e the rooms I had left so short a while ago.

I had not to wait long. There was a sudden talking of voices beyond the
door that the Ambassador had just passed through; and I heard the Duke's
tones very plain. Then the page stiffened to attention, the door was
flung open suddenly, and the Duke came out alone at a great pace,
leaving the door open behind him. He never saw me at all. The page
darted after him, and the two disappeared together round the corner in
the direction of the King's rooms. As soon as they were gone, M.
Barillon came out and beckoned to me; and together we went up and down
the gallery.

"You are perfectly right, sir," he said. "His Royal Highness shewed
great sorrow for not leaving thought of it. He is gone instantly to His
Majesty."

"He will fetch a priest?"

"He will speak to His Majesty first. He will find out, at least, what he
thinks."

"But, good God!" said I. "His Majesty hath told me himself what he
wishes."

"You must let His Royal Highness do it in his own way," he said. "He
must not be pushed. But I think you have done the trick, Mr. Mallock."

"How is Her Majesty?" I asked abruptly.

"The physicians have been at her too," he said dryly. "She had a
fainting-fit just now in His Majesty's presence; and they have been
blooding her."

"What priest can be got?" I asked next.

He made a gesture towards the chamber he had just come out of.

"There is a pack of them in there," he said, "next to Her Majesty's
private closet. They have been praying all day in the oratory."

* * * * *

It was fallen dark by now; for it was long after five o'clock; and there
were no candles lighted here. We went up and down a good while longer,
for the most part in silence, speaking of this and that; and I will not
deny that we talked a little of French affairs, though God knows I was
in no heart for that, and answered very indifferently. It appeared to me
extraordinary that a man could think of such little things as the
affairs of kingdoms when an immortal soul was at stake.

A little before six o'clock, when at last the servants brought lights,
the Ambassador left me again to go in to see the Queen, leaving me to
watch for the Duke; and I had not very long to wait, for soon after I
had heard a clock chime the hour, His Royal Highness came again, walking
very quickly as before; and, when he saw me waiting there, beckoned me
to follow him. We went through two or three