"Madame le Duchesse de Valentinois."
Diane de Poitiers entered, evidently in much anxiety, but with her head still erect as of yore.
CHAPTER XIV
RESULTS OF GABRIEL'S VENGEANCE
Madame de Valentinois made a slight reverence to the young king, a still slighter one to Catherine de Médicis and Mary Stuart, but seemed not to see the Duc de Guise.
"Sire," said she, "your Majesty has sent me your commands to appear before you—"
She checked herself. François II., at once indignant and embarrassed by the insolent bearing of the ex-favorite, hesitated, blushed, and finally said,—
"Our uncle De Guise has consented to take it upon himself to make known our intentions with regard to you, Madame."
Diane turned slowly toward Le Balafré, and seeing the bitter, mocking smile which was playing about his lips, tried to wither him with the most imperious of her Juno-like glances.
But Le Balafré was much less easily frightened than his royal nephew.