"Bad news, my sage counsellor," she said. "The Carmelite never returned to the convent after the service was over. Having learned that you had come back in great haste, he had, I suppose, concluded he might stand in suspicion, so he left the convent of Mont St. Victoire." "We must hasten the measures which your Majesty has resolved to adopt," answered Arthur. "I will speak with my father to-morrow. Meanwhile, you must enjoy the pleasures of the evening, for to you they may be pleasures.--Young lady of Boisgelin, I give you this cavalier to be your partner for the evening." The black-eyed and pretty Provençale curtseyed with due decorum, and glanced at the handsome young Englishman with an eye of approbation; but whether afraid of his character as a philosopher, or his doubtful rank, added the saving clause,--"If my mother approves." "Your mother, damsel, will scarce, I think, disapprove of any partner whom you receive from the hands of Margaret of Anjou. Happy privilege of youth," she added with a sigh, as the youthful couple went off to take their place in the _bransle_,[10] "which can snatch a flower even on the roughest road!" Arthur acquitted himself so well during the evening, that perhaps the young Countess was only sorry that so gay and handsome a gallant limited his compliments and attentions within the cold bounds of that courtesy enjoined by the rules of ceremony. FOOTNOTES: [10] Bransle, in English, brawl--a species of dance. CHAPTER XIV. For I have given here my full consent To undeck the pompous body of a king, Make glory base, and sovereignty a slave, Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant. _Richard II._ The next day opened a grave scene. King René had not forgotten to arrange the pleasures of the day, when, to his horror and discomfiture, Margaret demanded an interview upon serious business. If there was a proposition in the world which René from his soul detested, it was any that related to the very name of business. "What was it that his child wanted?" he said. "Was it money? He would give her whatever ready sums he had, though he owned his exchequer was somewhat bare; yet he had received his income for the season. It was ten thousand crowns. How much should he desire to be paid to her?--the half--three parts--or the whole? All was at her command." "Alas, my dear father," said Margaret, "it is not my affairs, but your own, on which I desire to speak with you." "If the affairs are mine," said René, "I am surely master to put them off to another day--to some rainy dull day, fit for no better purpose. See, my love, the hawking-party are all on their steeds and ready--the horses are neighing and pawing--the gallants and maidens mounted, and ready with hawk on fist--the spaniels struggling in the leash. It were a sin, with wind and weather to friend, to lose so lovely a morning."