d purse of crowns to reward my huntsmen; and in the meantime--one
way or the other--that pet of my sister's must be disposed of. Kept too
long, these beasts always become savage. Either let him be presented to
the royal menagerie, or there is a still surer way."'

'And that is all he says!' exclaimed Diane.

'All! He was always cautions. He mentions no names. And now, child, what
is to be done? To give him up to the King is, at the best, life-long
imprisonment, yet, if he were still here when my son returns--Alas!
alas! child, I have been ruined body and soul between you! How could you
make me send after and imprison him? It was a mere assassination!' and
the old man beat his head with grief and perplexity.

'Father!' cried Diane, tearfully, 'I cannot see you thus. We meant it
for the best. We shall yet save him.'

'Save him! Ah, daughter, I tossed all night long thinking how to save
him, so strong, so noble, so firm, so patient, so good even to the old
man who has destroyed his hope--his life! Ah! I have thought till my
brain whirls.'

'Poor father! I knew you would love him,' said Diane, tenderly. 'Ah! we
will save him yet. He shall be the best of sons to you. Look, it is only
to tell him that she whom he calls his wife is already in my brother's
hands, wedded to him.'

'Daughter,'--and he pushed back his gray hair with a weary distressed
gesture,--'I am tired of wiles; I am old; I can carry them out no
longer.'

'But this is very simple; it may already be true--at least it will soon
be true. Only tell him that she is my brother's wife. Then will his
generosity awaken, then will he see that to persist in the validity of
his marriage would be misery, dishonour to her, then----'

'Child, you know not how hard he is in his sense of right. Even for
his brother's sake he would not give way an inch, and the boy was as
obstinate as he!'

'Ah! but this comes nearer. He will be stung; his generosity will be
piqued. He will see that the kindest thing he can do will be to nullify
his claim, and the child----'

The Chevalier groaned, struck his brow with his fist, and muttered,
'That will concern no one--that has been provided for. Ah! ah! children,
if I lose my own soul for you, you----'

'Father, my sweet father, say not these cruel things. Did not the
Queen's confessor tell us that all means were lawful that brought a soul
to the Church? and here are two.'

'Two! Why, the youth's heresy is part of his point of h