"Confess, Madame," the governor rejoined, "that you have had that name upon your lips ever since the beginning of this interview, and that in your inmost heart when you were invoking the aid of God and your father you were also thinking of this third liberator." "Am I obliged to render an account of my thoughts to you?" said Diane. "You need render no account to me, for I know all," replied the governor. "I know some things of which you have no idea, Madame, and which it suits my pleasure to tell you to-day, to show you how little you can build upon the ecstatic passion of these romantic lovers. Notably, I know that Vicomte d'Exmès was made a prisoner at St. Quentin when you were, and was brought here to Calais at the same time with you." "Can it be?" cried Diane, astounded beyond measure. "Oh, there is more than that, Madame! Otherwise I should have told you nothing. For two months Monsieur d'Exmès has been at liberty." "And I never knew that a friend was suffering with me, and so near me!" said Diane. "You did not know it, but he did, Madame," said the governor. "I must confess that when he first learned the fact he exhausted himself in terrible threats against me. Not only did he challenge me to single combat, but--as you foresaw, with a charming sympathy--carrying his love to the point of madness, he declared to my face his determination to take Calais." "My hopes are greater than ever, then," said Diane. "Don't hope for too much, Madame," said Lord Wentworth; "for once more I tell you, since Monsieur d'Exmès addressed his appalling farewell to me six months have passed. To be sure, I have had news from my aggressor in that time. At the end of November he sent me, with scrupulous promptness, the amount of his ransom; but not a word of his haughty defiance." "Wait, my Lord," Diane retorted. "Monsieur d'Exmès will find a way to pay his debts of every description." "I doubt it, Madame, for the day of maturity will soon be past." "What do you mean?" asked Madame de Castro. "I sent word, Madame, to Vicomte d'Exmès, by the messenger who came to me from him, that I would await the fulfilment of his double challenge until the 1st of January, 1558. It is now Dec. 31, 1557." "Well, then," Diane interrupted him, "he has twelve hours still." "True, Madame," responded Wentworth; "but if I hear nothing from him by to-morrow at this hour--" He did not finish his sentence. Lord Derby at this moment burst into the room in terror. "My Lord," he cried, "I was right! It was the French, and they are marching upon Calais!" "Nonsense!" rejoined Wentworth, changing color in spite of himself,--"nonsense! It is impossible! Who says it is so? More rumors and gossip and fanciful alarms?" "Alas! no, but facts, unfortunately," Lord Derby replied. "Not so loud, Derby; don't speak so loud," said the governor, approaching his lieutenant. "Come, come, be cool! What do you mean by your facts?"