All this is far removed from the tourneys, the fanfares of trumpets, the sound of clarion and drum; from the great ladies at the windows, from the knights in the arena, from the esquires and pages and servants carrying their masters' weapons and bucklers, and from the charming troubadours, or _trouvères_, who had seats of honor beside the high and mighty nobles, because they were destined, later, to sing in laudation of it all. Other times, other manners! The old Marquis de Marvejols gazed gloomily enough at the portraits which adorned his study--for the enormous room in which he sat was nothing more than that. Soon he leaned over his desk once more, and seizing a bell rang it violently. A valet, almost as old as his master, instantly showed his bald head beneath a velvet portière which he raised. His face, in respect to the general effect of the features and their mild expression, might have served as a model for a painting of Obedience, as personified in a servant, except that when he raised the corners of his mouth in a smile there were some slight indications of a tendency to be cunning; but if that tendency actually existed in the old servant, it never went beyond the corners of his mouth. "Did monsieur le marquis ring?" inquired a shrill, cracked voice. "Has my son gone out this morning, Hector?" Old Hector pressed his lips together, and the corners of his mouth assumed their sly expression, as he replied in a drawling tone: "Monsieur le Comte Léodgard de Marvejols certainly has not left the house this morning; I am certain of that." "In that case, go to my son and tell him that I wish to speak with him--at once, before he goes out." The old servant looked down at his feet, but did not budge. "Well! did you not hear me, Hector?" continued the marquis, testily; "have your ears grown dull, that I have to give you the same order twice?" "No, monsieur le marquis, no, thank heaven! my ears are still good. I have not the least occasion to reproach them. And if I have not obeyed the command you have done me the honor to give me, it is because----" "Well! because what? finish, I say!" "I cannot tell Monsieur le Comte Léodgard to come to speak with you, because he is not in the house." "Not in the house? Why, you told me only a moment ago that my son had not gone out this morning!" "That is true, monseigneur; he has not gone out this morning, because he did not come in last night." The marquis put his hand to his forehead. "Ah!" he cried; "of course, I understand! You did not wish to tell me that, my poor Hector; you would like to conceal my son's disorderly conduct from me! But it is useless for you to try to deceive me. I know everything; and it is much better that I should know everything; for one must know where the trouble lies, in order to put a stop to it. All this has been going on a very long while, and it must come to an end!"