There was no polite response to that, and no necessary retort for Laurent's pride. He drank and ate, and the goblet was always refilled as soon as it was half empty.

"Why keep me?" he asks, at length. He lays down his fork, and the plate is whisked away, replaced by a fresh plate and an array of delicate desserts. A cup of steaming liquid appears, also, with a tiny pitcher of cream and one of sugar. "If you would have killed him. Why let me live?"