He dodged, and the massive weapon struck the door behind him and fell with a clatter to the floor.
'I could kill you,' said Marguerite de Navarre huskily, 'for bringing me this news!'
'If killing me would bring Monseigneur back,' riposted Gilles quietly, 'your Majesty would be more than welcome to do it.'
This sobered her, and she pulled herself together, blushing to the roots of her hair when she realized that her hand had already seized upon the small Italian dagger which, in accordance with the prevailing fashion, she wore fastened to her girdle. These were but semi-civilized times, and the days were not very far distant when the messenger of evil tidings was slain for his pains. But now, when Marguerite de Navarre encountered Gilles de Crohin's quiet, good-humoured gaze, she dropped the little dagger and laughed almost shamefacedly.
'I ought not to have let him out of my sight,' she said simply.
'It would have been wiser, your Majesty,' rejoined Gilles with a sigh.
'Madame de Marquette sent for him, I suppose.' Then, as Gilles made no reply to that, she added with sudden fierce contempt: 'And you helped him to commit this treachery?'
'Would you have me betray the man who trusts me?' he retorted.
'He ordered you to play the farce of starting for Cambray?'
'Yes.'