ntracted, a
savage, sinister look shone in his blue eyes once so innocent, like
lightning a thought of death and vengeance flashed into his mind; he
would all at once begin to tremble, as a light hand was laid upon his
shoulder; he would turn softly, fearing lest the divine apparition should
vanish to the skies; but there beside him stood a young girl, with cheeks
aflame and heaving breast, with brilliant liquid eyes: she had come to
tell how her past day had been spent, and to offer her forehead for the
kiss that should reward her labours and unwilling absence. This woman,
dictator of laws and administrator of justice among grave magistrates and
stern ministers, was but fifteen years old; this man; who knew her
griefs, and to avenge them was meditating regicide, was not yet twenty:
two children of earth, the playthings of an awful destiny!

Two months and a few days after the old king's death, on the morning of
Friday the 28th of March of the same year, 1343, the widow of the grand
seneschal, Philippa, who, had already contrived to get forgiven for the
shameful trick she had used to secure all her son's wishes, entered the
queen's apartments, excited by a genuine fear, pale and distracted, the
bearer of news that spread terror and lamentation throughout the court:
Marie, the queen's younger sister, had disappeared.

The gardens and outside courts had been searched for any trace of her;
every corner of the castle had been examined; the guards had been
threatened with torture, so as to drag the truth from them; no one had
seen anything of the princess, and nothing could be found that suggested
either flight or abduction. Joan, struck down by this new blow in the
midst of other troubles, was for a time utterly prostrated; then, when
she had recovered from her first surprise, she behaved as all people do
if despair takes the place of reason: she gave orders for what was
already done to be done again, she asked the same questions that could
only bring the same answers, and poured forth vain regrets and unjust
reproaches. The news spread through the town, causing the greatest
astonishment: there arose a great commotion in the castle, and the
members of the regency hastily assembled, while couriers were sent out in
every direction, charged to promise 12,000 ducats to whomsoever should
discover the place where the princess was concealed. Proceedings were at
once taken against the soldiers who were on guard at the fortress