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"Of Monseigneur the Count Philip de la Mole!" sobbed Jocelyne. "Philip de la Mole!" exclaimed Margaret aghast. "What ails him, girl? You bid me save him Why? What mean you?" "Oh! madam, know you not," pursued the sobbing girl, "that he has been arrested for treason for a conspiracy against the life of the king? that he is at this moment a prisoner, and that his life is threatened?"
"And you again dare to affront my presence?" said Margaret rising. "This is unheard of insolence." "Alas, madam!" replied Jocelyne trembling, "I did but seek a last assurance that you would save him." "Away with you, mistress," continued the princess, her eyes flashing with anger. "La Mole is but a traitor, as are men all. Let him meet his deserts.
With these words La Mole moved towards the door. The old woman regarded him motionless, and with the same cloud of irritation on her brow. Alayn seemed equally inclined to prosecute his first hostile intention; but Jocelyne sprang after the retreating nobleman and caught him by the arm.
To her surprise, as soon as they were left alone, the lovely girl threw herself sobbing at her feet. "Save him! save him!" cried Jocelyne, with outstretched arms. "You have influence you can approach the king you can save him if you will. And you will save him will you not?" "Of whom do you speak, my pretty maiden?" said the princess in surprise.
"No, no! enough of blood! enough of vengeance! God pardon him, and turn the hearts of those who counseled him to this deed." "Give me my Bible, Jocelyne my girl," said again the old woman after a pause. "It seems I have not read it for many a long hour. God forgive me! But my poor head wanders strangely. Ah! is it you Alayn?
"When in these deepest moods of melancholy, she will not speak but upon the subject of those fatal days, or if her attention be aroused by the mention of her slaughtered kindred; and Heaven forbid that an unguarded word from me should excite so terrible a crisis as would ensue!" "And she remains always thus now?" asked the youth. "Not always," answered Jocelyne.
"And she never will return to him again?" enquired the young man with another gleam of satisfaction. Jocelyne shook her head. "So much the better. So much the better," pursued Alayn stoutly.
You know not what you say!" cried the fair girl hastily; and, laying down upon the table her book, she arose and walked away from him to lean out of the window. "Nay, pardon me, cousin Jocelyne," exclaimed the youth in a pained tone, also rising and advancing towards the window. "I do but speak as I should and must speak, being your well-wisher I mean you well, God knows.
And you will return no more with my grandmother among those villanous popinjays about the court, who are ever for telling you soft tales of love, and swearing that your eyes are the brightest in creation as, to be sure, they are; and that never such an angel walked the earth as, to be sure, there never did; but who mean it not well with you, cousin Jocelyne, and would but have their will to desert you and leave you to sorrow, and who, with all their gilded finery, are not worth one inch of the coarse stuff of a stout-hearted honest artisan who loves you, and would see you happy; although I say it, who should not say it."
"Oh, madam, you have access to the king!" cried Jocelyne imploringly. "He is your brother and the power to save or to destroy is his. He will not refuse you, if you entreat his pardon and mercy for the Count." Margaret shook her head doubtfully. "Alas!" she said, with a look of distress, "other influences are at work which mine cannot resist. I knew not all but now I tremble."
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