It flashed upon me, as she thus lightly spoke, what infernal use an unscrupulous woman might easily make of this.  The imputation lurking in her words aroused me to defiant anger, yet before I could collect my thought to make reply, she marked my hesitancy and continued with bitter sarcasm.

“Madame possesses so sweetly innocent a face I should never have suspected her of being an immodest wanton, were it not for the evidence of my own eyes.  ’T is a strange world, senor.  Yet I have often heard this is the way with these grandes dames of France.”

“It is only your own foulness of thought which places such construction upon my coming here,” I broke forth, determined I would face her down at every hazard.  “You know well my purpose; I came seeking to aid one you held prisoner.  It is all because of your sin, not ours.  You have robbed this Chevalier de Noyan of all his manhood by your cursed smiles and honeyed speech.  You have made him forget his sworn duty unto her who is his wife.”

“How interesting you grow,” she interrupted, her lips curling, her eyes hardening.  “Senor, you grow almost handsome when your eyes flash.  So you felt called upon to devote yourself to this poor, misused, neglected wife?  I trust you have not found it an unpleasant service, or entirely without reward?”

“I felt called upon to aid her in escaping from your grip.”

“Ah, indeed?  Would you kindly, senor, tell me how you proposed performing such a miracle?  It remains in my memory some such effort at release has been made before,” her eyes hardening like diamonds.  “Down yonder stands a blackened post which tells how Naladi deals with those daring to mock her will.”

“You may spare threats,” I retorted, gathering courage from rising anger, “as I care nothing for your good will, nor shall I swerve an inch in the hope of escaping your savage vengeance.  Madame de Noyan is so far above you in every attribute of unsullied womanhood that no words of yours can ever besmirch her reputation; while, as to myself, I remain so certain of my own rectitude in the action of this night, I challenge you to do your worst.”

“No doubt the Chevalier will also feel confidence in all you say,” she added maliciously.  “I understand it is the way with the French.”

“With whom your previous acquaintance seems to have rendered you most familiar.”

It was a wild, chance shot, for firing which I had no reason excepting that twice she had openly sneered at that people, and once had spoken of ships in a way strange to an inland savage.  It was worth trying, however, and I marked her slight start of surprise at my insinuating tone, and the dark shadow sweeping across her face.

“Think you so, senor?  It is passing strange, then, that I should be ignorant of the tongue.”

“Yes, were it true,” I made quick reply, encouraged by her manner, determined now to press this guessing home, and abide results.  “But you had small difficulty comprehending the language a moment back.  Permit me to remind you that it chanced to be French I spoke when first kneeling at your bedside.”