But in this matter I shall do the King's will."
In the room behind, the words echoed clearly, and Beatrix turned to
Gilbert.
"You see," she said, "it is but a play that you have thought of between
you, and nothing more."
"Can you not believe us?" he asked reproachfully.
"I shall believe you when I know that you love me," she answered, and
turned away, towards the door of the inner apartments.
Gilbert followed her.
"Beatrix!" he cried. "Beatrix! Hear me!"
She turned once more, with a face like stone.
"I have heard you, I have heard her, and I do not believe you," she
answered.
Without another word she left him and went out. He stood looking after
her for a moment, while his calm face darkened slowly; and his anger
was slow and lasting, as the heating of a furnace for the smelting. He
stooped and picked up his cap, which had fallen to the floor, and then
he, too, followed the Queen, through the vestibule and stairs and
courtyard, to the King's presence.
CHAPTER XXIV
That night they left hastily and went down to the sea with torches; but
it was dawn when they were on board one of the great ships, and the
hawsers were cast off, and the crew began to heave up the anchor. In
his anger, Gilbert had called his men, and had gone on board also, and
many hours passed before he realized what he had done. Then he began to
torment himself.
His angry manhood told him that he was just and that he should not bear
a girl's unbelief when he was manifestly in the right; and his love
answered that he had left Beatrix without protection and perhaps at the
mercy of her father, since he might come by sea at any moment and claim
her from Count Raymond, who would give her up without opposition.
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