‘That you will have to settle with M. de Turenne!’ he retorted, frowning down at me with his whole face turned gloomy and fierce. ‘I know you well, sir, now. Complaint has been made that you abducted a lady from his Castle of Chize some time back.’ ‘The lady, sire, is now in charge of the Princess of Navarre.’ ‘She is?’ he exclaimed, quite taken aback. ‘And if she has aught of complaint against me,’ I continued with pride,’ I will submit to whatever punishment you order or M. de Turenne demands. But if she has no complaint to make, and vows that she accompanied me of her own free-will and accord, and has suffered neither wrong nor displeasure at my hands, then, sire, I claim that this is a private matter between myself and M. de Turenne.’ ‘Even so I think you will have your hands full,’ he answered grimly. At the same time he stopped by a gesture those who would have cried out upon me, and looked at me himself with an altered countenance. ‘Do I understand that you assert that the lady went of her own accord?’ he asked. ‘She went and has returned, sire,’ I answered. ‘Strange!’ he ejaculated. ‘Have you married her?’ ‘No, sire,’ I answered. ‘I desire leave to do so.’ ‘Mon dieu! she is M. de Turenne’s ward,’ he rejoined, almost dumbfounded by my audacity. ‘I do not despair of obtaining his assent, sire,’ I said patiently. ‘SAINT GRIS! the man is mad!’ he cried, wheeling his horse and facing his train with a gesture of the utmost wonder. ‘It is the strangest story I ever heard.’ ‘But somewhat more to the gentleman’s credit than the lady’s!’ one said with a smirk and a smile. ‘A lie!’ I cried, springing forward on the instant with a boldness which astonished myself. ‘She is as pure as your Highness’s sister! I swear it. That man lies in his teeth, and I will maintain it.’ ‘Sir!’ the King of Navarre cried, turning on me with the utmost sternness, ‘you forget yourself in my presence! Silence, and beware another time how you let your tongue run on those above you. You have enough trouble, let me tell you, on your hands already.’ ‘Yet the man lies!’ I answered doggedly, remembering Crillon and his ways. ‘And if he will do me the honour of stepping aside with me, I will convince him of it!’ ‘VENTRE SAINT GRIS!’ Henry replied, frowning, and dwelling on each syllable of his favourite oath. ‘Will you be silent, sir, and let me think? Or must I order your instant arrest?’ ‘Surely that at least, sire,’ a suave voice interjected. And with that a gentleman pressed forward from the rest, and gaining a place, of ‘vantage by the King’s side, shot at me a look of extreme malevolence. ‘My lord of Turenne will expect no less at your Highness’s hands,’ he continued warmly. ‘I beg you will give the order on the spot, and hold this person to answer for his misdeeds. M. de Turenne returns to-day. He should be here now. I say again, sire, he will expect no less than this.’