strange man, who could so suddenly change from grave to gay, and
one moment spoke so sagely, and the next like any wild lad in his
teens. 'Certainly,' he answered, 'if that be your choice, sire;
and if you think that even there the Duke of Guise will leave you
in peace. Turenne, I am sure, will be glad to hear of your
decision. Doubtless he will be elected Protector of the
Churches. Nay, sire, for shame!' Du Mornay continued almost
with sternness. 'Would you leave France, which at odd times I
have heard you say you loved, to shift for herself? Would you
deprive her of the only man who does love her for her own sake?'

'Well, well, but she is such a fickle sweetheart, my friend,' the
king answered, laughing, the side glance of his eye on me.
'Never was one so coy or so hard to clip! And, besides, has not
the Pope divorced us?'

'The Pope! A fig for the Pope!' Du Mornay rejoined with
impatient heat. 'What has he to do with France? An impertinent
meddler, and an Italian to boot! I would he and all the brood of
them were sunk a hundred fathoms deep in the sea. But, meantime,
I would send him a text to digest.'

'EXEMPLUM?' said the king.

'Whom God has joined together let no man put asunder.'

'Amen! quoth Henry softly. 'And France is a fair and comely
bride.'

After that he kept such a silence, falling as it seemed to me