“What did they decide?” asked the king.
“That the Leaguers should choose chiefs, that every one should arm, that every province should receive a deputy from the conspirators, and that all the Huguenots cherished by his majesty (that was their expression)——”
The king smiled.
“Should be massacred on a given day.”
“Is that all?” said the duke.
“No, monseigneur.”
“I should hope not,” said Chicot; “if the king got only that for one hundred and sixty thousand livres, it would be a shame.”
“There are chiefs——”
The Duc d’Anjou could not repress a start.
“What!” cried Chicot, “a conspiracy that has chiefs! how wonderful! But we ought to have more than that for one hundred and sixty thousand livres.”