He presented Le Balafré's letter upon the cushion. The king took it, broke the seal, tore open the envelope, and said to the cardinal as he passed the letter to him,—
"To you, Monsieur le Cardinal, rightly belongs the pleasure of reading aloud your brother's letter. It is not addressed to the king, but to France."
"What, Sire!" said the cardinal, "does your Majesty really wish—"
"It is my desire, Monsieur le Cardinal, that you should accept the honor which is your due."
Charles de Lorraine bowed, and took the letter respectfully from the king's hands, unfolded it, and amid profound silence read what follows:—
"SIRE,—Calais is in our power; we have wrested in one week from the English a city which cost them a year's siege two centuries ago.
"Guines and Ham, the last two posts which are still in their possession in France, can now hold out but a short time; and I venture to promise your Majesty that within a fortnight our hereditary enemies will have been definitely expelled from the kingdom.
"I thought it my duty to be generous to the conquered. They gave up their artillery and their supplies; but the terms of capitulation to which I gave my assent allowed all such inhabitants of Calais as might so desire to withdraw", with their property, to England. Indeed, perhaps it would have been hazardous to leave so potent an element of discord in a newly-captured city.
"The number of dead and wounded is very small, thanks to the rapidity with which the place was carried.
"Time and leisure fail me, Sire, to furnish your Majesty with more ample details to-day. Being myself seriously wounded—"
At this point the cardinal turned pale, and ceased to read.
"What, our cousin wounded!" cried the king, feigning anxiety.
"Your Majesty and your Eminence may be reassured," said Gabriel. "Monsieur le Duc de Guise's wound will have no serious results, thank God! At present there remains of its effects nought but a noble scar upon his face and the glorious surname of Le Balafré."
The cardinal had meanwhile read a few lines in advance, and convinced himself that what Gabriel said was true, and with renewed calmness resumed his reading as follows:—