--Gaspard de Coligny, High Admiral of
France, the tallest poppy in the garden of heresy, Titi.

"Thirdly, the Law--in the person of Maitre Anne du Bourg, an unjust
judge; but you and I will change his judgment seat for a felon's dock,
and give him a garment of red flames for his red robes of office."

The cat mewed as De Mouchy went on: "There are many more, my friend,
and one in special, against whom we dare not move as yet, for he bears
the lilies of France on his shield. But let us on to the sweets, for
we have dined well, and need a toothsome morsel. If you could see,
_mon vieux_, and had set eyes on her, I should have my doubts of you
also, for she is as the fairy light that draws the unwary into the Pit
of Death. Can you guess? No! Then I will tell you. What think you
of the Demoiselle de Paradis? Yes! Hiss, hiss! _Sus, sus_! On to
the heretics, _mon brave_!"

And as the cat rose on its tottering limbs, arched its back, and
snarled, the man leaned back snarling also, for the blood madness was
on him, and he was alone, and had let himself go utterly.

At this moment this strange scene was interrupted by a sharp, imperious
knock at the door, and as De Mouchy, with a start, swung round his
chair and rose to his feet the door was pushed open without further
ceremony, and he saw before him the beautiful but pitiless face of
Diane de Poitiers, and behind her stood Simon of Orrain.

As De Mouchy stepped forward to meet his visitors with a cringing air,
the cat, less of a hypocrite than its master, retreated to the far end
of the table, and began to hiss like a boiling kettle.

"I did not expect you yet, madame," began De Mouchy; but Diane de
Poitiers broke in upon his speech:

"It does not matter; let us to business. But away with that hideous
cat first!" And she pointed with her fan at Titi, who stood glaring at
her with his sightless eyes.

"He is a good adviser, madame," grinned De Mouchy; but she stamped her
foot.

"It looks like a devil. Away with it! else I shall ask Orrain to fling
it through the window."

Simon smiled grimly, and stretched out a long, thin arm; but with a
sullen look on his face De Mouchy lifted his pet in his arms, and,
opening the door of the adjoining room, thrust it therein, shutting the
door upon it. It was, indeed, a lucky change of plan I had made. Had
I been behind that door discovery was certain.

The Duchess had seated herself in De Mouchy's chair, and coolly