d men to harry the Cerdagne and
Aran. Besides, what was the use of making a show in Paris, when the
very shop-tenders and scullions there played King Philip's game? Was
not the Sorbonne packed with wise doctors all arguing for Spain? Wild
monks and fanatic priests proclaimed her as the only possible saviour of
the Faith. At the back of Guise stood King Philip. Remained therefore
(according to the envoy) to push Guise forward, to use him, to empty
him, and then--let the Valois and the Medici have their will of him.
There was no reason for Spain to appear in the matter at all. Guise must
be induced to go to Blois, and--his enemies would do the rest.

It was then that Valentine la Nina burst forth in indignation.

She would not be the lure, she said, even for a king--a bait dangled
before an honest man's eyes--no, not even for her uncle!

"I am an Osorio," the envoy answered her sternly, "the head of the
family, you can surely trust me that nothing shall be asked of you which
might cast a stain on the name----"

"Not more than was asked of my mother!" she retorted scornfully, "only
to sacrifice herself and her children--a little thing for so good a
king--his people's father!"

"And for the Faith!" said the Marquis, hastily, as if to escape
discussion. "Listen, Valentine! The famous Father of the Gesu, Mariana,
will be in Paris before us. He has been reporting to the King, and he it
is who has asked for your presence. None can serve the Church so well as
you."

"I know--I know," cried the girl, "fear not, I have been well drilled.
My mother taught me that the whims of men were to be called either high
policy or holy necessity. It little matters which; women have to be
sacrificed in either case. Let us ride on to Paris, Uncle Osorio, and
say no more about it!"

They lighted down in the empty courtyard of the Spanish ambassador's
house, which was next to the hotel of the Duke of Guise. A shouting
crowd had pursued them to their lodging. For the Spaniards were popular
in the city, and the arrival of so fine a cavalcade had rightly enough
been interpreted to mean the adherence of Philip of Spain to the new
order of things.

"Had Spain been for the King, this envoy would have hied him to Blois,"
said De Launay, the old provost of the merchants. "But since Philip
sends his ambassador direct to the good city of Paris, why, then, it
follows that he is of the mind to put down Valois, to set aside Navarre,
and to help us to