"I would speak with you, madam, and alone, upon a matter of urgency and importance," stammered Jocelyne. The thought, that as the fair girl before her belonged to a Huguenot family, she might have been used by the Calvinist party as a secret agent to convey her some intelligence connected with the various plots ripe at that period to place Henry of Navarre in a post of influence about the crown, if not upon the throne, crossed the mind of Margaret, and she gave instant orders that her ladies should retire. To her surprise, as soon as they were left alone, the lovely girl threw herself sobbing at her feet. "Save him! save him!" cried Jocelyne, with outstretched arms. "You have influence--you can approach the king--you can save him if you will. And you will save him--will you not?" "Of whom do you speak, my pretty maiden?" said the princess in surprise. "Of Monseigneur the Count Philip de la Mole!" sobbed Jocelyne. "Philip de la Mole!" exclaimed Margaret aghast. "What ails him, girl? You bid me save him--Why? What mean you?" "Oh! madam, know you not," pursued the sobbing girl, "that he has been arrested for treason--for a conspiracy against the life of the king? that he is at this moment a prisoner, and that his life is threatened?" "La Mole! arrested! accused of attempting the life of Charles!" cried the Queen of Navarre in the highest agitation. "And I knew naught of this? Is it true? How did you learn the story? Do you come from him? Speak, girl, speak, I say!" "He was arrested, madam, in our very house," stammered Jocelyne, wringing her hands. "He had sought a refuge there--and he there lay concealed. But, alas! my poor grandmother, her wits are at times unsettled. Oh! she knew not what she did. Believe me she did not know. A treacherous villain worked upon her wavering mind--she betrayed him. They took him from the room a prisoner. I would have led my grandmother to seek his pardon at the feet of the king, who loved her so well that he would refuse her nothing; but soldiers guarded our doors; they would not let us pass. Then I bethought myself of the window. Our house is on the bridge, and looks upon the river. Below was a mill and the miller's boat. He is a good man, and kind of heart. I knew that he would row me to the shore. Alayn, my cousin, would have prevented me; but I would not hear him. What was the rushing stream, or the whirling mill-wheel to me? I saw not danger when I thought I could save the noble Count." "Brave girl! brave girl!" interrupted Margaret, in palpitating excitement.