‘Do you remember Benoit?’ she said; ’poor Benoit, who came to Normandy as my laquais?  When I went back to Anjou he married a girl from Leurre, and went to aid his father at the farm.  The poor fellow had imbibed the Baron’s doctrine—­he spread it.  It was reported that there was a nest of Huguenots on the estate.  My cousin came to break it up with his gens d’armes O Berenger, he would hear no entreaties, he had no mercy; he let them assemble on Sunday, that they might be all together.  He fired the house; shot down those who escaped; if a prisoner were made, gave him up to the Bishop’s Court.  Benoit, my poor good Benoit, who used to lead my palfrey, was first wounded, then tried, and burnt—­burnt in the PLACE at Lucon!  I heard Narcisse laugh—­laugh as he talked of the cries of the poor creatures in the conventicler.  My own people, who loved me!  I was but twelve years old, but even then the wretch would pay me a half-mocking courtesy, as one destined to him; and the more I disdained him and said I belonged to you, the more both he and my aunt, the Abbess, smiled, as though they had their bird in a cage; but they left me in peace till my uncle brought me to court, and then all began again:  and when they said you gave me up, I had no hope, not even of a convent.  But ah, it is all over now, and I am so happy!  You are grown so gentle and so beautiful, Berenger, and so much taller than I ever figured you to myself, and you look as if you could take me up in your arms, and let no harm happen to me.’

‘Never, never shall it!’ said Berenger, felling all manhood, strength, and love stir within him, and growing many years in heart in that happy moment.  ’My sweet little faithful wife, never fear again now you are mine.’

Alas! poor children.  They were a good way from the security they had begun to fancy for themselves.  Early the next morning, Berenger went in his straightforward way to the King, thanked him, and requested his sanction for at once producing themselves to the court as Monsieur le Baron and Madame la Baronne de Ribaumont.

At this Charles swore a great oath, as one in perplexity, and bade him not go so fast.

‘See here,’ said he, with the rude expletives only too habitual with him; ’she is a pretty little girl, and she and her lands are much better with an honest man like you than with that pendard of a cousin; but you see he is bent on having her, and he belongs to a cut-throat crew that halt at nothing.  I would not answer for your life, if you tempted him so strongly to rid himself of you.’

‘My own sword, Sire, can guard my life.’

’Plague upon your sword!  What does the foolish youth think it would do against half-a-dozen poniards and pistols in a lane black as hell’s mouth?’

The foolish young WAS thinking how could a king so full of fiery words and strange oaths bear to make such an avowal respecting his own capital and his own courtiers.  All he could do was to bow and reply, ’Nevertheless, Sire, at whatever risk, I cannot relinquish my wife; I would take her at one to the Ambassador’s.’