At this instant the door which led into the antechamber was hastily
flung open, and a lackey entered.

"The gentleman whom you expected has just arrived," he announced.

"It is Mr. Toulan," whispered Madame de Campan to the queen; "he
brings the sentence. Tell the gentleman," she then said aloud to the
lackey, "to wait a moment in the antechamber; I will receive him
directly.

"Go, I beg your majesty," she continued as the lackey withdrew, "I
beg your majesty to graciously allow me to receive the young man
here."

"That is to say, my dear Campan," said the queen, smiling, "to
vacate the premises and leave the apartment. But I am not at all
inclined to, I prefer to remain here. I want to see this young man
of whom you say that he is such a faithful friend, and then I should
like to know the news as soon as possible that he brings. See here,
the chimney-screen is much taller than I, and if I go behind, the
young man will have no suspicion of my presence, especially as it is
dark. Now let him come in. I am most eager to hear the news."

The queen quickly stepped behind the high screen, and Madame Campan
opened the door of the antechamber.

"Come in, Mr. Toulan," she cried, and at once there appeared at the
open door the tall, powerful figure of the young man. His cheeks
were heated with the quick ride, his eyes glowed, and his breathing