ore him, sat himself down at
the table, and turned his back with stoical indifference toward Bonhomet
for him to operate upon. The latter understood the pantomime, and began
to rub it.

However, as if, instead of irritating a painful wound, some one had been
tickling him in the most delightful manner, Chicot, during the
operation, copied the letter from the Duc de Guise to his sister, and
made his comments thereon at every word.

"DEAR SISTER--The expedition from Anvers has succeeded for
everybody, but has failed as far as we are concerned. You will be
told that the Duc d'Anjou is dead; do not believe it--he is alive.

"_He lives_, you understand, and that is the whole question.

"There is a complete dynasty in those words; those two words
separate the house of Lorraine from the throne of France better
than the deepest abyss could do.

"Do not, however, make yourself too uneasy about that. I have
discovered that two persons whom I thought were dead are still
living, and there is a great chance of death for the prince while
those two persons are alive.

"Think then only of Paris; it will be time enough for the League to
act six weeks hence. Let our Leaguers know that the moment is
approaching, and let them hold themselves in readiness.

"The army is on foot; we number twelve thousand sure men, all well
equipped; I shall enter France with it, under the pretext of
engaging the German Huguenots, who are going to assist Henri de
Navarre. I shall defeat the Huguenots, and having entered France as
a friend, I shall act as a master."

"Oh, oh!" cried Chicot.

"Did I hurt you, dear Monsieur Chicot?" said Bonhomet, discontinuing his
frictions.

"Yes, my good fellow."

"I will rub more softly; don't be afraid."

Chicot continued:

"P.S.--I entirely approve of your plan with regard to the
Forty-five; only allow me to say, dear sister, that you will be
conferring a greater honor on those fellows than they deserve."

"Ah! diable!" murmured Chicot, "this is getting obscure."

And he read it again.

"I entirely approve of your plan with regard to the Forty-five."

"What plan?" Chicot asked himself.

"Only allow me to say, dear sister, that you will be conferring a
greater honor on those fellows than they deserve."

"What honor?"

Chicot resumed:--

"Than they deserve.

"You