King Philip marvelled.  ‘You!’ he said, ‘you!’ John put out his hands.  Oh, sire, Madame is in the right.  I am a wicked man.  I must make my brother amends.  He must be saved.’

King Philip scratched his head.  ’Who is in the dark if not I?  I will deal with you presently, Mortain.  But you, Madame,’ he turned hotly on the lady, ’you must be plainer.  What is your zeal for the King of England?  He is your cousin, and might have been your husband.’  Alois flinched, but Philip went roughly on.  ’Do you owe him thanks that he is not?  Is this what spurs you?’

She looked doubtfully.  ‘I owe him honour, Philip,’ she said slowly.  ’He is a great king.’

‘Great king, great king!’ Philip broke out; ’pest! and great rascal.  There is no truth in him, no bottom, no thanks, no esteem.  He counts me as nothing.’

‘To him,’ said Alois, ‘you are nothing.’

‘Madame,’ said Philip, ’I am King of France, your brother and lord.  He is my vassal; owes fealty and breaks it, signs treaties and levies war; hectors me and laughs, kills my servants and laughs.  He is my cousin, but I am his suzerain.  I do not choose to be mocked.  There will be no rest for this kingdom while he is in it.’  He stopped, then turned to the shaking man.  ’As for you, Count of Mortain, I must have an explanation.  My sister loves her enemies:  it is a Christian virtue.  I have not found it one of yours.  You, perhaps, fear your enemies, even caged.  Is this your thought?  You have made yourself snug in Aquitaine, Count; you are not unknown in Anjou, I think.  Do you begin to wish that you might be?  Are you, by chance, a little oversnug?  I candidly say that I prefer you for my neighbour in those parts.  I can deal with you.  Do me the obedience to speak.’

‘Sire,’ said the Count, spreading out his hands, ’Madame Alois has turned me.  I am a sinner, but I can restore.  My brother is my lord, a clement prince—­’

‘Pish!’ said King Philip, and gave him his back.

‘Madame, go to bed,’ he said to his sister.  ’I shall pay dear for it, but I will not oppose my cousin’s ransom.  Be content with that.’  Alois slipped out.  Then he turned upon John like a flash of flame.

‘Now, Mortain,’ he said, ’what proof is there of that old business of my sister’s?’

John showed him a scared eye—­the milky eye of a drowned man.  ’Ah, God, sire, there is none at all—­none—­none!’ He had no breath.  Philip raised his voice.

’Look to yourself; I shall not help you.  Leave my lands, go where you will, hide, bury your head, drown yourself.  If I spoke what lies bottomed in my heart I should kill you with mere words.  But there is worse for you in store.  There will be war in France, if I know Richard; but mark what I say, after that there shall be war in England.’  The thought of Richard overwhelmed him:  he gave a queer little sigh.  ’See, now, how much love and what lives of women are spent for one tall man, who gives nothing, and asks nothing, but waits, looking lordly, while they give and give and give.  Let Richard come, since women cry for wounds.  But you!’ He flamed again.  ’Get you to hell:  you are all a liar.  Avoid me, lest I learn more of you.’