"She is a woman, sir."
"And is a woman never a traitor?" asked Herrick.
"At least Mademoiselle loves her country, and perhaps——" The captain paused, and looked at Herrick.
"Well, Lemasle?"
"The sentence is best left unfinished, but women's love finds strange ways of revenging itself if it is scorned," said the Captain.
Herrick did not answer, but Jean, either of set purpose or by accident, made his bells jingle for a moment.
"I would once more urge stringent measures, sir," Lemasle went on after a pause. "The people expect it. They look for such measures to bring peace to the country. You are reluctant to let justice take its course, and it may be that I understand something of your mind in this, but, if I may advise, why not postpone judgment? In a few days the nobles will be assembled in Vayenne, let them decide against the Count and de Bornais as they will. Have they not often in times past been summoned to give decision in such a case? Why should you give judgment to-day?"
"Because, Lemasle, I fear the justice of the nobles," Herrick answered. "My orders must stand. See that the prisoners are brought into the hall. And, captain, think presently of some honor you covet, and it shall be yours. If we are slow to condemn, we would be quick in our rewards."
"Sir, your trust, your friendship almost, leaves me covetous of little else."