Marguerite leaned her head on her hand and sank into deep thought.
"And the King of Navarre," said she, significantly, "you no longer speak of him? In changing your religion, have you also changed your desire to enter his service?"
"Madame," replied La Mole, growing pale, "you have just hit upon the actual reason of my departure. I know that the King of Navarre is exposed to the greatest danger, and that all your majesty's influence as a daughter of France will barely suffice to save his life."
"What do you mean, sir," exclaimed Marguerite, "and what danger do you refer to?"
"Madame," replied La Mole, with some hesitation, "one can hear everything from the closet where I am."
"’Tis true," said Marguerite to herself; "Monsieur de Guise told me so before."
"Well," added she, aloud, "what did you hear?"
"In the first place, the conversation between your majesty and your brother."
"With François?" said Marguerite, changing color.
"Yes, madame, with the Duc d'Alençon; and then after you went out I heard what Gillonne and Madame de Sauve said."