"Provence, said you?" replied the Duke, eagerly. "Why, man, my very dreams are of Provence. I cannot smell an orange but it reminds me of its perfumed woods and bowers, its olives, citrons, and pomegranates. But how to frame pretensions to it? Shame it were to disturb René, the harmless old man, nor would it become a near relation. Then he is the uncle of Louis; and most probably, failing his daughter Margaret, or perhaps in preference to her, he hath named the French King his heir." "A better claim might be raised up in your Grace's own person," said the Earl of Oxford, "if you will afford Margaret of Anjou the succour she requires by me." "Take the aid thou requirest," replied the Duke; "take double the amount of it in men and money! Let me but have a claim upon Provence, though thin as a single thread of thy Queen Margaret's hair, and let me alone for twisting it into the tough texture of a quadruple cable.--But I am a fool to listen to the dreams of one who, ruined himself, can lose little by holding forth to others the most extravagant hopes." Charles breathed high, and changed complexion as he spoke. "I am not such a person, my Lord Duke," said the Earl. "Listen to me--René is broken with years, fond of repose, and too poor to maintain his rank with the necessary dignity; too good-natured, or too feeble-minded, to lay further imposts on his subjects; weary of contending with bad fortune, and desirous to resign his territories"---- "His territories!" said Charles. "Yes, all he actually possesses; and the much more extensive dominions which he has claim to, but which have passed from his sway." "You take away my breath!" said the Duke. "René resign Provence! and what says Margaret--the proud, the high-minded Margaret--will she subscribe to so humiliating a proceeding?" "For the chance of seeing Lancaster triumph in England, she would resign, not only dominion, but life itself. And, in truth, the sacrifice is less than it may seem to be. It is certain that, when René dies, the King of France will claim the old man's county of Provence as a male fief, and there is no one strong enough to back Margaret's claim of inheritance, however just it may be." "It is just," said Charles; "it is undeniable! I will not hear of its being denied or challenged--that is, when once it is established in our own person. It is the true principle of the war for the public good, that none of the great fiefs be suffered to revert again to the crown of France, least of all while it stands on a brow so astucious and unprincipled as that of Louis. Burgundy joined to Provence--a dominion from the German Ocean to the Mediterranean! Oxford--thou art my better angel!" "Your Grace must, however, reflect," said Oxford, "that honourable provision must be made for King René."