"More impudent varlet he!" exclaimed the duke, angrily. "And you, mademoiselle,--what have you to say to all this fine affair? Why, you are a mere child! This marriage can never stand!--without any one's consent! It is a folly!" "Not at all, duke," said Madame de Lagny. "Pray, recollect, sir, that Madame de Rambouillet was married at twelve,--I myself at sixteen. Madame is nearly fifteen, she tells me; and, as to the marriage not standing, you will find yourself much mistaken. The man who made it is not one to leave any thing he undertakes incomplete, as you will discover. They are as firmly married as any couple in the land, and that with the full authority of the king, which in this realm of France supersedes the necessity for any other consent whatever. She is a ward of the crown, sir; and her father having died in rebellion is no bar to the rights of the monarch." "Madame, I beseech you, use softer words," said the duke, in a calmer tone. "My good cousin De Mirepoix died in defence of his religion, without one thought of rebellion, and really in the service of his Majesty, whose plighted word had been violated not by himself, but by bad ministers who usurped his name. Make room, gentlemen. This way, madame. We shall find in this hall a more private place for our conference." So saying, he led the way into the large room in the lower story of the keep, and there begged Madame de Lagny to be seated. Lucette he took by the arm and gazed into her face for a moment, saying,-- "Yes; she is very like. Here, take this stool, child: we have no fauteuils here. Now, answer my question. What had you to do with this marriage? Did it take place at his request or yours?" Lucette's heart had at first sunk with alarm and disappointment at the harsh reception she had received, having little idea what a chattel--what a mere piece of goods--a rich orphan relation was looked upon amongst most of the noble families of France. But the very harshness which had terrified her at first at length roused her spirit; and, though she colored highly, she replied, in a firm tone, "At neither his request nor mine, my lord." "Ah! good!" cried the duke. "Then neither of you consented? The marriage of course----" "We did both consent," said Lucette, interposing. "Did he not tell you the circumstances? Did he not give you the cardinal's message?" "He told me a good deal, and he said something about the Eminence; but, by my faith, I was so heated by the tale that I did not much attend to the particulars. Let me hear your story, mademoiselle. What did the cardinal say?" "My lord, we had been stopped near Mauzé by some of the royal officers, and sent on under guard toward Nantes----"