An instant afterwards Elizabeth, with the Duke's Daughter, entered.
The three dropped upon their knees, and Elizabeth waved without the pages and the gentleman-in-waiting. When the doors closed, the Queen eyed the three kneeling figures, and as her glance fell on Leicester a strange glitter came into her eyes. She motioned all to rise, and with a hand upon the arm of the Duke's Daughter, said to Leicester:
"What brings the Earl of Leicester here?"
"I came to urge upon Monsieur the wisdom of holding to the Sword and leaving the Book to the butter-fingered religious. Your Majesty needs good soldiers."
He bowed, but not low, and it was clear he was bent upon a struggle. He was confounded by the Queen's presence, he could not guess why she should have come; and that she was prepared for what she saw was clear.
"And brought an eloquent pleader with you?" She made a scornful gesture towards Angele.
"Nay, your Majesty; the lady's zeal outran my own, and crossed the threshold first."
The Queen's face wore a look that Leicester had never seen on it before, and he had observed it in many moods.
"You found the lady here, then?"
"With Monsieur alone. Seeing she was placed unfortunately, I offered to escort her hence to her father. But your Majesty came upon the moment."