A pause. Then, “Does M. de Guise know of the offer?” Biron inquired; and his eye grew bright. He hated the Guises and was hated by them. It was there he was a Huguenot.
“He has gone far to-day,” Count Hannibal answered dryly. “And if no worse come of it should be content. Madame Catherine knows of it.”
The Grand Master was aware that Marshal Tavannes depended on the Queen-mother; and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Ay, ’tis like her policy,” he muttered. “’Tis like her!” And pointing his guest to a cushioned chest which stood against the wall, he sat down in a chair beside the table and thought awhile, his brow wrinkled, his eyes dreaming. By-and-by he laughed sourly. “You have lighted the fire,” he said, “and would fain I put it out.”
“We would have you hinder it spreading.”
“You have done the deed and are loth to pay the blood-money. That is it, is it?
“We prefer to pay it to M. de Biron,” Count Hannibal answered civilly.
Again the Grand Master was silent awhile. At length he looked up and fixed Tavannes with eyes keen as steel.
“What is behind?” he growled. “Say, man, what is it? What is behind?”
“If there be aught behind, I do not know it,” Tavannes answered steadfastly.