oconnas
mounted guard. La Mole somewhat chagrined, Coconnas somewhat anxious. La
Mole had had time to reflect, and in this he had been greatly aided by
Coconnas.

"What do you think of all this, my friend?" La Mole had asked of
Coconnas.

"I think," the Piedmontese had replied, "that there is some court
intrigue connected with it."

"And such being the case, are you disposed to play a part in it?"

"My dear fellow," replied Coconnas, "listen well to what I am going to
say to you and try and profit by it. In all these princely dealings, in
all royal affairs, we can and should be nothing but shadows. Where the
King of Navarre leaves a bit of his plume and the Duc d'Alencon a piece
of his cloak, we leave our lives. The queen has a fancy for you, and you
for her. Nothing is better. Lose your head in love, my dear fellow, but
not in politics."

That was wise council. Therefore it was heard by La Mole with the
melancholy of a man who feels that, placed between reason and madness,
it is madness he will follow.

"I have not a fancy for the queen, Annibal, I love her; and fortunately
or unfortunately I love her with all my heart. This is madness, you will
say. Well, I admit that I am mad. But you are wise, Coconnas, you ought
not to suffer for my foolishness and my misfortune. Go back to our
master and do not compromise yourself."

Coconnas pondered an instant. Then raising his head:

"My dear fellow," he replied, "all that you tell me is perfectly
reasonable; you are in love--act, therefore, like a lover. I am
ambitious, and being so, I think life is worth more to me than a woman's
kiss. When I risk my life, I make my own conditions. Try, so far as you
are concerned, my poor Medor, to make yours."

Whereupon Coconnas extended his hand to La Mole and withdrew, having
exchanged a final glance and a final smile with his friend.

About ten minutes after he left his post, the door opened, and
Marguerite, peering out cautiously, took La Mole by the hand and,
without uttering a word, drew him from the corridor into the furthest
corner of her room. She closed the door behind her with a care which
indicated the importance of the conversation she was about to have.

Once in her room she stopped, seated herself on her ebony chair, and
drawing La Mole to her, she clasped her hands over both of his.

"Now that we are alone," said she, "let us talk seriously, my very dear
friend."

"Seriously, madame," said La Mole.

"Or l