once, in spite of the ravages that time and an
unchanging grief had wrought upon her beauty, to be the Princess de
Gonzague, the widow of Nevers. The princess was accompanied by a
lady-in-waiting, a woman older than herself, and, like herself, clad
wholly in black, on whose arm she leaned for support. Lagardere bowed
respectfully to the woman he had last seen so many years before in the
short and terrible interview in the moat at Caylus.

"You requested to see me," the princess said, gravely and sternly.

"I requested permission to wait upon you," Lagardere answered,
deferentially.

"You are," the princess continued, "I presume, in the service of the
Prince de Gonzague?"

Lagardere bowed in silence.

"It is not my custom," the princess said, "to receive messengers from his
highness, but it is my custom daily to visit these rooms for a few
moments at this time to look at one of the pictures they contain, and at
this time his highness leaves the room at my disposal. From the
earnestness of your letter, I have, therefore, consented to see you here
in the course of this, my daily pilgrimage. What have you got to say to
me?"

"Your highness," said Lagardere, "I am, as you imagine, in the service of
his highness the Prince de Gonzague, but I have been out of France for
many years, and know little or nothing of the events which have taken
place in my absence. I understand, however, that there is to be a family
council held in the palace to-day, and that it is my master's earnest
wish that you should be present at that council."

The princess drew herself up and surveyed the hunchback coldly. "There
is no need," she said, "for any such council nor any need for my
presence. I have told your master so already, and do not see why I should
be importuned to repeat my words."

Lagardere bowed again, and made as if to retire. Then, as if suddenly
recollecting something, he drew from his breast a small, sealed package.
"As I was coming to the Hotel de Gonzague this morning," he said, "a man
whom I do not know stopped me in the street and gave me this package,
with the request that I should deliver it to your highness. I explained
to the man that I was in the service of his highness the Prince de
Gonzague, and had not the honor of being included among your highness's
servants. But the man still pressed me to take charge of this packet,
asking me to deliver it to the care of one of your highness's women, and
I should have done