"A court-martial presided over by the Duc d'Épernon, or rather by the queen herself; indeed, they were not content with his death, but decided that it should be infamous."
"What! Richon—"
"Hanged, madame! hanged like a common malefactor, like a thief or an assassin! I saw his body in the market-place at Libourne."
The princess jumped to her feet, as if acted upon by an invisible spring. Lenet uttered an exclamation of grief. Madame de Cambes, who had risen, fell back upon her chair, putting her hand to her heart, as one does when one receives a grievous wound; she had fainted.
"Take the viscountess away," said the Duc de La Rochefoucauld; "we have no leisure now to attend to swooning women."
Two women bore the viscountess from the room.
"This is a brutally frank declaration of war," said the impassive duke.
"It is infamous!" said the princess.
"It is sheer savagery!" said Lenet.
"It is impolitic!" said the duke.