Part 136 (1/2)
”What has he told him?”
”He has told him that I desire the throne of Navarre, and that I have conspired to obtain it.”
”Ah, the stupid!” cried Henry, ”so that now you are compromised, my poor brother! How is it, then, that you have not been arrested?”
”I do not know. The King joked with me by pretending to offer me the throne of Navarre. He hoped, no doubt, to draw some confession from me, but I said nothing.”
”And you did well, _ventre saint gris_!” said the Bearnais. ”Stand firm, for our lives depend on that.”
”Yes,” said Francois, ”the position is unsafe, I know. That is why I came to ask your advice, brother; what do you think I ought to do--run or stay?”
”You must have seen the King, since he spoke to you?”
”Yes, of course.”
”Well! you must have read his thoughts. So follow your inspiration.”
”I prefer to remain,” replied Francois.
Notwithstanding the fact that he was almost thorough master of himself, Henry could not prevent a movement of joy from escaping him, and slight as it was, Francois saw it.
”Remain, then,” said Henry.
”But you?”
”Why!” replied Henry, ”if you remain, I have no motive for leaving. I was going only to follow you from devotion, in order not to be separated from my brother.”
”So,” said D'Alencon, ”there is an end to all our plans; you give up without a struggle at the first stroke of ill luck?”
”I do not look upon it as a stroke of ill luck to remain here,” said Henry. ”Thanks to my careless disposition, I am contented everywhere.”
”Well, then,” said D'Alencon, ”we need say no more about it, only in case you decide anything different let me know.”
”By Heaven! I shall not fail to do that, you may be sure,” replied Henry. ”Was it not agreed that we were to have no secrets from each other?”
D'Alencon said no more, but withdrew, pondering, however; for at one time he thought he had seen the tapestry in front of the closet move.
Scarcely was the duke gone when the curtain was raised and Marguerite reappeared.
”What do you think of this visit?” asked Henry.
”That there is something new and important on hand.”
”What do you think it is?”
”I do not know yet; but I will find out.”
”In the meanwhile?”