-'The Admiral's favourite project! He would do wisely not to brag

of it so openly. The King of Spain has too many in his interest in

this place not to be warned, and to be thus further egged on to

compass the ruin of Coligny.'

'I should have thought.' Said Sidney. 'that nothing could add to

his hatred of the Reformed.'

'Scarcely,' said Walsingham; 'save that it is they who hinder the

Duke of Guise from being a good Frenchman, and a foe to Spain.'

Politics had not developed themselves in Berenger's mind, and he

listened inattentively while Walsingham talked over with Sidney the

state of parties in France, where natural national enmity to Spain was

balanced by the need felt by the Queen-mother of the support of that

great Roman Catholic power against the Huguenots; whom Walsingham

believed her to dread and hate less for their own sake than from the

fear of loss of influence over her son. He believed Charles IX. himself

to have much leaning towards the Reformed, but the late victories has

thrown the whole court entirely into the power of the Guises, the truly

unscrupulous partisans of Rome. They were further inflamed against the

Huguenots by the assassination of the last Duke of Guise, and by the

violences that had been committed by some of the Reformed party, in

especial a massacre of prisoners at Nerac.

Sidney exclaimed that the Huguenots had suffered far worse

cruelties.

'That is true,' replied Sir Francis, 'but, my young friend, you

will find, in all matters of reprisals, that a party has no memory

for what it may commit, only for what it may receive.'

The conversation was interrupted by an invitation to the

Ambassador's family and guests to a tilting-match and subsequent

ball at the Louvre. In the first Berenger did his part with

credit; to the second he went feeling full of that strange

attraction of repulsion. He knew gentlemen enough in Coligny's

suite for it to be likely that he might remain unperceived among

them, and he knew this would be prudent, but he found himself

unexpectedly near the ranks of ladies, and smile and gesture

absolutely drew him towards his semi-spouse, so that he had no

alternative but to lead her out to dance.

The stately measure was trod in silence as usual, but he felt the

dark eyes studying him all the time. However, he could bear it

better now that the deed was done, and she had voluntarily made him

less to her than any gallant parading or mincing about the room.

'So you bear the pearls, sir?' she said, as the dance finished.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024