"I am never glad over a flogging, monsieur."
"Then why not speak? A word from you and it had stopped."
She flushed red for very shame.
"I was afraid—I knew you vexed with me," she faltered. "Oh, I have done ill!" She turned to me, silently imploring forgiveness. There was no need to ask.
"Then you will let him go, monsieur? Alack that I did not speak before! Thank you, my cousin!"
"Of what did you suspect me? The boy was whipped for a bit of impertinence to you; I had no cause against him."
My heart leaped up; at the same time I scorned myself for a craven that I had been overcome by groundless terror.
"Then I have been a goose so to disturb myself," mademoiselle laughed out in relief. "You do well to rebuke me, cousin. I shall never meddle in your affairs again."
"That will be wise of you," Mayenne returned. "For I did mean to let the boy go. But since you have opened his door and let him hear what he should not, I have no choice but to silence him."
"Monsieur!" she gasped, cowering as from a blow.