cted to find you in
Rochelle."

"Rochelle forms my headquarters, so to speak, monsieur, but I am in the
hands of the chiefs. My last journey was to Flanders, whence I am now
returning. Hearing that I was on my way to Rochelle, Monsieur Bellievre
entrusted me with this packet for you."

"You must stay and have a gossip with me," said I, having thanked him;
"I hear little news from the outside world."

"You honour me, monsieur; but it is necessary for me to push on with all
speed; I am carrying important despatches."

"But you need refreshment!"

"Jacques has seen to that, monsieur, and also to my horse."

"We may meet again," I said, as he took his leave.

"It is very likely. There will be a gathering of our gentlemen in Paris
before long; but doubtless Monsieur Bellievre has told you all the
news."

When he had gone I sat down eagerly to read my comrade's letter. There
was a smaller packet enclosed, but that I set aside. Felix wrote at some
length, and his first item of news was very startling.

"It will cause you both grief and astonishment," he wrote, "to learn of
the death of our good Queen Joan. She died on June 9, and some talk has
passed of her having been poisoned. There is, however, a great deal of
sickness here, and from what Jeanne tells me, I think the poor queen
took fever."

"This may cause events to move more rapidly," I thought. "Now that Henry
has become King of Navarre, he is a person of even greater importance.
Charles will need to reckon with him."

"Our patron," Felix continued, "remains in close attendance on the
king, who treats him with the utmost kindness, and even respect. The
Guises are in despair, Monseigneur is furious, and even the Queen-Mother
has to swallow her pride. This is strange, is it not?"

"Strange!" I exclaimed aloud, "it is a miracle! What else does this
wonderful budget contain?"

"Our patron has a grand scheme in his head. He is working hard to unite
the Huguenots and the Moderate Catholics into a national party, and to
declare war against Spain. The king has nearly consented, and unless the
Queen-Mother regains her power war may break out at any moment."

"Better to fight the Spaniards than to cut each other's throats," I
muttered.

"I have kept my best news until the last," the letter continued. "Our
patron believes the coming war will afford you the chance needed. He
will nominate you to a commission, and present you to the king at the
same time. For this