best possible with the future."

"If you were in my place, madame," replied Henry, with his questioning
look, "you would still have hope, would you?"

"Certainly I should; I should consider myself as playing a game of three
points, of which I had lost only the first."

"Ah, madame," whispered Henry, "if I dared but hope that you would go
partners with me in the game"--

"If I had intended to side with your adversaries," replied Marguerite,
"I should scarcely have delayed so long."

"True!" replied Henry, "and I am ungrateful; and as you say, the past
may still be repaired."

"Alas! sire," said La Mole, "I wish your majesty every kind of good
fortune; but now the admiral is no more."

Over Henry's face passed that sly, peasant-like smile, which was not
understood at court until after he became King of France.

"But, madame," said the king, attentively observing La Mole, "this
gentleman cannot remain here without causing you considerable
inconvenience, and being himself subject to very unpleasant surprises.
What will you do with him?"

"Could we not remove him from the Louvre?" asked Marguerite, "for I
entirely agree with you!"

"It will be difficult."

"Then could not Monsieur de la Mole find accommodation in your majesty's
apartments?"

"Alas, madame! you speak as if I were still King of the Huguenots, and
had subjects to command. You are aware that I am half converted to the
Catholic faith and have no people at all."

Any one but Marguerite would have promptly answered: "He is a Catholic."

But the queen wished Henry himself to ask her to do the very thing she
was desirous of effecting; while La Mole, perceiving his protectress's
caution and not knowing where to set foot on the slippery ground of such
a dangerous court as that of France, remained perfectly silent.

"But what is this the governor says in his letter?" said Henry, again
casting his eyes over the missive he held in his hand. "He states that
your mother was a Catholic, and from that circumstance originates the
interest he felt in you."

"And what were you telling me, Monsieur le Comte," said Marguerite,
"respecting a vow you had formed to change your religion? I confess my
recollection on the subject is somewhat confused. Have the goodness to
assist me, M. de la Mole. Did not your conversation refer to something
of the nature the king appears to desire?"

"Alas! madame, what I did say was so coldly received by your majesty
that I did