CalvinacknowledgedChaudieu’sveryhumblesalutationbyaslightinclinationofthehead。ChaudieuslippedthebridlesofbothhorsesthroughhisarmsandfollowedthetwogreatmenoftheReformation，walkingtotheleft，behinddeBeze，whowasonCalvin’sright。Theservant-womanhastenedoninadvancetopreventtheclosingofthePortedeRive，byinformingthecaptainoftheguardthatCalvinhadbeenseizedwithsuddenacutepains。
TheodoredeBezewasanativeofthecantonofVezelay，whichwasthefirsttoentertheConfederation，thecurioushistoryofwhichtransactionhasbeenwrittenbyoneoftheThierrys。Theburgherspiritofresistance，endemicatVezelay，nodoubt，playeditspartinthepersonofthisman，inthegreatrevoltoftheReformers；fordeBezewasundoubtedlyoneofthemostsingularpersonalitiesoftheHeresy。”Yousufferstill？”saidTheodoretoCalvin。”ACatholicwouldsay，’likealostsoul，’”repliedtheReformer，withthebitternesshegavetohisslightestremarks。”Ah！Ishallnotbeherelong，myson。Whatwillbecomeofyouwithoutme？””Weshallfightbythelightofyourbooks，”saidChaudieu。
Calvinsmiled；hisredfacechangedtoapleasedexpression，andhelookedfavorablyatChaudieu。”Well，haveyoubroughtmenews？Havetheymassacredmanyofourpeople？”hesaidsmiling，andlettingasarcasticjoyshineinhisbrowneyes。”No，”saidChaudieu，”allispeaceful。””Somuchtheworse，”criedCalvin；”somuchtheworse！Allpacificationisanevil，ifindeeditisnotatrap。Ourstrengthliesinpersecution。WhereshouldwebeiftheChurchacceptedReform？””But，”saidTheodore，”thatispreciselywhatthequeen-motherappearstowish。””Sheiscapableofit，”remarkedCalvin。”Istudythatwoman——””What，atthisdistance？”criedChaudieu。”Isthereanydistanceforthemind？”repliedCalvin，sternly，forhethoughttheinterruptionirreverent。”Catherineseekspower，andwomenwiththatintheireyehaveneitherhonornorfaith。Butwhatisshedoingnow？””Ibringyouaproposalfromhertocallaspeciesofcouncil，”
repliedTheodoredeBeze。”NearParis？”askedCalvin，hastily。”Yes。””Ha！somuchthebetter！”exclaimedtheReformer。”Wearetotrytounderstandeachotheranddrawupsomepublicagreementwhichshallunitethetwochurches。””Ah！ifshewouldonlyhavethecouragetoseparatetheFrenchChurchfromthecourtofRome，andcreateapatriarchforFranceastheydidintheGreekChurch！”criedCalvin，hiseyesglisteningattheideathuspresentedtohismindofapossiblethrone。”But，myson，canthenieceofaPopebesincere？Sheisonlytryingtogaintime。””ShehassentawaytheQueenofScots，”saidChaudieu。”Oneless！”remarkedCalvin，astheypassedthroughthePortedeRive。”ElizabethofEnglandwillrestrainthatoneforus。Twoneighboringqueenswillsoonbeatwarwitheachother。Oneishandsome，theotherugly，——afirstcauseforirritation；besides，there’sthequestionofillegitimacy——”
Herubbedhishands，andthecharacterofhisjoywassoevidentlyferociousthatdeBezeshuddered:hesawtheseaofbloodhismasterwascontemplating。”TheGuiseshaveirritatedthehouseofBourbon，”saidTheodoreafterapause。”TheycametoanopenruptureatOrleans。””Ah！”saidCalvin，”youwouldnotbelieveme，myson，whenItoldyouthelasttimeyoustartedforNeracthatweshouldendbystirringupwartothedeathbetweenthetwobranchesofthehouseofFrance？I