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Count Hannibal

Page 12

The eyes of the two met an instant, and those of Foucauld--so the King

called his Huguenot favourite--betrayed some surprise; for Count Hannibal

and he were not intimate. But seeing that the other was in earnest, he

raised his brows in acknowledgment. Tavannes nodded carelessly in

return, looked an instant at the cards on the table, and passed on,

pushed his way through the circle, and reached the door. He was lifting

the curtain to go out, when Nancay, the Captain of the Guard, plucked his

sleeve.

"What have you been saying to Foucauld, M. de Tavannes?" he muttered.

"I?"

"Yes," with a jealous glance, "you, M. le Comte."

Count Hannibal looked at him with the sudden ferocity that made the man a

proverb at Court.

"What I chose, M. le Capitaine des Suisses!" he hissed. And his hand

closed like a vice on the other's wrist. "What I chose, look you! And

remember, another time, that I am not a Huguenot, and say what I please."

"But there is great need of care," Nancay protested, stammering and

flinching. "And--and I have orders, M. le Comte."

"Your orders are not for me," Tavannes answered, releasing his arm with a

contemptuous gesture. "And look you, man, do not cross my path to-night.

You know our motto? Who touches my brother, touches Tavannes! Be warned

by it."

Nancay scowled. "But the priests say, 'If your hand offend you, cut it

off!'" he muttered.

Tavannes laughed, a sinister laugh. "If you offend me I'll cut your

throat," he said; and with no ceremony he went out, and dropped the

curtain behind him.

Nancay looked after him, his face pale with rage. "Curse him!" he

whispered, rubbing his wrist. "If he were any one else I would teach

him! But he would as soon run you through in the presence as in the Pre

aux Clercs! And his brother, the Marshal, has the King's ear! And

Madame Catherine's too, which is worse!"

He was still fuming, when an officer in the colours of Monsieur, the

King's brother, entered hurriedly, and keeping his hand on the curtain,

looked anxiously round the Chamber. As soon as his eye found Nancay, his

face cleared.

"Have you the reckoning?" he muttered.

"There are seventeen Huguenots in the palace besides their Highnesses,"

Nancay replied, in the same cautious tone. "Not counting two or three

who are neither the one thing nor the other. In addition, there are the

two Montmorencies; but they are to go safe for fear of their brother, who

is not in the trap. He is too like his father, the old Bench-burner, to

be lightly wronged! And, besides, there is Pare, who is to go to his

Majesty's closet as soon as the gates are shut. If the King decides to

save any one else, he will send him to his closet. So 'tis all clear and

arranged here. If you are forward outside, it will be well! Who deals

with the gentleman with the tooth-pick?"

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