sty is too good."

"Now explain to me how this Roman lion, who was so cruel, was never
annoyed by his enemies."

"Sire, I will reply to your majesty in the words of this same Plutarch."

"Go on, Joyeuse."

"Carbon, the enemy of Sylla, said often, 'I have to fight at once a lion
and a fox who inhabit the soul of Sylla, but it is the fox who gives me
most trouble.'"

"Ah! it was the fox?"

"Plutarch says so, sire."

"And he is right, cardinal. But apropos of combats, have you any news of
your brother?"

"Of which brother, sire? I have two."

"Of the Duc d'Arques, my friend."

"Not yet, sire."

"If M. d'Anjou, who always plays the fox, will only play the lion a
little for once."

The cardinal did not reply, so Henri, signing to him to remain, dressed
himself sumptuously, and passed into the room where the court waited for
him. He entered, looking full of good humor, kissed the hands of his
wife and mother, paid all sorts of compliments to the ladies, and even
offered them sweetmeats.

"We were unquiet about your health, my son," said Catherine.

"You were wrong, madame; I have never been better."

"And to what happy influence do you owe this amelioration, my son?"

"To having laughed much, madame."

Every one looked astonished.

"Laughed! you can laugh much, my son; then you are very happy?"

"It is true, madame."

"And about what were you so much amused?"

"I must tell you, mother, that yesterday I went to Vincennes."

"I knew it."

"Oh! you knew it; well, my people told me, before my return, of an
enemy's army whose muskets shone on the road."

"An enemy's army on the road to Vincennes?"

"Yes, mother."

"And where?"

"In front of the Jacobins, near the house of our good cousin."

"Near Madame de Montpensier's?"

"Precisely so, near Bel-Esbat. I approached, bravely to give battle, and
I perceived--"

"What, sire?" cried the queen, in alarm.

"Reassure yourself, madame, I perceived an entire priory of good monks,
who presented arms to me with acclamations."

Every one laughed, and the king continued:

"Yes, you are right to laugh; I have in France more than ten thousand
monks, of whom I can make, if necessary, ten thousand musketeers; then I
will create a Grand-Master of the Tonsured Musketeers, and give the
place to you, cardinal."

"Sire, I accept."

The ladies now, according to etiquette, rose, and, bowing to the king,
retired. The queen followed with her ladies of honor