the sunlight snapping up the
flies.

"'Ah! The swallows! What of them?'

"'They are lovely birds, sire; but, you see, they spare nothing.' And
even as I spoke there was the flash of a bronze-green wing, and a
wretched moth that was fluttering in the air was borne away.

"The King took my meaning, and laughed uneasily.

"'You mean I have done wrong.'

"'The Duchess is a lovely woman, sire.' And I saw him flush with shame
and anger--the anger of a weak man. He controlled himself with an
effort, however, and said coldly:

"'Monsieur de Besme, have the goodness to strike that gong.'

"I did so, and in a moment the doors were flung open, showing the
glittering throng without. The King kept his back turned towards me,
and, taking the hint, I picked up the ape and withdrew. So, you see,
my news is of the gravest, and Diane has won the rubber."

"You think so?"

"It is all over. The council to-day will revoke the suspension of the
edicts, and once more the hell-fires will be lit on the parvis of every
church in Paris. I am off to grow pears at Besme. My office is for
sale; but I will give it to you, with my cap and bells and baton, as a
free gift if within two days you do not place a certain fair lady on a
pillion behind you and ride for the Swiss cantons."

For a little there was a silence, and then I rose to my feet.

"I am going," I said. "What has to be done must be done quickly."

He nodded assent. "I shall come with you part of the way," he said,
and called to his ape.

With this we descended from the wall, and walked back together to the
Ladies' Terrace.

The gardens were full, for the perfect day had tempted all within the
palace who could do so to come forth. Scattered here and there in the
walks, or resting on the seats, were knots of people, the bright
colours of their dresses all the brighter in the mellow sunshine. As
we were passing the fountain called the Three Graces we were stopped by
a little man with a round face and bulging eyes. He was quite young,
not more than four or five and twenty, but, young as he was, Monsieur
de Brantome had already acquired the reputation of being an inveterate
gossip, and was feared more than the plague. I had but a passing
acquaintance, two days' old, with him, but he seized Le Brusquet.

"_Eh bien_, Le Brusquet! I hear that you were with the King and madame
early this morning, and that high words passed. Is it true that you
leave the Court?"