Guitaut noticed that he was very pale, but tranquil and courteous.
"Are you the governor of Vayres?" Guitaut asked.
"Yes, monsieur."
"And you decline to open the doors of your fortress to his Majesty the king, and the queen regent?"
"I regret that I must so decline."
"What do you demand?"
"The liberty of Messieurs les Princes, whose captivity is bringing ruin and desolation upon the kingdom."
"His Majesty does not chaffer with his subjects."
"Alas! monsieur, we know it; and for that reason we are prepared to die, knowing that we shall die in his Majesty's service, although we seem to be making war upon him."
"'Tis well," said Guitaut; "that is all we wished to know."