A Ladder of Swords

easure the figure and bearing of this young captain of the Huguenots. She loved physical grace and prowess with a full heart. The day had almost passed when she would measure all

sence-chamber by her frown, and another in urging her to come to terms with Catherine dé Medici in this small affair-since the Frenchwoman had set her revengeful heart upon it-that larger matters might be settled to the gain of England. It was not so much that he had reason to destroy De la Forêt as that he saw that the Queen was disposed to deal friendly by him and protect him. He did not see the danger of rousing in the Queen the same unreasoning tenaciousness of

. Here was one, she thought, who might well be in her household or leading a regiment of her troops. The clear, fresh face, curling hair, direct l

ise. "Monsieur de la Forêt," she said, "I do not reco

ey in the robes of a priest of France. The passport for a priest of France was found upon your person when ou

he was a soldier and that the pri

soldier and Huguenot, must have been ill at ease-the

o a safe dove-cote, your gracious Maje

made a gesture of annoyance. "Our cousin, France, makes you to us a dark intriguer and conspirator, a dang

turned to France, I pray you set me upon its coast as I came from it, a fugitive. Thence will I try to find my way to the

aith, but you are

loor impatiently, then caught the Qu

id not quail. "Bold only by your high Majesty's faith

It touched a chord in her deeper than that under Leicester's finger.

"We will prove you. You shall have a company in my Lord Leicester's

more-the widow of my dead chief, Gabriel de Montgomery, is set down in this land unsheltered and alone. I have sworn to one who loves her, and for my dead chief's sake, that

aunt his devotion to another woman was little to her liking. The woman in her, which had never been blessed with a noble lo

rn that," she said, petulantly-"and to one who

rned to Leicester and whispered in his ear. Leicester frowned, then

shall preach. A priest you came into my kingdom, and a priest you shall

ed himself, and before he had ti

were an officer of my army. The Seigneur of Rozel has spoken for you, and the Comtesse de Montgomery has written a pleading letter. Also I have from another source a tearful prayer-the ink is scare dry upon it-which ha

here squiring of distressed dames save as a priest? You shall hence to Madame of Mon

's face now, for he had no thought that De la Forê

the perfect soldier, with the brown face of a Romany and an ath

o the Medici, and Madame of Montgomery shall mourn her protector, and mademoiselle, your mistress of the v

of restraint. There seemed little the Queen did not know concern

, then made a motion to Leicester, and he,

ozel, who made a lumbering obeisance,

e lady safely-with h

at the Queen, then replied, "Both are

ther were in England, and he looked Lemprière suspiciously in the eyes; but the swa

ty," said he, "if I may ask Mademoisell

lady in due season,"

" said De la Forêt, with a touch of humor, for he saw the

sex to have a fondness for both," she answe

aid: "My sword has spoken freely for the cause; God forbid that

ad determined a great thing, and Elizabeth was one who had a heart for high deeds. "The man is brave indeed,

epidation, but looked before her steadily. She knew not what was to be required of her-she was a stranger i

, warm of color, clear of eye, and purposeful of face, something kindled in her. Most like it was that love for a cause which was more to be encouraged

adings. There were fine words and adjurations-ar

Majesty," answered the girl

betrothed to a roistering

and some must fight, your most Ch

Monsieur de la Forêt fights fairly. If he can pray as well, methinks he shall have safety in our kingdom, and ye shall all

mberlain that Monsieur de la Forêt's durance must be made comfortable in the west tower of my palace til

will come with me, mistress," she sai

She greatly desired to look backward towards De la Forêt, but some good angel bade her not; she realized that to offend t

, leaving Lemprière and De la Forêt gazing at each other, the one bewildered, t