While she stood still for one of her maids to detach from her ruff a dead leaf that had dropped there during her walk, Bussy d'Amboise returned from Anjou's apartment. He walked up to her with a conquering air, bowed, and said something that made her laugh. Then he looked around and saw me. He spoke to her again, in a low tone, and she cast her fine eyes in my direction. She directed her ladies to fall back out of hearing, and again conferred with Bussy. At the end of this he left her, and strode over to me. "Monsieur," he said, "the Queen of Navarre would like to know your name. I do not remember to have heard it last night." I told him my name, and he took me by the arm, led me to Marguerite, and presented me, somewhat to my confusion, so rapidly was the thing done. "You are a newcomer at court?" she said. "I arrived in Paris only yesterday." "And have taken service with--whom?" "In the French Guards." "We shall doubtless hear more of your skill with the sword," said Marguerite. "I knew not I had any," I replied, "until I found out that I could stand up for a minute against the sword I met last night. Now I am glad to know that I possess skill, that I may hold it ever at the service of your Majesty as well as of the King." This speech seemed to be exactly what Marguerite had desired of me, for she smiled and said, "I shall not forget you, M. de la Tournoire," before she turned away. Bussy followed her, and I returned to De Rilly. "Why should they pay any attention to me?" I said to him. "No newcomer is too insignificant to be sought as an ally where there are so many parties," he replied, indifferently. "Those two are with Anjou, who may have use for as many adherents as he can get one of these days. They say he is always meditating rebellion with the Huguenots or the Politiques, or both, and I don't blame a prince who is so shabbily treated at court." "But what could a mere guardsman do, without friends or influence? Besides, my military duties--" "Will leave you plenty of time to get into other troubles, if you find them amusing. How do you intend to pass the rest of the day?" "I have no plans. I should like to see more of the Louvre on my first visit; and, to tell the truth, I had hoped to find out more about a certain lady who belongs to the court." "What do you know of her?" "Only that she has a beautiful figure and a pretty mouth and chin. She wore a mask, but I should recognize her voice if I heard it again." "I wish you better luck than I have had to-day."