bout to fall became imminent the very morning on
which he started from the port of Beaugency for the chateau de Blois,
bearing precious documents which compromised the highest heads of the
nobility, placed in his hands by that wily partisan, the indefatigable
La Renaudie, who met him, as agreed upon, at Beaugency, having reached
that port before him.

While the tow-boat, in which Christophe now embarked floated, impelled
by a light east wind, down the river Loire the famous Cardinal de
Lorraine, and his brother the second Duc de Guise, one of the greatest
warriors of those days, were contemplating, like eagles perched on a
rocky summit, their present situation, and looking prudently about them
before striking the great blow by which they intended to kill the Reform
in France at Amboise,--an attempt renewed twelve years later in Paris,
August 24, 1572, on the feast of Saint-Bartholomew.

During the night three _seigneurs_, who each played a great part in
the twelve years' drama which followed this double plot now laid by the
Guises and also by the Reformers, had arrived at Blois from different
directions, each riding at full speed, and leaving their horses
half-dead at the postern-gate of the chateau, which was guarded by
captains and soldiers absolutely devoted to the Duc de Guise, the idol
of all warriors.

One word about that great man,--a word that must tell, in the first
instance, whence his fortunes took their rise.

His mother was Antoinette de Bourbon, great-aunt of Henri IV. Of what
avail is consanguinity? He was, at this moment, aiming at the head of
his cousin the Prince de Conde. His niece was Mary Stuart. His wife
was Anne, daughter of the Duke of Ferrara. The Grand Connetable de
Montmorency called the Duc de Guise "Monseigneur" as he would the
king,--ending his letter with "Your very humble servant." Guise, Grand
Master of the king's household, replied "Monsieur le connetable," and
signed, as he did for the Parliament, "Your very good friend."

As for the cardinal, called the transalpine pope, and his Holiness, by
Estienne, he had the whole monastic Church of France on his side, and
treated the Holy Father as an equal. Vain of his eloquence, and one
of the greatest theologians of his time, he kept incessant watch over
France and Italy by means of three religious orders who were absolutely
devoted to him, toiling day and night in his service and serving him as
spies and counsellors.

These few words w