As soon as De Blenau entered this scene of unprincely confusion, the quick eyes of Anne of Austria lighted upon him, and, advancing from the group of ladies to whom she had been speaking, she seemed surprised to see him in the simple morning costume of the court. "Why, De Blenau!" exclaimed she, "we wait for you, and you have neither boots nor cloak. Have you not seen the Page I sent to you?" "No, indeed, Madam," replied De Blenau; "but having loitered in the Park some time, I have probably thus missed receiving your commands." "Then you have not heard," said the Queen, "we have been honoured this morning by a summons to join the King at Chantilly." "Indeed!" rejoined De Blenau thoughtfully, "What should this mean, I wonder? It is strange! Richelieu was to be there last night: so I heard it rumoured yesterday in Paris." "I fear me," answered the Queen, in a low tone, "that the storm is about to burst upon our head. A servant informs me, that riding this morning, shortly after sunrise, near that small open space which separates this, the forest of Laye, from the great wood of Mantes, he saw a large party of the Cardinal's guard winding along towards the wooden bridge, at which we usually cross the river." "Oh I think nothing of that," replied the Count. "Your Majesty must remember, that this Cardinal has his men scattered all over the country:--but, at all events, we can take the stone bridge farther down. At what time does your Majesty depart? I will but pay my compliments to these ladies, and then go to command the attendance of my train, which will at all events afford some sort of escort." During this dialogue, the Queen had looked from time to time towards the group of ladies who remained in conversation at the other end of the apartment; and with that unsteadiness of thought peculiar to her character, she soon forgot all her fears and anxieties, as she saw the dark eye of Pauline de Beaumont wander every now and then with a furtive glance towards De Blenau, and then suddenly fall to the ground, or fix upon vacancy, as if afraid of being caught in such employment. Easily reading every line expressive of a passion to which she had once been so susceptible, the Queen turned with a playful smile to De Blenau. "Come," said she, "I will save you the trouble of paying your compliments to more than one of those ladies, and she shall stand your proxy to all the rest. Pauline--Mademoiselle de Beaumont," she continued, raising her voice, "come hither, Flower! I would speak a word with you." Pauline came forward--not unhappy in truth, but with the blood rushing up into her cheeks and forehead, till timidity became actual pain, while the clear cold blue eye of Mademoiselle de Hauteford followed her across the room, as if she wondered at feelings she herself had apparently never experienced. De Blenau advanced and held out his hand. Pauline instantly placed hers in it, and in the confusion of the moment laid the other upon it also.