Bussy bowed, and Diana went on.

"I am the daughter of the Baron de Meridor--that is to say, the
only heiress of one of the noblest and oldest names in Anjou."

"There was," said Bussy, "a Baron de Meridor, who, although he
could have saved himself, came voluntarily and gave up his sword
at the battle of Pavia, when he heard that the king was a prisoner,
and begged to accompany Francis to Madrid, partook his captivity,
and only quitted him to come to France and negotiate his ransom."

"It was my father, monsieur, and if ever you enter the great
hall of the Chateau de Meridor you will see, given in memory of
this devotion, the portrait of Francis I., painted by Leonardo
da Vinci."

"Ah!" said Bussy, "in those times kings knew how to recompense
their followers."

"On his return from Spain my father married. His two first children,
sons, died. This was a great grief to the Baron de Meridor. When
the king died, my father quitted the court, and shut himself
with his wife in the Chateau de Meridor. It was there that I was
born, ten years after the death of my brothers.

"Then all the love of the baron was concentrated on the child
of his old age; his love for me was idolatry. Three years after
my birth I lost my mother, and, too young to feel my loss, my
smiles helped to console my father. As I was all to him, so was
he also all to me. I attained my sixteenth year without dreaming