"What is it?"
"The force of my will."
"You have plenty of that! But suppose, by some impossible chance, your ideal resists you even then?"
"Then I know what will remain for me to do."
"You will resort to the pistol?"
"Not for him, but for myself," she replied, in a tone so resolute as to exclude any suggestion of bravado.
Zibeline's horse, which was a rapid trotter, now stopped before the Hotel de Montgeron, arriving just in advance of the Duchess's carriage, for which the Swiss was watching at the threshold of the open Porte cochere. He drew himself up; the brougham entered the gate at a swift pace, described a circle, and halted under the marquee at the main entrance. The General sprang lightly to the ground.
"I thank you, Mademoiselle," bowing, hat in hand, to his charming conductor.
"Call me Valentine, please," she responded, with her usual ease of manner.
"Even in the character of a stage father, that would be rather too familiar," said the Marquis.