Lord Wentworth went to meet him, much irritated.
"What is the meaning of your daring to interrupt me thus?" he demanded.
"Pardon me, my Lord," the archer replied. "Lord Derby sent me to you in all haste."
"And for what pressing reason? Come, explain yourself!"
"Information has been received by Lord Derby that an advance-guard of two thousand French arquebusiers was seen yesterday two leagues from Calais, and his Lordship sent me to notify my Lord at once."
"Aha!" cried Diane, who made no attempt to conceal her satisfaction.
But Lord Wentworth coolly said to the archer,—
"And was it for this only that you have had the impudence to follow me here, villain?"
"My Lord," said the poor devil, in his stupefaction, "Lord Derby—"
"Lord Derby," the governor interposed, "is a short-sighted individual, who takes mounds of earth for mountains. Go and tell him so from me."