Merlin's look of sneering contempt, when he glanced towards her, had told her that.
Deroulede himself had been conscious of a feeling of intense relief when the men re-entered the room.

The tension had become unendurable.

When he saw his dethroned madonna kneel in humiliation at his feet, an overwhelming pain had wrenched his very heart-strings.
And yet he could not go to her.

The passionate, human nature within him felt a certain proud exultation at seeing her there.
She was not above him now, she was no longer akin to the angels.
He had given no further thought to his own immediate danger.

Vaguely he guessed that Merlin would find the leather case.