she commanded Lord Hunsdon to bring Melville to her at a time
when she was at her harpischord, so that he could hear her without her
seeming to have the air of playing for him. In fact, the same day,
Hunsdon, agreeably to her instructions, led the ambassador into a gallery
separated from the queen's apartment merely by tapestry, so that his
guide having raised it. Melville at his leisure could hear Elizabeth,
who did not turn round until she had finished the piece, which, however,
she was playing with much skill. When she saw Melville, she pretended to
fly into a passion, and even wanted to strike him; but her anger calmed
down by little and little at the ambassador's compliments, and ceased
altogether when he admitted that Mary Stuart was not her equal. But this
was not all: proud of her triumph, Elizabeth desired also that Melville
should see her dance. Accordingly, she kept back her despatches for two
days that he might be present at a ball that she was giving. These
despatches, as we have said, contained the wish that Mary Stuart should
espouse Leicester; but this proposal could not be taken seriously.
Leicester, whose personal worth was besides sufficiently mediocre, was of
birth too inferior to aspire to the hand of the daughter of so many
kings; thus Mary replied that such an alliance would not become her.
Meanwhile, something strange and tragic came to pass.

CHAPTER II

Among the lords who had followed Mary Stuart to Scotland was, as we have
mentioned, a young nobleman named Chatelard, a true type of the nobility
of that time, a nephew of Bayard on his mother's side, a poet and a
knight, talented and courageous, and attached to Marshal Damville, of
whose household he formed one. Thanks to this high position, Chatelard,
throughout her stay in France, paid court to Mary Stuart, who, in the
homage he rendered her in verse, saw nothing more than those poetical
declarations of gallantry customary in that age, and with which she
especially was daily overwhelmed. But it happened that about the time
when Chatelard was most in love with the queen she was obliged to leave
France, as we have said. Then Marshal Damville, who knew nothing of
Chatelard's passion, and who himself, encouraged by Mary's kindness, was
among the candidates to succeed Francis II as husband, set out for
Scotland with the poor exile, taking Chatelard with him, and, not
imagining he would find a rival in him, he made a confidant of him,