"I mean his majesty gave me leave," answered Penelophon, looking down and blushing faintly in her confusion.
"But how did you come here?" asked the Queen, trying to conceal the interest which a sudden suspicion gave her.
"From the old hunting-lodge, madam," answered Penelophon, "where Captain Pertinax and the gendarmes are."
"But what were you doing there?" said the Queen.
"Trecen—— I mean his majesty," said Penelophon, looking down again, "told Captain Pertinax he was to keep me there till his majesty was resolved where I was to go."
"Where you were to go, child?" echoed the Queen, assuming her kindest tone, for she felt she had found a clue to the mystery, and did not want to frighten the girl. "But why are you not to be with Mlle de Tricotrin? How did you come to leave her?"
"Do you not know, madam?" said Penelophon, with a look of pain in her trusting eyes. "Did my good mistress not tell you?"
"No, child; what was it?"
"Then I will come and tell you. I will come and whisper in your ear; I dare not speak it loud. I hardly dare to think of it, lest the thing should come again."