But Garnache broke in: "La, la! I speak in the Queen's name.

If you have thought to aid the Dowager of Condillac in this resistance of Her Majesty's mandate, let me enjoin you, as you value your seneschalship--as you value your very neck--to harbour that thought no longer.
"It seems that, after all, I must deal myself with the situation.

I must go myself to Condillac.

If they should resist me, I shall look to you for the necessary means to overcome that resistance.
"And bear you this in mind: I have chosen to leave it an open question whether you were a party to the trick it has been sought to put upon the Queen, through me, her representative.

But it is a question that I have it in my power to resolve at any moment--to resolve as I choose.
Unless, monsieur, I find you hereafter--as I trust--actuated by the most unswerving loyalty, I shall resolve that question by proclaiming you a traitor; and as a traitor I shall arrest you and carry you to Paris.
Monsieur le Seneschal, I have the honour to give you good-day!" When he was gone, Monsieur de Tressan flung off his wig, and mopped the perspiration from his brow.