, I would that you go down to them, and tell
them not to be surprised if you do not join them till morning. Then
return hither for the night. It may be that we may want to speak to
you again."

Late in the evening a page came to Philip and, saying that the
prince wished to speak with him, conducted him to a small
apartment, where he found Conde and the Admiral.

"We have a mission with which we would intrust you, if you are
willing to undertake it," the Admiral said. "It is a dangerous one,
and demands prudence and resource, as well as courage. It seems to
the prince and myself that you possess these qualities; and your
youth may enable you to carry out the mission, perhaps, more easily
than another would do.

"It is no less than to carry a letter, from the prince and myself,
to the Queen of Navarre. She is at present at Nerac. Agents of
Catharine have been trying to persuade her to go with her son to
Paris; but fortunately, she discovered that there was a plot to
seize her, and the young prince her son, at the same time that we
were to be entrapped in Burgundy. De Lossy, who was charged with
the mission of seizing her at Tarbes, was fortunately taken ill;
and she has made her way safely up to Nerac.

"All Guyenne swarms with her enemies. D'Escars and four thousand
Catholics lie scattered along from Perigueux to Bordeaux, and other
bands lie between Perigueux and Tulle. If once past those dangers,
her course is barred at Angouleme, Cognac, and Saintes.

"I want her to know that I will meet her on the Charente. I do not
say that I shall be able to take those three towns, but I will
besiege them; and she will find me outside one of them, if I cannot
get inside. It is all important that she should know this, so that
she may judge whither to direct her course, when once safely across
the river Dronne and out of Guyenne.

"I dare not send a written despatch for, were it to fall into the
hands of the Catholics, they would at once strengthen the garrisons
of the town on the Charente; and would keep so keen a watch, in
that direction, that it would be impossible for the queen to pass.
I will give you a ring, a gift from the queen herself, in token
that you are my messenger, and that she can place every confidence
in you.

"I will leave to you the choice of how you will proceed. You can
take some of your men-at-arms with you, and try to make your way
through with a sudden dash; but as the bridges and fords will be
str