"That I understand, monsieur," she answered in a low tone. "While I live under your roof, I shall not be treacherous to you. I am a Ligueuse and he is a Kingsman, and there can be nothing between us. There shall be nothing, monsieur. I do not swear it, as Paul needs, because I have never lied to you." She did not once look at Lucas, yet I think she saw him wince under her stab. The Duke of Mayenne was right; not even Mlle. de Montluc loved her enemies. "You are a good girl, Lorance," Mayenne said. "Will you let the boy go now, Cousin Charles?" she asked. "Yes, I will let your boy go," he made answer. "But if I do this for you, I shall expect you henceforth to do my bidding." "You have called me a good girl, cousin." "Aye, so you are. And there is small need to look so Friday-faced about it. If I have denied you one lover, I will give you another just as good." "Am I Friday-faced?" she said, summoning up a smile. "Then my looks belie me. For since you free this poor boy whom I was like to have ruined I take a grateful and happy heart to bed." "Aye, and you must stay happy. Pardieu, what does it matter whether your husband have yellow hair or brown? My brother Henri was for getting himself into a monastery because he could not have his Margot. Yet in less than a year he is as merry as a fiddler with the Duchesse Katharine." "You have made me happy, to-night at least, monsieur," she answered gently, if not merrily. "It is the most foolish act of my life," Mayenne answered. "But it is for you, Lorance. If ill comes to me by it, yours is the credit." "You can swear him to silence, monsieur," she cried quickly. "What use? He would not keep silence." "He will if I ask it," she returned, flinging me a look of bright confidence that made the blood dance in my veins. But Mayenne laughed. "When you have lived in the world as long as I have, you will not so flatter yourself, Lorance." Thus it happened that I was not bound to silence concerning what I had seen and heard in the house of Lorraine. Mayenne took out his dagger. "What I do I do thoroughly. I said I'd set you free. Free you shall be." Mademoiselle sprang forward with pleading hand. "Let me cut the cords, Cousin Charles." He recoiled a bare second, the habit of a lifetime prompting him against the putting of a weapon in any one's hand. Then, ashamed of the suspicion, which indeed was not of her, he yielded the knife and she cut my bonds. She looked straight into my eyes, with a glance earnest, beseeching, loving; I could not begin to read all she meant by it. The next moment she was making her deep curtsey before the duke. "Monsieur, I shall never cease to love you for this. And now I thank you for your long patience, and bid you good night." With a bare inclination of the head to Lucas, she turned to go. But Mayenne bade her pause. "Do I get but a curtsey for my courtesy? No warmer thanks, Lorance?" He held out his arms to her, and she let him kiss both her cheeks.