There seemed little left me but to go hence with lambent tail, like
a dog that has been whipped - my dazzling escort become a mockery
but that it served the more loudly to advertise my true impotency.
As I approached the carriage, the Vicomtesse swept suddenly down
the steps and came towards me with a friendly smile. "Monsieur de
Bardelys," said she, "we are grateful for your intervention in the
cause of that rebel my husband."
"Madame," I besought her, under my breath, "if you would not totally
destroy him, I beseech you to be cautious. By your leave, I will
have my men refreshed, and thereafter I shall take the road to
Toulouse again. I can only hope that my intervention with the King
may bear better fruit."
Although I spoke in a subdued key, Saint-Eustache, who stood near
us, overheard me, as his face very clearly testified.
"Remain here, sir," she replied, with some effusion, "and follow us
when you are rested."
"Follow you?" I inquired. "Do you then go with Monsieur de Lavedan?"
"No, Anne," said the Vicomte politely from the carriage. "It will
be tiring you unnecessarily. You were better advised to remain
here until my return."
I doubt not that the poor Vicomte was more concerned with how she
would tire him than with how the journey might tire her. But the
Vicomtesse was not to be gainsaid. The Chevalier had sneered when
the Vicomte spoke of returning. Madame had caught that sneer, and
she swung round upon him now with the vehement fury of a virago.
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