Chapter Twenty Seven.
A Woman’s Words.
The King sprang up from his writing-table as though electrified.
“You!” he gasped, turning pale and glaring at her—“you, Claire! Why are you here?” he demanded angrily.
“To speak with you, Ferdinand. That scheming reptile Hinckeldeym forbade me to see you; but I have defied him—and have come to you.”
“Forbade you! why?” he asked, in a deep voice, facing her, and at once noticing that she was disguised as Henriette.
“Because he fears that I may expose his ingenious intrigue to you. I have discovered everything, and I have come to you, my husband, to face you, and to answer any charges that this man may bring against me. I only ask for justice,” she added, in a low, earnest voice. “I appeal to you for that, for the sake of our little Ignatia; for the sake of my own good name, not as Queen, but as a woman!”
“Then Hinckeldeym was aware that you were returning?”