the circle that the cord has left."

"You are right!" cried Henri, with flashing eyes; "my cousin of Guise is
better served than I am!"

"Hush, my son--no éclat; we shall only be laughed at, for once more we
have missed our aim."

"Joyeuse did well to go and amuse himself elsewhere," said the king;
"one can reckon on nothing in this world--not even on punishments. Come,
ladies, let us go."




CHAPTER VI.

THE BROTHERS.


MM. De Joyeuse had, as we have seen, left this scene, and were walking
side by side in the streets generally so populous but now deserted, for
every one was in the Place de Greve. Henri seemed preoccupied and sad,
and Anne was unquiet on account of his brother. He was the first to
speak.

"Well, Henri," said he, "where are you taking me?"

"I take you nowhere, brother; I was only walking before you. Do you wish
to go anywhere?"