THE BOURGEOIS OF PARIS.


M. de Mayenne, with whom they were so much occupied at the Louvre, set
out from the Hotel Guise, booted and on horseback, as though he had
just arrived. He was received by the king affectionately.

"Well, cousin," said he, "you have, then, come to visit Paris?"

"Yes, sire; I come in my brother's name and my own, to recall to your
majesty that you have no more faithful subjects than ourselves."

"Mordieu!" said the king, "that is so well known that you might have
spared yourself this trouble. You must have had some other motive."

"Sire, I feared that your regard for us might be shaken by the reports
which our enemies circulate about us."

"What reports?" asked Henri.

"What!" cried Mayenne, rather disconcerted; "has not your majesty heard
any reports unfavorable to us?"

"My cousin, know once for all that I allow no one to speak ill in my
presence of the Guises."

"Well, sire, I do not regret my visit, since I have had the pleasure of
finding my king so well disposed toward us; but I will allow that it was
needless."