"Farewell! What do you mean? Are you going away?"
"Yes, I am going away, brother, and nothing need keep me here any longer, I presume."
"Why nothing?"
"Of course, since the fetes at which you wished me to be present will not take place, I may now consider myself as freed from my promise."
"You are mistaken, Henri," replied the grand-admiral; "I have no greater reason for permitting you to leave to-day than I had yesterday."
"I regret that it is so; but in that case, for the first time in my life, I shall have the misfortune to disobey your orders, and to fail in the respect I owe you; for from this very moment I declare to you, Anne, that nothing shall restrain me any longer from taking religious vows."
"But the dispensation which is expected from Rome?"
"I can await it in a convent."
"You must positively be mad to think of such a thing." exclaimed Joyeuse, as he rose, with stupefaction depicted on his countenance.
"On the contrary, my dear and honored brother, I am the wisest of you all, for I alone know what I am about."'