You will remain here for half an hour, and will then leave by the gate at the back of the house and make a circuit, and enter the palace by the river gate.

The musketeers on guard will stop you, but I will give you a pass." And he wrote a few lines on paper.

"The queen's confidential servant, Laporte, will be at the door to meet you, and will have instructions to escort you by corridors where you will be unobserved, and so to her majesty's private closet.

Were you to accompany me, Beaufort would soon hear of it, and would be shrewd enough to perceive that your meeting with me was by no means a matter of chance." Hector followed out his instructions, and on presenting himself at the palace was at once taken up to the queen's closet.

Laporte went in, and returning immediately requested him to enter.