However, we must not think that the bitter antagonism of the queen-mother and the cardinal betrayed itself to outside observers in their manners or their conversation. On the contrary, they had never seemed to be more confiding or more affectionate to each other. At the moment at which we look in upon them, taking advantage of François's slumber, they were talking in a low voice and in the most friendly way imaginable about their most secret interests and their inmost thoughts. For the better to conform to that Italian policy of which we have already given specimens, Catherine had sedulously dissembled her underhand proceedings, and Charles de Lorraine had always pretended to know nothing of them. Thus they had not ceased to converse as allies and as friends. They were like two gamblers, each of whom cheats loyally for his own side, and who openly use cogged dice against each other. "Yes, Madame," the cardinal was saying,--"yes, that stubborn Chancellor de l'Hôpital obstinately refuses to sign the decree for the prince's death. Ah! you were indeed in the right, Madame, six months ago, to oppose his succession to Olivier so vigorously! If I had only understood you then!" "What? is it absolutely impossible to overcome his resistance?" asked Catherine, who had in reality instructed the chancellor to resist. "I have tried flattery and threats," Charles de Lorraine replied, "and have found him inflexible." "Suppose Monsieur le Duc should try his hand?" "Nothing will move that Auvergne mule," said the cardinal. "Besides, my brother has declared that he does not propose to meddle in the affair at all." "It becomes embarrassing," remarked Catherine, secretly delighted beyond expression. "There is one way, however," said the cardinal, "by resorting to which we can get along without all the chancellors in the world." "Is there, indeed? What way is that?" cried the queen-mother, uneasily. "To have the decree signed by the king." "By the king!" echoed Catherine. "But can he do it? Has he the right?" "Yes," replied the cardinal, "we have proceeded thus far in this very matter by the advice of the best jurists, who have declared that the matter may be pushed forward to judgment in spite of the prince's refusal to reply." "But what will the chancellor say?" cried Catherine, really alarmed. "He will grumble, as he always does," replied the cardinal, calmly; "he will threaten to resign the seals." "And if he does really carry out his threat?" "It will be doubly advantageous, for we shall be well rid of a most inconvenient critic." "When do you propose that this decree should be signed?" asked Catherine, after a pause. "To-night, Madame." "And you will cause it to be executed--?" "To-morrow." The queen-mother absolutely shuddered, for the blow was sudden. "To-night! to-morrow! you do not reflect," she replied. "The king is too ill and weak, and his intellect is not clear enough to understand what you mean to ask of him."