"I do not believe this; I rather presume that her Majesty countersigned it. But when a queen approves, she commands."
"Countess of Charny," read the King on the record sheet; "is it she who wanted you imprisoned? why, what have you done to poor Charny?"
"Before this morning I never heard of any lady of that title."
"Charny," muttered the King, musing, "virtue, goodness, chastity in person!"
"You see, they have put me in prison in the name of the Christian Graces," remarked Gilbert, laughing.
"Oh, I will have this cleared up," said the King, and ringing the bell he bade the servant bring the Countess of Charny into his presence.
[CHAPTER XVII.]
THE COUNTESS OF CHARNY.
Gilbert had retired into a window recess, while the King paced the Bulls-eye Hall, called on account of a round window in the wall, thinking now of public matters, then of his visitor's persistence though nothing but news from Paris ought to have enchained him.