He suddenly found it hard to be consistent.

His mind was in a whirl.

The Governor continued: "It must have given you great pleasure to know that at Windsor her Majesty has given tokens of honour to the famous singer, the wife of a notable French subject, who, while passionately eager to keep alive French sentiment, has, as we believe, a deep loyalty to England." The Governor had said too much.

He had thought to give the Seigneur an opportunity to recede from his seditious position there and then, and to win his future loyalty.

M.Racine's situation had peril, and the Governor had here shown him the way of escape.