"And, first, where are we going?" asked Marguerite; "not to the Pont des Meuniers, I suppose,—I have seen enough slaughter since yesterday, my poor Henriette."
"I have taken the liberty to conduct your majesty"—
"First and foremost, my majesty requests you to forget my majesty—you were taking me"—
"To the Hôtel de Guise, unless you decide otherwise."
"No, no, let us go there, Henriette; the Duc de Guise is not there, your husband is not there."
"Oh, no," cried the duchess, her bright emerald eyes sparkling with joy; "no, neither my husband, nor my brother-in-law, nor any one else. I am free—free as air, free as a bird,—free, my queen! Do you understand the happiness there is in that word? I go, I come, I command. Ah, poor queen, you are not free—and so you sigh."
"You go, you come, you command. Is that all? Is that all the use of liberty? You are happy with only freedom as an excuse!"
"Your majesty promised to tell me a secret."
"Again 'your majesty'! I shall be angry soon, Henriette. Have you forgotten our agreement?"
"No; your respectful servant in public—in private, your madcap confidante, is it not so, madame? Is it not so, Marguerite?"