"All the traitors—whatever their rank may be, whatever their power, whatever the mask that they assume! Do you hear, Warnachaire, mayor of the palace of Burgundy?"
"I hear even what you do not say to me—but I bow before my Queen."
"Do you read my thoughts?"
"You take me for a traitor. You consider me your enemy, especially since your recent return from Worms."
"I am on my guard against everybody."
"Your suspicions, madam, have become certitude. You told Aimoin, one of our men, to stab me to death."
"I order only my enemies to be despatched."
"Accordingly, I am an enemy to you, madam, at least you look upon me as such. Here are the fragments of the letter, written in your own hand, and ordering Aimoin to kill me."
And the duke deposited several fragments of parchment upon the table; the Queen looked defiantly at the mayor of the palace.
"Did Aimoin give you that letter?"