"Most touching!" interjected Jean-aux-Choux.
"It astonishes you," said Anthony Arpajon, "but that is because you are a stranger——"
"And ye would take me in," muttered Jean under his breath.
"But in our country of Bearn we all worship our mothers—with us it is a cult."
"I have noticed it," said Jean-aux-Choux. "In my country we have it also, with this difference—in Scotland it is for our children's mothers, chiefly before marriage."
But at this moment they heard the voice of the King within.
"Where is D'Aubigné? Why does he not insure quiet in the house? I have ridden far and would sleep! Surely even a king may sleep sometimes?"
"Your Majesty, it is I—Anthony Arpajon, the Calvinist, and with me is John Stirling, the Scot, called Jean-aux-Choux, the Fool of the Three Henries."
"And what does he want with this Henry—does he jest by day and sing psalms by night?"
"I have to inform Your Majesty," said Jean-aux-Choux, "that the Duke d'Epernon is below, and would see the King of Navarre."