Keep our lives and our souls, and also
our bodies from harm. Make us not afraid of the dark or of the devil.
For Thou art the stronger. And do not forget to be near us this night,
for we have no other friend and sorely do we need one to love and
deliver us. Amen."
It was true. More bitterly than any two in the whole world, these
maidens needed a friend at that moment. For scarcely had the childish
accents been lost in the night silence, when the outer door of the
White Tower was thrown open to the wall, and on the steps of the
turret stair they heard the noise of men coming upwards to their
prison-room.
But first, though the inner door of their chamber was locked within,
the bolts glided back apparently of their own accord. It opened, and
the hideous face of La Meffraye looked in upon them with a cackle of
fiendish laughter.
"Come, sweet maidens," she cried gleefully, as the frightened girls
clasped each other closer upon the bed, "come away. The Marshal de
Retz calls for you. He hath need of your beauty to grace his feast.
Pages:
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583