ad said moved the Court powerfully, but when the
withered little flower of a man, the Chevalier, told in quaint brief
sentences the story of the Sieur de Mauprat, his sufferings, his exile,
and the nobility of his family, which had indeed, far back, come of
royal stock, and then at last of Guida and the child, more than one
member of the Court turned his head away with misty eyes.

It remained for the Duc de Mauban to speak the word which hastened and
compelled the end. Rising in his place, he addressed to the Court a few
words of apology, inasmuch as he was without real power there, and then
he turned to the Chevalier.

"Monsieur le chevalier," said he, "I had the honour to know you in
somewhat better days for both of us. You will allow me to greet you here
with my profound respect. The Sieur Larchant de Mauprat"--he turned to
the President, his voice became louder--"the Sieur de Mauprat was my
friend. He was with me upon the day I married the Duchess Guidabaldine.
Trouble, exile came to him. Years passed, and at last in Jersey I saw
him again. It was the very day his grandchild was born. The name given
to her was Guidabaldine--the name of the Duchese de Mauban. She was
Guidabaldine Landresse de Landresse, she is my godchild. There is no
better blood in France than that of the de Mauprats of Chambery, and the
grandchild of my friend, her father being also of good Norman blood, was
worthy to be the wife of any prince in Europe. I speak in the name of
our order, I speak for Frenchmen, I speak for France. If Detricand,
Prince of Vaufontaine, be not secured in his right of succession to the
dukedom of Bercy, France will not cease to protest till protest hath
done its work. From France the duchy of Bercy came. It was the gift of
a French king to a Frenchman, and she hath some claims upon the courtesy
of the nations."

For a moment after he took his seat there was absolute silence. Then
the President wrote upon a paper before him, and it was passed to each
member of the Court sitting with him. For a moment longer there was
nothing heard save the scratching of a quill. Philip recalled that day
at Bercy when the Duke stooped and signed his name upon the deed of
adoption and succession three times-three fateful times.

At last the President, rising in his place, read the pronouncement
of the Court: that Detricand, Prince of Vaufontaine, be declared true
inheritor of the duchy of Bercy, the nations represented here confirming