"Oh! monseigneur," said Henri, sadly, seeing that this gayety hid a somber jealousy.
"It is true, is it not, Aurilly?" continued the duke; "I return to France like Francois after the battle of Pavia; all is lost but honor. Ah! ah!"
A sad silence received these laughs, more terrible than sobs.
"Monseigneur," said Henri, "tell me how the tutelary genius of France saved your highness."
"Oh! dear comte, the tutelary genius of France was occupied with something else, and I had to save myself."
"And how, monseigneur?"
"By my legs."
No smile welcomed this joke, which the duke would certainly have punished with death if made by another.
"Yes, yes," he continued; "how we ran! did we not, my brave Aurilly?"
"Every one," said Henri, "knows the calm bravery and military genius of your highness, and we beg you not to distress us by attributing to yourself faults which you have not. The best general is not invincible, and Hannibal himself was conquered at Zama."