"He approaches—I tell you, he approaches," screamed Lorenza, terrified into inertia, but with her hands and her eyes directed toward the room door.
"Madness!" said the abbess. "Do you think that anybody can intrude on the Royal Lady of France? None but the bearer of an order from the king."
"I do not know how he entered," stammered the fugitive, recoiling, "but I am certain that he is coming up the stairs—he is not ten steps off—there he is!"
The door flew open, so that the princess receded, frightened in spite of herself by the odd coincidence. But it was a nun who appeared.
"What do you want—who is there?" cried her superior.
"Madame, it is a nobleman who presents himself to have speech with your royal highness."
"His title?"
"Count Fenix, please your highness."
"Do you know the name as his?" inquired the princess of the fugitive.
"I do not know the name, but it is he," she replied.