There would no longer be the necessity she once had dreaded of listening to his suit for longer than it should be her pleasure to be amused by him.

But when Tressan spoke, he struck the first note of discord in the perfect harmony which the Dowager imagined existed.
"Madame," said he, "I am desolated that I am not a bearer of better tidings.

But for all that we have made the most diligent search, the man Rabecque has not yet been apprehended.

Still, we have not abandoned hope," he added, by way of showing that there was a silver lining to his cloud of danger.
For just a moment madame's brows were knitted.

She had forgotten Rabecque until now; but an instant's reflection assured her that in forgetting him she had done him no more than such honour as he deserved.
She laughed, as she led the way down the garden steps--the mildness of the day and the brightness of her mood had moved her there to receive the Seneschal.
"From the sombreness of your tone one might fear your news to be of the nature of some catastrophe.