"Monsieur, I shall never cease to love you for this. And now I thank you for your long patience, and bid you good night."
With a bare inclination of the head to Lucas, she turned to go. But Mayenne bade her pause.
"Do I get but a curtsey for my courtesy? No warmer thanks, Lorance?"
He held out his arms to her, and she let him kiss both her cheeks.
"I will conduct you to the staircase, mademoiselle," he said, and taking her hand with stately politeness led her from the room. The light seemed to go from it with the gleam of her yellow gown.
"Lorance!" Lucas cried to her, but she never turned her head. He stood glowering, grinding his teeth together, his glib tongue finding for once no way to better his sorry case. He was the picture of trickery rewarded; I could not repress a grin at him. Marking which, he burst out at me, vehemently, yet in a low tone, for Mayenne had not closed the door:
"You think I am bested, do you, you devil's brat? Let him laugh that wins; I shall have her yet."
"I will tell M. le Comte so," I answered with all the impudence I could muster.
"By Heaven, you will tell him nothing," he cried. "You will never see daylight again."
"I have Mayenne's word," I began, but his retort was to draw dagger. I deemed it time to stop parleying, and I did what the best of soldiers must do sometimes: I ran. I bounded into the oratory, flinging the door to after me. He was upon it before I could get it shut, and the heavy oak was swung this way and that between us, till it seemed as if we must tear it off the hinges. I contrived not to let him push it open wide enough to enter; meantime, as I was unarmed, I thought it no shame to shriek for succour. I heard an answering cry and hurrying footsteps. Then Lucas took his weight from the door so suddenly that mine banged it shut. The next minute it flew open again, mademoiselle, frightened and panting, on the threshold.