Marie slept, but her dreams were as heavy and full of distress as her situation was now.
She dreamed how she, still a young and unmarried girl, one of the rich and promising women of the kingdom, had allowed herself too much to say to the old king and his not very intelligent heir at the ball. Proud of her position and wealth, she did not think it necessary to be cautious and laughed loudly at the crowned persons.
So when Captain Duval arrived a week after that ball, accompanied by the royal guards, she thought at first that it was not a very clever prank.