"They give me no peace, Madame and the Guises," he whispered, his face hectic with excitement.

"They will have it.

They say that Coligny--they say that he beards me in my own palace.

And--and, _mordieu_," with sudden violence, "it's true.

It's true enough! It was but to-day he was for making terms with me! With me, the King! Making terms! So it shall be, by God and Devil, it shall! But not six or seven! No, no.