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Updated: May 19, 2025
Mayenne said, looking up in slow surprise. "My faith! your oaths to Lorance trouble you little." Lucas started forward sharply. "Do you tell me you did not know my purpose?" "I knew, of course, that you were up to some warlockry," Mayenne answered; "I did not concern myself to discover what." "There speaks the general! There speaks the gentleman!" Lucas cried out.
"I shall never give Lorance de Montluc to a white-livered flincher." "The Duke of St. Quentin is not immortal," Lucas repeated. "I have missed him once, but I shall get him in spite of all." "I am not sure about Lorance even then," said Mayenne, reflectively. "François de Brie is agitating himself about that young mistress. And he has not made any failures as yet." Lucas sprang to his feet.
"He started hither; I thought some one would have the sense to keep him. Mordieu! I will find from Lorance whether she saw him." He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections. "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?" It was a moment before Lucas answered.
I do not often ask a man twice, but I ask you. Will you join the League to-night, and marry Lorance to-morrow?" No man could have spoken with a franker grace. I believe then, I believe now, he meant it. M. Étienne believed he meant it. "Monsieur," he answered, "I have shilly-shallied long; but I am planted squarely at last with my father on the king's side.
You little boys are fools; you think because you do not know a thing I do not know it. Was I cruel to keep my information from you, ma belle Lorance?" The attack was absolutely sudden; he had not seemed to observe her. Mademoiselle coloured and made no instant reply. His voice was neither loud nor rough; he was smiling upon her. "Or did you need no information, mademoiselle?"
"As I love the Queen of Heaven. I will as soon do sacrilege toward her as ill to you." He dropped on his knees before her, kissing the hem of her gown. She stood looking down on his bowed head with a tenderness that seemed to infold him as with a mantle. He raised his eyes to hers, still kneeling at her feet. "Lorance, will you come with me?"
"I want you to stop moping over there in the corner. Come look at these baubles and see if they cannot bring a sparkle to your eye. Fie, Lorance! The having too many lovers is nothing to cry about. It is an affliction many and many a lady would give her ears to undergo." "Take heart o' grace, Lorance!" cried Mlle. de Tavanne.
"When I give up hope of Lorance," Lucas said bluntly. I caught myself suddenly pitying the two of them: Mayenne, because, for all his power and splendour and rank next to a king's and ability second to none, he dared trust no man not the son of his body, not his brother. He had made his own hell and dwelt in it, and there was no need to wish him any ill.
They intrigue and rebel and betray till you know not which way to turn, and you curse the day that made you head of the League." "I do curse the day Henri was killed," Mayenne said soberly. "And that is true, Lorance. But I am head of the League, and I must do my all to lead it to success." "But not by the path of shame!" she cried quickly. "Success never yet lay that way.
"Are you frightened, heart-root of mine? You need not be, mignonne. You can contrive to slip from the house Mlle. de Tavanne will help you. Once in the street, I will meet you; I will carry you home to hold you against all the world." "It is not that," she answered. "Am I your fear?" he cried quickly. "Ah, Lorance, my Lorance, you need not. I love you as I love the Queen of Heaven." "Ah, hush!"
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