u in Flanders. Now, this is the
only condition, which you must think reasonable. His majesty the king of
Spain, allied to you by a double marriage, will help you to--" the
ambassador seemed to seek for the right word, "to succeed to the king of
France, and you will guarantee Flanders to him. I may then, now, knowing
your majesty's wisdom, regard the negotiation as happily terminated."

Henri took two or three turns up and down the room.

"This, then," said he at last, "is the answer you were charged to bring
me?"

"Yes, sire."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else, sire."

"Well! I refuse the offer of the king of Spain."

"You refuse the hand of the infanta!" cried the Spaniard, with a start,
as though he had received a sudden wound.

"It would be a great honor, but I cannot think it a greater one than
that of having married a daughter of France."

"No; but that alliance brought you nearly to the tomb, and this will
bring you to the throne."

"An incomparable piece of good fortune, monsieur, I know; but I will
never buy it with the blood and honor of my future subjects. What!
monsieur. I draw the sword against the king of France, my
brother-in-law, for the Spaniards; I arrest the standard of France in
its career of glory; I kill brothers by brothers' hands; I bring the
stranger into my country! No, monsieur; I asked the king of Spain for
aid against the Guises, who wish to rob me of my inheritance, but not
against the Duc d'Anjou, my brother-in-law; not against Henri III., my
friend; not against my wife, sister of my king. You will aid the Guises,
you will say, and lend them your support. Do so, and I will let loose on
you and on them all the Protestants of Germany and France. The king of
Spain wishes to reconquer Flanders, which is slipping from him; let him
do what his father, Charles V., did, and ask a free passage to go and
claim his title of first bourgeois of Ghent, and Henri III., I am
certain, will grant it to him, as Francois I. did. I wish for the throne
of France, says his Catholic majesty; it is possible, but I do not need
him to aid me in getting it; I will do that for myself, once it is
vacant, in spite of all the kings in the world. Adieu, then, monsieur.
Tell my brother Philippe that I am grateful for his offers, but cannot
believe for a moment that he thought me capable of accepting them.
Adieu, monsieur."

"Take care, sire," said the ambassador; "the good understanding between
two neighbors ma