"I believe in the palace."
Rising and shaking her head, seeing where she was in a distracted way, she went around to the Princes' Court and sprang into the janitor's room. This man knew the countess as having been in attendance when the court first came back from Versailles. He had also seen her go away, with Sebastian in her carriage.
He related that the Guardsmen were safe; Count Charny had gone out for a little while, when he returned dressed in naval uniform to appear in the Queen's rooms, where he probably was at that period.
Andrea thanked the good fellow and hastened home, now that George was safe. She knelt on her praying stand, to thank heaven, with all her soul going up to her Maker.
She was plunged in ecstasy when she heard the door open, and she wondered what this earthly sound could be, disturbing her in her deepest reverie.
The shadow in the doorway was dim but her instinct told her who it was without the girl announcing:
"My lord the Count of Charny."
Andrea tried to rise but her strength failed her: half turning, she slid down the slope of the stand, leaning her arm on the guard.
"The count," she murmured, disbelieving her eyes.