"I have travelled expressly from Paris."
The man stood firm and again shook his head.
"I beseech you not to insist, Monsieur. M. le Chevalier has sworn to
dismiss me if I permit you to set foot within the ch?teau."
"Mille diables! This is madness! I seek to serve him," I cried, my temper
rising fast. "At least, Guilbert, will you tell Mademoiselle that I am
here, and that I--"
"I may carry no more messages for you, Monsieur," he broke in. "Listen!
There is M. le Chevalier."
In reality I could hear the old knight's voice, loud and shrill with anger,
and a moment later Louis, his intendant, came across the hall.
"Guilbert," he commanded harshly, "close the door. The night air is keen."
My cheeks aflame with anger, I still made one last attempt to gain an
audience.
"Master Louis," I exclaimed, "will you do me the favour to tell M. de
Canaples--"
"You are wasting time, Monsieur," he interrupted. "M. de Canaples will not
see you. He bids you close the door, Guilbert."
"Pardieu! he shall see me!"
"The door, Guilbert!"
I took a step forward, but before I could gain the threshold, the door was
slammed in my face, and as I stood there, quivering with anger and
disappointment, I heard the bolts being shot within.
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