“Who can it be?” I heard Louise murmur, for we seemed to have gravitated together in the dark, and the fact that she did not resent my encircling arm filled me with unreasonable joy and made me bless the circumstance which held us prisoner here.
“I come merely to bring you some news which I thought might interest you,” replied a voice, which made me start and Louise tremble. “May I not sit down, my dear daughter?”
“Come, let us go,” whispered Louise. “’Tis folly to remain here.”
“Nay, let us stay rather,” replied Richelieu in the same tone. “I am curious to hear this news which the regent has brought. What say you, de Brancas?”
“I am quite content to stay,” I answered, and I drew Louise closer to me.
“As I suppose you know, mademoiselle,” the regent’s voice was saying when the beating of my heart permitted me to hear, “the King of Sardinia has withdrawn his proposal for your hand.”
“It has saved him a rebuff,” answered Charlotte.
“I am not so sure of that,” and the regent laughed. “But do you know why he has done this? I see from your face that you do not. It was because of a certain rendezvous in the gardens here, news of which had got abroad and had reached the king’s ears. It seems I was not the only one who saw you running towards your apartment that night, and the others were not so discreet as I. Do you understand now, mademoiselle?”
I heard Richelieu utter an oath and fumble for the latch of the door.
“For God’s sake, keep quiet, monsieur!” I whispered. “There may be other news.”