"Your Highness may unmask now," he said, making no effort to hide his
contempt. "Yet were you well advised to take the precaution, since you
had hardly come at me in safety without it. Had those who keep the gate
seen you, I would not have answered for your Highness's life. The more
shame," he continued vehemently, "on the deeds of this day which have
compelled the brother of a king of France to hide his face in his own
capital and in his own fortress. For I dare to say, Monsieur, what no
other will say, now the Admiral is dead. You have brought back the days
of the Armagnacs. You have brought bloody days and an evil name on
France, and I pray God that you may not pay in your turn what you have
exacted. But if you continue to be advised by M. de Guise, this I will
say, Monsieur"--and his voice fell low and stern. "Burgundy slew
Orleans, indeed; but he came in his turn to the Bridge of Montereau."
"You take me for Monsieur?" the unknown asked. And it was plain that he
smiled under his mask.
Biron's face altered. "I take you," he answered sharply, "for him whose
sign you sent me."
"The wisest are sometimes astray," the other answered with a low laugh.
And he took off his mask.
The Grand Master started back, his eyes sparkling with anger.
"M. de Tavannes?" he cried, and for a moment he was silent in sheer
astonishment. Then, striking his hand on the table, "What means this
trickery?" he asked.
"It is of the simplest," Tavannes answered coolly. "And yet, as you just
now said, I had hardly come at you without it. And I had to come at you.
No, M. de Biron," he added quickly, as Biron in a rage laid his hand on a
bell which stood beside him on the table, "you cannot that way undo what
is done."
"I can at least deliver you," the Grand Master answered, in heat, "to
those who will deal with you as you have dealt with us and ours."
"It will avail you nothing," Count Hannibal replied soberly. "For see
here, Grand Master, I come from the King. If you are at war with him,
and hold his fortress in his teeth, I am his ambassador and sacrosanct.
If you are at peace with him and hold it at his will, I am his servant,
and safe also."
"At peace and safe?" Biron cried, his voice trembling with indignation.
"And are those safe or at peace who came here trusting to his word, who
lay in his palace and slept in his beds? Where are they, and how have
they fared, that you dare appeal to the law of nations, or he to the
loyalty of Biron? And for you to beard me, whose brother to-day hounded
the dogs of this vile city on the noblest in France, who have leagued
yourself with a crew of foreigners to do a deed which will make our
country stink in the nostrils of the world when we are dust! You, to
come here and talk of peace and safety! M. de Tavannes"--and he struck
his hand on the table--"you are a bold man. I know why the King had a
will to send you, but I know not why you had the will to come."