”Oldsilly，”saidthefurrier；”lethimlive，ifonlytoconverthim。Yousaid，beforetheapprentices，awordwhichmaysetfiretoourhouse，androastusall，likefleasinastrawbed。”
Themothercrossedherself，andsatdownsilently。”Now，then，you，”saidtheoldman，withajudicialglanceathisson，”explaintomewhatyouweredoingontheriverwith——comecloser，thatImayspeaktoyou，”headded，graspinghissonbythearm，anddrawinghimtohim——”withthePrincedeConde，”hewhispered。
Christophetrembled。”Doyousupposethecourtfurrierdoesnotknoweveryfacethatfrequentsthepalace？ThinkyouIamignorantofwhatisgoingon？MonseigneurtheGrandMasterhasbeengivingorderstosendtroopstoAmboise。WithdrawingtroopsfromParistosendthemtoAmboisewhenthekingisatBlois，andmakingthemmarchthroughChartresandVendome，insteadofgoingbyOrleans——isn’tthemeaningofthatclearenough？There’llbetroubles。Ifthequeenswanttheirsurcoats，theymustsendforthem。ThePrincedeCondehasperhapsmadeuphismindtokillMessieursdeGuise；who，ontheirside，expecttoridthemselvesofhim。TheprincewillusetheHuguenotstoprotecthimself。Whyshouldthesonofafurriergethimselfintothatfray？Whenyouaremarried，andwhenyouarecouncillortotheParliament，youwillbeasprudentasyourfather。Beforebelongingtothenewreligion，thesonofafurrieroughttowaituntiltherestoftheworldbelongstoit。Idon’tcondemntheReformers；itisnotmybusinesstodoso；butthecourtisCatholic，thetwoqueensareCatholic，theParliamentisCatholic；wemustsupplythemwithfurs，andthereforewemustbeCatholicourselves。Youshallnotgooutfromhere，Christophe；ifyoudo，Iwillsendyoutoyourgodfather，PresidentdeThou，whowillkeepyounightanddayblackeningpaper，insteadofblackeningyoursoulincompanywiththosedamnedGenevese。””Father，”saidChristophe，leaninguponthebackoftheoldman’schair，”sendmetoBloistocarrythatsurcoattoQueenMaryandgetourmoneyfromthequeen-mother。Ifyoudonot，Iamlost；andyoucareforyourson。””Lost？”repeatedtheoldman，withoutshowingtheleastsurprise。”Ifyoustayhereyoucan’tbelost；Ishallhavemyeyeonyouallthetime。””Theywillkillmehere。””Why？””ThemostpowerfulamongtheHuguenotshavecasttheireyesonmetoservetheminacertainmatter；ifIfailtodowhatIhavejustpromisedtodo，theywillkillmeinopenday，hereinthestreet，astheykilledMinard。Butifyousendmetocourtonyouraffairs，perhapsIcanjustifymyselfequallywelltobothsides。EitherI
shallsucceedwithouthavingrunanydangeratall，andshallthenwinafinepositionintheparty；or，ifthedangerturnsoutverygreat，Ishallbetheresimplyonyourbusiness。”
Thefatherroseasifhischairwasofred-hotiron。”Wife，”hesaid，”leaveus；andwatchthatweareleftquitealone，ChristopheandI。”