust. 'Is this some pretty arrangement of yours, sir?
Am I an intruder at an assignation, or is this a trap with M. de Bruhl
in the background? Answer, sirrah!' he continued, working himself
rapidly into a passion. 'Which am I to understand is the case?'

'Neither, sire,' I answered with as much dignity as I could assume,
utterly surprised and mystified as I was by Madame's presence. 'Your
Majesty wrongs Madame de Bruhl as much by the one suspicion as you
injure me by the other. I am equally in the dark with you, sire, and as
little expected to see madame here.'

'I came, sire,' she said proudly, addressing herself to the king, and
ignoring me, 'out of no love to M. de Marsac, but as any person bearing
a message to him might come. Nor can you, sire,' she added with spirit,
'feel half as much surprise at seeing me here, as I at seeing your
Majesty.'

'I can believe that,' the king answered drily. 'I would you had not seen
me.'

'The King of France is seen only when he chooses,' she replied,
curtseying to the ground.

'Good,' he answered. 'Let it be so, and you will oblige the King of
France, madame. But enough,' he continued, turning from her to me;
'since this is not the lady I came to see, M. de Marsac, where is she?'

'In the inner room, sire, I opine,' I said, advancing to Fanchette with
more misgiving at heart than my manner evinced. 'Your mistress is here,
is she not?' I continued, addressing the woman sharply.

'Ay, and will not come out,' she rejoined, sturdily keeping her place.

'Nonsense!' I said. 'Tell her--'

'You may tell her what you please,' she replied, refusing to budge an
inch. 'She can hear.'

'But, woman!' I cried impatiently, 'you do not understand. I MUST speak
with her. I must speak with her at once! On business of the highest
importance.'

'As you please,' she said rudely, still keeping her seat. 'I have told
you you