interest in warning you--the honor of my name and of your own, my
brother. We resemble each other in one thing, that we are each
surrounded with enemies. Chicot will explain to you.

"'M. de Turenne, your servant, causes daily scandal at your court;
God forbid that I should interfere in your affairs, except where
your honor is concerned; but your wife, whom to my regret I call my
sister, should be more careful than she is of your honor. I advise
you, therefore, to watch the communications of Margot with Turenne,
that she does not bring shame on the house of Bourbon. Act as soon
as you shall be sure of the fact, into which I pray you to inquire
as soon as Chicot shall have explained to you my letter.

"'Those whom as brother and king I denounce to you, generally meet
at a little chateau called Loignac, the pretext being generally the
chase. This chateau is, besides, the focus for intrigues to which
the Guises are not strangers, and you know the strange love with
which my sister pursued Henri de Guise. I embrace you, and am ever
ready to aid you in all, and for all; meanwhile aid yourself by
the advice of Chicot, whom I send to you. Your affectionate,' etc.

"_Age auctore Chicot_," said Chicot, "here am I, installed counselor of
the king of Navarre! This seems to me a bad commission, and in flying
one ill, I have fallen into a worse one. Really, I should almost prefer
Mayenne. But the letter is clever, and if Henriot be like other
husbands, it will embroil him at once with his wife, Turenne, the
Guises, and even with Spain. But if Henri de Valois is so well informed
of all that passes in Navarre, he must have some spy there.

"Then, again," continued he, "this letter will lead me into mischief if