I arrived at my lodgings in town, looking a disgusting object....

I could not appear before you until I had washed some of the French mud from off my person.

Then His Royal Highness demanded my presence.

He wanted news of the Duchesse de Verneuil, whom I had the honour of escorting over from France.

By the time I had told him all that he wished to hear, there was no chance of finding you at home, and I thought I should see you here." Marguerite said nothing for a moment, but her foot impatiently tapped the ground, and her fingers were fidgeting with the gold fringe of her scarf.