“I will explain. I owed my life to-day to my likeness to the Prince. When I was at that man’s mercy you saw him throw up his sword and pass me?” “Yes, yes. I remember. Who was he?” “I know not, but he wore the sash of the King’s Carabiniers, and he knew Condé, and mistook me for him. It was astonishing to see the change in his face. ‘The Prince! _Mille démons!_’ he exclaimed, and went by me like a flash. Now it is this lucky resemblance which I mean to use to effect Condé’s release. But it is necessary to play a bold game, and we will go straight to Catherine and offer our swords to the King.” “Ah yes! And if Madame does not need us, we find ourselves laid by the heels, and have a fair chance of our heads shrivelling on the spikes of The Gate of Good Men.” “My friend! There are wheels within wheels here. Catherine is in sore straits now, and will extend the amnesty to us, I assure you. Even you, Huguenot though you are, can count on her protection if you be for her, as you will be, for the present. When it suits her purpose, she is as much Calvinist as you other heretics. What bee got into your head and made you change your faith I know not. Was it not enough for you to live and die as your forefathers?” “Let that sleep, Marcilly. A man’s conscience is his conscience. It lies between him and his God.” “But if his conscience leads him to heresy it leads him to the stake. However, I say no more, Gaspard. Heretic or true believer, we have shed blood for each other, and we will die, if need be, to keep the foreigner out of France. Let me continue. You know that Marie is with the Medicis. In one sense a prisoner, in the other as free as air. Strange as it may seem, Catherine loves her, despite her rebel husband, as she calls me.” “In other words, madame is a hostage.” “But Catherine has never used her power. A threat of harm to Marie would have paralyzed me at once. But, instead of threats, offers of protection have come for me and my friends.” “Punic Faith! The Prince trusted the Florentine. Where is he?” “But that faith will be kept to us--to all who aid her now. She now sees her danger, and the road open to the Guise if Condé were to die. She would make another Amboise of the Lorrainers if she could.” “You count, then, on the help of that tigress! You deceive yourself.”