No doubt the same sound hid the noise of my feet, for when I came to the wall, I passed unheeded by three persons who stood in a group together.

I knew all and made haste to pass by; the man was the King himself, the lady on his right was Mistress Barbara; in the third I recognised Madame's lady, Louise de Querouaille.

I proceeded some distance farther till I was at the end of the wall nearest the sea.
There I took my stand, looking not at the sea but covertly at the little group.

Presently two of them moved away; the third curtseyed low but did not accompany them.

When they were gone, she turned and leant on the parapet of the wall with clasped hands.