"My dear de Mouy, a gentleman of my birth is never forced-what I have done, I have done freely." 66 But, sire," continued the young man, his heart cppressed at this unexpected resistance; "you do not reflect that in thus abandoning us, you betray us." Henry remained perfectly unmoved. "Yes," de Mouy continued; "you betray us, sire; for very many of us have come, at the peril of our lives, to save your honour and liberty. We have prepared everything to give you a throne, sire; not only liberty, but power; a throne for your acceptance; for, in two months, you may choose between France and Navarre." "De Mouy," replied Henry, looking downwards for an instant to conceal the joy that sparkled in his eyes; "de Mouy, I am safe; I am a catholic; I am the husband of Marguerite; I am the brother of king Charles; I am son-in-law of my good mother Catherine; and when, de Mouy, I took all these relations upon me, I not only calculated the chances, but also the obligations." 66 But, sire," replied de Mouy, "what am I to believe? They say that your marriage is incomplete; they say you are free in your own heart; they say that Catherine's hatred "Lies, lies, lies all!" interrupted the Béarnais, hastily; you have been impudently deceived, my friend. My dearest Marguerite is indeed my wife-Catherine is truly my mother: the king Charles IX. is really the lord and master of my life and of my heart." De Mouy started, and a smile almost contemptuous passed over his lips. 66 Then, sire," said he, endeavouring by his look to fathom a mind so full of concealment ; "this is the answer I shall bear to my brothers in arms. I shall say that the king of Navarre extends his hand and gives his heart to those who cut our throats; I shall say that he has become the flatterer of the queen-mother, and the friend of Maurevel." "My dear de Mouy," was Henry's response, "the king is just breaking up the council; and I must go and learn what are the important reasons which have postponed the hunt. Adieu! imitate me, my friend: renounce politics, swear allegiance to the king, and take the mass.' And Henry led, or rather pushed the young man to the door of his antechamber, whilst de Mouy's amazement was fast giving way to rage. Scarcely was the door closed, than, unable to resist his desire of visiting his vengeance on something for want of somebody, de Mouy squeezed his hat between his hands, threw it on the ground, and trampling it under foot, as a bull does the cloak of a matador "S'death!" he cried; "he is a cowardly prince, and I have a great mind to kill myself on this very spot, that my blood may for ever stain him and his name." "Hush! M. de Mouy," said a voice which came from behind a half-opened door; "Hush! or some one else will hear you besides myself." De Mouy turned round suddenly, and perceived the duke d'Alençon enveloped in his mantle, and thrusting his pale face into the corridor to ascertain if he and de Mouy were really alone. "The duke d'Alençon !" cried de Mouy; "then I am lost!" "On the contrary," said the prince, in a subdued tone, you have perchance found that which you have been seeking; and, in proof of this, I would not have you kill yourself here as you propose. Believe me, your blood may be better employed than in reddening the threshold of the king of Navarre." And, at these words, the duke opened wide the door of the chamber which had been hitherto ajar. "This chamber belongs to two of my gentlemen," said the duke; "and no one will come to seek you here. So we may converse at our ease.—Come hither then, sir." "I am at your royal highness' service," said the amazed conspirator, and he entered the chamber, the duke closing the door after him quickly and securely. De Mouy entered, furious, enraged, and desperate; but gradually the cold and steady gaze of the young duke François had the effect on the young huguenot captain that ice has upon intoxication. "M. de Mouy," said François, "I thought I recognised you in spite of your disguise, as you presented arms to my brother Henry.-What, de Mouy, are not you satisfied with the king of Navarre ?" 66 Monseigneur!" "Come, come, speak frankly to me; and perhaps you may find I am your friend.” "You, monseigneur !" "Yes, I-but speak." "I know not what to say to your highness-what I had to tell the king of Navarre touched on interests impossible to be understood by you; besides," added de Mouy, "it was about trifles after all." "Trifles!" exclaimed the duke. 66 Yes, monseigneur." "Trifles!