"Mademoiselle, I had thought to have found M. de Lorgnac in waiting here." "Here! M. de Lorgnac!" replied the maid-of-honour, with a little laugh. "No; M. de Lorgnac never ventures here, unless compelled to." "I suppose neither of you can tell me where he has gone? Can you, De Lorges?" And he turned to the page; but the boy only grew redder, and began to make a fumbling reply. Mademoiselle Davila, however, cut in. "He has gone to the masque." And with a burst of confidence as she rose to her feet: "The Queen has gone too, monsieur." "To the masque! The masque she said she would never attend!" "Oh, the Queen is a woman, monsieur! And so she has gone, and gone masked, too, with Monsieur de Lorgnac in attendance--not a soul else--and I have been left here--ah!" And she stamped her little foot. "One cannot even hear the music. Oh! it is a grave, this place--a grave!" "Faith! I know those who would think this little waiting-room a heaven." "Who?" She was a good girl, but a coquette to her finger-tips, and the bait took. Ere he answered Le Brusquet slipped his arm through that of the page, who seemed to be meditating flight. "That, mademoiselle," he said slyly, "is a secret between De Lorges and myself." Mademoiselle coloured very prettily, and half turning from her tormentor, said: "I shall never speak to you again, monsieur--never." "Mademoiselle, if you keep that vow I shall die in a week; but see, I will make amends. Why not slip on a hood and go to the masque? De Lorges will be proud to escort you." She looked around her, half delighted, half frightened at the thought, and then, with a nervous laugh: "I dare not risk it." "Why not? Not a soul will know; and if there is any trouble say that Le Brusquet played an evil turn on you, and told you you were summoned by the Queen. I will not deny it; and it will still Madame de Montal's tongue. Come, De Lorges, persuade her." "It would be a rare jest, mademoiselle!" And, trembling with eagerness, De Lorges made a step forward. She stood wavering. There was another word of encouragement from Le Brusquet, and she took the plunge. "A moment," she said, and vanished into the inner room. "_Eh bien_, monsieur," and Le Brusquet turned towards De Lorges, "you have a great trust to-night; guard it carefully." "Monsieur," replied the boy, "with my life," and he touched the hilt of his little sword. He was a gallant lad this son of Montgomery de Lorges. Le Brusquet bowed to hide the twinkle in his eyes; and now Mademoiselle Davila reappeared, disguised in a red hood and mask. "No one will guess." And Le Brusquet surveyed her with a critical air, whilst De Lorges, who longed to be off, burst out: "Come, mademoiselle! I shall steal a mask and hood from somewhere later on." But a new obstacle had arisen. "I forgot," she said, "the guard at the door." "Reassure yourself, mademoiselle. It is a friend--Orrain."