"Peace, peace! Simon, the treaty touches more." "A man need not be Duke nor Minister to suspect that," said I. "Ah, you suspect? The King's religion?" she whispered. I nodded; the secret was no surprise to me, though I had not known whether Buckingham were in it. "And what does the Duke of Buckingham know?" I asked. "Why, that the King sometimes listens to a woman's counsel," said she, nodding her head and smiling very wisely. "Prodigious sagacity!" I cried. "You told him that, may be?" "Indeed, he had learnt it before my day, Master Simon. Therefore, should the King turn Catholic, he will be a better Catholic for the society of a Catholic lady. Now this Madame--how do you name her?" "Mlle. de Quérouaille?" "Aye. She is a most devout Catholic. Indeed, her devotion to her religion knows no bounds. It's like mine to the King. Don't frown, Simon. Loyalty is a virtue." "And piety also, by the same rule, and in the same unstinted measure?" I asked bitterly. "Beyond doubt, sir. But the French King has sent word from Calais----" "Oh, from Calais! The Duke revealed that to you?" I asked with a smile I could not smother. There was a limit then to the Duke's confidence in his ally; for the Duke had been at Paris and could be no stranger to M. de Perrencourt. "Yes, he told me all. The King of France has sent word from Calais, where he awaits the signing of the treaty, that the loss of this Madame Quérouaille would rob his Court of beauty, and he cannot be so bereft. And Madame, the Duke says, swears she can't be robbed of her fairest Maid of Honour ('tis a good name that, on my life) and left desolate. But Madame has seen one who might make up the loss, and the King of France, having studied the lady's picture, thinks the same. In fine, Simon, our King feels that he can't be a good Catholic without the counsels of Madame Quérouaille, and the French King feels that he must by all means convert and save so fair a lady as--is the name on your tongue, nay, is it in your heart, Simon?" "I know whom you mean," I answered, for her revelation came to no more than what I had scented out for myself. "But what says Buckingham to this?" "Why, that the King mustn't have his way lest he should thereby be confirmed in his Popish inclinations. The Duke is Protestant, as you are--and as I am, so please you." "Can he hinder it?" "Aye, if he can hinder the French King from having his way. And for this purpose his Grace has need of certain things." "Do you carry a message from him to me?" "I did but say that I knew a gentleman who might supply his needs. They are four; a heart, a head, a hand, and perhaps a sword." "All men have them, then." "The first true, the second long, the third strong, and the fourth ready." "I fear then that I haven't all of them." "And for reward----" "I know. His life, if he can come off with it." Nell burst out laughing.