"By my faith, you may thank God every night of your worthless life
that I came so opportunely to Toulouse, and so may that fair child
whose beauty you have limned with such a lover's ardour. Nay, never
redden, Marcel. What? At your age, and with such a heavy score
of affaires to your credit, has it been left for a simple Languedoc
maiden to call a blush to your callous cheek? Ma foi, they say
truly that love is a great regenerator, a great rejuvenator!"
I made him no answer other than a sigh, for his words set me thinking,
and with thought came a tempering of the gay humour that had pervaded
me. Remarking this, and misreading it, he laughed outright.
"There, Marcel, never fear. We will not be rigorous. You have won
both the maid and the wager, and, by the Mass, you shall enjoy both."
"Helas, Sire," I sighed again, "when the lady comes to know of the
wager--"
"Waste no time in telling her, Marcel, and cast yourself upon her
mercy. Nay, go not with so gloomy a face, my friend. When woman
loves, she can be very merciful; leastways, they tell me so."
Then, his thoughts shifting ground once more, he grew stern again.
"But first we have Chatellerault to deal with. What shall we do with
him?"
"It is for Your Majesty to decide."
"For me?" he cried, his voice resuming the harshness that was never
far from it. "I have a fancy for having gentlemen about me. Think
you I will set eyes again upon that dastard? I am already resolved
concerning him, but it entered my mind that it might please you to
be the instrument of the law for me.
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