brother, the Bastard of
Angouleme, and said to him, pointing to two swords, '_With this slay
Henry de Guise this night, or with the other I will slay thee in the
morning._' Where is that letter?"

"Here," said the duke, drawing it from his breast.

Marguerite almost snatched it from his hands, opened it anxiously,
assured herself that it was really the one she desired, uttered an
exclamation of joy, and applying the lighted candle to it, the flames
instantly consumed the paper; then, as if Marguerite feared that her
imprudent words might be read in the very ashes, she trampled them under
foot.

During all this the Duc de Guise had watched his mistress attentively.

"Well, Marguerite," he said, when she had finished, "are you satisfied
now?"

"Yes, for now that you have wedded the Princesse de Porcian, my brother
will forgive me your love; while he would never have pardoned me for
revealing a secret such as that which in my weakness for you I had not
the strength to conceal from you."

"True," replied De Guise, "then you loved me."

"And I love you still, Henry, as much--more than ever!"

"You"--

"I do; for never more than at this moment did I need a sincere and
devoted friend. Queen, I have no throne; wife, I have no husband!"

The young prince shook his head sorrowfully.

"I tell you, I repeat to you, Henri, that my husband not only does not
love me, but hates--despises me; indeed, it seems to me that your
presence in the chamber in which he ought to be is proof of this hatred,
this contempt."

"It is not yet late, Madame, and the King of Navarre requires time to
dismiss his gentlemen; if he has not already come, he will come soon."

"And I tell you," cried Marguerite, with increasing vexation,--"I tell
you that he will not come!"

"Madame!" exclaimed Gillonne, suddenly entering, "the King of Navarre is
just leaving his apartments!"

"Oh, I knew he would come!" exclaimed the Duc de Guise.

"Henri," said Marguerite, in a quick tone, and seizing the duke's
hand,--"Henri, you shall see if I am a woman of my word, and if I may be
relied on. Henri, enter that closet."

"Madame, allow me to go while there is yet time, for reflect that the
first mark of love you bestow on him, I shall quit the cabinet, and then
woe to him!"

"Are you mad? Go in--go in, I say, and I will be responsible for all;"
and she pushed the duke into the closet.

It was time. The door was scarcely closed behind the prince when