'Has he come with a retinue, then?' broke in Monsieur with his wonted peevishness. 'There is no room in the city. Already I have scarce room for my men.'
'Messire de Montigny is alone, Monseigneur,' replied Gilles de Crohin, 'save for an equerry. He proposes to return to Cambray this night.'
Monsieur uttered a fretful exclamation, but already Marguerite had interposed.
'We cannot,' she said curtly, 'keep Messire de Montigny on the doorstep, my dear brother. And you must remember that I have your promise.'
'Holy Virgin!' was Monsieur's only comment on this timeful reminder. 'Was ever man so plagued before by a woman who was not even his mistress, Gilles!' he added peremptorily.
'François!' admonished his sister sternly.
'Mon Dieu, my dear!' he retorted. 'May I not speak to Gilles now? Gilles, who is my best friend——'
'Messire de Montigny is in the corridor,' she broke in firmly.
'I know! I know! Curse him! I only wished to order Gilles—my best friend, Gilles—not to leave me in the lurch; not to abandon me all alone between an impetuous sister and a mulish Fleming.'
'François!' she exclaimed. 'What folly!'