Chapter 12 Summary

Madame Bonancieux leads the Duke through some private halls and stairs to a small room where the queen comes to meet him. Although he knows he has been lured to Paris by the cardinal's ruse, he takes advantage of the situation because he has fallen in love with the queen and wants to see her. The queen has resisted his advances, refusing to betray her husband despite the king's mistrust of her, but she has agreed to see and speak to the Duke on the condition that they never speak to each other again. He speaks passionately of his love for her, and she tells him she has dreamed he is dead from a knife wound. He has had the same dream, and says that this, and the fact that she fears for his life, proves that she returns his love. She refuses...