a few lines on paper. "The queen's confidential servant, Laporte,
will be at the door to meet you, and will have instructions to
escort you by corridors where you will be unobserved, and so to
her majesty's private closet. Were you to accompany me, Beaufort
would soon hear of it, and would be shrewd enough to perceive that
your meeting with me was by no means a matter of chance."

Hector followed out his instructions, and on presenting himself
at the palace was at once taken up to the queen's closet. Laporte
went in, and returning immediately requested him to enter. The queen
was walking up and down the room, her face flushed with indignation.

"Her majesty would fain hear from your own lips, monsieur le baron,
the statement that you have made to me."

The queen sat down and listened intently while Hector repeated the
story.

"There can be no doubt about it, cardinal; this keeping of a number
of armed men within call for days, the summons to them to gather
in the Rue St. Honore, while he himself with others took up his
post at the convent of the Capuchins hard by, the moment his spies
had discovered that you had left for Maisons, could but have been
for one purpose. But they shall learn that although a woman, Anne
of Austria, Queen of France, is not to be deprived of her minister
and faithful friend without striking back in return. Monsieur de
Villar, you have rendered me a great service. Is there any boon
that you would ask of me? it is granted beforehand."

"I thank your majesty most humbly," Hector said. "Already I have