Unfortunately, Henry had no longer the patience and self-control needful for such a RENCONTRE. He dismounted with a dark and peevish air, and, heedless of the staring, bowing throng, strode up the steps. Two or three, who stood high in favour, put themselves forward to catch a smile or a word, but he vouchsafed neither. He walked through them with a sour air, and entered the chateau with a precipitation that left all tongues wagging. To add to the misfortune, something--I forget what--detained me a moment, and that cost us dear. Before I could cross the terrace, Concini, the Italian, came up, and, saluting me, said that the Queen desired to speak to me. "The Queen?" I said, doubtfully, foreseeing trouble. "She is waiting at the gate of the farther court," he answered politely, his keen black eyes reverting, with eager curiosity, to the door by which the King had disappeared. I could not refuse, and went to her. "The King has returned early, M. le Duc?" she said. "Yes, madame," I answered. "He had a fancy to discuss affairs to-day, and we lost the hounds." "Together?" "I had the honour, Madame." "You do not seem to have agreed very well?" she said, smiling. "Madame," I answered bluntly, "his Majesty has no more faithful servant; but we do not always agree." She raised her hand, and, with a slight gesture, bade her ladies stand back, while her face lost its expression of good-temper, and grew sharp and dark. "Was it about the Conde?" she said, in a low, grating voice. "No, madame," I answered; "it was about certain provisions. The King's ear had been grossly abused, and his Majesty led to believe--" "Faugh!" she cried, with a wave of contempt, "that is an old story! I am sick of it. Is she still at Brussels?" "Still, madame." "Then see that she stops there!" her Majesty retorted, with a meaning look. And with that she dismissed me, and went into the chateau. I proposed to rejoin the King; but, to my chagrin, I found, when I reached the closet, that he had already sent for Varennes, and was shut up with him. I went back to my rooms therefore, and, after changing my hunting suit and transacting some necessary business, sat down to dinner with Nicholas, the King's secretary, a man fond of the table, whom I often entertained. He kept me in talk until the afternoon was well advanced, and we were still at table when Maignan appeared and told me that the King had sent for me. "I will go," I said, rising. "He is with the Queen, your Excellency," he continued. This somewhat surprised me, but I thought no evil; and, finding one of the Queen's Italian pages at the door waiting to conduct me, I followed him across the court that lay between my lodgings and her apartments. Two or three of the King's gentlemen were in the anteroom when I arrived, and Varennes, who was standing by one of the fire-places toying with a hound, made me a face of dismay; he could not speak, owing to the company.