n the councils of Claire and the
Princess Catherine.

"What of La Reine Margot?" murmured the Professor, as if he had been
speaking to himself; "is she of her husband's enemies?"

"Nay--but," began the Princess, "that would be pouring oil upon fire!"

"Where one fire has burned, there is little fuel for a second,"
suggested the Professor sententiously.

"It is not the highest wisdom," said the careful Princess, "I fear it
would not bring a blessing."

"It is wisdom--if not the highest, my Lady Catherine," said the learned
Doctor, "and if the matter succeeds--that, for your Cause, will be
blessing enough!"

"Then our Cause is not yours?" Catherine demanded sharply of him. The
Professor smiled.

"I am old, or you children think so. I have at least seen the vanity of
persecuting any man for the thought that is in his heart. I was bred a
Catholic, yet have been persecuted by my brethren for differing from
them. But I agree that most honest folk of the realm are of your
brother's party--the brave, the wise, the single of eye and heart. There
never will be a king in France till the Bearnais reigns."

The Professor spoke with a certain antique freedom, and the Princess,
moved with a sudden impulse, laid her hand on his arm.

"You are with us, then, if not of us?" she said.

"I am of this young lady's party," smiled the Professor, turning to
Claire, who had been listening quietly. There was a look of great love
in his eyes.

"Then I must needs make sure of her!" said the princess, putting her arm
about Claire's waist. "Mistress Claire, vow that you will recruit for
our army!"

"Long ago one made me vow that vow!" said Claire. "I am not likely to
betray the Cause for which my father died!"

The face of the Princess Catherine grew grave. She was thinking of her
own father. Anthony of Bourbon had not made so good an end.

"I vowed my vow night and morning at my mother's knee," she said. "Thus
it was she bade me promise, in these very words--'As I hope for Christ's
dear mercy, I will live and I will die in the Faith given to the
fishermen of Galilee. I will cleave to it, despising all other. Every
believer, rich or poor, shall be my brother or my sister--they all
princes and princesses in Jesus Christ, I only a poor sinner hoping in
His mercy!'"

The Professor bowed his head, crossed himself instinctively, and said,
"Amen to so good a prayer! At the end, it is ever our mother's religion
which is ours!"