For I dare to say, Monsieur, what no
other will say, now the Admiral is dead. You have brought back the days
of the Armagnacs. You have brought bloody days and an evil name on
France, and I pray God that you may not pay in your turn what you have
exacted. But if you continue to be advised by M. de Guise, this I will
say, Monsieur"--and his voice fell low and stern. "Burgundy slew
Orleans, indeed; but he came in his turn to the Bridge of Montereau."
"You take me for Monsieur?" the unknown asked. And it was plain that he
smiled under his mask.
Biron's face altered. "I take you," he answered sharply, "for him whose
sign you sent me."
"The wisest are sometimes astray," the other answered with a low laugh.
And he took off his mask.
The Grand Master started back, his eyes sparkling with anger.
"M. de Tavannes?" he cried, and for a moment he was silent in sheer
astonishment. Then, striking his hand on the table, "What means this
trickery?" he asked.
"It is of the simplest," Tavannes answered coolly. "And yet, as you just
now said, I had hardly come at you without it. And I had to come at you.
No, M. de Biron," he added quickly, as Biron in a rage laid his hand on a
bell which stood beside him on the table, "you cannot that way undo what
is done.
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