"Yes, madam," replied M. de Bellievre, bowing; "I am expressly commanded
to do so."

"And have you this command under his hand?" continued Elizabeth.

"Yes, madam," returned the ambassador with the same calmness; "and the
king, my master, your good brother, has expressly charged me, in letters
signed by his own hand, to make to your Majesty the remonstrances which I
have had the honour to address to you."

"Well," cried Elizabeth, no longer containing herself, "I demand of you a
copy of that letter, signed by you; and reflect that you will answer for
each word that you take away or add."

"Madam," answered M. de Bellievre, "it is not the custom of the kings of
France, or of their agents, to forge letters or documents; you will have
the copies you require to-morrow morning, and I pledge their accuracy on
my honour."

"Enough, sir, enough!" said the queen, and signing to everyone in the
room to go out, she remained nearly an hour with MM. de Chateauneuf and
de Bellievre. No one knows what passed in that interview, except that
the queen promised to send an ambassador to the King of France, who, she
promised, would be in Paris, if not before, at least at the same time as
M. de Bellievre, and would be the bearer of her final resolve as to the
affairs of the Queen of Scotland; Elizabeth then withdrew, giving the
French envoys to understand that any fresh attempt they might make to see
her would be useless.

On the 13th of January the ambassadors received their passports, and at
the same time notice that a vessel of the queen's was awaiting them at
Dover.

The very day of their departure a strange incident occurred. A gentleman
named Stafford, a brother of Elizabeth's ambassador to the King of
France, presented himself at M. de Trappes's, one of the officials in the
French chancellery, telling him that he was acquainted with a prisoner
for debt who had a matter of the utmost importance to communicate to him,
and that he might pay the greater attention to it, he told him that this
matter was connected with the service of the King of France, and
concerned the affairs of Queen Mary of Scotland. M. de Trappes,
although mistrusting this overture from the first, did not want, in case
his suspicions deceived him, to have to reproach himself for any neglect
on such a pressing occasion. He repaired, then, with; Mr. Stafford to the
prison, where he who wished to converse with him was detained. When he
was with him, the