'The Dauphiness, too--will she be there?'

'Ah, the Dauphiness!' said the elder woman, with a meaning sound and
shake of the head.

'Scandal--evil tongues!' growled the man.

'Nay, Master Jerome, there's no denying it, for a merchant of Bourges
told me. She runs about the country on foot, like no discreet woman, let
alone a princess, with a good-for-nothing minstrel after her. Ah, you
may grunt and make signs, but I had it from the Countess de Craylierre's
own tirewoman, who came for a bit of lace, that the Dauphin is about to
the Sire Jamet de Tillay caught her kissing the minstrel on a bench in
the garden at Nanci.'

'I would not trust the Sire de Tillay's word. He is in debt to every
merchant of the place--a smooth-tongued deceiver. Belike he is bribed
to defame the poor lady, that the Dauphin may rid himself of a childless
wife.'

The young girl was growing restless, declaring that the rain was over,
and that they should miss the getting good places at the show. Margaret
had stood all this time leaning against her pillar, with hands clenched
together and teeth firm set, trying to control the shuddering of
horror and indignation that went through her whole frame. She started
convulsively when Linette moved after the burgher, but put a force upon
herself when she perceived that it was in order to inquire how best to
reach the Hotel de Terreforte.

He pointed to the opposite door of the church, and Linette,
reconnoitring and finding that it led into a street entirely quiet and
deserted, went back to the Dauphiness, whom she found sunk on her knees,
stiff and dazed.

'Come, Madame,' she entreated, trying to raise her, 'the Hotel de
Terreforte is near, these houses shelter us, and the rain is nearly
over.'

Margaret did not move at first; then she looked up and said, 'What was
it that they said, Linette?'

'Oh! no matter what they said, Madame; they were ignorant creatures,
who knew not what they were talking about. Come, you are wet, you are
exhausted. This good lady will know how to help you.'

'There is no help in man,' said Margaret, wildly stretching out her
arms. 'Oh, God! help me--a desolate woman--and my sisters! Betrayed!
betrayed!'

Very much alarmed, Linette at last succeeded in raising her to her feet,
and guiding her, half-blinded as she seemed, to the portal of the Hotel
de Terreforte--an archway leading into a courtyard. It was by great good
fortune that the very first person who stood wi