ved some news during the night?" said the
queen, inquiringly to Dayelle, whom she treated with great familiarity.

"Messieurs de Guise have been walking together from early morning on the
terrace, so as not to be overheard by any one; and there they received
messengers, who came in hot haste from all the different points of the
kingdom where the Reformers are stirring. Madame la reine mere was there
too, with her Italians, hoping she would be consulted; but no, she was
not admitted to the council."

"She must have been furious."

"All the more because she was so angry yesterday," replied Dayelle.
"They say that when she saw your Majesty appear in that beautiful dress
of woven gold, with the charming veil of tan-colored crape, she was none
too pleased--"

"Leave us, my good Dayelle, the king is waking up. Let no one, even
those who have the little _entrees_, disturb us; an affair of State is
in hand, and my uncles will not disturb us."

"Why! my dear Mary, already out of bed? Is it daylight?" said the young
king, waking up.

"My dear darling, while we were asleep the wicked waked, and now they
are forcing us to leave this delightful place."

"What makes you think of wicked people, my treasure? I am sure we
enjoyed the prettiest fete in the world last night--if it were not for
the Latin words those gentlemen will put into our French."

"Ah!" said Mary, "your language is really in very good taste, and
Rabelais exhibits it finely."

"You are such a learned woman! I am so vexed that I can't sing your
praises in verse. If I were not the king, I would take my brother's
tutor, Amyot, and let him make me as accomplished as Charles."

"You need not envy your brother, who writes verses and shows them to me,
asking for mine in return. You are the best of the four, and will make
as good a king as you are the dearest of lovers. Perhaps that is why
your mother does not like you! But never mind! I, dear heart, will love
you for all the world."

"I have no great merit in loving such a perfect queen," said the little
king. "I don't know what prevented me from kissing you before the whole
court when you danced the _branle_ with the torches last night! I saw
plainly that all the other women were mere servants compared to you, my
beautiful Mary."

"It may be only prose you speak, but it is ravishing speech, dear
darling, for it is love that says those words. And you--you know well,
my beloved, that were you only a poor little