to the hall; "they are using him to work
upon the members of the States-general."

"Well, what does it signify if we are betrayed by a secretary when all
else betrays us?" cried the lieutenant-general. "The town is for the
Reformation, and we are on the eve of a revolt. Yes! the _Wasps_ are
discontented"; he continued, giving the Orleans people their nickname;
"and if Pare does not save the king we shall have a terrible uprising.
Before long we shall be forced to besiege Orleans, which is nothing but
a bog of Huguenots."

"I have been watching that Italian woman," said the cardinal, "as she
sits there with absolute insensibility. She is watching and waiting,
God forgive her! for the death of her son; and I ask myself whether we
should not do a wise thing to arrest her at once, and also the king of
Navarre."

"It is already more than we want upon our hands to have the Prince de
Conde in prison," replied the duke.

The sound of a horseman riding in haste to the gate of the Bailliage
echoed through the hall. The duke and cardinal went to the window,
and by the light of the torches which were in the portico the duke
recognized on the rider's hat the famous Lorraine cross, which the
cardinal had lately ordered his partisans to wear. He sent an officer of
the guard, who was stationed in the antechamber, to give entrance to the
new-comer; and went himself, followed by his brother, to meet him on the
landing.

"What is it, my dear Simeuse?" asked the duke, with that charm of manner
which he always displayed to military men, as soon as he recognized the
governor of Gien.

"The Connetable has reached Pithiviers; he left Ecouen with two thousand
cavalry and one hundred nobles."

"With their suites?"

"Yes, monseigneur," replied Simeuse; "in all, two thousand six hundred
men. Some say that Thore is behind them with a body of infantry. If
the Connetable delays awhile, expecting his son, you still have time to
repulse him."

"Is that all you know? Are the reasons of this sudden call to arms made
known?"

"Montmorency talks as little as he writes; go you and meet him, brother,
while I prepare to welcome him with the head of his nephew," said the
cardinal, giving orders that Robertet be sent to him at once.

"Vieilleville!" cried the duke to the marechal, who came immediately.
"The Connetable has the audacity to come here under arms; if I go to
meet him will you be responsible to hold the town?"

"As soon as you leave