"
Had he flung a bomb into my bed he could not more effectively
have startled me.
"It astonishes you, eh?" he laughed bitterly. "But I can assure
you that it is so. A month ago I was visited by the Comte de
Chatellerault - another of His Majesty's fine favourites. He came
unbidden; offered no reason for his coming, save that he was making
a tour of the province for his amusement. His acquaintance with
me was of the slightest, and I had no desire that it should
increase; yet here he installed himself with a couple of servants,
and bade fair to take a long stay.
"I was surprised, but on the morrow I had an explanation. A courier,
arriving from an old friend of mine at Court, bore me a letter with
the information that Monsieur de Chatellerault was come to Lavedan
at the King's instigation to sue for my daughter's hand in marriage.
The reasons were not far to seek. The King, who loves him, would
enrich him; the easiest way is by a wealthy alliance, and Roxalanne
is accounted an heiress. In addition to that, my own power in the
province is known, whilst my defection from the Cardinalist party
is feared. What better link wherewith to attach me again to the
fortunes of the Crown - for Crown and Mitre have grown to be
synonymous in this topsy-turvy France - than to wed my daughter to
one of the King's favourites?
"But for that timely warning, God knows what mischief had been
wrought. As it was, Monsieur de Chatellerault had but seen my
daughter upon two occasions.
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