s
thoughts, while apparently changing the conversation. "I am sure he
could make seven leagues in an hour, and twenty between now and noon. It
is a fine day. And one feels like saying good-by. See the beautiful
cross-road. Does it not tempt you, Francois? As to me, my spurs burn
me."

Francois did not reply. But he first turned red and then white. Then he
bent his head, as if listening for sounds from the hunters.

"The news from Poland is having its effect," said Henry, "and my dear
brother-in-law has his plans. He would like me to escape, but I shall
not do so by myself."

Scarcely had this thought passed through his mind before several new
converts, who had come to court during the past two or three months,
galloped up and smiled pleasantly on the two princes. The Duc d'Alencon,
provoked by Henry's remarks, had but one word to say, one gesture to
make, and it was evident that thirty or forty horsemen, who at that
moment gathered around them as though to oppose the troop belonging to
Monsieur de Guise, favored his flight; but he turned aside his head,
and, raising his horn to his lips, he sounded the rally. But the
newcomers, as if they thought that the hesitation on the part of the Duc
d'Alencon was due to the presence of the followers of the De Guises, had
by degrees glided among them and the two princes, and had drawn
themselves up in echelons with a strategic skill which showed the usual
military disposition. In fact, to reach the Duc d'Alencon and the King
of Navarre it would have been necessary to pass through this company,
while, as far as eye could reach, a perfectly free road stretched out
before the brothers.

Suddenly from among the trees, ten feet from the King of Navarre,
another gentleman appeared, as yet unperceived by the two princes. Henry
was trying to think who he was, when the gentleman raised his hat and
Henry recognized him as the Vicomte de Turenne, one of the leaders of
the Protestant party, who was supposed to be in Poitou.

The vicomte even ventured to make a sign which clearly meant,

"Will you come?"

But having consulted the impassable face and dull eye of the Duc
d'Alencon, Henry turned his head two or three times over his shoulder as
if something was the matter with his neck or doublet.

This was a refusal. The vicomte understood it, put both spurs to his
horse and disappeared in the thicket. At that moment the pack was heard
approaching, then they saw the boar followed by the