ould you have died?"

"Of jealousy!--for in an hour the Queen of Navarre will send away her
women, and your majesty your gentlemen."

"Is that really the thought that is uppermost in your mind, _ma mie_?"

"I did not say so. I only say, that if I loved you it would be uppermost
in my mind most tormentingly."

"Very well," said Henry, at the height of joy on hearing this
confession, the first which she had made to him, "suppose the King of
Navarre should not send away his gentlemen this evening?"

"Sire," replied Madame de Sauve, looking at the king with astonishment
for once unfeigned, "you say things impossible and incredible."

"What must I do to make you believe them?"

"Give me a proof--and that proof you cannot give me."

"Yes, baroness, yes! By Saint Henry, I will give it you!" exclaimed the
king, gazing at the young woman with eyes hot with love.

"Oh, your majesty!" exclaimed the lovely Charlotte in an undertone and
with downcast eyes, "I do not understand--No! no, it is impossible for
you to turn your back on the happiness awaiting you."

"There are four Henrys in this room, my adorable!" replied the king,
"Henry de France, Henry de Conde, Henry de Guise, but there is only one
Henry of Navarre."

"Well?"

"Well; if this Henry of Navarre is with you all night"--

"All night!"

"Yes; will that be a certain proof to you that he is not with any
other?"

"Ah! if you do that, sire," cried Madame Sauve.

"On the honor of a gentleman I will do it!"

Madame de Sauve raised her great eyes dewy with voluptuous promises and
looked at the king, whose heart was filled with an intoxicating joy.

"And then," said Henry, "what will you say?"

"I will say," replied Charlotte, "that your majesty really loves me."

"_Ventre saint gris_! then you shall say it, baroness, for it is true."

"But how can you manage it?" murmured Madame de Sauve.

"Oh! by Heaven! baroness, have you not about you some waiting-woman,
some girl whom you can trust?"

"Yes, Dariole is so devoted to me that she would let herself be cut in
pieces for me; she is a real treasure."

"By Heaven! then say to her that I will make her fortune when I am King
of France, as the astrologers prophesy."

Charlotte smiled, for even at this period the Gascon reputation of the
Bearnais was already established with respect to his promises.

"Well, then, what do you want Dariole to do?"

"Little for her, a great deal for me. Your apartment is ov