The groom told him that all the horses had been sent away.

Monsieur, pale with anger, again descended towards the queen's apartments, and penetrated as far as Anne of Austria's oratory, where he perceived, through the half-opened tapestry-hangings, his young and beautiful sister on her knees before the queen-mother, who appeared weeping bitterly.

He had not been either seen or heard.

He cautiously approached the opening, and listened, the sight of so much grief having aroused his curiosity.

Not only was the young queen weeping, but she was complaining also.