-when for this you have exposed your life by returning to the Louvre, when you well know your head is worth its weight in gold? For it is well known that you, like the king of Navarre and the prince de Condé, are one of the principal leaders of the huguenots." "If you think so, monseigneur, act towards me as the brother of Charles the king, and the son of Catherine the queen-mother, should act." 66 Why would you have me act so, when I tell you I am your friend? Tell me but the truth, and 66 Monseigneur, I swear to you "Do not swear, sir; the reformed religion forbids oaths, and especially false oaths." De Mouy frowned. "I tell you I know all," continued the duke. De Mouy was still silent. " Do you doubt it?" proceeded the prince with earnestness. "Well, then, my dear de Mouy, I must convince you, and you will see if I speak sooth or not. Have you, or not, proposed to my brother-in-law, Henry, there just now,”—and the duke extended his hand towards Henry's apartments"your aid, and that of your allies, to re-establish him in his kingdom of Navarre?" De Mouy looked at the duke in amazement. "Did you not, then, invoke your ancient friendship—the remembrance of your common religion? Did you not, then, seek to lure on the king of Navarre by a very brilliant hope and prospect-so brilliant that he was dazzled at it—the hope of attaining even the crown of France? Eh! am I, or not, well informed? Was it not this you came to propose to the Béarnais?" "Monseigneur," exclaimed de Mouy, "it is so precisely all that occurred, that I ask myself at this moment, whether I ought not to say to your highness, that you lie! provoke you in this very chamber to a combat, and seek in the death of one of us the extinction of this terrible secret." "Gently, my brave de Mouy; gently," replied d'Alençon, without changing countenance, or making the slightest motion at this menace; "this secret will be better kept between us two, if we both live, than if one of us were to die. Listen to me, and do not thus grip the handle of your sword; for the third time I tell you, you are with a friend-reply, then, as to a friend. Tell me, did not the king of Navarre refuse your offers?" "He did, my lord, and I confess it, because the avowal can compromise no one but myself." "And are you still of the same opinion you were when you quitted my brother Henry's chamber, and said he was a cowardly prince, and unworthy any longer to remain your leader?" "I am, monseigneur, and more so than ever." "Well, then, M. de Mouy, am I, the third son of Henry II., -I, a son of France-am I good enough to command your soldiers? Let us see-Do you think me so loyal that you rely on my word?" "You, monseigneur! you, the chief of the huguenots?" "Why not? This is the epoch of conversions, as you know, and if Henry has become a catholic, why may not I turn protestant?" “Unquestionably, monseigneur; but perhaps you will explain to me 66 'Nothing more simple; I will unfold to you, in two words, everybody's politics. My brother Charles kills the huguenots, that he may reign more absolutely. My brother d'Anjou lets him kill them, that he may succeed my brother Charles, and as you know, my brother Charles is often ill. But I-it is very different with me who will never reign over France; at least, I have two elder brothers before me; with me, whom the hatred of my mother and brothers, more even than the law of nature, alienates from the throne-with me, who see before me no family affection, no glory, no kingdom-with me, who yet have a heart as noble as my brothers; and therefore I, de Mouy, would fain cut myself out a throne with my sword in this France which they are staining with gore! And this is what I would do, de Mouy-listen: I would be king of Navarre, not by right of birth, but by election; and observe well, you can have no objection to make me so, for I am no usurper; my brother refuses your offers, and, buried in torpor, declares openly that this kingdom of Navarre is but a fiction. With Henry of Béarn, you have nothing now in common; with me you may have a sword and a name. François d'Alençon, son of France, can protect all his companions or accomplices, as you may please to call them.-Well, then! what say you to this offer, M. de Mouy?" "I say it perfectly bewilders me, monseigneur." "De Mouy, de Mouy, we shall have many obstacles to overcome; do not, then, show yourself so scrupulous and difficult with the son of a king, and the brother of a king, who comes to you." Monseigneur, the thing should be done at once, if I were the only person to decide; but we have a council, and how brilliant soever may be the offer, perhaps the leaders will not accede to it without a condition.' "This is another consideration, and the reply is that of an honest heart and a prudent mind. By the way in which I have acted, de Mouy, you must see that I am frank and honourable; treat me, then, on your part, like a man you esteem, and not a prince whom you would flatter. De Mouy, have I any chance?" "On my word, monseigneur, and since your highness desires to have my opinion, you shall have every chance, since the king of Navarre refuses the offer I have just made him— But I repeat to you, monseigneur, it is indispensable that I have a consultation with our leaders." "Of course, sir," was d'Alençon's reply; "only when shall I have the answer?" |