place, and if I were sure of being king, that is,
sure of representing God on earth, I would act like God, I should
pardon."

"Madame," cried Rene, snatching the opiate from the hands of Madame de
Sauve, "madame, give me back this box; my messenger boy, I see, has made
a mistake in it. To-morrow I will send you another."

CHAPTER XXIII.

A NEW CONVERT.

The following day there was to be a hunt in the forest of Saint Germain.

Henry had ordered a small Bearnais horse to be made ready for him; that
is, to be saddled and bridled at eight o'clock in the morning. He had
intended giving this horse to Madame de Sauve, but he wanted to try it
first. At a quarter before eight the horse was ready. On the stroke of
eight Henry came down to the court-yard. The horse, proud and fiery in
spite of its small size, pricked up its ears and pawed the ground. The
weather was cold and a light frost covered the pavement. Henry started
to cross the court-yard to the stables where the horse and the groom
were waiting, when a Swiss soldier whom he passed standing sentinel at
the gate presented arms and said:

"God keep his Majesty the King of Navarre."

At this wish and especially at the tone in which it was uttered the
Bearnais started.

He turned and stepped back.

"De Mouy!" he murmured.

"Yes, sire, De Mouy."

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Why are you looking for me?"

"I must speak to your majesty."

"Unfortunately," said the king, approaching him, "do you not know you
risk your head?"

"I know it."

"Well?"

"Well, I am here."

Henry turned slightly pale, for he knew that he shared the danger run by
this rash young man. He looked anxiously about him, and stepped back a
second time, no less quickly than he had done at first. He had seen the
Duc d'Alencon at a window.

At once changing his manner Henry took the musket from the hands of De
Mouy, standing, as we have said, sentinel, and while apparently
measuring it:

"De Mouy," said he, "it is certainly not without some very strong motive
that you have come to beard the lion in his den in this way?"

"No, sire, I have waited for you a week; only yesterday I heard that
your majesty was to try a horse this morning, and I took my position at
the gate of the Louvre."

"But how in this uniform?"

"The captain of the company is a Protestant and is one of my friends."

"Here is your musket; return to your duty of sentinel. We are watch