"I think I told your Majesty that it is only the Huguenots who are rebellious," said the Cardinal de Lorraine.
"Well, they are Frenchmen!" rejoined the king. "In fact, Monsieur le Cardinal, I have intrusted all my power to your hands in the hope that you would cause it to be blessed, and yet I am continually encompassed by anxiety and complaints and discontent."
"Oh, Sire, Sire!" exclaimed Mary Stuart, reproachfully.
The Cardinal de Lorraine retorted dryly,—
"It would be hardly fair, Sire, to hold us responsible for ills which are due entirely to the troublous condition of the time."
"Nevertheless, Monsieur," continued the youthful king, "I should like for once to know the real condition of affairs, and to be without you at my side for a while, so that I might ascertain whether the disaffection is directed against myself or you."
"Oh, your Majesty!" cried Mary Stuart, in great alarm.
François said no more, for he already reproached himself for having gone too far. The Duc de Guise did not manifest the least disturbance. Charles de Lorraine, after an embarrassing silence, replied, with the dignified and constrained air of a man unjustly offended,—
"Sire, since we are unfortunate enough to see that our efforts are misunderstood or not appreciated, and are therefore useless, it only remains for us, as your loyal subjects and devoted kinsmen, to give place to others more worthy or more fortunate—"
The king, in his confusion, said nothing; and the cardinal continued, after a pause,—