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 "They too are great gentlemen."

"Do you mean that you are on their side?"

"Yes, indeed, my Lord, we are close beside them."

"In that case you must be against Concini?"

"By no means, your Lordship, we are for him also."

"But, man, you don't seem to understand that they are enemies."

"That may be—but we want both of them to succeed."

"How absurd! You have to be on one side or the other, don't you know that? Stupid!"

"Must I really, my Lord? Can't I get out of it? Well, if I must, I must, only let me think it over; a man can't make up his mind like that all in a minute!"

"Why, what in the world are you waiting for?"

"Only to know which will come out on top!"

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, you rascal! Do you mean that you have not sense enough to know light from darkness, or the King from his enemies?"

I explained with an air of perfect simplicity that I was not so blinded but that I could tell day from night, but that when it came to the King or the Princes, if I was forced to choose between them,