"True it is, my little lady," she said, nodding her head, "that any man might wisely and gladly crave your love and your hand--aye, any honest man, were he a king's son (here Claire thought of a certain son of Saint Louis, many times removed, now mending his shoes on the corner of a farrier's anvil in the camp of the Bearnais)--an honest man, I said. But not Raphael Llorient, your cousin, and my foster-son. He never had a thought but for himself since he was a babe, and even then he would thrust Don Jordy there aside, as if I had not been his mother. I was a strong woman in those days, and suckled twins--or what is harder, a foster-child and mine own, doing justice to both!" And Claire, a little awed by the old lady's vehemence, jested no more. There was little said till Donna Amélie took Claire up with her to her chamber, and the three men were left alone. The Professor sighed deeply. "Women are kittle handling," he said. "I brought you a little orphan maid. I knew, indeed, that she was Colette Llorient's daughter, and that there was some risk in that. But with her cousin Raphael, wistful to marry her for a rich heiress, whose property he has squandered--that is more than I reckoned with!" "There is no going back when a woman leads the way," slowly enunciated the Alcalde. "Who spoke of going back?" cried the Professor indignantly. "I have taken the risk of bringing the maid here, thinking to place her in safety with my mother. Neither she nor I will fail. We will keep her with our lives--aye, and so will you, brothers!" "So we will!" said Jean-Marie and Don Jordy together, "of course!" "Pity it is for another man!" said the lawyer grimly--"that is, if what Anatole says be true." "It is too true!" said the Professor bravely--"true and natural and right, that the young should seek the young and love the young and cleave to the young!" "That, at least, is comforting for those who (like myself) are still young!" said Don Jordy, with some mockery in his tone; "for you and the Alcalde there, the comfort is somewhat chilly!" And neither of his seniors could find it in their hearts to contradict Don Jordy. The brothers conferred long together, and at last found nothing better than that Claire should remain at La Masane with their mother, while she should be solemnly charged not to leave the house except in company with one of the three brothers. They would mount guard one by one, and even the master of the Castle of Collioure would hardly venture to violate the sanctuary of the Mas of La Masane.