“Signed?” said the shrewd and courageous hunchback.
“Signed ‘Francois,’” said Maille.
“No, no!” exclaimed the prince, “it is signed: ‘Your good cousin and friend, Francois,’—Messieurs,” he said to the Scotch guard, “I follow you to the prison to which you are ordered, on behalf of the king, to conduct me. There is enough nobility in this hall to understand the matter!”
The profound silence which followed these words ought to have enlightened the Guises, but silence is that to which all princes listen least.
“Monseigneur,” said the Cardinal de Tournon, who was following the prince, “you know well that since the affair at Amboise you have made certain attempts both at Lyon and at Mouvans in Dauphine against the royal authority, of which the king had no knowledge when he wrote to you in those terms.”
“Tricksters!” cried the prince, laughing.
“You have made a public declaration against the Mass and in favor of heresy.”
“We are masters in Navarre,” said the prince.
“You mean to say in Bearn. But you owe homage to the Crown,” replied President de Thou.
“Ha! you here, president?” cried the prince, sarcastically. “Is the whole Parliament with you?”