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“Followmeeverywhere。“
“MyGod！myGod！“criedMaryStuart，“havepityonus！“Then，havingbreathedashortprayerinalowvoice，whileMarySeytonwastakingthecasketinwhichwerethequeen’sjewels，“Iamready，“saidshe：
“andyou，darling？“
“Ialso，“repliedMarySeyton。
“Come，then，“saidLittleDouglas。
Thetwoprisonersfollowedthechild；thequeengoingfirst，andMarySeytonafter。Theiryouthfulguidecarefullyshutagainthedoorbehindhim，sothatifawarderhappenedtopasshewouldseenothing；thenhebegantodescendthewindingstair。Half-waydown，thenoiseofthefeastreachedthem，aminglingofshoutsoflaughter，theconfusionofvoices，andtheclinkingofglasses。Thequeenplacedherhandonheryoungguide’sshoulder。
“Whereareyouleadingus？“sheaskedhimwithterror。
“Outofthecastle，“repliedthechild。
“Butweshallhavetopassthroughthegreathall？“
“Withoutadoubt；andthatisexactlywhatGeorgeforesaw。Amongthefootmen，whoseliveryyourMajestyiswearing，noonewillrecogniseyou。“
“MyGod！myGod！“thequeenmurmured，leaningagainstthewall。
“Courage，madam，“saidMarySeytoninalowvoice，“orwearelost。“
“Youareright，“returnedthequeen；“letusgo“。Andtheystartedagainstillledbytheirguide。
Atthefootofthestairhestopped，andgivingthequeenastonepitcherfullofwine“Setthisjugonyourrightshoulder，madam，“saidhe；“itwillhideyourfacefromtheguests，andyourMajestywillgiverisetolesssuspicionifcarryingsomething。You，MissMary，givemethatcasket，andputonyourheadthisbasketofbread。Now，that’sright：doyoufeelyouhavestrength？“
“Yes，“saidthequeen。
“Yes，“saidMarySeyton。
“Thenfollowme。“
Thechildwentonhisway，andafterafewstepsthefugitivesfoundthemselvesinakindofantechambertothegreathall，fromwhichproceedednoiseandlight。Severalservantswereoccupiedtherewithdifferentduties；notonepaidattentiontothem，andthatalittlereassuredthequeen。Besides，therewasnolongeranydrawingback：
LittleDouglashadjustenteredthegreathall。
Theguests，seatedonbothsidesofalongtablerangedaccordingtotherankofthoseassembledatit，werebeginningdessert，andconsequentlyhadreachedthegayestmomentoftherepast。Moreover，thehallwassolargethatthelampsandcandleswhichlightedit，multipliedastheywere，leftinthemostfavourablehalf-lightbothsidesoftheapartment，inwhichfifteenortwentyservantswerecomingandgoing。ThequeenandMarySeytonmingledwiththiscrowd，whichwastoomuchoccupiedtonoticethem，andwithoutstopping，withoutslackening，withoutlookingback，theycrossedthewholelengthofthehall，reachedtheotherdoor，andfoundthemselvesinthevestibulecorrespondingtotheonetheyhadpassedthroughoncomingin。Thequeensetdownherjugthere，MarySeytonherbasket，andboth，stillledbythechild，enteredacorridorattheendofwhichtheyfoundthemselvesinthecourtyard。Apatrolwaspassingatthemoment，buthetooknonoticeofthem。
Thechildmadehiswaytowardsthegarden，stillfollowedbythetwowomen。There，fornolittlewhile，itwasnecessarytotrywhichofallthekeysopenedthedoor；it——wasatimeofinexpressibleanxiety。Atlastthekeyturnedinthelock，thedooropened；thequeenandMarySeytonrushedintothegarden。Thechildclosedthedoorbehindthem。
Abouttwo-thirdsofthewayacross，LittleDouglasheldouthishandasasigntothemtostop；then，puttingdownthecasketandthekeysontheground，heplacedhishandstogether，andblowingintothem，thriceimitatedtheowl’scrysowellthatitwasimpossibletobelievethatahumanvoicewasu
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