“Sebastian, will you please not encourage the child to have contempt for the Nobility of France!” Isabella said, trying to speak severely while she was laughing.
“I have a respect for no one but my own Monseigneur,” Amé answered. “I saw so many people look at him with admiration and I heard one woman say, ‘my dear, there is a man! I wish I was not too old’.”
“Amé paused a moment.
“What did she mean, ‘too old’?” she asked. “Was it that she was too old to marry you?”
Isabella gave a little giggle, but the Duke said gravely,
“That was what she meant. It was a compliment, I think.”
“Of course it was a compliment,” Amé replied. “You should have heard her tone when she said, ‘there is a man.’ I wanted to agree with her. I wanted to tell her just how wonderful you are.”
“You have a very in
