"Fairer than ever, Mistress Valentine," he murmured, after he had exchanged a glance with the maid Salome, "ah, the blessed thing which is beauty when used for sanctified ends! Seldom is it thus used in this world of foolish women! But you are wise. The Gesù are under deep obligations, and the King--the King--ah, he will not forget. He has sent you hither, and has commissioned me to speak with you. Your good, your excellent uncle, Osorio, knows some part of King Philip's plans, but not all--no, not all. He is too blunt an instrument for such fine work. But _you_ can understand, and shall!" The girl struck her hands together angrily and turned upon him. "Again--again!" she said, "is it to be treachery again?" "Not treachery, dear lady," cooed the father; "but when you go to tickle trout, you do not stand on the bank and throw in great stones. You work softly underneath, and so guide the fish to a place from which they cannot escape." "Is it Guise?" demanded the girl, breaking fiercely through these dulcet explanations. "As you say," smiled the Jesuit; "himself and no other." "And what is to be my particular infamy?" "Child, beware of your speech," said the Jesuit; "there is no infamy in the service of Holy Church, of the Society, and of your King." "To a well-known air!" said the girl, sneeringly; "well, I will sing the song. I know the music." And she went and placed herself by the window which overlooked the pleasaunce of the Duke of Guise. "Salome," she said, "come hither and comb out my tresses!" And with the graceful ease of strong young arms, she pulled out a tortoise-shell pin here and a mother-of-pearl fastening there till a flood of hair escaped, falling down her back, with dark, coppery lights striking out of the duskier coils, and the lingering sunset illuminating the ripples of fine-spun gold. "Thus goes the exercise," she said with a cold anger, "the Holy Society trains us well. But for this, and all else, God will enter into judgment with you and your like!" But, heedless of her words, the priest was already stooping and peering behind the curtain.