"First the Catholics, who hate you because you only three parts exterminated the Huguenots: then the Huguenots, who hate you because you have three parts exterminated them; and the third party is that which desires neither you, nor your brother, nor M. de Guise, but your brother-in-law, Henri of Navarre."
"Provided that he abjure. But these people of whom you speak are all France."
"Just so. These are my troops as a leaguer; now add, and compare."
"Is it a time to joke, when you are alone, against all the world?"
Henri assumed an air of royal dignity. "Alone I am," said he, "but at the same time I alone command. You show me an army, but where is the chief? You will say, M. de Guise; but do I not keep him at Nancy? M. de Mayenne, you say yourself, is at Soissons, the Duc d'Anjou is at Brussels, and the king of Navarre at Pau; so that if I am alone, I am free. I am like a hunter in the midst of a plain, waiting to see his prey come within his reach."
"On the contrary; you are the game whom the hunters track to his lair."
"Well! let me hear whom you have seen come."
"True; but she comes as the avant courier to announce the arrival of her brother."
"And do you think that embarrasses me? Give me ink and paper."
"What for? To sign an order for M. de Guise to remain at Nancy?"
"Exactly; the idea must be good, since you had it also."
"As soon as he receives it he will know he is wanted at Paris, and he will come."
The king grew angry. "If you only returned to talk like this," said he, "you had better have stayed away."
"What would you have? Phantoms never flatter. But be reasonable; why do you think M. de Guise remains at Nancy?"
"Well; and for what purpose does he destine this army?"
"Ah, Chicot! you fatigue me with all these questions."
"You will sleep better after it. He destines this army--"
"Or rather, to thwart your brother of Anjou, who has called himself Duke of Brabant, and wishes to build himself a throne in Flanders, for which he solicits your aid--"
"To the great joy of the Duc de Guise. Well, if you were to feign to send this aid--if they only went half way--"
"Ah! yes, I understand; M. de Guise would not leave the frontier."
"And the promise of Madame de Montpensier that her brother would be here in a week--"