'To Her Majesty the Queen Regent.'" There was a step, and a throat-clearing cough behind him.
"Monsieur de Tressan," said a woman's voice, a rich, melodious voice, if haughty and arrogant of intonation.
On the instant he turned, advanced a step, and bowed.
"Your humblest servant, madame," said he, his hand upon his heart.

"This is an honour which--" "Which necessity thrusts upon you," she broke in imperiously.

"Dismiss that fellow." The secretary, pale and shy, had risen.

His eyes dilated at the woman's speech.

He looked for a catastrophe as the natural result of her taking such a tone with this man who was the terror of his household and of all Grenoble.