only one difficulty, my dear queen: the cage is already
occupied."

"What, have _you_ also saved somebody?"

"That is exactly what I answered your brother with."

"Ah, I understand! that's why you spoke so low that I could not hear
you."

"Listen, Marguerite: it is an admirable story--is no less poetical and
romantic than yours. After I had left you six of my guards, I returned
with the rest to the Hotel de Guise, and I was watching them pillage and
burn a house separated from my brother's palace only by the Rue des
Quatre Fils, when I heard the voices of men swearing and of women
crying. I went out on the balcony and the first thing I saw was a sword
flashing so brilliantly that it seemed to light up the whole scene. I
was filled with admiration for this fiery sword. I am fond of fine
things, you know! Then naturally enough I tried to distinguish the arm
wielding it and then the body to which the arm belonged. Amid
sword-thrusts and shouts I at last made out the man and I saw--a hero,
an Ajax Telamon. I heard a voice--the voice of a Stentor. My enthusiasm
awoke--I stood there panting, trembling at every blow aimed at him, at
every thrust he parried! That was a quarter hour of emotion such as I
had never before experienced, my queen; and never believed was possible
to experience. So there I was panting, holding my breath, trembling, and
voiceless, when all of a sudden my hero disappeared."

"How?"

"Struck down by a stone an old woman threw at him. Then, like Cyrus, I
found my voice, and screamed, 'Help! help!' my guards went out, lifted
him up, and bore him to the room which you want for your _protege_."

"Alas, my dear Henriette, I can better understand this story because it
is so nearly my own."

"With this difference, queen, that as I am serving my King and my
religion, I have no reason to send Monsieur Annibal de Coconnas away."

"His name is Annibal de Coconnas!" said Marguerite, laughing.

"A terrible name, is it not? Well, he who bears it is worthy of it. What
a champion he is, by Heaven! and how he made the blood flow! Put on your
mask, my queen, for we are now at the palace."

"Why put on my mask?"

"Because I wish to show you my hero."

"Is he handsome?"

"He seemed magnificent to me during the conflict. To be sure, it was at
night and he was lighted up by the flames. This morning by daylight I
confess he seemed to me to have lost a little."

"So then my _protege_ is rejected at the Hotel d