im.
He had a harder part to play than his opponent; for while Rambouillet's
hands were clean, Retz knew himself a traitor, and liable at any moment
to discovery and punishment.

'Let M. d'Agen be called,' Henry said curtly.

'And if your Majesty pleases,' Retz added, 'M. de Bruhl also, If you
really intend, sire, that is, to reopen a matter which I thought had
been settled.'

The king nodded obstinately, his face furrowed with ill-temper. He kept
his shifty eyes, which seldom met those of the person he addressed, on
the floor; and this accentuated the awkward stooping carriage which was
natural to him. There were seven or eight dogs of exceeding smallness in
the room, and while we waited for the persons who had been summoned, he
kicked, now one and now another of the baskets which held them, as if he
found in this some vent for his ill-humour.

The witnesses presently appeared, followed by several persons, among
whom were the Dukes of Nevers and Mercoeur, who came to ride out with
the king, and M. de Crillon; so that the chamber grew passably full.
The two dukes nodded formally to the Marquis, as they passed him, but
entered into a muttered conversation with Retz, who appeared to be
urging them to press his cause. They seemed to decline, however,
shrugging their short cloaks as if the matter were too insignificant.
Crillon on his part cried audibly, and with an oath, to know what the
matter was; and being informed, asked whether all this fuss was being
made about a damned shaveling monk.

Henry, whose tenderness for the cowl was well known, darted an angry
glance at him, but contented himself with saying sharply to M. d'Agen,
'Now, sir, what do you know about the matter?'

'One moment, sire,' M. Rambouillet cried, interposing before Francois
could answer. 'Craving your Majesty's pardon, you have heard M. de
Bruhl's account. May I, as a favour to myself, beg you, sire, to permit
us also to hear it?'

'What?' Marshal Retz exclaimed angrily, 'are we to be the judges, then,
or his Majesty? Arnidieu!' he continued hotly, 'what, in the fiend's
name, have we to do with it? I protest 'fore Heaven--'

'Ay, sir, and what do you protest?' my champion retorted, turning to him
with stern disdain.

'Silence!' cried the king who had listened almost bewildered. 'Silence!
By God, gentlemen,' he continued, his eye travelling round the circle
with a sparkle of royal anger in it not unworthy of his crown, 'you
forget yourselves