But I myself have chosen this way of escape for you.

Prove yourself worthy, and all may be well--but prove yourself you shall.

You have prepared your own brine, Monsieur; in it you shall pickle." She smiled a sour smile, for she was piqued, and added: "Do you think I will have you here squiring of distressed dames, save as a priest?
You shall hence to Madame of Montgomery as her faithful chaplain, once I have heard you preach and know your doctrine." Leicester almost laughed outright in the young man's face now, for he had no thought that De la Foret would accept, and refusal meant the exile's doom.
It seemed fantastic that this noble gentleman, this very type of the perfect soldier, with the brown face of a picaroon and an athletic valour of body, should become a preacher even in necessity.
Elizabeth, seeing De la Foret's dumb amazement and anxiety, spoke up sharply: "Do this, or get you hence to the Medici, and Madame of Montgomery shall mourn her protector, and Mademoiselle your mistress of the vermilion cheek, shall have one lover the less; which, methinks, our Seigneur of Rozel would thank me for." De la Foret started, his lips pressed firmly together in effort of restraint.

There seemed little the Queen did not know concerning him; and reference to Angele roused him to sharp solicitude.
"Well, well ?" asked Elizabeth impatiently, then made a motion to Leicester, and he, going to the door, bade some one to enter.
There stepped inside the Seigneur of Rozel, who made a lumbering obeisance, then got to his knees before the Queen.
"You have brought the lady safely--with her father ?" she asked.
Lempriere, puzzled, looked inquiringly at the Queen, then replied: "Both are safe without, your infinite Majesty." De la Foret's face grew pale.

He knew now for the first time that Angele and her father were in England, and he looked Lempriere suspiciously in the eyes; but the swaggering Seigneur met his look frankly, and bowed with ponderous and genial gravity.
Now De la Foret spoke.