"What are they?"
"You shall hear. First, all the army that MM. de Guise are raising in Lorraine."
"Are you mad?"
"No; a real army—at least six thousand men."
"But how can you, who fear M. de Mayenne so much, be defended by the soldiers of M. de Guise?"
"Because I am dead."
"Again this joke!"
"No; I have changed my name and position."
"What are you, then?"
"I am Robert Briquet, merchant and leaguer."