reach the place where the king is."

Resting on the arm of the baron, she left the saloon, and passed out
of the door opposite, upon the little terrace leading to the well-
shaded park.

"We will go through the English garden. I have had them open a path
through the thicket, which will lead us directly to our goal; while
the others will all have to go through the Italian garden, and so
make a circuit. But look, my lord, somebody is coming there--who is
it?"

And the queen pointed to the tall, slim figure of a man who was just
then striding along the terrace.

"Madame," answered the baron, "it is the Duke de Fronac."

"Alas!" murmured Marie Antoinette, "he is coming to lay new burdens
upon us, and to put us in the way of meeting more disagreeable
things."

"Would it be your wish that I should dismiss him? Do you give me
power to tell him that you extend no audience to him here?"

"Oh! do not do so," sighed Marie Antoinette. "He, too, is one of my
enemies, and we must proceed much more tenderly with our dear
enemies than with our friends."

Just then the Duke de Fronac ascended the last terrace, and
approached the queen with repeated bows, which she reciprocated with