natural to flee from
those we love and who love us."

"I was not fleeing from those who love me; I was fleeing from those who
hate me. Will your Majesty permit me to speak openly?"

"Speak, monsieur."

"Those who hate me, sire, are Monsieur d'Alencon and the queen mother."

"As for Monsieur d'Alencon I will not answer; but the queen mother
overwhelms you with attentions."

"That is just why I mistrust her, sire. And I do well to do so."

"Mistrust her?"

"Her, or those about her. You know, sire, that the misfortune of kings
is not always that they are too little but that they are too well
served."

"Explain yourself; you promised to tell me everything."

"Your Majesty will see that I will do so."

"Continue."

"Your Majesty loves me, you have said."

"I loved you before your treason, Henry."

"Pretend that you still love me, sire."

"Very well."

"If you love me you must want me to live, do you not?"

"I should be wretched were any harm to befall you."

"Well, sire, twice your Majesty has just escaped being wretched."

"How so?"

"Twice Providence has saved my life. It is true that the second time
Providence assumed the features of your Majesty?"

"What form did it assume the first time?"

"That of a man who would be greatly surprised to see himself mistaken
for Providence; I mean Rene. You, sire, saved me from steel."

Charles frowned, for he remembered the night when he had taken Henry to
the Rue des Barres.

"And Rene?" said he.

"Rene saved me from poison."

"The deuce, Henriot, you have luck," said the King, trying to smile. But
a quick spasm of pain changed the effort into a nervous contraction of
the lips. "That is not his profession."

"Two miracles saved me, sire. A miracle of repentance on the part of the
Florentine, and a miracle of goodness on your part. Well! I will confess
to your Majesty that I am afraid Heaven will grow weary of working
miracles, and I tried to run away, because of the proverb: 'Heaven helps
those who help themselves.'"

"Why did you not tell me this sooner, Henriot?"

"Had I uttered these words yesterday I should have been a denunciator."

"And to-day?"

"To-day is different--I am accused and I am defending myself."

"Are you sure of the first attempt, Henriot?"

"As sure as I am of the second."

"And they tried to poison you?"

"Yes."

"With what?"

"With an opiate."

"How could they poison you with an opiate?"

"Why, sire, ask Rene