“Wheresoever I go, you will have a devoted heart daring all for you: and the dangers will be light since I expose my life in the service of the two sovereigns whom I most venerate on earth.”
The Queen uttered a sob which seemed to tear out her heart; and she said with a hand on her throat as if to keep down her gorge.
“It is well—go! for you love me no longer.”
Charny felt a thrill run through him; it was the first time this haughty woman and ruler had bowed unto him.
At any other time and under any other circumstances, he must have fallen at her feet if only to crave pardon; but the remembrance of what had happened between him and the King recalled all his strength.
“My lady,” he said, “I should be a scoundrel if, after all the tokens of kindness and confidence the King has showered on me, I were to assure your Majesty of anything but my respect and devotion.”
“It is very well,” said she; “you are free to go.”
But when he departed without looking behind him, she waited till she heard him, not returning, but continuing his departure, in the carriage which rolled out of the courtyard.
She rang for her foster-brother.
“Weber,” she ordered, “go to the Countess of Charny’s residence and say I must speak with her this evening. I had an appointment with Dr. Gilbert, but I postpone that till the morning.”