“But, M. le Duc,” protested Louise, “M. de Brancas does not need a jailer. His simple word of honor, it seems to me, should be sufficient.”
I confess my head was in a whirl. I knew not what to think.
“So I thought,” answered the regent, “and so I told my daughter, but I was silenced when she told me whom she wished me to name as jailer. I have made out the appointment here. You will see it is in due form. ‘I, Philip d’Orleans, Regent of France, in the name of His Most Gracious Majesty, Louis XV., of France, do this day appoint as jailer of M. Jean de Brancas, to securely guard upon his estate at Arneaux by whatever means may seem necessary, one Mlle. Louise Dacour——’”
Louise uttered a cry of astonishment. I was on my feet in an instant. The regent silenced us both with another wave of the hand.
“‘The only condition being,’” he continued, “‘that Mlle. Dacour shall be united in marriage to the prisoner, M. de Brancas, in order that she may be able to guard him more effectually at all times. Signed, Philip d’Orleans, Regent of France.’ Now, M. de Brancas, we will hear you first. Is it that you object to this jailer?”
“No, M. le Duc,” I answered, not daring to glance at Louise. “God knows, I would willingly spend my whole life in such a prison. But I ask no assistance in love, monsieur, nor do I wish any woman, however much I love her, to be compelled to marry me.”
The regent looked at me for a moment with a smile.
“And who has said anything about compulsion, my friend?” he asked. “Certainly, not I. It is for Mlle. Dacour to choose. I fancy you would suffer little with such a jailer, but if she does not desire the position, she has only to refuse it.”
I turned to Louise. She, too, had risen, and her face was rosy with blushes and tender with a great tenderness. She was looking at me with brimming eyes. For a moment I did not understand.
“Louise!” I cried, “Louise!”