The word "propose" was happily chosen, holding out vague ideas of advantages to be obtained which affected both Clermont and La Marche.
"What shall we do, Richmond?" said the latter, in a hesitating tone.
"Stay, if you will," said the constable, gruffly. "You can act for me, if you choose to remain. I shall go; for I only lose my temper."
Thus saying, he quitted the tent. La Marche and Clermont hesitated for a moment, and then returned to their seats; the latter observing, with a quiet sneer, that the constable lately gave them more fire than light.
"Well, gentlemen," said Trimouille, in his most placable tones, "now this hot spirit is gone, we are likely, meseems, to come to some result. Pray let me hear your demands."
The Count La Marche turned a somewhat puzzled look toward the Count of Clermont, and the latter laughed gayly.
"Speak, I beseech you," said La Trimouille. "What are your demands?"
"Why, the first of them we decided upon," replied the Count of Clermont, "was one so unpleasant to utter, that it sticks in the throat of La Marche here--simply your removal from the council of the king, Monsieur La Trimouille."
"I will not stand in the way," replied the minister, with the utmost frankness of manner. "No personal interest of mine shall prevent an accommodation. But upon this point the king alone can, of course, decide. It shall be referred to him, exactly as you state it. Let us pass on to other things. What more do you demand?"
"Nay, we would rather hear what you have to propose," said the Count of Clermont, who began to doubt how the negotiations would turn.