But ever the specter of royal dignity walked beside her and
held her captive.
She was to wed a man on whom she looked with indifference, but
wed him she must; it was written. A toy of ambition, she was
neither more nor less. Ah, to be as her maids, not royal, but
free. Of the three new faces one belonged to the man whom she
was to wed; another was a tall, light-haired man whom she had
seen from her carriage; the last walked by her side. And somehow,
the visionary face, the faces of the man whom she was to wed
and the light-haired man suddenly grew indistinct. She glanced
from the corner of her eyes at Maurice, but meeting his glance,
in which lay something that caused her uneasiness, her gaze
dropped to the path.
"I shall be pleased to tell her Highness that a stranger, who
has not met her, who does not even suspect her rebel spirit,
desires to be her friend."
"O, Mademoiselle," he cried in alarm, "that desire was expressed
in confidence."
"I know it. It is for that very reason I wish her to know. Have
no fear, Monsieur;" and she laughed without mirth. "Her Highness
will not send you to prison"
Close at hand Maurice discovered a cuirassier, who, on seeing
them, saluted and stood attention.
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