ce." And he shook his head solemnly.
"Even if I did not hold him to be such a man as I have pronounced him,
but were to account him a paragon of all the virtues, his coming hither
remains an act that I must resent."

"But why, Monsieur le Vicomte?"

"Because I know the errand that brings him to Lavedan. He comes to woo
my daughter."

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. On the very day that I received the tidings I speak of,
I sent her to Auch to the care of some relatives of her mother's.
Chatellerault remained a week. Then, growing restive, he asked when my
daughter would return. 'When you depart, monsieur,' I answered him,
and, being pressed for reasons, I dealt so frankly with him that within
twenty-four hours he was on his way back to Paris."

The Vicomte paused and took a turn in the apartment, whilst I pondered
his words, which were bringing me a curious revelation. Presently he
resumed.

"And now, Chatellerault having failed in his purpose, the King chooses
a more dangerous person for th