François and Mary gazed at each other ruefully for a moment without speaking.
"Well, my darling," said the king at last, "how about our fair vision of a journey to Rome?"
"It seems to have resolved itself into a flight to Amboise," sighed Mary.
At this moment Madame Dayelle, the queen's first lady-in-waiting, appeared.
"Pray, Madame, is this true that I have heard?" said she, after the ordinary salutation. "Must we break up our establishment here at once, and quit Bloise for Amboise?"
"It is only too true, my poor Dayelle," replied Mary.
"Do you know, Madame, that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in that château?—not even a decent mirror!"
"Then we must carry everything from here, Dayelle," said the queen. "Write out at once a list of the things we must have; I will dictate to you. In the first place, my new dress of crimson damask with gold lace trimming—"
Turning to the king, who was still standing in the window recess, thoughtful and sad,—
"Just fancy, Sire," said she, "the audacity of these Reformers! But, pardon me, you ought also to be thinking about what things you will need at Amboise, so that you will not be unprovided."