I am your humble servant ever." And Laure d'Aumenier felt very much comforted by those words.

It was absurd, inconceivable, impossible, of course, and yet no handsomer, braver, truer, more considerate gentleman had ever crossed her horizon than this descendant of an ancient line of self-respecting, honorable yeomen.

She contrasted him with Captain Yeovil, and the contrast was not to Marteau's disadvantage! No, decidedly not!.