'And so this was all my mighty crime—my error!'
'Nay, you also committed another most grievous one.'
'Indeed! I am all attention,' said I, bitterly.
'You delivered your despatches to the King instead of the Cardinal.'
'Heavens, madame! the despatches from the army were for the eye of Louis alone.'
'So are his Majesty's love-letters—yet his Eminence contrives to receive and read them all first. Then why not a mere despatch?'
'How many wheels revolve within each other at this wretched court of France!' I exclaimed.
'You were justly punished for your falsehood to me,' said the Countess, with one of her most seductive smiles, and an artful droop of the eyelid; 'for I will not understand all about your visit to the Rue de St. Jacques. But listen,' she added, laying her soft, pretty hand engagingly on mine: 'his Majesty's private ring has opened up to me every avenue of this terrible chatelet, to the governor of which he had previously sent M. de Brissac with instructions that I was to be obeyed in all things—hence I am here, to free and to forgive you.'
'Ah, Madame d'Amboise!' I exclaimed, kissing her hand with a greater burst of joy than gratitude at this delightful intelligence, 'my heart, my life, my sword are yours from this moment.'
I heard a sigh behind me, and turning, met the timid blue eyes of Nicola.