At least,
Margot the Queen was not malicious; and so it was without any fear, but
rather with the sort of silent amusement with which we applaud a child's
new trick, that the King dismounted, kissed his wife's hand, answered
her gay greetings, and even cast a critic's eye on the array of beauties
who followed in her train.

Many gallant gentlemen of the south also accompanied her. Raimonds and
Castellanes were there, Princes of Baux and Seigneurs de la Tour--all
willing at once to visit the camp of the Bearnais, and to testify their
loyalty to the Court of France. For in the south, the League and the
Guises had made but little progress.

"Why, Margot, what brings you hither?" said the Bearnais, as he paced
along by his wife's side, while the suite had dropped far enough behind
for them to speak freely.

"Well, husband mine," said the Queen Margot, "you have been a bad boy to
me, and if I had not been mine own sweet self, you and my brother (peace
to his ashes, as soon as he is dead!) would have shut me up in a big,
dull castle to do needlework alone with a cat and a duenna. But I was
too clever for you. And, after that, they poisoned your mind against
little Margot--oh, I know. So I do not blame you greatly, Henry. Also, I
have a temper that is trying at short range--I admit it. So I am come to
make up--at least, if you will. And further, if by chance my good,
simple mother and that gallant, crafty Epernon lad have any tricks to
try upon you--why, then I have brought a bag of them too, and can play
them, trick for trick, till we win--you and I, Harry!"

Margot the Queen waved her hand to the covey of beauties who rode behind
her.

"I would say that they are all queens of beauty," she said, smiling down
at him; "but do you know (I am speaking humbly because I know well that
you do not agree) I am the only really pretty queen in the world?"

"As to that I do most heartily take oath," said the Bearnais.

"Ah, but," said Margot, touching him gently on the cheek with the lash
of her riding-whip, "I mind well how you swore you would wed the Queen
of England, provided she brought you that rich land--aye, though she had
as many wrinkles on her brow as the sea that surrounds her isle, or even
the Infanta of Spain, old and wizened as a last year's pippin, if only
she brought you in dower the Low Countries!"

"Ah, Margot," said Henry, smiling up at his wife, "and I thought it was
your sole boast that you never cast up ol