"I am so unfortunate as to disagree with you in this matter, Madame," said the duke. "However, you see that until now I have been heartily with you, and that in everything concerning the constable and Madame de Valentinois I entirely agreed with your plans." "Yes, because they served your own," muttered Catherine. "I see it now when it is too late." "But as for Monsieur de Montgommery," continued Le Balafré, calmly, "I cannot conscientiously share in your feeling, Madame. It seems to me impossible to hold a brave and loyal gentleman answerable for a pure accident. Prosecution would result in a triumph for him, and his accusers would be confounded. And concerning the risks to which, in your opinion, Madame, the lives of our kings would be exposed by an indulgent mode of dealing which prefers to believe in misfortune rather than in crime, why, I am convinced, on the other hand, that the real danger would lie in making the people too familiar with the idea that royal lives are not held in such sacred reverence as they have supposed." "Doubtless these are very exalted political maxims," retorted Catherine, bitterly. "I consider them true and in good sense, at all events, Madame," added Le Balafré; "and for all these reasons, and others besides, I am of opinion that what we ought now to do is to apologize to Monsieur de Montgommery for this arbitrary arrest, which happily has been kept secret,--more happily for us than for him; and when our apologies have been accepted, we have only to restore him to the world, free and honorable and honored as he was yesterday, and as he will be to-morrow and forever after. I have spoken." "Superb!" sneered Catherine. Turning sharply to the young king, she asked,-- "And does this fine opinion that we have just listened to happen to coincide with yours, my son?" The demeanor of Mary Stuart, who was bestowing a grateful glance and smile upon the Duc de Guise, left François II. no room for hesitation. "Yes, Mother," he replied, "I confess that my uncle's opinion is mine." "And so you betray your father's memory, do you?" retorted Catherine, in a deep voice which she struggled to render unmoved. "On the other hand, Madame, I respect it," said François. "My father's first words after his wound were to request that Monsieur de Montgommery should not be molested, were they not? And did he not, in one of his rare intervals of consciousness while he lay dying, repeat that request, or rather command? Allow his son, Madame, to obey him." "Very well! and you thrust aside at the very beginning your mother's devout will--" "Madame," interrupted the Duc de Guise, "allow me to remind you of your own words, 'only one will in the kingdom.'" "But I also said, Monsieur, that of the minister should always be subordinate to that of the king," cried Catherine.