It had this advantage: that it enabled her to stand where he might not watch her face without turning his head.

He was content that such was her motive.
To defeat her object, to show her that he had guessed it, he stepped back, too, also with that same idleness of air, so that he was once more in line with her.

And then he spoke, addressing Valerie.
"Mademoiselle, that you should have written to the Queen in haste is deplorable now that your views have undergone this change.

I am a stupid man, mademoiselle, just a blunt soldier with orders to obey and no authority to think.

My orders are to conduct you to Paris.