'Ventre Saint Gris!' he exclaimed with a strange thrill of yearning in his tone.

'I swear by God, I would I were in your shoes, sir.

To strike a blow or two with no care what came of it.

To take the road with a good horse and a good sword, and see what fortune would send.

To be rid of all this statecraft and protocolling, and never to issue another declaration in this world, but just to be for once a Gentleman of France, with all to win and nothing to lose save the love of my lady! Ah! Mornay, would it not be sweet to leave all this fret and fume, and ride away to the green woods by Coarraze ?' 'Certainly, if you prefer them to the Louvre, sire,' Du Mornay answered drily; while I stood, silent and amazed, before this strange man, who could so suddenly change from grave to gay, and one moment spoke so sagely, and the next like any wild lad in his teens.