These stories that are put about are the
inventions of Concini to set my wife against me. Do you know how
far he and his wife have dared to go? They have persuaded the
Queen to eat nothing that is not prepared in the kitchen they
have set up for her in their own apartments. What can you
conclude from that but that they suggest that I desire to poison
her?"
"Why suffer it, sire?" quoth Sully gravely. "Send the pair
packing back to Florence, and so be rid of them."
Henry rose in agitation. "I have a mind to. Ventre St. Gris! I
have a mind to. Yes, it is the only thing. You can manage it,
Sully. Disabuse her mind of her Suspicions regarding the Princess
of Conde; make my peace with her; convince her of my sincerity,
of my firm intention to have done with gallantry, so that she on
her side will make me the sacrifice of banishing the Concinis.
You will do this, my friend?"
It was no less than Sully had been expecting from past
experience, and the task was one in which he was by now well-
practiced; but the situation had never before been quite so
difficult. He rose.
"Why, surely, sire," said he. "But her Majesty on her side may
require something more to reconcile her to the sacrifice.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143