“The wrapping was removed, and the man who had taken it off, and, who by his attire, was a gentleman in the service of some noble, said, ’Do not be alarmed, mademoiselle.  No harm is intended to you.  My master is grieved to be obliged to adopt such means, but his passion for you is so great that he was driven to this step, and it will entirely depend upon yourself when your captivity will end.’

“‘Your master, whoever he may be,’ Anne said, ’is a contemptible villain.’

“‘Naturally, you have a poor opinion of him at present,’ the fellow said; ’but I am convinced that, in time, you will come to excuse his fault.  It is wholly due to the depth of the feeling that he entertains towards you.  There is a woman here who will wait upon you.  I and my men will not intrude.  Our duty is solely to see that you do not escape, which indeed would be an impossibility for you, seeing that the wall that surrounds the garden is well-nigh fifteen feet high, and the gate barred and locked, and the key thereof in my pocket.’

“He called, and the old woman whom you brought here with Anne entered, and bid her ascend to the room that had been prepared for her.

“In that respect, she had nothing to complain of.  Of course, you did not notice it, as you had other things to think of, but it was handsomely furnished.  There was a bed in an alcove, some flowers on the table, some books, and even a harpsichord—­evidently it was intended that her imprisonment should be made as light as might be.

“Looking from the window, Anne saw that the room was at the back of the house, and had probably been chosen because some trees shut the window off from view of anyone beyond the wall.  The next day, the old woman announced the Vicomte de Tulle.  He bowed profoundly, and began by excusing the step that he had taken, and crediting it solely to the passion that he had conceived for her.  You may imagine the scorn and reproaches with which she answered him.  He was quite unmoved by her words.

“‘Mademoiselle,’ he said calmly, when she paused, ’you may be sure that I should not have undertaken this scheme, unless I had fully weighed the consequences.  My plans have been so laid that whatever search may be made for you will be in vain.  Here you are, and here you will remain until you listen to my suit.  Every want shall be satisfied, and every wish complied with; but, whether it is one year or five, you will not leave this house until you leave it as my bride.’

“‘Then, sir,’ she said passionately, ’I shall be a prisoner for life.’

“‘So you may think, at present, mademoiselle,’ he said.  ’And I expected nothing else.  But, with time and reflection, you may come to think otherwise.  Union with me is not so terrible a matter.  My rank you know, and standing high, as I do, in the favour of His Most Gracious Majesty, your position at court will be such as might gratify the daughter of the noblest family in France.  The study of my life will be to make you happy.