"Yes, mother."
"Will you obey me blindly so far as Henry is concerned? For whatever you may have said you do not love him."
D'Alençon smiled.
"And I detest him," continued Catharine.
"Yes, I will obey you."
"Well, the day after to-morrow come here for the book; I will give it to you, you shall take it to Henry, and"—
"And?"
"Leave the rest to Providence or to chance."
François knew his mother well enough to realize that she was not in the habit of leaving to Providence or to chance the care of friendships or hatreds. But he said nothing, and bowing like a man who accepts the commission with which he is charged, he returned to his own apartments.
"What does she mean?" thought the young man as he mounted the stairs. "I cannot see. But what I do understand in all this is that she acts like our common enemy. Well, let her go ahead."