Ten Years Later: Louise de la Valliere by Alexandre Dumas Chapter 24 Page 4

mode of defense, and you, who have great pretensions to be witty and clever, ought to avoid commonplaces.

What else have you to say?”

“Oh! madame, your majesty terrifies me with your cold severity of manner; but I do not understand how I can have incurred your displeasure, or in what respect people concern themselves about me.”

“Then I will tell you. M. de Guiche has been obliged to undertake your defense.”

“My defense?”

“Yes. He is a gallant knight, and beautiful adventuresses like to see brave knights couch lances in their honor. But, for my part, I hate fields of battle, and above all I hate adventures, and — take my remark as you please.”