"To the masque! The masque she said she would never attend!"
"Oh, the Queen is a woman, monsieur! And so she has gone, and gone masked, too, with Monsieur de Lorgnac in attendance—not a soul else—and I have been left here—ah!" And she stamped her little foot. "One cannot even hear the music. Oh! it is a grave, this place—a grave!"
"Faith! I know those who would think this little waiting-room a heaven."
"Who?" She was a good girl, but a coquette to her finger-tips, and the bait took.
Ere he answered Le Brusquet slipped his arm through that of the page, who seemed to be meditating flight.
"That, mademoiselle," he said slyly, "is a secret between De Lorges and myself."
Mademoiselle coloured very prettily, and half turning from her tormentor, said:
"I shall never speak to you again, monsieur—never."
"Mademoiselle, if you keep that vow I shall die in a week; but see, I will make amends. Why not slip on a hood and go to the masque? De Lorges will be proud to escort you."
She looked around her, half delighted, half frightened at the thought, and then, with a nervous laugh: