ed.
As I come back I will try to say a word to you, but if I do not speak,
do not stop me. Adieu."

De Mouy resumed his measured walk, and Henry advanced towards the house.

"What is that pretty little animal?" asked the Duc d'Alencon from his
window.

"A horse I am going to try this morning," replied Henry.

"But that is not a horse for a man."

"Therefore it is intended for a beautiful woman."

"Take care, Henry; you are going to be indiscreet, for we shall see this
beautiful woman at the hunt; and if I do not know whose knight you are,
I shall at least know whose equerry you are."

"No, my lord, you will not know," said Henry, with his feigned
good-humor, "for this beautiful woman cannot go out this morning; she is
indisposed."

He sprang into the saddle.

"Ah, bah!" cried d'Alencon, laughing; "poor Madame de Sauve."

"Francois! Francois! it is you who are indiscreet."

"What is the matter with the beautiful Charlotte?" went on the Duc
d'Alencon.

"Why," replied Henry, spurring his horse to a gallop, and making him
describe a graceful curve; "why, I have no idea,--a heaviness in the
head, according to what Dariole tells me. A torpor of the whole body; in
short, general debility."

"And will this prevent you from joining us?" asked the duke.

"I? Why should it?" asked Henry. "You know that I dote on a hunt, and
that nothing could make me miss one."

"But you will miss this one, Henry," said the duke, after he had turned
and spoken for an instant with some one unnoticed by Henry, who
addressed Francois from the rear of the room, "for his Majesty tells me
that the hunt cannot take place."

"Bah!" said Henry, in the most disappointed tone imaginable. "Why not?"

"Very important letters from Monsieur de Nevers, it seems. There is a
council among the King, the queen mother, and my brother the Duc
d'Anjou."

"Ah! ah!" said Henry to himself, "could any news have come from Poland?"

Then aloud:

"In that case," he continued, "it is useless for me to run any further
risk on this frost. Good-by, brother!"

Pulling up his horse in front of De Mouy:

"My friend," said he, "call one of your comrades to finish your sentinel
duty for you. Help the groom ungirth my horse. Put the saddle over your
head and carry it to the saddler's; there is some embroidery to be done
on it, which there was not time to finish for to-day. You will bring an
answer to my apartments."

De Mouy hastened to obey, for the Duc d