"I dare not risk it."
"Why not? Not a soul will know; and if there is any trouble say that Le Brusquet played an evil turn on you, and told you you were summoned by the Queen. I will not deny it; and it will still Madame de Montal's tongue. Come, De Lorges, persuade her."
"It would be a rare jest, mademoiselle!" And, trembling with eagerness, De Lorges made a step forward.
She stood wavering. There was another word of encouragement from Le
Brusquet, and she took the plunge.
"A moment," she said, and vanished into the inner room.
"Eh bien, monsieur," and Le Brusquet turned towards De Lorges, "you have a great trust to-night; guard it carefully."
"Monsieur," replied the boy, "with my life," and he touched the hilt of his little sword. He was a gallant lad this son of Montgomery de Lorges.
Le Brusquet bowed to hide the twinkle in his eyes; and now Mademoiselle
Davila reappeared, disguised in a red hood and mask.
"No one will guess." And Le Brusquet surveyed her with a critical air, whilst De Lorges, who longed to be off, burst out: "Come, mademoiselle! I shall steal a mask and hood from somewhere later on."
But a new obstacle had arisen. "I forgot," she said, "the guard at the door."