noon
But , had he turned , certain it is that he must have stopped . For madame had fallen back upon that one prerogative which man shall never take from woman ... tears ! Look back , Monsieur , while there is yet time . At the noon meal madame 's chair at the table was vacant , and Anne , who had left madame outside the convent gate and had not seen her since , went up to the room to ascertain the cause of the absence . She found the truant asleep , the last vestige of her recent violent tears fringing her lashes . Silently Anne contemplated the fall and rise of the lovely bosom , eyed thoughtfully the golden thread which encircled the white throat ; and wondered . Had this poor victim of conspiracy , this puppet in the cruel game of politics , left behind in France some unhappy love affair ?