"And all this because I left you for a moment?"
"For an hour--or well-nigh an hour," she answered more soberly.
"But if I could not help it?"
"You should have thought of that--before you brought me to Paris, Monsieur. In these troublous times."
He coloured warmly. "You are unjust, Mademoiselle," he said. "There are things you forget; in a Court one is not always master of oneself."
"I know it," she answered drily, thinking of that through which she had gone.
"But you do not know what happened!" he returned with impatience. "You do not understand that I am not to blame. Madame d'Yverne, when I reached the Princess Dowager's closet, had left to go to the Queen of Navarre. I hurried after her, and found a score of gentlemen in the King of Navarre's chamber. They were holding a council, and they begged, nay, they compelled me to remain."
"And it was that which detained you so long?"
"To be sure, Mademoiselle."
"And not--Madame St. Lo?"