broken on the wheel he shall be yet, I promise you."

Still she made a last attempt at hectoring it. The long habit of
mastership dies hard. She threw back her head; her courage revived
now that she knew Marius to be alive and sound.

"Fine words," she sneered. "But who are you that you can threaten
so and promise so?"

"I am the Queen-Regent's humble mouthpiece, madame. What I threaten,
I threaten in her name. Ruffle it no longer, I beseech you. It
will prove little worth your while. You are deposed, madame, and
you had best take your deposition with dignity and calm - in all
friendliness do I advise it."

"I am not yet come so low that I need your advice," she answered
sourly.

"You may before the sun sets," he answered, with his quiet smile.
"The Marquis de Condillac and his wife are still at La Rochette,
waiting until my business here is done that they may come home."

"His wife?" she cried.

"His wife, madame. He has brought home a wife from Italy."

"Then - then - Marius?" She said no more than that. Maybe she had
no intention of muttering even so much of her thoughts aloud. But
Garnache caught the trend of her mind, and he marvelled to see how
strong a habit of thought can be. At once upon hearing of the