suddenly dried, however, when Georges beheld the red and white plumes
of the page who was devoted to his interests. The count took no notice
of this servitor, who advanced to his mistress on tiptoe. After the
page had said a few words in her ear, Marie returned to the window.
Escaping for a moment the perpetual watchfulness of her tyrant, she
cast one glance upon Georges that was brilliant with the fires of love
and hope, seeming to say:--

"I am watching over you."

Had she cried the words aloud, she could not have expressed their
meaning more plainly than in that glance, full of a thousand thoughts,
in which terror, hope, pleasure, the dangers of their mutual situation
all took part. He had passed, in that one moment, from heaven to
martyrdom and from martyrdom back to heaven! So then, the brave young
seigneur, light-hearted and content, walked gaily to his doom;
thinking that the horrors of the "question" were not sufficient
payment for the delights of his love.

As Tristan was about leaving the rue du Murier, his people stopped
him, seeing an officer of the Scottish guard riding towards them at
full speed.

"What is it?" asked the provost.

"Nothing that concerns you," replied the officer, disdainfully. "The
king has sent me to fetch the Comte and Comtesse de Saint-Vallier,
whom he invites to dinner."

The grand provost had scarcely reached the embankment leading to