When she reached the centre of the circle she stopped, cast a haughty glance about her, and noticed Cauvignac and his comrades, whom the officers of the hunt were eying uneasily and suspiciously.
The captain drew near to her, knife in hand. It was the knife ordinarily used by Monsieur le Prince; the blade was of the finest steel and the handle of silver-gilt.
"Does your Highness know yonder gentleman?" he said in a low tone, glancing at Cauvignac out of the corner of his eye.
"No," said she, "but he was admitted, so he is undoubtedly known to some one."
"He is known to no one, your Highness; every one whom I have questioned sees him to-day for the first time."
"But he could not pass the gates without the countersign."
"No, of course not," replied the captain; "and yet I venture to advise your Highness to be on your guard."
"First of all, we must know who he is," said the princess.
"We shall soon know, madame," Lenet, who had ridden up with the princess, observed with his habitual smile. "I have sent a Norman, a Picard, and a Breton to talk with him, and he will be closely questioned; but for the moment, do not seem to be talking about him, or he will escape us."
"Cauvignac, said Ferguzon, "I think that we are being discussed in high places. We shall do well to suffer an eclipse."