CHAPTERXIV
EAVESDROPPING
Iturneditoverinmymind，afterIhadlefttheKing’spresence，whetherornotIshouldvisitwithmyownhandsuponChatelleraultthepunishmenthehadsofullyearned。ThatIwouldhavegoneaboutthetaskrejoicingyoumayreadilyimagine;buttherewasthataccursedwager，and-torestrainme-thethoughtofhowsuchanactionmightbeconstruedintoanevasionofitsconsequences。
BetterathousandtimesthatHisMajestyshouldorderhisarrestanddealwithhimforhisattemptedperversionofjusticetotheserviceofhisownvileends。ThechargeofhavingabusedhistrustasKing’scommissionertotheextentofseekingtodomurderthroughthechannelsoftheTribunalwasonethatcouldnotfailtohavefatalresultsforhim-as，indeed，theKinghadsworn。
ThatwasthepositionofaffairsasitconcernedChatellerault，theworld，andme。ButthepositionmustalsobeconsideredasitconcernedRoxalanne，anddeeply，indeed，didIsoconsiderit。MuchponderingbroughtmeagaintotheconclusionthatuntilIhadmadetheonlyatonementinmypower，theonlyatonementthatwouldleavemewithcleanhands，Imustnotagainapproachher。