d reply. "Mistrust thy fortune
when the knave and the Church are together." And Vendome pointed to
the card the Legate had just played.

There was a titter all around; but Diane's white arm was stretched
forth, and she tapped Vendome with her fan.

"Fie, Monseigneur! Your wit is too cruel. His Eminence but referred
to the old saw: lucky at cards, unlucky in love."

The prince gallantly kissed her jewelled hand. "Madame, that is true,
for until I met you I never knew how unlucky I was."

La Valentinois did not note the glance in Vendome's eye, and, vain as a
peacock, blushed as she alone could blush. But a murmured word from De
Mouchy caught her ear, and leaning back in her chair, her face half
turned towards De Mouchy, and her fan outspread between herself and the
prince, she asked in a quick whisper:

"Is it over?"

"Yes! He has come."

As De Mouchy spoke the crowd parted, and the Vidame appeared, and bowed
before Diane.

"It was impossible to come sooner, madame; I had a little affair, and
it was necessary to change my attire."

"A successful affair, I trust, Monsieur le Vidame."

Simon was about to answer, but a high-pitched voice broke in: "More
successful than even the Vidame's great feat of arms in the forest of
Fontevrault." And Le Brusquet made his way through the press, and
stood behind the prince's chair.

Diane rose from her seat, and Simon glared at Le Brusquet, whilst a
dozen voices called out:

"What was that, Le Brusquet? We have not heard."

"That is owing to Monsieur le Vidame's modesty; but this feat eclipses
all the others of which he is the hero. This evening the Vidame broke
up the heretic church in the Mathurins; nearly all the accursed brood
were slain, women as well as men; but there are still enough prisoners
to give us a rare bonfire by Saturday. Is it not so, monsieur?" And
Le Brusquet turned to the Vidame.

"Is this true, Le Brusquet?" It was Vendome who asked. He too had
risen, and his voice was trembling with anger.

"Assuredly, Monseigneur! Ask the Vidame! It was a great stroke.
Amongst others they have taken La Mothe the Christaudin----" He
stopped, for the prince broke in furiously upon his speech.

"This is foul treachery! The edicts are suspended! The King's word is
given!"

"And is recalled. The edicts were re-enforced to-day. It is strange,
Monseigneur, that you, as the First Prince of the Blood, did not know
this!"

It was impossible to