Canolles assumed an oratorical tone, and began:—
"Her Majesty the queen sends me to you, madame, to assure your Highness of her desire to continue upon friendly terms with you."
There was a very perceptible stir in the passage beside the bed, and the princess, interrupting the orator, said in a broken voice:—
"Monsieur, say no more of her Majesty the queen's friendly feeling for the family of Condé; there is direct proof of the contrary feeling in the vaults of the donjon of Vincennes."
"Well, well," thought Canolles, "it seems that they have talked the matter over, for they all say the same thing."
Meanwhile there was more stir in the passage, which the messenger did not notice, on account of the embarrassment caused by his peculiar situation.
"After all, monsieur," the princess continued, "what do you desire?"
"I desire nothing, madame," said Canolles, drawing himself up. "It is her Majesty the queen who desires that I should come to this château, that I should be admitted to the honor of your Highness's society, unworthy as I am, and that I should contribute to the utmost of my ability to restore harmony between two princes of the blood royal, at enmity for no cause at such a sad time as this."
"For no cause?" cried the princess; "do you say that there was no cause for our rupture?"
"I beg pardon, madame," rejoined Canolles. "I say nothing; I am not a judge, but an interpreter simply."