"
They were within a few steps of the abbey, and the Queen separated a
little from him and walked nearer to the wall. Then she stopped short.
"Good-night," she said abruptly.
Gilbert came close to her and stood still in silence.
"Well?" She uttered the single word with a somewhat cold interrogation.
"Madam," said Gilbert, suddenly determined to know the truth, "is
Beatrix here with you or not? I have a right to know."
"A right?" There was no mistaking the tone now, but Gilbert was not
awed by it.
"Yes," he answered; "you know I have."
Without a word Eleanor left him and walked along the wall in the deep
shadow. A moment later Gilbert saw two forms of women beside the taller
figure of the Queen. He made a step forward, but instantly stopped
again, realizing that he could not press the question in the presence
of her ladies. She had doubtless placed them there when she had come
out, to wait until she should return.
When he could no longer see her in the gloom, he turned and retraced
his steps. The drunken soldiers were gone on their way to join others
in some tavern beyond the church, and the street was deserted. The
moon, long past the full, was just rising above the hills to eastward,
and shed a melancholy light upon the straggling village. Resentful of
the Queen's mysterious silence, and profoundly sad from the impression
made upon him by the drunken throng through which he had forced his
way, Gilbert slowly climbed the hill and went back to his lodging near
the church.
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