"I have but to close my eyes and shut my
ears and the good Thibaut carries the good Louis to the good
Burgundy to-night, and there can be no hanging to-morrow."
The girl followed after him, catching at his sleeve to stay him.
"What are you talking about?"
Villon went on, unheeding her, whispering to himself:
"If they cut Gaffer Louis' throat between them, the world were rid
of a crooked-witted king, and I free to win Katherine, hold Paris,
be the first man in France--"
"Fran?ois, speak to me," Huguette pleaded, but she pleaded in vain.
"One would say I were a fool to let such occasion slip through my
ten commandments. But I have learned a thing called honour, which I
must not lose for the sake of my lady."
Huguette flung herself in front of him and stopped his restless
walk.
"Fran?ois! Fran?ois!"
"Yes, child, yes."
"What does it matter to you what they do with the fool king?"
"Abbess, I must have a finger in this pie. Abbess, for the old
sake's sake, will you keep me a secret?"
The girl looked up at him lovingly.
"I will always do your bidding."
"I have a mind to play my part in this enterprise.
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