His companion followed his example in removing his mask, and the face thus revealed formed a striking contrast to that of the other young man. His complexion was of a clear pale brown, relieved by a flush of animated colour; his brow was fair and noble; his features were finely but not too strongly chiselled. A small dark mustache curled boldly upwards above a beautifully traced and smiling mouth, the character of which was at once resolute and gay, and strangely at variance with the expression of the dark grey eyes, which was more that of tenderness and melancholy. He remained standing before the other personage, with one hand on his hip, in an attitude at once full of ease and deference. "Did I not right, then, to counsel you as I have done in this matter, my lord duke," he said to the other young man, "since the astrologer, in whom you have all confidence, promises us so unbounded a success: and you give full credence to the announcement of the stars?" "Yes--yes, Philip," answered the Duke, reclining back in his chair, and rubbing his hands with a sort of internal satisfaction. "Then let us act at once," continued the young man called Philip. "The King cannot live many days--perhaps not many hours. There is no time to be lost. Henry of Anjou, your elder brother, is far away; the crown of Poland weighs upon his brow. You are present. The troops have been taught to love you. The Huguenot party have confidence in you. The pretensions of Henry of Navarre to the regency must give way before yours. All parties will combine to look upon you as the heir of Charles; and now the very heavens, the very stars above, seem to conspire to make you that which I would you should be. Your fortune, then, is in your own hands." "Yes. So it is!" replied the Duke. "Assemble, then, all those attached to your service or your person!" "I will." "Let your intention be known among the guards." "It shall." "As soon as the King shall have ceased to breathe, seize upon all the gates of the Louvre." "Yes," continued the Duke, although his voice, so eager the moment before, seemed to tremble at the thought of so much decision of action. "Declare yourself the Master of the kingdom in full parliament." "Yes," again replied the young Duke, more weakly. "But"---- "But what--Monseigneur!" exclaimed his companion. "But," continued the Duke again, with hesitation, "if Henry, my brother, should return--if he should come to claim his crown. You may be sure that our mother, who cares for him alone, will have already sent off messengers to advertise him of Charles's danger, and bid him come!" "I know she has," replied Philip coolly. "But I have already taken upon myself, without Monseigneur's instructions, for which I could not wait, to send off a sure agent to intercept her courier, to detain him at any price, to destroy his despatches."