"Oh, Sire!" said Charles de Lorraine, "at the moment that your Majesty restores his precious confidence to us—"
"Entirely, and with all my heart," added the king, offering his hand to the cardinal.
"Just so much valuable time lost!" said the Duc de Guise, gravely.
It was the first word he had uttered since the beginning of the interview.
He came forward now, as if all that had gone before had been simply unimportant preliminaries a wearisome prologue, in which he had allowed the Cardinal de Lorraine to sustain the principal part; but these puerile discussions being at an end, he haughtily took the floor and assumed the initiative.
"Sire," said he to the king, "this, in brief, is the condition of affairs: two thousand rebels, commanded by Baron de la Renaudie, and encouraged underhand by the Prince de Condé, are preparing a descent at this time from Poitou, Béarn, and other provinces, with the view of surprising Blois and carrying off your Majesty."
François made a gesture of indignation and surprise.
"Carry off the king!" cried Mary Stuart.
"And you with him, Madame," continued Le Balafré. "But never fear; we will take good care of your Majesties."
"What measures do you propose to take?" asked the king.