"Now, Charlotte," said Catharine to Madame de Sauve, "go and find Messieurs de Guise and Tavannes, who are in my oratory, and return with them; then remain with the Duchess of Lorraine, who has the vapors."
CHAPTER VII.
THE NIGHT OF THE 24TH OF AUGUST, 1572.
When La Mole and Coconnas had finished their supper—and it was meagre enough, for the fowls of La Belle Étoile had their pin feathers singed only on the sign—Coconnas whirled his chair around on one leg, stretched out his feet, leaned one elbow on the table, and drinking a last glass of wine, said:
"Do you mean to go to bed instantly, Monsieur de la Mole?"
"Ma foi! I am very much inclined, for it is possible that I may be called up in the night."
"And I, too," said Coconnas; "but it appears to me that, under the circumstances, instead of going to bed and making those wait who are to come to us, we should do better to call for cards and play a game. They would then find us quite ready."
"I would willingly accept your proposal, sir, but I have very little money for play. I have scarce a hundred gold crowns in my valise, for my whole treasure. I rely on that with which to make my fortune!"
"A hundred gold crowns!" cried Coconnas, "and you complain? By Heaven! I have but six!"