But he would not confess to himself, still less let others observe that first shudder, which he at once repressed. His heart reacted against his instinct; and just because he had been afraid for one second, he afterward exhibited a degree of courage which amounted to recklessness. Gabriel said again in his slow, grave tones,-- "I implore your Majesty not to persist in your desire!" "Nevertheless I do persist in it, Monsieur de Montgommery," the king replied. His perception being obscured by so many contending emotions, Henri imagined that he could detect a sort of challenge in Gabriel's words, and the tone in which they were uttered. Alarmed by the sudden return of that anxious feeling which Diane de Castro had relieved temporarily, he bore up vigorously against his weakness, and determined to have done with this dastardly terror, which he deemed unworthy of himself,--Henri II., a son of France, and a king! Therefore he said to Gabriel with a firmness that was almost overdone,-- "Make your preparations, Monsieur, to run a course against me." Gabriel, whose whole being was in as confused and overwrought a state as that of the king, bowed without replying. At that moment, Monsieur de Boisy, the grand equerry, approached the king and said to him that the queen had sent him to implore his Majesty to tilt no more that day for love of her. "Say to the queen," replied Henri, "that it is just for love of her that I am going to run this one course." Turning to Monsieur de Vieilleville, he said,-- "Come, Monsieur de Vieilleville, put on my armor at once." In his preoccupation, he demanded from Monsieur de Vieilleville a service which was an attribute of the office of Monsieur de Boisy, the grand equerry, and Monsieur de Vieilleville in his surprise respectfully reminded him of that fact. "To be sure!" said the king, putting his hand to his forehead. "What has become of my brains, I wonder?" He met Gabriel's cold and statue-like glance, and continued impatiently,-- "But no, I was right. Was it not Monsieur de Boisy's place to finish his commission from the queen, by reporting my words to her? I knew perfectly well what I was doing and what I said! Give me my armor, Monsieur de Vieilleville." "That being so, Sire," said Monsieur de Vieilleville, "and since your Majesty is absolutely determined to break one lance more, I beg to remind you that it is my turn to run against you, and I claim my right. In fact, Monsieur de Montgommery did not present himself at the opening of the lists, and only entered when he believed them closed." "You are right, Monsieur," said Gabriel, earnestly; "and I will gladly withdraw, and give place to you." But in the count's eagerness to shun the combat with him, the king persisted in fancying that he detected the insulting reflections of an enemy upon his courage.