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"One seems to be the scabbard, the other the blade," whispered Albert de Gondi in her ear. "Well, gentlemen," said Catherine at last, unable to restrain a smile, "has your master given you permission to unite in a public conference, at which you will be converted by the arguments of the Fathers of the Church who are the glory of our State?" "We have no master but the Lord," said Chaudieu.
"To treachery oppose treachery," replied Chaudieu, whispering the words in his companion's ear. "I have saints in Paris on whom I can rely, and I intend to make Calvin a prophet. Christophe Lecamus shall deliver us from our most dangerous enemy."
The proces verbal was begun; the provost dictated a few sentences as he walked up and down with a meditative air, asking Christophe his name, baptismal name, age, and profession; then he inquired the name of the person from whom he had received the papers he had given to the queen. "From the minister Chaudieu," answered Christophe. "Where did he give them to you?" "In Paris."
"Ah!" replied the queen, with a sort of naivete, "you will surely know how to take precautions. The Admiral will arrange all that with my cousins the Guises and de Montmorency." "The devil take them!" cried the Connetable, "I'll have nothing to do with it." "How do you contrive to give such strength of character to your converts?" said the queen, leading Chaudieu apart.
Chaudieu, whose brother was a captain and one of Admiral Coligny's best soldiers, was a powerful auxiliary by whose arm Calvin shook France at the beginning of the twenty two years of religious warfare now on the point of breaking out. This minister was one of the hidden wheels whose movements can best exhibit the wide-spread action of the Reform.
Alas! this is not ambition, for I am dying, but it is necessary to destroy the whole of Luther, even to the name of Lutheran and Lutheranism." "Ah! man divine," cried Chaudieu, "you well deserve such honors." "Maintain the uniformity of the doctrine; let no one henceforth change or remark it. We are lost if new sects issue from our bosom."
"Oh! my son; you are ambitious, you can no longer make the sacrifice of yourself! I pity you!" With those fine words Chaudieu turned and left him.
"Is it absolutely necessary?" asked de Beze. "Again!" exclaimed Calvin, his nostrils swelling. "Come, leave me, you will drive me to fury. Take my decision to the queen. You, Chaudieu, go your way, and hold your flock together in Paris. God guide you! Dinah, light my friends to the door." "Will you not permit me to embrace you?" said Theodore, much moved.
Calvin acknowledged Chaudieu's very humble salutation by a slight inclination of the head. Chaudieu slipped the bridles of both horses through his arms and followed the two great men of the Reformation, walking to the left, behind de Beze, who was on Calvin's right.
"I have three martyrs," said Chaudieu, whom the master's outburst had rendered thoughtful, "on whom we can rely. Stuart, who killed Minard, is at liberty " "You are mistaken," said Calvin, gently, smiling after the manner of great men who bring fair weather into their faces as though they were ashamed of the previous storm. "I know human nature; a man may kill one president, but not two."
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