“The one who wished to preach the League with his arquebuse on his shoulder?”
“The same.”
“Well! they will conduct the king into his cell; once there, he will be asked to sign his abdication, then, when he has signed, Madame de Montpensier will enter, scissors in hand. She wears them now, hanging to her side; they are charming scissors, made of gold, and admirably chased, to do him honor. You understand the rest. We announced to the people that the king, experiencing a holy repentance for his sins, has announced his intention of never more leaving the convent. If there are any who doubt, M. de Guise holds the army, M. le Cardinal the Church, and M. de Mayenne the bourgeois; and with these three powers you can make the people believe what you like.”
“But they will accuse me of violence,” said the duke.
“You need not be there.”
“They will look on me as a usurper.”
“Monseigneur forgets the abdication.”
“The king will refuse.”
“It seems that Brother Gorenflot is not only clever, but strong.”
“The plan is then settled?”
“Quite.”
“And they do not fear that I shall denounce it?”
“No, monseigneur; for in that case, they have another, not less sure.”
“Ah!”
“Yes.”
“And this one?”
“I do not know; they thought me too much your friend to trust me with it.”
“Well, I yield, count. What must I do?”
“Approve.”
“I do.”
“Words are not enough.”
“What then?”
“Writing.”
“It is a folly to suppose I will ever consent to that.”
“And why not?”
“If the conspiracy fail – ”
“It is just in case it should, that they ask for your signature.”
“Then they wish to shelter themselves behind my name?”
“Just so.”
“Then I refuse.”
“You cannot.”
“I cannot refuse?”
“No.”
“Are you mad?”
“To refuse is to betray.”
“Let them think as they like; at all events I will choose my own danger.”
“Monseigneur, you choose badly.”
“I will risk it,” cried François, endeavoring to keep firm.
“For your own interest I advise you not to do so.”
“But I shall compromise myself by signing.”
“In refusing, you assassinate yourself.”
François shuddered.
“They would dare?” said he.
“They would dare anything, monseigneur. The conspirators have gone so far, that they must succeed at any cost.”
The duke, with his usual indecision, felt terribly perplexed.
“I will sign,” said he, at last.
“When?”
“To-morrow.”
“No, monseigneur; if you sign, it must be at once.”
“But M. de Guise must draw up the agreement.”