The Marquise and her son are too powerful there." "Yet their might shall not prevail against the Queen's," he made reply.
And as now they rode amain she fell to thanking him, shyly at first, then, as she gathered confidence in her subject, with a greater fervour.
But he interrupted her ere she had gone far, "Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye," said he, "you overstate the matter." His tone was chilling almost; and she felt as she had been rebuked.

"I am no more than the emissary of Her Majesty--it is to her that your thanks are due." "Ah, but, monsieur," she returned to the assault, "I owe some thanks to you as well.

What other in your place would have done what you have done ?" "I know not that, nor do I greatly care," said he, and laughed, but with a laugh that jarred on her.

"That which I did I must have done, no matter whom it was a question of saving.

I am but an instrument in this matter, mademoiselle." His thought was to do no more than belittle the service he had rendered her, to stem her flow of gratitude, since, indeed, he felt, as he said, that it was to the Queen-Regent her thanks were due.