I know I have been blamed by some and ridiculed by others for not pushing the matter farther; but those who have stood face to face with a woman of spirit--a woman whose very frailty and weakness fought for her--will better understand the difficulties with which I had to contend and the manner in which conviction was at last borne in on my mind.

I had never before confronted stubbornness of this kind.

As mademoiselle said again and again, I might force her to Court, but I could not make her speak.
When I had tried every means of persuasion, and still found no way of overcoming her resolution the while Fanchette looked on with a face of wood, neither aiding me nor taking part against me--I lost, I confess, in the chagrin of the moment that sense of duty which had hitherto animated me; and though my relation to mademoiselle should have made me as careful as ever of her safety, even in her own despite, I left her at last in anger and went out without saying another word about removing her--a thing which was still in my power.

I believe a very brief reflection would have recalled me to myself and my duty; but the opportunity was not given me, for I had scarcely reached the head of the stairs before Fanchette came after me, and called to me in a whisper to stop.
She held a taper in her hand, and this she raised to my face, smiling at the disorder which she doubtless read there.

'Do you say that this house is not safe ?' she asked abruptly, lowering the light as she spoke.
'You have tried a house in Blois before ?' I replied with the same bluntness.