At a nod from the Queen, Chrotechilde rang the bell; the second old woman again appeared; Brunhild's confidante said to her:
"Take these two slaves with you."
"Illustrious Queen," said Blandine turning once more to Brunhild, while the Jew was carefully wrapping the devilish girl in her veil. "Queen, choose me, glorious Queen—you will thereby do a good work—I would so much like to stay at court."
"Keep still, impudent thing!" said Samuel in a low voice while gently pushing Blandine towards the Queen's bedroom, at the door of which Chrotechilde pointed her finger. "Too much is too much; such familiarities may displease our illustrious sovereign!"
The two young girls, one of whom was brimming over with happiness while the other staggered under the weight of her grief, stepped into the Queen's apartment. The Jew humbly bowed before Brunhild, left by the same door that he had entered, and closed behind him the leather curtain that masked the issue to the spiral staircase.
Brunhild and her confidante were left alone.
CHAPTER II.
QUEEN AND CONFIDANTE.
"Madam," said Chrotechilde to Brunhild, "for whom do you intend the one of the two female slaves whom you expect to buy?"
"You really ask me?"