"But there need be no alarm about his coming back to the palace; the countess has a town house and of course he will hasten there."
This was just what she feared and what made her lose color.
She wanted to dress, as if she would be allowed to go out of the palace prison to inquire about his fate, when he was announced as present in the other room.
"Oh, he is keeping his word," muttered the Queen which her attendants did not understand.
Her toilet hastily completed, she ordered the count to be introduced into her sitting room, where she joined him.
He had also dressed for the reception, for he wore the naval uniform in which she had first seen him. Never had he been calmer, handsomer and more elegant, and she could not believe that this beau was the man whom she had seen the mob fall upon a while before.
"Oh, my lord, I hope you were told how distressed I was on your behalf and that I was sending out for tidings?"
"Madam, you may be sure that I did not go away till I learned that you were safe and sound," was his rejoinder. "And now that I am assured by sight, and hearing of the health of your children and the King, I think it proper to ask leave to give personal news to my lady the countess."
The Queen pressed her hand to her heart as if to ascertain if this blow had not deadened it, and said in a voice almost strangled by the dryness of her throat: