"To carry any message?"

"Any from you, madame."

"Come, captain, you improve. It only needed this insult to make the
thing complete. You may carry a message to the king from any
adventuress, from any decayed governess"--she laughed shrilly at her
description of her rival--"but none from Francoise de Mortemart,
Marquise de Montespan?"

"Such are my orders, madame. It pains me deeply to be compelled to
carry them out."

"You may spare your protestations, captain. You may yet find that you
have every reason to be deeply pained. For the last time, do you refuse
to carry my message to the king?"

"I must, madame."

"Then I carry it myself."

She sprang forward at the door, but he slipped in front of her with
outstretched arms.

"For God's sake, consider yourself, madame!" he entreated. "Other eyes
are upon you."

"Pah! Canaille!" She glanced at the knot of Switzers, whose sergeant
had drawn them off a few paces, and who stood open-eyed, staring at the