He repeated these words with savage delight, struck his spade deep into the ground and started to cut across the lawn to intercept the young lady at another path when he caught sight of a gentleman in the alley up which Andrea was proceeding in hopes to meet her royal mistress.
This gentleman wore a velvet suit under a cloak trimmed deeply with sable; he carried his head high; his hat was under his arm, and his left hand was on his sword. He stuck out his leg, which was well made, and threw up his ankle which was high, like a man of the finest training. On seeing him, Gilbert uttered involuntarily a low exclamation and fled through the sumach bushes like a frightened blackbird.
The nobleman spied Andrea and without quickening his measured gait he manœuvred so as to meet her at the end of a cross-path.
Hearing the steps, she turned a little aside to let the promenader pass her and she glanced at him when he had done so.
He looked at her, and with all his eyes; he stopped to get a better view and turning round, said:
“May I ask why you are running so fast, young lady?”
At this, Andrea saw, thirty paces behind, two royal lifeguards officers, she spied the blue ribbon under the speaker’s mantle, and she faltered, pale and alarmed by this encounter and accosting:
“The King!”
“I have such poor sight that I am obliged to inquire your name?” returned the monarch, approaching as she courtseyed lowly.
“I am Mdlle. de Taverney,” she murmured, so confused and trembling that she hardly made herself understood.