What did she mean?
Did she confess that I held their secret and impose silence on me by a more than royal command, by the behest of bright eyes and red lips which dared me to betray their confidence?
On the moment's impulse I bowed assent; Madame nodded merrily and waved a kiss with her dainty hand; no word passed, but I felt that I, being a gentleman, could tell no man alive what I suspected, aye, what I knew, concerning M.de Perrencourt.

Thus lightly are pledges given when ladies ask them.
The Duke of Monmouth started back with a sudden angry motion.

The King smiled at him; M.de Perrencourt laid a hand, decked with rich rings, on his lace cuff.

Madame rose, laughing still, and joined the three.

I cannot tell what passed--alas, that the matters of highest interest are always elusive!--but a moment later Monmouth fell back with as sour a look as I have ever seen on a man's face, bowed slightly and not over-courteously, faced round and strode through the doorway, opening the door for himself.