His face betokened little hope of Gilles. We both kept chagrined silence.
"And we thought him sleeping!" presently cried he.
"Well," he added, rising, "that milk's spilt; no use crying over it. Plan a better venture; that's the only course. Monsieur is gone back to St. Denis to report to the king. Marry, he makes as little of these gates as if he were a tennis-ball and they the net. Time was when he thought he must plan and prepare, and know the captain of the watch, and go masked at midnight. He has got bravely over that now; he bounces in and out as easily as kiss my hand. I pray he may not try it once too often."
"Mayenne dare not touch him."
"What Mayenne may dare is not good betting. Monsieur thinks he dares not. Monsieur has come through so many perils of late, he is happily convinced he bears a charmed life. Félix, do you come with me to the Hôtel de Lorraine?"
"Ah, monsieur!" I cried, bethinking myself that I had forgotten to dress.
"Nay, you need not don these clothes," he interposed, with a look of wickedness which I could not interpret. "Wait; I'm back anon."
He darted out of the room, to return speedily with an armful of apparel, which he threw on the bed.
"Monsieur," I gasped in horror, "it's woman's gear!"
"Verily."