" said Louis, arising again, and pacing the room in a
pensive manner, "this is a dreadful lesson on the text Vae victis! [woe
to the vanquished!]--You cannot mean that the Duke will insist on all
these hard conditions?"

"At least I would have your Majesty be in a condition to discuss them
all."

"Yet moderation, De Comines, moderation in success, is--no one knows
better than you--necessary to its ultimate advantage."

"So please your Majesty, the merit of moderation is, I have observed,
most apt to be extolled by the losing party. The winner holds in more
esteem the prudence which calls on him not to leave an opportunity
unimproved."

"Well, we will consider," replied the King; "but at least thou hast
reached the extremity of your Duke's unreasonable exaction? there can
remain nothing--or if there does, for so thy brow intimates--what is
it--what indeed can it be--unless it be my crown? which these previous
demands, if granted, will deprive of all its lustre?"

"My lord," said De Comines, "what remains to be mentioned, is a thing
partly--indeed in a great measure within the Duke's own power, though he
means to invite your Majesty's accession to it, for in truth it touches
you nearly."

"Pasques Dieu!" exclaimed the King impatiently, "what is it?--Speak out,
Sir Philip--am I to send him my daughter for a concubine, or what other
dishonour is he to put on me?"

"No dishonour, my Liege; but your Majesty's cousin, the illustrious Duke
of Orleans--"

"Ha!" exclaimed the King; but De Comines proceeded without heeding the
interruption.

"--having conferred his affections on the young Countess Isabelle de
Croye, the Duke expects your Majesty will, on your part, as he on his,
yield your assent to the marriage, and unite with him in endowing the
right noble couple with such an appanage, as, joined to the Countess's
estates, may form a fit establishment for a Child of France."

"Never, never!" said the King, bursting out into that emotion which he
had of late suppressed with much difficulty, and striding about in
a disordered haste, which formed the strongest contrast to the self
command which he usually exhibited.

"Never, never!--let them bring scissors, and shear my hair like that
of the parish fool, whom I have so richly resembled--let them bid the
monastery or the grave yawn for me, let them bring red hot basins to
sear my eyes--axe or aconite--whatever they will, but Orleans shall
not break his plighted faith