Part 40 (1/2)
”Well,” continued the d.u.c.h.ess, ”I see only one way.”
”What is that?”
”To look through the keyhole.”
”Very well! take me to the door.”
The d.u.c.h.ess took Marguerite by the hand and led her to a door covered with tapestry; then bending one knee, she applied her eye to the keyhole.
”'Tis all right; he is sitting at table, with his face turned toward us; come!”
The queen took her friend's place, and looked through the keyhole; Coconnas, as the d.u.c.h.ess had said, was sitting at a well-served table, and, despite his wounds, was doing ample justice to the good things before him.
”Ah, great heavens!” cried Marguerite, starting back.
”What is the matter?” asked the d.u.c.h.ess in amazement.
”Impossible!--no!--yes!--on my soul, 'tis the very man!”
”Who?”
”Hush,” said Marguerite, getting to her feet and seizing the d.u.c.h.ess's hand; ”'tis the man who pursued my Huguenot into my room, and stabbed him in my arms! Oh, Henriette, how fortunate he did not see me!”
”Well, then, you have seen him fighting; was he not handsome?”
”I do not know,” said Marguerite, ”for I was looking at the man he was pursuing.”
”What is his name?”
”You will not mention it before the count?”
”No, I give you my promise!”
”Lerac de la Mole.”
”And what do you think of him now?”
”Of Monsieur de la Mole?”
”No, of Monsieur de Coconnas?”
”Faith!” said Marguerite, ”I confess I think”--
She stopped.
”Come, come,” said the d.u.c.h.ess, ”I see you are angry with him for having wounded your Huguenot.”
”Why, so far,” said Marguerite, laughing, ”my Huguenot owes him nothing; the slash he gave him under his eye”--