The King of Navarre smiled and ordered his gentlemen to be admitted.
Just as they were bowing to him he pretended suddenly to recollect having left his mantle on the queen's bed and begged their excuse for receiving them in such a way; then, taking his mantle from the hands of Marguerite, who stood blushing by his side, he clasped it on his shoulder. Next, turning to his gentlemen, he inquired what news there was in the city and at court.
Marguerite was engaged in watching out of the corner of her eye the imperceptible signs of astonishment betrayed by the gentlemen at detecting this newly revealed intimacy between the king and queen of Navarre, when an usher entered, followed by three or four gentlemen, and announced the Duc d'Alençon.
To bring him there Gillonne had only to tell him that the king had spent the night in the queen's room.
François rushed in so precipitately that he almost upset those who preceded him. His first glance was for Henry; his next was for Marguerite.
Henry replied with a courteous bow; Marguerite composed her features so that they expressed the utmost serenity.
Then the duke cast a vague but scrutinizing look around the whole room: he saw the two pillows placed at the head of the bed, the derangement of its tapestried coverings, and the king's hat thrown on a chair.
He turned pale, but quickly recovering himself, he said:
"Does my royal brother Henry join this morning with the King in his game of tennis?"
"Does his Majesty do me the honor to select me as his partner?" inquired Henry, "or is it only a little attention on your part, my brother-in-law?"