I have my daughter back again, and I have come to demand justice at your hands.' "'I congratulate you, indeed, Baron,' the king said, with an appearance of warmth, but I saw his colour change, and was convinced that he knew something, at least, of the matter.
"'And where has the damsel been hiding herself ?' he went on.
"'She has not been hiding herself, at all, Sire,' I said.

'She has been abducted, by one of Your Majesty's courtiers, with the intention of forcing her into a marriage.

His name, Sire, is the Vicomte de Tulle, and I demand that justice shall be done me, and that he shall receive the punishment due to so gross an outrage.' "The king was silent for a minute, and then said: "'He has, indeed, if you have been rightly informed, acted most grossly.

Still, it is evident that he repented the step that he took, and so suffered her to return to you.' "'Not so, Your Majesty,' I said.

'I owe her return to no repentance on his part, but to the gallantry of a young officer who, passing the house where she was confined, heard her cries for aid, and, with his soldier servant, climbed the gate of the enclosure, and was there attacked by the man who had charge of her, with four others.