-'The Admiral's favourite project! He would do wisely not to brag
of it so openly. The King of Spain has too many in his interest in
this place not to be warned, and to be thus further egged on to
compass the ruin of Coligny.'
'I should have thought.' Said Sidney. 'that nothing could add to
his hatred of the Reformed.'
'Scarcely,' said Walsingham; 'save that it is they who hinder the
Duke of Guise from being a good Frenchman, and a foe to Spain.'
Politics had not developed themselves in Berenger's mind, and he
listened inattentively while Walsingham talked over with Sidney the
state of parties in France, where natural national enmity to Spain was
balanced by the need felt by the Queen-mother of the support of that
great Roman Catholic power against the Huguenots; whom Walsingham
believed her to dread and hate less for their own sake than from the
fear of loss of influence over her son. He believed Charles IX. himself
to have much leaning towards the Reformed, but the late victories has
thrown the whole court entirely into the power of the Guises, the truly
unscrupulous partisans of Rome. They were further inflamed against the
Huguenots by the assassination of the last Duke of Guise, and by the
violences that had been committed by some of the Reformed party, in
especial a massacre of prisoners at Nerac.
Sidney exclaimed that the Huguenots had suffered far worse
cruelties.
'That is true,' replied Sir Francis, 'but, my young friend, you
will find, in all matters of reprisals, that a party has no memory
for what it may commit, only for what it may receive.'
The conversation was interrupted by an invitation to the
Ambassador's family and guests to a tilting-match and subsequent
ball at the Louvre. In the first Berenger did his part with
credit; to the second he went feeling full of that strange
attraction of repulsion. He knew gentlemen enough in Coligny's
suite for it to be likely that he might remain unperceived among
them, and he knew this would be prudent, but he found himself
unexpectedly near the ranks of ladies, and smile and gesture
absolutely drew him towards his semi-spouse, so that he had no
alternative but to lead her out to dance.
The stately measure was trod in silence as usual, but he felt the
dark eyes studying him all the time. However, he could bear it
better now that the deed was done, and she had voluntarily made him
less to her than any gallant parading or mincing about the room.
'So you bear the pearls, sir?' she said, as the dance finished.