uples troubled him, the
questionable act was Louis', his part was to obey.

"Then, sire, the post was not from Paris?"

"From Amboise," answered Louis, with sudden incisive vigour, his voice
rasping harshly. "From Amboise, where the ungrateful son of a
miserable father plots and plots and plots: and you, whose business it
is to know everything, know nothing."

"The Dauphin? and plotting against you? But, sire, it is impossible.
The Dauphin is barely thirteen years of age."

"The pity of it, Argenton, oh! the pity of it." As he spoke one who
did not know him as Commines knew him would have sworn that tears were
very near the dull, dry eyes. "No more than thirteen--no, not
thirteen, and yet--ah! the pity of it."

"Oh, sire, some one has deceived you. The Dauphin is too young to
plot, even if affection and common nature----"

"Too young?" broke in Louis, halting in his slow walk to strike the
pavement angrily with his stick. "At what age does a serpent grow
fangs? Too young? Ill weeds grow apace, and then there may be those
about him who egg him on, who sow wrong ideas in his mind that they may
reap some gain to themselves. All are not as faithful as thou art,
Philip. I have not always been merciful--not always. At times justice
has rejoiced against mercy for the general good; yes, for the general
good. There was Molembrais; men blame me for Molembrais; but if the
King's arm be not strong enough to strike, who shall hold the kingdom
in its place? And because the King's hand pulls down and raises up as
God wills"--he paused, and bowed with a little gesture of his hand to
his cap--"there are those who do not love me. But if they egg on,
those others who should be loyal to their King and are not, if they
suggest, it is my son--my son, Argenton--who is the very heart and
centre; my son, who out of his little twelve years raises his hand
against my threescore."

"If he has done that," began Commines, picking his words slowly (he had
not as yet fathomed Louis' purpose, and feared lest he should commit
himself in too great haste to the wrong policy), "if the Dauphin has
truly so forgotten natural love and duty----"

"If!" With a snarl which showed his gapped and yellow teeth Louis
again straightened himself, and as he raised his head beyond the
reflected glow of the scarlet cloak his face was grey with passion.
"If? If? Head of God, man! do you dare talk to me in 'ifs'? Philip
de Commines, when you wer