Well, difficulties did not daunt the stout-hearted, inflexible old noble.

He rather enjoyed them.

He rather welcomed this occasion, too, because he intended to be master now, and, having once mastered the regiment, he felt he would have no difficulty in controlling it in any future emergency.
To him, as he sat in his cabinet maturing his plans for the morrow, came a message from his niece, asking admittance.

The privilege was, of course, instantly granted, and Laure d'Aumenier presently entered the room.
"Have you come, my child," began the old man, regarding her tenderly, for in the few years she had been with him he had learned to estimate the worth of her character and love her as she deserved, "to explain this mystery, to tell me why you declare that the presence of a man in the room of a woman of my house at three o'clock in the morning is innocent?
I repeat," he went on reassuringly, "that I cannot conceive of or admit any wrong on your part, and that makes the situation more impossible of explanation." "My uncle," answered the Countess, "I can only say that Monsieur Jean Marteau is not guilty, as he seems." "And I can quite believe that," said the old Marquis.

"Indeed, our English friend, who for all his bluntness is not without discrimination and good sense, has said as much to me.