law we know, and I intend that so it shall continue."

Tressan looked at her in surprise. This unreasoning, feminine
obstinacy so wrought upon him that he permitted himself a smile and
a lapse into irony and banter.

"Parfaitement," said he, spreading his hands, and bowing. "Why
speak of trouble, then?"

She beat her whip impatiently against her gown, her eyes staring
into the fire. "Because, my attitude being such as it is, trouble
will there be."

The Seneschal shrugged his shoulders, and moved a step towards her.
He was cast down to think that he might have spared himself the
trouble of donning his beautiful yellow doublet from Paris. She
had eyes for no finery that afternoon. He was cast down, too, to
think how things might go with him when this trouble came. It
entered his thoughts that he had lain long on a bed of roses in
this pleasant corner of Dauphiny, and he was smitten now with fear
lest of the roses he should find nothing remaining but the thorns.

"How came the Queen-Regent to hear of - of mademoiselle's - ah -
situation?" he inquired.

The Marquise swung round upon him in a passion.

"The girl found a dog of a traitor to bear a letter for her. That
is enough. If ever chance or fate should bring him my way, by God!
he shall hang without shrift."