"Gillonne," cried Marguerite when the door was closed behind the last,
"Gillonne, see that no one interrupts us."

"Yes," said the duchess, "for we have matters of grave importance to
discuss."

Taking a chair she seated herself without ceremony in the best place
near the fire and in the sunlight, sure that no one would interrupt the
pleasant intimacy between herself and the Queen of Navarre.

"Well," said Marguerite, with a smile, "what about our famous
slaughterer?"

"My dear queen," said the duchess, "he is a mythological creature, upon
my word. He is incomparable, so far as his mind is concerned, and never
dries up. He makes witty remarks that would make a saint in her shrine
die of laughing. In other respects he is the maddest heathen who ever
walked in the skin of a Catholic! I dote on him! And you, what are you
doing with your Apollo?"

"Alas!" said Marguerite with a sigh.

"Oh, how that 'alas!' frightens me, dear queen! Is the gentle La Mole
too respectful or too sentimental? In that, I am forced to admit he
would be exactly the opposite of his friend Coconnas."

"Oh, no, he has his moments," said Marguerite, "but this 'alas!'
concerned only myself."

"What does it mean, then?"

"It means, dear duchess, that I am terribly afraid I am actually in
love."

"Really?"

"On my honor!"

"Oh! so much the better! What a merry life we can lead!" cried
Henriette. "To love a little is my dream; to love much, is yours. It is
so sweet, dear and learned queen, to rest the mind by the heart, is it
not? and to have the smile after the delirium. Ah, Marguerite, I have a
feeling that we are going to have a glorious year!"

"Do you think so?" said the queen. "I, on the contrary, do not know how
that may be; I see things through a veil. All these politics occupy me
so much. By the way, do you know if your Annibal is as devoted to my
brother as he seems to be? Find out for me. I must know."

"He, devoted to anybody or anything! It is easy to see that you do not
know him as I do. If he ever is devoted to anything it will be his
ambition, and that is all. If your brother is a man to make great
promises to him, well, he will be devoted to your brother; but let your
brother, son of France that he is, be careful not to break the promises
he makes him. If he does, my faith, look out for your brother!"

"Really?"

"It is just as I say. Truly, Marguerite, there are times when this tiger
whom I have tamed frightens me.