"Lord Wentworth does not lie, Madame. Do you know in what condition your august father's affairs are?" "How can I know in this prison?" Diane replied, who nevertheless could not forbear a movement which betokened interest. "You have only to ask me," Lord Wentworth rejoined, delighted to be listened to willingly for a moment, even as the bearer of evil tidings. "Well, then, you must know that the return of the Duc de Guise to Paris has in no way ameliorated the situation of France as yet. Some troops have been recruited, and a few places reinforced,--nothing more. At the present moment there is hesitation and uncertainty everywhere. Their full military strength, concentrated on the northern frontier, has succeeded in stopping the triumphant progress of the Spaniards; but the French generals are undertaking nothing on their own account. Will they attack Luxembourg? Will they make a descent on Picardy? Nobody knows. Will they try to retake St. Quentin, or Ham--?" "Or Calais," Diane interposed, fixing her eyes keenly upon the governor, to note the effect upon his features of this chance shot. But Lord Wentworth did not even frown; he said with a proud smile,-- "Oh, Madame, allow me to lay that question aside without considering it. One who has any idea at all of warfare will not admit for a moment such an insane supposition; and Monsieur le Duc de Guise has had too much experience to expose himself by such an extraordinary and impracticable undertaking to the ridicule of every man in Europe who wears a sword." At that moment there was some confusion at the door, and an archer rushed in without ceremony. Lord Wentworth went to meet him, much irritated. "What is the meaning of your daring to interrupt me thus?" he demanded. "Pardon me, my Lord," the archer replied. "Lord Derby sent me to you in all haste." "And for what pressing reason? Come, explain yourself!" "Information has been received by Lord Derby that an advance-guard of two thousand French arquebusiers was seen yesterday two leagues from Calais, and his Lordship sent me to notify my Lord at once." "Aha!" cried Diane, who made no attempt to conceal her satisfaction. But Lord Wentworth coolly said to the archer,-- "And was it for this only that you have had the impudence to follow me here, villain?" "My Lord," said the poor devil, in his stupefaction, "Lord Derby--" "Lord Derby," the governor interposed, "is a short-sighted individual, who takes mounds of earth for mountains. Go and tell him so from me." "How about the guards, my Lord, which Lord Derby ordered doubled as quickly as possible?" "Let them remain as they are, and bother me no more with these ridiculous phantoms!" The archer bowed respectfully and left the room. "Nevertheless, my Lord," said Diane de Castro, "you see that in the opinion of one of your ablest lieutenants, my insane prevision is capable of being realized to the full."