"But you are a Catholic," he said.
"But she is a Huguenot," Tavannes answered.
The Grand Master did not attempt to hide his astonishment.
"And she sticks on that?" he exclaimed. "To-day?"
"She sticks on that. To-day."
"To-day? _Nom de Dieu_! To-day! Well," brushing the matter aside after
a pause of bewilderment, "any way, I cannot help her. I have no minister
here. If there be aught else I can do for her--"
"Nothing, I thank you," Tavannes answered. "Then it only remains for me
to take your answer to the King?" And he rose politely, and taking his
mask from the table prepared to assume it.
M. de Biron gazed at him a moment without speaking, as if he pondered on
the answer he should give. At length he nodded, and rang the bell which
stood beside him.
"The mask!" he muttered in a low voice as footsteps sounded without. And,
obedient to the hint, Tavannes disguised himself. A second later the
officer who had introduced him opened the door and entered.
"Peridol," M. de Biron said--he had risen to his feet--"I have received a
message which needs confirmation; and to obtain this I must leave the
Arsenal. I am going to the house--you will remember this--of Marshal
Tavannes, who will be responsible for my person; in the mean time this
gentleman will remain under strict guard in the south chamber upstairs.
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