Michel and Angele [A Ladder of Swords] — Volume 3Parker, Gilbert
History
Michel and Angele [A Ladder of Swords] — Volume 3
Parker, Gilbert
Great Britain -- History -- Elizabeth, 1558-1603 -- Fiction; Huguenots -- Fiction; Jersey (Channel Islands) -- Fiction
"Where is De la Foret?" she asked quickly. "Yonder, asleep," said
the Seigneur, pointing to a curtain which divided the room from one
adjoining. Angel ran quickly towards the door, then stopped short. No,
she would not waken him. She would go back at once. She would leave the
palace by the way she came. Without a word she turned and went towards
the door opening into the hallway. With her hand upon the latch she
stopped short again; for she realised that she did not know her way
through the passages and corridors, and that she must make herself known
to the servants of the palace to obtain guidance and exit. As she stood
helpless and confused, the Seigneur called hoarsely: "De la Foret--De la
Foret!" Before Angele could decide upon her course, the curtain of the
other room was thrust aside, and De la Foret entered. He was scarce
awake, and he yawned contentedly. He did not see Angele, but turned
towards Lempriere. For once the Seigneur had a burst of inspiration.
He saw that Angele was in the shadow, and that De la Foret had not
observed her. He determined that the lovers should meet alone.
"Your arm, De la Foret," he grunted. "I'll get me to the bed in yonder
room--'tis easier than this couch." "Two hours ago you could not bear
the bed, and must get you to the couch--and now! Seigneur, do you know
the weight you are?" he added, laughing, as he stooped, and helping
Lempriere gently to his feet, raised him slowly in his arms and went
heavily with him to the bedroom. Angele watched him with a strange
thrill of timid admiration and delight. Surely it could not be that
Michel--her Michel--could be bought from his allegiance by any influence
on earth. There was the same old simple laugh on his lips, as, with
chaffing words, he carried the huge Seigneur to the other room. Her
heart acquitted him then and there of all blame, past or to come.
"Michel!" she said aloud involuntarily--the call of her spirit which
spoke on her lips against her will.
De la Foret had helped Lempriere to the bed again as he heard his name
called, and he stood suddenly still, looking straight before him into
space. Angele's voice seemed ghostly and unreal.
"Michel!" he heard again, and he came forward into the room where she
was. Yet once again she said the word scarcely above a whisper, for the
look of rapt wonder and apprehension in his manner overcame her. Now he
turned towards her, where she stood in the shadow by the door. He saw
her, but even yet he did not stir, for she seemed to him still an
apparition.
With a little cry she came forward to him. "Michel--help me!" she
murmured, and stretched out her hands. With a cry of joy he took her in
his arms and pressed her to his heart. Then a realisation of danger came
to him.
"Why did you come?" he asked.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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