has always lived among the great. You forget you are speaking to the
king, to a gentleman who is, I suppose, as of good a house as yourself;
and when I say later, I mean a certainty."

"I do not at all doubt it, sire; but this is the end of the terrible
truth I had to tell you. If I were to see upon that table a _marshal's_
stick, the sword of constable, the crown of Poland, instead of later, I
swear to you, sire, that I should still say _Now!_ Oh, excuse me, sire!
I am from the country of your grandfather, Henry IV. I do not speak
often: but when I do speak, I speak all."

"The future of my reign has little temptation for you, monsieur, it
appears," said Louis, haughtily.

"Forgetfulness, forgetfulness everywhere!" cried the officer, with a
noble air; "the master has forgotten the servant, so the servant is
reduced to forget his master. I live in unfortunate times, sire. I see
youth full of discouragement and fear, I see it timid and despoiled, when
it ought to be rich and powerful. I yesterday evening, for example, open
the door to a king of England, whose father, humble as I am, I was near
saving, if God had not been against me - God, who inspired His elect,
Cromwell! I open, I said, the door, that is to say, the palace of one
brother to another brother, and I see - stop, sire, that is a load on my
heart! - I see the minister of that king drive away the proscribed
prince, and humiliate his master by condemning to want another king, his
equal. Then I see my prince, who is young, handsome and brave, who has
courage in his heart and lightening in his eye, - I see him tremble
before a priest, who laughs at him behind the curtain of his alcove,
where he digests all the gold of France, which he afterwards stuffs into
secret coffers. Yes - I understand your looks, sire. I am bold to