"Your memory is failing, Lenet, or else you wish to spare my feelings," cried the princess. "The insolent creature was not content to say 'more prudence,' she said 'more sense,' as well." "Possibly," said Lenet, with a smile. "I stepped into the antechamber at that moment, and did not hear the end of the sentence." "But I was listening at the door," said Madame la Princesse, "and I heard the whole of it." "At all events you understand, madame, that it is a woman who will wage relentless war upon you. The queen would have sent soldiers to fight against you; Nanon will send insidious enemies, whom you must unearth and crush." "Perhaps," said Madame de Tourville, sourly, to Lenet, "if you had been in her Highness's place you would have received her with reverential awe?" "No, madame," said Lenet, "I would have received her with a smile, and would have bought her." "Oh well, if it's a question of buying her, there is still time." "Certainly there is still time; but at this time she would probably be too dear for our resources." "How much is she worth?" the princess asked. "Five hundred thousand livres before the war." "But to-day?" "A million." "Why, for that price I could buy Monsieur de Mazarin!" "'Tis possible," said Lenet; "things that have already been sold and resold are apt to grow cheaper." "But, if we can't buy her, we must take her!" said Madame de Tourville, still in favor of violent measures. "You would render her Highness an inestimable service, madame, could you attain that object; but it would be difficult of attainment, as we have absolutely no idea where she is. But let us leave that for the present; let us first of all effect an entrance into Bordeaux, then we will find a way into Île Saint-Georges." "No, no!" cried Claire; "no, we will effect an entrance at Île Saint-Georges first!" This exclamation, evidently from the heart, caused the other women to turn toward the viscountess, while Lenet gazed at her as earnestly as Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld could have done, but with a kindlier interest. "Why, you are mad!" said the princess; "you have heard Lenet say that the place is impregnable!" "That may be," said Claire, "but I think that we can take it." "Have you a plan?" said Madame de Tourville, with the air of one who fears the erection of an altar in opposition to her own. "Perhaps," said Claire. "But," laughed the princess, "if Île Saint-Georges is held at so high a figure as Lenet says, perhaps we are not rich enough to buy it." "We will not buy it," said Claire, "but we will have it all the same." "By force, then," said Madame de Tourville; "my dear friend, you are coming around to my plan." "That's it," said the princess. "We will send Richon to besiege Saint-Georges; he is of the province, he knows the locality, and if any man can take this fortress which you deem of such importance, he is the man."