'To tell you the truth, M.le Baron,' I continued with some warmth, 'the sooner me are beyond Blois, the better I shall be pleased.

I think we run some risk there, and, besides, I do not fancy a shambles.

I do not think I could see the king without thinking of the Bartholomew, nor his chamber without thinking of Guise.' 'Tut, tut!' he said, 'you have killed a man before now.' 'Many,' I answered.
'Do they trouble you ?' 'No, but they were killed in fair fight,' I replied, 'That makes a difference.' 'To you,' he said drily.

'But you are not the King of France, you see.
Should you ever come across him,' he continued, flicking his horse's ears, a faint smile on his lips, 'I will give you a hint.

Talk to him of the battles at Jarnac and Moncontour, and praise your Conde's father! As Conde lost the fight and, he won it, the compliment comes home to him.
The more hopelessly a man has lost his powers, my friend, the more fondly he regards them, and the more highly he prizes the victories he call no longer gain.' 'Ugh!' I muttered.
'Of the two parties at Court,' Rosny continued, calmly overlooking my ill-humour, 'trust D'Aumont and Biron and the French clique.