"You, Margot!" said he. "Where are you going at this hour?"
"At this hour!" said Marguerite. "Is it so late?"
"I ask where you are going?"
"To find a book of Cicero"s speeches, which I think I left at our mother"s."
"Without a light?"
"I supposed the corridor was lighted."
"Do you come from your own apartments?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing this evening?"
"Preparing my address for the Polish amba.s.sadors. Is there not a council to-morrow? and does not each one have to submit his address to your Majesty?"
"Have you not some one helping you with this work?"
Marguerite summoned all her strength.
"Yes, brother," said she, "Monsieur de la Mole. He is very learned."
"So much so," said the Duc d"Alencon, "that I asked him when he had finished with you, sister, to come and help me, for I am not as clever as you are."
"And were you waiting for him?" asked Marguerite as naturally as possible.
"Yes," said D"Alencon, impatiently.
"Then," said Marguerite, "I will send him to you, brother, for we have finished my work."
"But your book?" said Charles.
"I will have Gillonne get it."
The two brothers exchanged a sign.
"Go," said Charles, "and we will continue our round."
"Your round!" said Marguerite; "whom are you looking for?"
"The little red man," said Charles. "Do you not know that there is a little red man who is said to haunt the old Louvre? My brother D"Alencon claims to have seen him, and we are looking for him."
"Good luck to you," said Marguerite, and she turned round. Glancing behind her, she saw the four figures gather close to the wall as if in conference. In an instant she had reached her own door.
"Open, Gillonne," said she, "open."
Gillonne obeyed.
Marguerite sprang into the room and found La Mole waiting for her, calm and quiet, but with drawn sword.
"Flee," said she, "flee. Do not lose a second. They are waiting for you in the corridor to kill you."
"You command me to do this?" said La Mole.
"I command it. We must part in order to see each other again."
While Marguerite had been away La Mole had made sure of the ladder at the window. He now stepped out, but before placing his foot on the first round he tenderly kissed the queen"s hand.
"If the ladder is a trap and I should perish, Marguerite, remember your promise."
"It was not a promise, La Mole, but an oath. Fear nothing. Adieu!"
And La Mole, thus encouraged, let himself slip down the ladder. At the same instant there was a knock at the door.
Marguerite watched La Mole"s perilous descent and did not turn away from the window until she was sure he had reached the ground in safety.
"Madame," said Gillonne, "madame!"
"Well?" asked Marguerite.
"The King is knocking at the door."
"Open it."
Gillonne did so.
The four princes, impatient at waiting, no doubt, stood on the threshold.
Charles entered.
Marguerite came forward, a smile on her lips.
The King cast a rapid glance around.
"Whom are you looking for, brother?" asked Marguerite.
"Why," said Charles, "I am looking--I am looking--why, the devil! I am looking for Monsieur de la Mole."
"Monsieur de la Mole!"
"Yes; where is he?"
Marguerite took her brother by the hand and led him to the window.
Just then two hors.e.m.e.n were seen galloping away, around the wooden tower. One of them unfastened his white satin scarf and waved it in the darkness, as a sign of adieu. The two men were La Mole and Orthon.