"Monsieur," said Henri, approaching the unknown, "you will, if you please, break this last lance with me."
The individual addressed did not reply for a moment, but at last in a deep and solemn voice, which he struggled to control, he said,—
"I beg your Majesty to allow me to decline this honor."
The tone of his voice caused Henri, without knowing why, to feel a strange uneasiness mingled with his feverish excitement.
"Allow you to decline! no, I cannot allow that, Monsieur," said he, with a gesture of nervous anger.
Then the stranger silently raised his visor.
For the third time within a fortnight, the king saw the pale and dejected countenance of Gabriel de Montgommery.
CHAPTER XII
THE FATAL JOUST
At sight of the solemn and ominous features of the young count, the king felt an involuntary tremor of surprise, perhaps of terror, which set every nerve quivering.