Are you at liberty ?" "I am quite at her royal highness's orders." "Will you have the goodness to follow us, then ?" When De Guiche entered the princess's apartments, he found her pale and agitated.

Montalais was standing at the door, evidently uneasy about what was passing in her mistress's mind.

De Guiche appeared.
"Ah! is that you, Monsieur de Guiche ?" said Madame; "come in, I beg.
Mademoiselle de Montalais, I do not require your attendance any longer." Montalais, more puzzled than ever, courtesied and withdrew.

De Guiche and the princess were left alone.

The come had every advantage in his favor; it was Madame who had summoned him to a rendezvous.