human
Oh! mother, the sweet Blessed Virgin has sent help!
gpt
In what manner, child?
human
Here, mother, here! Here is help; here in this very letter that was intended to be my undoing. I cannot wait to thank the Holy Mother.
gpt
What is it, Mary, and where is the help?
human
Listen!
gpt
Listen, listen! Father in this letter first tells the king that he--that is, father, you understand--is going to war with Lorraine--no, with Bourbon. I am wrong again. Father is so constantly warring with some one that I cannot keep track of his enemies--against the Swiss. See, mother, it is the Swiss. He says he will go--will start--will begin the war--no, I am wrong again. I can hardly see the words. He says he will march at the head of a Burgundian army--poor soldiers, I pity them--within three weeks. Ah, how short that time seemed when I heard the letter read an hour ago. How long it is now! I wish he would march to-morrow. Three long weeks!
human
But, my dear, how will that help you? asked the duchess.
gpt
In what manner will--
human
Do not interrupt me, mother, but hear what follows. Father says he will march in three weeks and 'begs that His Majesty of France will _now_ move toward the immediate consummation of the treaty existing between Burgundy and France looking to the marriage of the Princess, Mademoiselle de Burgundy, with the princely Dauphin, son to King Louis.' In that word 'now,' mother, lies my help.
gpt
In what manner does help lie in the word 'now,' child?
human
In this, mother. 'Now' is a little word of three letters, n-o-v. See, mother, the letter 'v' is not perfectly made. We will extend the first prong upward, cross it and make 't' of it, using the second prong as a flourish. Then the letter will read, 'begs that His Majesty of France will _not_ move toward the immediate consummation of the treaty.' What could be more natural than that my father should wish nothing of importance to occur until after this war with Switzerland is over? The French king, of course, will answer that he will not move in the matter, and his letter will throw father into a delightful frenzy of rage. It may even induce him to declare war against France, and to break off the treaty of marriage when he returns from Switzerland. He has often done battle for a lesser cause. It will at least prevent the marriage for the present. It may prevent it forever.
gpt
Surely that cannot be; King Louis will immediately explain the mistake to your father,
human
But father, you know, will not listen to an explanation if he fears it may avert blows, returned Yolanda;
gpt
Mary, you frighten me, said the duchess.
human
If we should be discovered in changing this letter, I do believe your father would kill us. I do not know that it would be right to make the alteration. It would be forgery, and that, you know, is a crime punishable by death.
gpt
said Mary.
human
You must have no part in this transaction, mother. Father would not kill me; I am too valuable as a chattel of trade. With my poor little self he can buy the good-will of kings and princes. I am more potent than all his gold. This alteration can be no sin; it is self-defence. Think how small it is, mother. It is only a matter of the crossing of a 't.' But I care not how great the crime may be; I believe, mother, I would commit murder to save myself from the fate father wishes to put upon me.
gpt
You frighten me, child, said Margaret.
human
I tremble in terror at what you propose to do.
gpt
I, too, am trembling, mother, sighed Yolanda,
human
No, I will remain, said the duchess.
gpt
I almost believe that you are right, and that the Virgin has prompted you to do this to save yourself.
human
I know she has, answered Yolanda, crossing herself.
gpt
Now leave me. I must waste no more time.
human
I will remain with you, Mary, said Margaret,
gpt
No, mother, you shall not touch it, cried Yolanda, snatching the parchment from the countess and holding it behind her.
human
If I would let you, you could not make the alteration; see, your hand trembles! You would blot the parchment and spoil all this fine plan of mine. Give me the quill, mother! Give me the quill!