If you will beard the lion in his den, the risk will be yours, not his!" The young man's face glowed.

"I take the risk!" he cried.

"And I thank you for the chance; that, Madame, whatever betide.

But--" "But what ?" she asked, seeing that he hesitated and that his face fell.
"If he afterwards learn that you have played him a trick," he said, "will he not punish you ?" "Punish me ?" He nodded.
Madame laughed her high disdain.

"You do not yet know Hannibal de Tavannes," she said.