Immediately behind Triboulet stood a tall, thin man, whose appearance offered a striking contrast to that of the jester. This personage wore a black taffeta robe with loose sleeves, and a silken skull-cap of the same hue, which set off his sallow features. His eyes were thoughtful in expression, and a long grey beard, descending to his girdle, added materially to the gravity of his aspect. This individual was the renowned Cornelius Agrippa, who after many years of travel and strange adventure in Germany, Switzerland, the Low Countries, and England, now formed part of the royal household of France, and occupied the post of physician and astrologer to the Duchess d'Angoulême, who had great faith in his medical and mystic lore. Though the courtiers affected to deride Agrippa's predictions, and sometimes charged him with dealing in the black art, they nevertheless stood in great awe of him. “Why dost charge me with ingratitude, thou ribald knave?” said Montmorency to the jester. “Because you turn upon your benefactress,” replied Triboulet. “Bah! I have got no more than my due,” said Montmorency. “Thou shouldst talk of my ingratitude to the duchess--à propos of the Constable de Bourbon.” “Her highness has no reason to be grateful to the Constable,” said Triboulet, with a strange grin. “But the king has,” rejoined Montmorency. “Without him, Marignan would scarce have been won. I would rather lose my marshal's bâton than Bourbon should be deprived of his possessions.” “The king shall hear of this,” muttered Bonnivet. “Did the stars tell you that Bourbon would come here to-day, learned sir?” he added to Cornelius Agrippa. “I expected him,” replied the philosopher. “Then possibly you know his errand?” continued Bonnivet, with an incredulous smile. “I know it,” replied Agrippa, gravely. “I could tell you why he comes, and what will befal him, but I care not to read the future to those who mock my lore. The star of Bourbon is temporarily obscured. But it will break out with added splendour. This day is the turning-point of his destiny. If he stays here he will be great--but if he departs he will be greater.” “How are we to interpret that, compère?” inquired Triboulet, “As you will,” rejoined Agrippa, contemptuously. “The words of wisdom are unintelligible to fools. But mark me, messeigneurs,” he added to Bonnivet and Montmoreney. “The destinies of the king, the duchess, and the Constable, are this day linked together--but the influencing power resides in Bourbon.” “Why in him? Explain your meaning, doctor!” demanded Bonnivet. “I have said all I care to say,” replied Agrippa. “But here comes the Constable. Will you stay and bid him welcome?” “No, I will in, and inform the king of his arrival,” said Bonnivet. “You will find his majesty in the grand gallery,” said Agrippa. “I left him there, not many minutes since, with the Comtesse de Chateaubriand.” “I will go thither,” replied Bonnivet, hastening across the vestibule.