“Thus, although dissatisfied with the punishment inflicted on the Vicomte de Tulle, and believing that the king had a shrewd idea who her abductor was, I am grateful to him for shielding my daughter from ill tongues, by his marked kindness to her, and by declaring openly that de Tulle had not seen her, since the day of her abduction.  I intended to return home tomorrow, but the king himself, when I went this morning to pay my respects, and state my intention of taking Anne home, bade those standing round to fall back, and was good enough to say in a low voice to me: 

“’I think, Baron, that you would do well to reconsider your decision to leave tomorrow.  Your sudden departure would give rise to ill-natured talk.  It would be wiser to stay here, for a short time, till the gossip and wonder have passed away.’

“I saw that His Majesty was right, and shall stay here for a short time longer.  It would certainly have a bad effect, were we to seem to run away and hide ourselves in the provinces.”

Mademoiselle de Pointdexter had retired when her father began to relate to Desmond what had happened.

“I know little of life in Paris, Monsieur le Baron,” Desmond said, “but it certainly seems to me monstrous, that the man who committed this foul outrage should escape with what is, doubtless, but a short banishment from court.”

“I do not know that the matter is ended yet, Monsieur Kennedy.  In spite of the edicts against duelling, I myself should have demanded satisfaction from him, for this attack upon the honour of my family, but I am at present Anne’s only protector.  It is many years since I have drawn a sword, while de Tulle is noted as a fencer, and has had many affairs, of which he has escaped the consequences owing to royal favour.  Therefore, were I to challenge him, the chances are that I should be killed, in which case my daughter would become a ward of the crown, and her hand and estate be bestowed on one of the king’s creatures.  But, as I said, the matter is not likely to rest as it is.

“Anne has, with my full consent and approval, given her love to a young gentleman of our province.  He is a large-landed proprietor, and a connection of our family.  They are not, as yet, formally betrothed, for I have no wish to lose her so soon; and, in spite of the present fashion of early marriages, I by no means approve of them, and told Monsieur de la Vallee that they must wait for another couple of years.

“I need scarcely say that, after what has happened, I shall reconsider my decision; for the sooner she is married, and beyond the reach of a repetition of this outrage, the better.  I imagine, however, that the young gentleman will be no better satisfied than I am, that the matter should have been passed over so lightly; and will take it into his own hands, and send a challenge immediately to the vicomte.  He is high spirited, and has the reputation among us of being a good fencer, but I doubt whether he can possess such skill as that which de Tulle has acquired.  It is not always the injured person that comes off victorious in a duel; and, should fortune go against Monsieur de la Vallee, it would be a terrible blow to my daughter, and indeed to myself, for I am much attached to him.  She is worrying about it, already.