Then she put her anger from her; put from her, too, the insolence
and scorn with which so lavishly she had addressed him hitherto.
Instead she assumed a suppliant air, her beautiful eyes meltingly
set upon his face.

"Tressan," said she in her altered voice, "I am beset by enemies.
But you will not forsake me? You will stand by me to the end - will
you not, my friend? I can count upon you, at least?"

"In all things, madame," he answered, under the spell of her gaze.
"What force does this man Garnache bring with him? Have you
ascertained?"

"He brings none," she answered, triumph in her glance.

"None?" he echoed, horror in his. "None? Then - then - "

He tossed his arms to heaven, and stood a limp and shaken thing.
She leaned forward, and regarded him stricken in surprise.

"Diable! What ails you?" she snapped. "Could I have given you
better news?"

"If you could have given me worse, I cannot think what it might have
been," he groaned. Then, as if smitten by a sudden notion that
flashed a gleam of hope into this terrifying darkness that was
settling down upon him, he suddenly looked up. "You mean to resist
him?" he inquired.