said Henry, who had surmised everything, "I think the
fear was so real that in rising I overturned the table."

Coconnas glanced at the King of Navarre as much as to say:

"Good! Here is a man who understands at once."

"What a frightful hubbub!" repeated Charles IX. "Your supper is ruined,
Henriot; come with me and you shall finish it elsewhere; I will carry
you off this evening."

"What, sire!" said Henry, "your Majesty will do me the honor?"

"Yes, my Majesty will do you the honor of taking you away from the
Louvre. Lend him to me, Margot, I will bring him back to you to-morrow
morning."

"Ah, brother," said Marguerite, "you do not need my permission for that;
you are master."

"Sire," said Henry, "I will get another cloak from my room, and will
return immediately."

"You do not need it, Henriot; the cloak you have is all right."

"But, sire," began the Bearnais.

"In the name of a thousand devils, I tell you not to go to your rooms!
Do you not hear what I say? Come along!"

"Yes, yes, go!" said Marguerite, suddenly pressing her husband's arm;
for a singular look from Charles had convinced her that something
unusual was going on.

"Here I am, sire," said Henry.

Charles looked at Coconnas, who was still carrying out his office of
torch-bearer by lighting the other candles.

"Who is this gentleman?" asked the King of Henry, eyeing the Piedmontese
from head to foot. "Is he Monsieur de la Mole?"

"Who has told him of La Mole?" asked Marguerite in a low tone.

"No, sire," replied Henry, "Monsieur de la Mole is not here, I regret to
say. Otherwise I should have the honor of presenting him to your Majesty
at the same time as Monsieur de Coconnas, his friend. They are perfectly
inseparable, and both are in the suite of Monsieur d'Alencon."

"Ah! ah! our famous marksman!" said Charles. "Good!" Then frowning:

"Is not this Monsieur de la Mole a Huguenot?" he asked.

"He is converted, sire, and I will answer for him as for myself."

"When you answer for any one, Henriot, after what you did to-day, I have
no further right to doubt him. But I should have liked to see this
Monsieur de la Mole. However, I can meet him another time."

Giving a last glance about the room, Charles embraced Marguerite, took
hold of the arm of the King of Navarre, and led him off.

At the gate of the Louvre Henry wanted to speak to some one.

"Come, come! pass out quickly, Henriot," said Charles. "When I tell you
that the a