"But not less a pleasure. I have had something of the kind in mind ever since your master killed my brother."
"You should profit by that murderer's experience before you take a leaf from his book, M. de Mayenne. Henry of Valois gained singularly little when he slew Guise to make you head of the League."
Mayenne started, and then laughed to show his scorn of the flattery. But I think he was, all the same, half pleased, none the less because he knew it to be flattery. He said unexpectedly:
"Your son comes honestly by his unbound tongue."
"Ah, my son! Now that you mention him, we shall discuss him a little. You have put my son, monsieur, in the Bastille."
"No; Belin and my nephew Paul, whom you know, have put him there."
"But M. de Mayenne can get him out if he choose."
"If he choose."
Monsieur sat down again, with the air of one preparing for an amiable discussion.
"He is charged with the murder of one Pontou, a lackey. Of course he did not commit it, nor would you care if he had. His real offence is making love to your ward."