She told him hastily. He heard with astonishment, and then said: "There
is some foul trick here. Have you the message?" She handed it to him.
"It is the surgeon's writing, verily," he said; "but it is still a
trick, for the sick man here is Rozel. I see it all. You and I
forbidden to meet--it was a trick to bring you here."

"Oh, let me go!" she cried. "Michel, Michel, take me hence." She
turned towards the door.

"The gates are closed," he said, as a cannon boomed on the evening air.

Angele trembled violently. "Oh, what will come of this?" she cried, in
tearful despair.

"Be patient, sweet, and let me think," he answered. At that moment there
came a knocking at the door, then it was thrown open, and there stepped
inside the Earl of Leicester, preceded by a page bearing a torch.

"Is Michel de la Foret within?" he called; then stopped short, as though
astonished, seeing Angele. "So! so!" he said, with a contemptuous
laugh. Michel de la Foret's fingers twitched. He quickly stepped in
front of Angele, and answered: "What is your business here, my lord?"

Leicester languorously took off a glove, and seemed to stifle a yawn in
it; then said: "I came to take you into my service, to urge upon you for
your own sake to join my troops, going upon duty in the North; for I fear
that if you stay here the Queen Mother of France will have her way. But
I fear I am too late. A man who has sworn himself into service d'amour
has no time for service de la guerre."