"If I were permitted," said Orleans, on whose facile mind Isabelle's beauty had made a deep impression, "some time to endeavour to place my pretensions before the Countess in a more favourable light" –
"My lord," said Isabelle, whose firmness was now fully supported by the encouragement which she received from all around, "it were to no purpose – my mind is made up to decline this alliance, though far above my deserts."
"Nor have I time," said the Duke, "to wait till these whimsies are changed with the next change of the moon. – Monseigneur d'Orleans, she shall learn within this hour, that obedience becomes matter of necessity."
"Not in my behalf, Sire," answered the Prince, who felt that he could not, with any show of honour, avail himself of the Duke's obstinate disposition; – "to have been once openly and positively refused, is enough for a Son of France. He cannot prosecute his addresses farther."
The Duke darted one furious glance at Orleans, another at Louis; and reading in the countenance of the latter, in spite of his utmost efforts to suppress his feelings, a look of secret triumph, he became outrageous.
"Write," he said to the Secretary, "our doom of forfeiture and imprisonment against this disobedient and insolent minion! She shall to the Zuchthaus, to the penitentiary, to herd with those whose lives have rendered them her rivals in effrontery!"
There was a general murmur.
"My Lord Duke," said the Count of Crèvecoeur, taking the word for the rest, "this must be better thought on. We, your faithful vassals, cannot suffer such a dishonour to the nobility and chivalry of Burgundy. If the Countess hath done amiss, let her be punished – but in the manner that becomes her rank, and ours, who stand connected with her house by blood and alliance."
The Duke paused a moment, and looked full at his counsellor with the stare of a bull, which, when compelled by the neat-herd from the road which he wishes to go, deliberates with himself whether to obey, or to rush on his driver, and toss him into the air.
Prudence, however, prevailed over fury – he saw the sentiment was general in his council – was afraid of the advantages which Louis might derive from seeing dissension among his vassals; and probably – for he was rather of a coarse and violent, than of a malignant temper – felt ashamed of his own dishonourable proposal.