have not fallen into disgrace for duelling."

Such was indeed the case. All eyes were turned upon Hector when he
entered the royal saloon. Many of Mazarin's friends came up and
shook hands with him warmly, while the adherents of Beaufort and
Vendome stood aloof from him with angry faces. Presently the door
opened, and the queen, closely followed by Mazarin and a train of
ladies and gentlemen, entered.

As she passed Hector she stopped. "Monsieur le Baron de la Villar,"
she said in clear tones, which were heard all over the apartment,
"much as I object to duelling, and determined as I am to enforce
the edicts against it, I feel that in the encounter this morning
you were in no way to blame, and that it was forced upon you. It
is scandalous that one who has so bravely shed his blood and risked
his life in defence of France should be assailed in the capital,
and for what reason? Because he proved faithful to the queen and
her minister. You have punished the chief of the aggressors, and
I shall know how to punish those who stood behind him;" and with
a gracious bow in response to his deep reverence she moved on.

The little speech created a deep sensation among the courtiers.
That the queen herself should so publicly give her countenance to
this young Scottish gentleman, and should -- for no one doubted to
whom she alluded -- even threaten one of the most powerful nobles
in the land, showed how strongly she felt. No one, with the
exception of half a dozen persons, understood her allusion to the
service that he had rendered to her and the cardinal, but all felt
that it must be something altogether exceptional. Many of the nobles
who belonged neither to the party of Beaufort nor the cardinal