Cicely’s first thought was to send tidings to Mr. Talbot, and in this M. de Salmonnet assisted her, though his wife thought it very superfluous to drag in the great, dull, heavy, English sailor.  The girl longed for a sight and speech of him all that evening in vain, though she was sure she saw the Mastiff’s boat pass down the river, and most earnestly did she wish she could have had her chamber to herself for the prayers and preparations, on which Madame’s tongue broke so intolerably that she felt as if she should ere long be wild and senseless, and unable to recollect anything.

She had only a little peace when Madame rose early in the morning and left her, thinking her asleep, for a brief interval, which gave her time to rally her thoughts and commend herself to her only Guide.

She let Madame dress her, as had been determined, in perfectly plain black, with a cap that would have suited “a novice out of convent shade.”  It was certainly the most suitable garb for a petitioner for her mother’s life.  In her hand she took the Queen’s letter, and the most essential proofs of her birth.  She was cloaked and hooded over all as warmly as possible to encounter the cold of the river:  and Madame de Salmonnet, sighing deeply at the cold, arranged herself to chaperon her, and tried to make her fortify herself with food, but she was too tremulous to swallow anything but a little bread and wine.  Poor child!  She felt frightfully alone amongst all those foreign tongues, above all when the two ambassadors crossed the court to M. de Salmonnet’s little door.  Bellievre, rolled up in splendid sables from head to foot, bowed down to the ground before her, almost sweeping the pavement with his plume, and asked in his deferential voice of mockery if her Royal Highness would do him the honour of accepting his escort.

Cicely bent her head and said in French, “I thank you, sir,” giving him her hand; and there was a grave dignity in the action that repressed him, so that he did not speak again as he led her to the barge, which was covered in at the stern so as to afford a shelter from the wind.

Her quick eye detected the Mastiff’s boat as she was handed down the stairs, and this was some relief, while she was placed in the seat of honour, with an ambassador on each side of her.

“May I ask,” demanded Bellievre, waving a scented handkerchief, “what her Highness is prepared to say, in case I have to confirm it?”

“I thank your Excellency,” replied Cicely, “but I mean to tell the simple truth; and as your Excellency has had no previous knowledge of me, I do not see how you can confirm it.”

The two gentlemen looked at one another, and Chateauneuf said, “Do I understand her Royal Highness that she does not come as the pensionnaire from Soissons, as the Queen had recommended?”

“No, sir,” said Cicely; “I have considered the matter, and I could not support the character.  All that I ask of your Excellencies is to bring me into the presence of Queen Elizabeth.  I will do the rest myself, with the help of God.”