In spite of his marvellous self-control, Gabriel could not prevent the blood from leaving his cheeks nor his voice from quivering when after a moment's pause he said to the king,-- "Sire, it is in fear and trembling, and yet with implicit confidence in your kingly word, that I venture, having only yesterday escaped from captivity, to recall to your Majesty's mind the solemn engagement that you deigned to enter into with me. The Comte de Montgommery still lives, Sire; otherwise you would long ago have stayed my voice." He stopped with a terrible oppression at his heart. The king remained motionless and mute. Gabriel resumed: "Well, then, Sire, since the Comte de Montgommery still lives, and since according to Monsieur l'Amiral's testimony, I did prolong the resistance of St. Quentin beyond the limit fixed by your Majesty, I have more than kept my promise; now I beg you to keep yours. Sire, give me back my father!" "Monsieur!" said Henri, hesitatingly. He looked anxiously at Diane de Poitiers, whose tranquillity and self-possession seemed to be quite undisturbed. Nevertheless, it was a difficult position for the king. Henri had grown used to thinking of Gabriel as dead or in captivity, and had not prepared himself with a reply to his terrible demand. In the face of this hesitation Gabriel's heart was torn with anguish. "Sire," he continued, in an almost despairing tone, "it is impossible that your Majesty has forgotten! Your Majesty must remember our solemn interview; what I undertook to do in the prisoner's behalf, and your Majesty's reciprocal undertaking with me." The king was touched in spite of himself at the grief and alarm of the noble youth; the generous instincts in him awoke. "I remember it all," he said to Gabriel. "Ah, Sire, thanks!" cried Gabriel, with eyes shining with delight. But Madame de Poitiers at this moment calmly interposed,-- "Doubtless the king remembers it all, Monsieur d'Exmès; but you yourself seem to have forgotten." A flash of lightning from a cloudless sky could not have terrified Gabriel more than these words. "What have I forgotten, Madame, pray?" the young man murmured. "One half of your task, Monsieur," Diane replied. "You said to his Majesty,--and if these are not your exact words, I at least give their sense,--'Sire, to purchase the freedom of the Comte de Montgommery, I will arrest the enemy in his triumphal march toward the heart of France.'" "Well, did I not do it?" asked the bewildered Gabriel. "Oh, yes!" replied Diane, "but you added: 'And even, if it be necessary, the assailed shall become the aggressor, and I will seize one of the towns of which the enemy is in possession.' That is what you said, Monsieur. Therefore it seems to me that you have done but half of what you agreed to do. What answer have you to that? You held St. Quentin for a certain number of days; it was well done, I do not deny. You have shown us the town defended as you promised; but where is the town taken?"