"Well," said Henry, "even so. What crime have I committed to merit arrest? If I am guilty I am as much so this morning as I was last evening. Tell me my offence, sire."
Embarrassed as to what reply to make, Charles looked at his mother.
"My son," said Catharine, "you receive suspicious characters."
"Very good," said Henry, "and these suspicious characters compromise me; is that it, madame?"
"Yes, Henry."
"Give me their names! Give me their names! Who are they? Let me see them!"
"Really," said Charles, "Henriot has the right to demand an explanation."
"And I do demand it!" said Henry, realizing the superiority of his position and anxious to make the most of it. "I ask it from my good brother Charles, and from my good mother Catharine. Since my marriage with Marguerite have I not been a kind husband? ask Marguerite. A good Catholic? ask my confessor. A good relative? ask those who were at the hunt yesterday."
"Yes, that is true, Henriot," said the King; "but what can you do? They claim that you conspire."
"Against whom?"