"Certainly," he answered, with his grim courtesy. "Upon your
acceptance of those terms shall depend Marius's life and your own
future liberty."

"What are they?"

"That within the hour all your people - to the last scullion - shall
have laid down their arms and vacated Condillac."

It was beyond her power to refuse.

"The Marquis will not drive me forth?" she half affirmed, half asked.

"The Marquis, madame, has no power in this matter. It is for the
Queen to deal with your insubordination - for me as the Queen's
emissary."

"If I consent, monsieur, what then?"

He shrugged his shoulders, and smiled quietly.

"There is no 'if,' madame. Consent you must, willingly or
unwillingly. To make sure of that have I come back thus and with
force. But should you deliver battle, you will be worsted - and it
will be very ill for you. Bid your men depart, as I have told you,
and you also shall have liberty to go hence."

"Aye, but whither?" she cried, in a sudden frenzy of anger.

"I realize, madame, from what I know of your circumstances that