"Monseigneur," he said with a snarl, "there is a proverb about luck at cards." "I know," was the swift and unexpected reply. "Mistrust thy fortune when the knave and the Church are together." And Vendome pointed to the card the Legate had just played. There was a titter all around; but Diane's white arm was stretched forth, and she tapped Vendome with her fan. "Fie, Monseigneur! Your wit is too cruel. His Eminence but referred to the old saw: lucky at cards, unlucky in love." The prince gallantly kissed her jewelled hand. "Madame, that is true, for until I met you I never knew how unlucky I was." La Valentinois did not note the glance in Vendome's eye, and, vain as a peacock, blushed as she alone could blush. But a murmured word from De Mouchy caught her ear, and leaning back in her chair, her face half turned towards De Mouchy, and her fan outspread between herself and the prince, she asked in a quick whisper: "Is it over?" "Yes! He has come." As De Mouchy spoke the crowd parted, and the Vidame appeared, and bowed before Diane. "It was impossible to come sooner, madame; I had a little affair, and it was necessary to change my attire." "A successful affair, I trust, Monsieur le Vidame." Simon was about to answer, but a high-pitched voice broke in: "More successful than even the Vidame's great feat of arms in the forest of Fontevrault." And Le Brusquet made his way through the press, and stood behind the prince's chair. Diane rose from her seat, and Simon glared at Le Brusquet, whilst a dozen voices called out: "What was that, Le Brusquet? We have not heard." "That is owing to Monsieur le Vidame's modesty; but this feat eclipses all the others of which he is the hero. This evening the Vidame broke up the heretic church in the Mathurins; nearly all the accursed brood were slain, women as well as men; but there are still enough prisoners to give us a rare bonfire by Saturday. Is it not so, monsieur?" And Le Brusquet turned to the Vidame. "Is this true, Le Brusquet?" It was Vendome who asked. He too had risen, and his voice was trembling with anger. "Assuredly, Monseigneur! Ask the Vidame! It was a great stroke. Amongst others they have taken La Mothe the Christaudin----" He stopped, for the prince broke in furiously upon his speech. "This is foul treachery! The edicts are suspended! The King's word is given!" "And is recalled. The edicts were re-enforced to-day. It is strange, Monseigneur, that you, as the First Prince of the Blood, did not know this!" It was impossible to mistake the insult in this speech and in Simon's manner as he made it. For a moment it was as if Vendome's hot temper would have made him forget his rank. He raised his hand as though he would have struck the Vidame; but those around Simon hustled him aside, and it was in a scene of confusion that Monseigneur turned to Diane.