"Sire, a letter from Madame de Castro for your Majesty." "From Madame de Castro?" repeated Henri, eagerly. With a quick and impulsive movement, he rose from his seat, and descended the steps which led to the royal platform, took Diane's letter with his own hands, and said in a low tone to Gabriel,-- "It is true, Monsieur, you not only restore a daughter to the king, but a child to her father. I am doubly indebted to you. But let me read the letter." As the courtiers, still motionless and mute, were respectfully awaiting the king's commands, Henri, feeling annoyed by this observant silence, added aloud,-- "Let me not restrain the expression of your gratification, Messieurs. I have no further news to give you; what remains is a private matter between myself and the messenger of our cousin De Guise. So you have only to discuss the glad intelligence, and congratulate yourselves upon it; and you are quite free now to do so, Messieurs." The royal permission was quickly accepted; the party separated into groups and began to converse, and soon nothing was to be heard but the indistinct and confused buzzing which is always the combined result of a hundred different conversations in the same room. Madame de Poitiers and the constable still thought of nothing but keeping watch upon the king and Gabriel. With an interchange of speaking glances, they had communicated their mutual dread to one another; and Diane, by a slight and almost imperceptible movement, had drawn near her royal lover. Henri did not notice the jealous couple, being entirely absorbed by his daughter's letter. "Dear Diane! Poor dear Diane!" he was whispering, deeply moved. When he had read the letter to the end, carried away by his kingly nature, whose first, spontaneous impulse was certainly liberal and just, he said to Gabriel, almost aloud, "Madame de Castro also commends her liberator to me, and it is just that she should. She tells me, Monsieur, that you not only rescued her from captivity, but that you have also saved her honor." "Oh, I but did my duty, Sire!" said Gabriel. "Then must I not fail in mine," returned Henri, warmly. "It is for you to speak now, Monsieur. Tell me what you desire at our hands, _Monsieur le Vicomte de Montgommery_!" CHAPTER XXVIII JOY AND ANGUISH Monsieur le Vicomte de Montgommery! At that name which, when pronounced by the king, seemed to promise all that he wanted, Gabriel's heart fairly leaped for joy. Henri clearly intended to pardon his father. "See! he gives way," said Madame de Poitiers, beneath her breath to the constable, who had come to her side. "Let us wait our opportunity," said Monsieur de Montmorency, without losing his self-possession.