CHAPTER 11: Jeanne Of Navarre.
"It is lucky," Philip said to Jacques, as they proceeded on their way after the troop had ridden on, "that he did not think of asking us if we were Huguenots." "I was expecting it myself, sir," Jacques said; "and I was just turning it over in my conscience, how I could answer." "There could be but one answer, Jacques; though no doubt it would have cost us our lives." "I should not deny my faith, even to save my life, sir, if the question were put to me: 'Are you a Huguenot ?' But I think that when four lives are at stake, it is lawful to take any opening there may be to get out of it." "But how would there have been an opening, Jacques ?" "Well, sir, you see, if he had asked, 'Are you Huguenots ?' I think I could have said 'No,' with a clear conscience, seeing that you are an Englishman.

Your religion may be like ours, but you are not a Huguenot; and although Pierre does not seem to me to have quite made up his mind as to what he is, assuredly I should not call him a Huguenot.

So you see, sir, that as only two out of the four are Huguenots, there would have been no lie to my saying 'no' to that question.

But if he had said 'Are you Catholics ?' I must have answered 'No,' seeing that none of us go to mass." "It is a nice question," Philip said; "but seeing that the Catholics never keep their oaths and their promises to what they call heretics, I think that one would be justified, not in telling a lie, for nothing can justify that, but in availing one's self of a loophole such as one would scorn to use, to others.

I should be sorry to have the question asked me, though seeing I am not myself a Huguenot, although I am fighting with them, I think that I could reply 'no;' especially as it is not a question of my own life only, but one involving the whole cause of the Huguenots.
"If I were in your place, I don't know that I should do so; but as you say that you could do it, without your conscience pricking you, I certainly should not put pressure upon you to say 'yes.' However, I hope you may never be asked the question, and that we shall meet with no more interruptions until we get to Nerac There can be little doubt that, at present, the Catholics have received no orders to seize the queen and her son at Nerac; although they have orders to prevent her, at all costs, from going forward to Paris except under escort; and are keeping a sharp lookout, to prevent her from being joined by parties of Huguenots who would render her force formidable.
"I should hope that, by this time, we are past the last of their bands.