Humbly thanking her, he accepted her offer for his child, and withdrew wiping his eyes.

When he was gone, and the door had closed behind him, Tavannes turned to the Countess, who still kept her feet.
"You are very confident this evening," he sneered.

"Gibbets do not frighten you, it seems, madame.

Perhaps if you knew for whom the one before the door is intended ?" She met his look with a searching gaze, and spoke with a ring of defiance in her tone.

"I do not believe it!" she said.