Leicester filled her ears with poison every day, mixed up your business and great affairs with France, sought to convey that you both were not what you are; until at last I countermarched him." She laughed merrily.

"Ay, I can laugh now, but it was all hanging by a thread, when my leech sent his letter that brought you to the palace.

It had grieved me that I might not seek you, or write to you in all those sad days; but the only way to save you was by keeping the Queen's command; for she had known of Leicester's visits to you, of your meeting in the maze, and she was set upon it that alone, all alone, you should be tried to the last vestige of your strength.

If you had failed--" "If I had failed--" Angele closed her eyes and shuddered.

"I had not cared for myself, but Michel--" "If you had failed, there had been no need to grieve for Michel.