"And so you hesitate, Monseigneur?" asked Gabriel.
"I do more than that, my friend, I refuse," replied Le Balafré. "Ah, if Henri II. should die suddenly to-morrow, by accident or disease—"
"So he thinks of that as well!" said Gabriel to himself. "Well, Monseigneur, if that unexpected blow should fall, what would you do?" he continued aloud.
"Then," rejoined the duke, "with a young and inexperienced king, altogether under my influence, I would become in some sort the regent of the kingdom. And if the queen-mother or Monsieur le Connétable undertook to act in opposition to me; if the Protestants raised a revolution,—if, in short, the State should be in danger and needed a firm hand at the helm, opportunities would arise of themselves, and I should become almost necessary. In such a case your scheme might be very welcome, my friend, and I would gladly hearken to you."
"But until then," said Gabriel,—"until this very improbable death of the king?"
"I will resign myself to wait, my friend, and will content myself with preparations for the future. And if the seeds sown in my mind bear fruit only for my son, it will be because God so willed it."
"Is this your last word, Monseigneur?"
"It is my last word," replied the duke. "But I am no less grateful to you, Gabriel, for having had this confidence in my destiny."
"And I, Monseigneur, am grateful to you for having had so much confidence in my discretion."
"Yes," rejoined the duke; "it is understood that all that has passed between us is as if it had never been said."