"
The man smiled. "I do not think," he began, "that it was his
Majesty--"
"Sent the message?" I said. "No, but the Queen, I suppose."
On this he gave me to understand, in the sly, secretive manner
such men affect, that it was so. I asked him then what all this
ferment was about. "Has Mademoiselle D'Oyley disappeared?" I
said, peevishly.
"Yes, your excellency. She was with the Queen at eight o'clock.
At noon her Majesty desired her services, and she was not to be
found."
"What?" I exclaimed. "A maid of honour is missing for three
hours in the morning, and there is all this travelling! Why, in
my young days, three nights might have--"
But discerning that he was little more than a youth, and could
not; restrain a smile, I broke off discreetly, and contented
myself with asking if there was reason to suppose that there was
more than appeared in the girl's absence.
"Her Majesty thinks so," he answered.
"Well, in any case, I know nothing about it," I replied. "I am
not hiding her. You may tell his Majesty that, with my service.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273