heard of in this world? But it is Navarre's loss, not mine. It is
his loss. And I hope to Heaven it may be yours too!' he added fiercely.

There was so much in what he said that I bent before the storm, and
accepted with humility blame which was as natural on his part as it was
undeserved on mine. Indeed I could not wonder at his Majesty's anger;
nor should I have wondered at it in a greater man. I knew that but for
reasons, on which I did not wish to dwell, I should have shared it to
the full, and spoken quite as strongly of the caprice which ruined hopes
and lives for a whim.

The king continued for some time to say to me all the hard things he
could think of. Wearied at last by my patience, he paused, and cried
angrily. 'Well, have you nothing; to say for yourself? Can you suggest
nothing?'

'I dare not mention to your Majesty,' I said humbly, 'what seems to me
to be the only alternative.'

'You mean that I should go to the wench!' he answered--for he did not
lack quickness. '"SE NON VA EL OTERO A MAHOMA, VAYA MAHOMA AL OTERO," as
Mendoza says. But the saucy quean, to force me to go to her! Did my wife
guess--but there, I will go. By God I will go!' he added abruptly and
fiercely. 'I will live to ruin Retz yet! Where is your lodging?'

I told him, wondering much at this flash of the old spirit, which twenty
years before had won him a reputation his later life did nothing to
sustain.

'Do you know,' he asked, speaking with sustained energy and clearness,
'the door by which M. de Rosny entered to talk with me? Can you find it
in the dark?'

'Yes, sire,' I answered, my heart beating high.

'Then be in waiting there two hours before midnight,' he replied. 'Be
well armed, but alone. I shall know how to make the girl speak. I can
trust you, I suppose?' he added suddenly, stepping nearer to me and
looking fixedly into my eyes.

'I will answer for your Majesty's life with my own,' I replied, sinking
on one knee.

'I believe you, sir,' he answered gravely, giving me his hand to kiss,
and then turning away. 'So be it. Now leave me. You have been here too
long already. Not a word to any one as you value your life.'

I made fitting answer and was leaving him; but when I had my head
already on the curtain, he called me back. 'In Heaven's name get a new
cloak!' he said peevishly, eyeing me all over with his face puckered up.
'Get a new cloak, man, the first thing in the morning. It is worse seen
from the side than th