"Your Majesty has only to tell us in whose hands to place our seals of office. So far as I am concerned, nothing will be easier than to fill my place. Your Majesty will simply have to choose between Monsieur le Chancelier Olivier, Monsieur le Cardinal de Tournon, and Monsieur de l'Hôpital." Mary Stuart hid her face in her hands in despair; while poor repentant François would have asked for nothing better than to recall his childish indignation, but the haughty silence of Le Balafré frightened him. Charles de Lorraine continued: "The office of grand master, however, and the management of affairs in case of war, demand such extraordinary talents and such lofty renown that, after my brother, I can think of only two men who could venture to pretend to fill his place,--Monsieur de Brissac, perhaps--" "Oh, Brissac is always scolding, and always in a passion!" exclaimed the king; "he is not to be thought of!" "Well, the other one," continued the cardinal, "is Monsieur de Montmorency, who surely has the renown even though he lacks the necessary talents." "Oh, no!" François objected again; "Monsieur le Connétable is too old for me, and he formerly treated the dauphin too slightingly to make it probable that he would serve the king with due respect to-day. But, Monsieur le Cardinal, why do you omit to mention my other kinsmen, the princes of the blood,--the Prince de Condé, for example?" "Sire," said the cardinal, "it is with deep regret that I inform your Majesty of the fact, but among the names of the secret leaders of the conspiracy that has been unearthed, that of the Prince de Condé stands first." "Is it possible?" asked the young king, almost stupefied. "Sire, there is no doubt about it." "Then this must be really a serious conspiracy against the State?" said François. "It is almost a rebellion, Sire," replied the cardinal; "and since your Majesty relieves my brother and myself from the most awful responsibility that has ever been laid upon us, my duty compels me to implore you to name our successors as soon as possible,--for the Huguenots will be under the walls of Blois in a few days." "What do you say, my uncle?" cried Mary, in dismay. "The truth, Madame." "Are the rebels numerous?" asked the king. "Sire, they are said to be two thousand strong," replied the cardinal. "There were rumors that their advance-guard was already near La Carrelière, but I could hardly believe them until Monsieur de Mouchy brought me intelligence of the conspiracy from Paris. We will withdraw now, Sire, Monsieur de Guise and myself--" "What's that?" exclaimed François. "Do you both select such a time of danger as this to desert me?" "But I thought I understood, Sire," returned Charles de Lorraine, "that such was your Majesty's intention."