“What is best to be done?” she said to the two Gondis, Ruggiero, Birago, and Chiverni who had lately become governor and chancellor to the Duc d’Anjou.
“Before all else,” replied Birago, “get rid of Cypierre. He is not a courtier; he will never accommodate himself to your ideas, and will think he does his duty in thwarting you.”
“Whom can I trust?” cried the queen.
“One of us,” said Birago.
“On my honor!” exclaimed Gondi, “I’ll promise you to make the king as docile as the king of Navarre.”
“You allowed the late king to perish to save your other children,” said Albert de Gondi. “Do, then, as the great signors of Constantinople do,—divert the anger and amuse the caprices of the present king. He loves art and poetry and hunting, also a little girl he saw at Orleans; there’s occupation enough for him.”
“Will you really be the king’s governor?” said Catherine to the ablest of the Gondis.
“Yes, if you will give me the necessary authority; you may even be obliged to make me marshal of France and a duke. Cypierre is altogether too small a man to hold the office. In future, the governor of a king of France should be of some great dignity, like that of duke and marshal.”
“He is right,” said Birago.
“Poet and huntsman,” said Catherine in a dreamy tone.