CHAPTER III.
Strange Scene at the Archduke's Palace--Henry's Plot frustrated-- His Triumph changed to Despair--Conversation of the Dutch Ambassador with the King--The War determined upon.
It was in the latter part of the Carnival, the Saturday night preceding Shrove Tuesday, 1610.

The winter had been a rigorous one in Brussels, and the snow lay in drifts three feet deep in the streets.

Within and about the splendid palace of Nassau there was much commotion.

Lights and flambeaux were glancing, loud voices, martial music, discharge of pistols and even of artillery were heard together with the trampling of many feet, but there was nothing much resembling the wild revelry or cheerful mummery of that holiday season.

A throng of the great nobles of Belgium with drawn swords and menacing aspect were assembled in the chief apartments, a detachment of the Archduke's mounted body-guard was stationed in the courtyard, and five hundred halberdiers of the burgher guilds kept watch and ward about the palace.
The Prince of Conde, a square-built, athletic young man of middle stature, with regular features, but a sulky expression, deepened at this moment into ferocity, was seen chasing the secretary of the French resident minister out of the courtyard, thwacking him lustily about the shoulders with his drawn sword, and threatening to kill him or any other Frenchman on the spot, should he show himself in that palace.