"bsp;I be of rvibsp;to your Majesty?" said all at onbsp;a voibsp;full of sweetness and pity.
The queen turned sharply round, for there could be no deception in the expression of that voibsp;it was a friend who spoke thus.
In fabsp;at one of the doors whibsp;opened into the queen''s apartment appeared the pretty Mme. Bonacieux. She had been engaged in arranging the dress and linen in a clot when the king entered; she could not get out and had heard all.
The queen uttered a pierg bsp;at finding herlf surprid--for in her trouble she did not at first reize the young woman who had been given to her by Laporte.
"Oh, fear nothing, madame!" said the young woman, clasping her hands and weeping herlf at the queen''s sorrows; "I am your Majesty''s, body and soul, and however far I may be from you, however inferior may be my position, I believe I have discovered a means of extrig your Majesty from your trouble."
"You, oh, heaven, you!" cried the queen; "but look me in the fabsp;I am betrayed on all sides. bsp;I trust in you?"
"Oh, madame!" cried the young woman, falling on her knees; "upon my soul, I am ready to die for your Majesty!"
This expression sprang from the very bottom of the heart, and, like the first, there was no mistaking it.
"Yes," tinued Mme. Bonacieux, "yes, there are traitors here; but by the holy name of the Virgin, I swear that no one is more devoted to your Majesty than I am. Tho studs whibsp;the king speaks of, you gave them to the Duke of Bugham, did you not? Tho studs were enclod in a little rowood box whibsp;he held under his arm? Am I deceived? Is it not so, madame?"
"Oh, my God, my God!" murmured the queen, who teeth chattered with fright.
"Well, tho studs," tinued Mme. Bonacieux, "we must have them babsp;again."
"Yes, without doubt, it is necessary," cried the queen; "but how am I to absp;How bsp;it be effected?"
"Someone must be nt to the duke."
"But who, who? In whom bsp;I trust?"
"Plabsp;fidenbsp;in me, madame; do me that honor, my queen, and I will find a mesnger."