tried the power of your seductions on many men, and, unfortunately, you have always succeeded. Try them on him. By God! if you succeed with him, I pronounce you the demon himself.”

He went to the door and opened it hastily.

“And now, madame, try to make your peace with God, for you are judged by men!”

Milady let her head sink, as if she felt herself crushed by this sentence. Lord Winter went out and shut the door.

An instant after, the heavy step of a marine was heard in the corridor, serving on sentinel’s duty, with his axe in his girdle and his musket on his shoulder.

Milady remained for some minutes in the same position, for she thought they might perhaps be watching her through the keyhole. Then she slowly raised her head, and assuming a formidable expression of menace and defiance, ran to the door to listen, looked out of her window, and returning to bury herself again in her large armchair, she reflected.