"If he has deceived me he has indeed deceived you," answered Eleanor, "for he has told me very plainly that he loves you. And now I will not stand between you and him, even in the mistake you made. I love him, yes. I have loved him enough to give him up, because he loves you. I love him so well that I will not take his warning and save myself from the King's anger, and I know not what he and his monks will do to me. Good-by, Sir Gilbert Warde—Beatrix, good-by."
"This is some comedy," answered the girl, exasperated.
"No—by the living truth, it is no comedy," answered the Queen.
She looked once more into Gilbert's face, and then turned away, stately and sad. With one movement she drew aside the great curtain, and with the next she opened wide the door, and the loud clamour of the knights and men-at-arms came in like a wave. Then it ceased suddenly, as Eleanor spoke to them in clear tones.
"I am the King's prisoner. Take me to him!"
There was silence for a moment, and then the Gascons who had fought with the King and his men cried out fiercely.
"We will not let you go! We will not let our Duchess go!"
They feared some evil for her, and were loyal men to her, hating the King. But Eleanor raised her hand to motion them back, for their faces were fierce, and their hands were on their swords.
"Make way for me, if you will not take me to him," she said proudly.
Then Sanzay, her kinsman, stepped before the rest, and spoke.