“My geographical plan. Here is Anjou, something like a tartlet, you see; there your brother will take refuge. Anjou, well managed, as Monsoreau and Bussy will manage it, will alone furnish to your brother ten thousand combatants.” “Do you think so?” “That is the minimum; let us pass to Guyenne; here it is, this figure like a calf walking on one leg. Of course, you will not be astonished to find discontent in Guyenne; it is an old focus for revolt, and will be enchanted to rise. They can furnish 8,000 soldiers; that is not much, but they are well trained. Then we have Béarn and Navarre; you see these two compartments, which look like an ape on the back of an elephant--they may furnish about 16,000. Let us count now--10,000 for Anjou, 8,000 for Guyenne, 16,000 for Béarn and Navarre; making a total of 34,000.” “You think, then, that the King of Navarre will join my brother?” “I should think so.” “Do you believe that he had anything to do with my brother’s escape?” Chicot looked at him. “That is not your own idea, Henri.” “Why not?” “It is too clever, my son.” “Never mind whose idea it was; answer my question.” “Well! I heard a ‘Ventre St. Gris’ in the Rue de la Ferronnerie.” “You heard a ‘Ventre St. Gris!’ But it might not have been he.” “I saw him.” “You saw Henri of Navarre in Paris?” “Yes.” “You saw my mortal enemy here, and did not tell me?” “I am not a spy. Then there are the Guises; 20,000 or 25,000 men under the orders of the Duc de Guise will make up altogether a nice little army.” “But Henri of Navarre and the Duc de Guise are enemies.” “Which will not prevent them from uniting against you; they will be free to fight with each other when they have conquered you.” “You are right, Chicot, and my mother is right. I will call the Swiss.” “Oh, yes! Quelus has got them.” “My guards, then.” “Schomberg has them.” “My household at least.” “They have gone with Maugiron.” “Without my orders?” “And when do you ever give orders, except, perhaps, to flagellate either your own skin, or that of others?--But about government.--Bah! allow me to observe that you have been a long time finding out that you rank seventh or eighth in this kingdom.” “Here they are!” cried the king, as three cavaliers approached, followed by a crowd of men on foot and on horseback. “Schomberg! Quelus! come here,” cried the king. They approached. “I have been seeking you, and waiting for you impatiently. What have you done? Do not go away again without my permission.” “There is no more need,” said Maugiron, who now approached, “since all is finished.” “All is finished?” “Heaven be praised,” said D’Epernon, appearing all at once, no one knew from whence. “Then you have killed them?” cried the king; “well, at least the dead do not return.” “Oh! we had not that trouble; the cowards ran away, we had scarcely time to cross our swords with them.” Henri grew pale. “With whom?” said he. “With Antragues?”