"I will."
"Let your intention be known among the guards."
"It shall."
"As soon as the King shall have ceased to breathe, seize upon all the gates of the Louvre."
"Yes," continued the Duke, although his voice, so eager the moment before, seemed to tremble at the thought of so much decision of action.
"Declare yourself the Master of the kingdom in full parliament."
"Yes," again replied the young Duke, more weakly. "But"——
"But what—Monseigneur!" exclaimed his companion.
"But," continued the Duke again, with hesitation, "if Henry, my brother, should return—if he should come to claim his crown. You may be sure that our mother, who cares for him alone, will have already sent off messengers to advertise him of Charles's danger, and bid him come!"
"I know she has," replied Philip coolly. "But I have already taken upon myself, without Monseigneur's instructions, for which I could not wait, to send off a sure agent to intercept her courier, to detain him at any price, to destroy his despatches."