This being done, the Queen seemed to recover, and she would have made further inquiries of the envoys, but the Cardinal intervened.
"Will your Majesty pardon me?" he said; "the hour grows late, and these gallant young soldiers can wait on you to-morrow; I fear that your Majesty is exerting yourself too much."
Scarcely with these words had the Cardinal persuaded Mary, but he had further arguments at command.
"It is the hour for Vespers, your Majesty, and Father Petre awaits us in the oratory."
"Yes, you are right," replied the Queen, with sudden willingness; "let us offer to Heaven our thanks for this blessed news from St. Quentin, ere my strength fail me."
The interview ended as it began; Mary extended her poor wasted hand, and the envoys knelt to kiss it.
They never saw Queen Mary again.
CHAPTER XVII
THREE CLOSING SCENES
Scene I