and her eyes dwelt on Valerie with a look of
studied gentleness, "why will you not be reasonable?"

The constant reflection that Garnache was at large, making his way back
to Paris to stir up vengeance for the outrage put upon him, was not
without a certain chastening effect upon the Dowager. She had a way of
saying that she had as good a stomach for a fight as any man in France,
and a fight there should be if it came to it and Garnache should return
to assail Condillac. Yet a certain pondering of the consequences, a
certain counting of the cost--ordinarily unusual to her nature led her
to have recourse to persuasion and to a gentleness no less unusual.

Valerie's eyes were raised to hers with a look that held more scorn than
wonder. They were standing in the antechamber of Valerie's room. Yonder
at his post lounged the recruit "Battista," looking a trifle cleaner
than when first he had been presented to the Marquise, but still not
clean enough for a lady's antechamber. He was leaning stolidly against
the sill of the window, his eyes on the distant waters of the Isere,
which shone a dull copper colour in the afterglow of the October sunset.
His face was vacant, his eyes pensive, as he stood there undisturbed by
the flow of a language he did not understand.

Fortunio and Marius had departed, and the Marquise--played upon by her
unusual tremors--had remained behind for a last word with the obstinate
girl.

"In what, madame," asked Valerie, "does my conduct fall short of
reasonableness?"

The Dowager made a movement of impatience. If at every step she were
to be confronted by these questions, which had in them a savour of
challenge, she was wasting time in remaining.

"You are unreasonable, in this foolish clinging to a promise given for
you."

"Given by me, madame," the girl amended, knowing well to what promise
the Dowager referred.

"Given by you, then; but given at an age when you could not understand
the nature of it. They had no right to bind you so."

"If it is for any to question that right, it is for me," Valerie made
answer, her eyes ever meeting the Dowager's unflinchingly. "And I am
content to leave that right unquestioned. I am content to fill the
promise given. In honour I could not do less."

"Ah! In honour!" The Dowager sighed. Then she came a step nearer, and
her face grew sweetly wistful. "But your heart, child; what of your
heart?"

"My heart concerns myself. I am the betrothed of Florimon