"The Constable de Montmorency has left Chantilly with fifteen hundred gentlemen," said the Duc de Guise. "The better to conceal his movements, he made a detour around Paris, and came from Ecouen and Corbeil to Pithiviers by the valley of Essonne. He will be at the gates of Orléans with his troop to-morrow; and I have just received warning of his coming." "That is indeed terrible!" said the cardinal. "The old villain wishes to save his nephew's head. I will warrant that it was the queen-mother who notified him. Oh, this feeling of utter helplessness against that woman!" "This is no time to proceed against her, but to bestir ourselves in our own interests," said Le Balafré. "What shall we do?" "Go at once with our forces to meet the constable," replied Charles de Lorraine. "Will you guarantee to hold Orléans when I am no longer here with my troops?" "Alas! no,--indeed, I cannot," replied the cardinal. "All the Orléans people are disaffected,--Huguenots and Bourbons at heart. But in any event the States-General are on our side." "And L'Hôpital against us, remember, my brother. Ah, it is a hard position? How does the king?" the duke asked finally, danger reminding him of his last resource. "The king is in bad condition," was the cardinal's reply; "but Ambroise Paré, who has come to Orléans at the queen's request (I will explain this to you later), still hopes to save the king by a hazardous but necessary operation to-morrow morning, which may have happy results. Do not fail to be here at nine o'clock, brother, to sustain Ambroise, if need be." "Surely I will be here," rejoined Le Balafré, "for that is our only hope. Our authority would die with François's last breath; but on the other hand, it would be a fine thing to frighten the constable, and perhaps make him retrace his steps, by sending him, by way of a welcome, the head of his handsome nephew, De Condé." "Yes, that would be a very eloquent greeting, in my opinion," said the cardinal, reflectively. "But this infernal L'Hôpital impedes everything!" exclaimed Le Balafré. "If we had the king's signature upon the decree for the prince's death, instead of L'Hôpital's," suggested Charles de Lorraine, "there would be no further difficulty, brother,--am I not right?--about this execution taking place to-morrow morning before Montmorency's arrival, and before Master Paré's operation." "That would not be strictly legal; but it would be possible," replied Le Balafré. "Very well, then!" cried Charles de Lorraine, eagerly. "Leave me here, my brother; there is nothing more for you to do to-night, and you must need rest, for two o'clock will soon strike. You must husband your strength for to-morrow. Retire, and leave me here. I mean to make a desperate effort myself to retrieve our fortunes." "What is it to be?" the duke asked. "Pray, take no definite step without first consulting me, brother." "Never fear! If I have what I want, I will wake you before daybreak to perfect our plans."