do him the greater right
hereafter. No, not you, D'Aubigne. I could not risk you. You are my
father-confessor, and task me soundly with my faults. Indeed, I might as
well be a Leaguer--they say the Cardinal sets more easy penances.
Brother Guise is the true Churchman--he and the King of Spain!"

The King looked about from one to another doubtfully, seeking a fit
envoy.

"No, nor you, Rosny; you can fight all day, and figure all night. But
for spying we want a lad of another build. Let me see--let me see!"

As the King was speaking, Jean-aux-Choux put on his brown Capuchin robe,
and covered his red furze brush with the hood.

"I tracked my Lord of Epernon this night once before," he said, "and by
the grace of God I can do as much again. I know his trail, and will be
at the orchard gate of the Chateau before he has time to blow the dust
out of his key!"

"How do you come to know so much?" demanded the Bearnais.

"By this token," said Jean carelessly; "that I saw my lady here and the
three men come out of the Chateau, I followed them hither, and had your
men roused and ready, so that if there had been any treachery, his
Dukeship, at least, would have been the first to fall!"

The King looked about him inquiringly.

"Rosny and D'Aubigne," he said, "what do you know of this--does the man
speak true?"

"A pupil of John Calvin speaks no lie," said Jean bravely. The King
laughed, whereupon Jean added, "If I do act a lie, it is to save Your
Majesty--the hope of the Faith!"

"That is rather like the old heresy of doing evil that good may come,"
said Henry; "but off with you! If I can accommodate my conscience to a
waggoner's blouse, I do not see why you should not reconcile yours to a
monk's hood!"

Jean-aux-Choux departed, muttering to himself that the Bearnais was
becoming as learned as a pupil of Beza or a Sorbonne Doctor, but
consoling himself for his dialectical defeat by the thought that, at
least, in the Capuchin's robe he was fairly safe. For even if caught,
after all, it was only another trick of the Fool of the Three Henries.

It was, indeed, the only thing concerning which Leaguers, Royalists, and
Huguenots were agreed--that Jean-aux-Choux was a good, simple fool!

CHAPTER XIV.

EYES OF JADE

Claire Agnew was left alone among a world of men. But as she had known
few women all her life, that made the less matter. Her dark, densely
ringleted hair, something between raven-black and the colour of