Asthekingenteredalowerroomofthepalace，whichheusedforaworkshop，hecalledhiscompanion’sattentiontotheforgeandhisimplementswithalaugh。”Idon’tbelieve，”hesaid，”amongallthekingsthatFrancewilleverhave，there’llbeanothertotakepleasureinsuchworkasthat。ButwhenIamreallyking，I’llforgenoswords；theyshallallgobackintotheirscabbards。””Sire，”saidtheComtedeSolern，”thefatiguesoftennisandhunting，yourtoilatthisforge，and——ifImaysayit——love，arechariotswhichthedevilisofferingyoutogetthefastertoSaint-Denis。””Solern，”saidtheking，inapiteoustone，”ifyouknewthefiretheyhaveputintomysoulandbody！nothingcanquenchit。AreyousureofthemenwhoareguardingtheRuggieri？””Assureasofmyself。””Verygood；then，duringthiscomingdayIshalltakemyowncourse。
Thinkofthepropermeansofmakingthearrest，andIwillgiveyoumyfinalordersbyfiveo’clockatMadamedeBelleville’s。”
Asthefirstraysofdawnwerestrugglingwiththelightsoftheworkshop，CharlesIX。，leftalonebythedepartureoftheComtedeSolern，heardthedooroftheapartmentturnonitshinges，andsawhismotherstandingwithinitinthedimlightlikeaphantom。Thoughverynervousandimpressible，thekingdidnotquiver，albeit，underthecircumstancesinwhichhethenstood，thisapparitionhadacertainairofmysteryandhorror。”Monsieur，”shesaid，”youarekillingyourself。””Iamfulfillingmyhoroscope，”herepliedwithabittersmile。”Butyou，madame，youappeartobeasearlyasI。””Wehavebothbeenupallnight，monsieur；butwithverydifferentintentions。Whileyouhavebeenconferringwithyourworstenemiesintheopenfields，concealingyouractsfromyourmother，assistedbyTavannesandtheGondis，withwhomyouhavebeenscouringthetown，I
havebeenreadingdespatcheswhichcontainedtheproofsofaterribleconspiracyinwhichyourbrother，theDucd’Alencon，yourbrother-in-
law，thekingofNavarre，thePrincedeConde，andhalfthenoblesofyourkingdomaretakingpart。Theirpurposeisnothinglessthantotakethecrownfromyourheadandseizeyourperson。Thosegentlemenhavealreadyfiftythousandgoodtroopsbehindthem。””Bah！”exclaimedtheking，incredulously。”YourbrotherhasturnedHuguenot，”shecontinued。”Mybrother！goneovertotheHuguenots！”criedCharles，brandishingthepieceofironwhichheheldinhishand。”Yes；theDucd’Alencon，Huguenotatheart，willsoonbeonebeforetheeyesoftheworld。Yoursister，thequeenofNavarre，hasalmostceasedtoloveyou；shecaresmorefortheDucd’Alencon；shecaresofBussy；andshelovesthatlittleLaMole。””Whataheart！”exclaimedtheking。”ThatlittleLaMole，”wentonthequeen，”wishestomakehimselfagreatmanbygivingFranceakingofhisownstripe。Heispromised，theysay，theplaceofconnetable。””CursethatMargot！”criedtheking。”Thisiswhatcomesofhermarriagewithaheretic。””Hereticornotisofnoconsequence；thetroubleisthat，inspiteofmyadvice，youhavebroughttheheadoftheyoungerbranchtoonearthethronebythatmarriage，andHenri’spurposeisnowtoembroilyouwiththerestandmakeyoukilloneanother。ThehouseofBourbonistheenemyofthehouseofValois；rememberthat，monsieur。Allyoungerbranchesshouldbekeptinastateofpoverty，fortheyarebornconspirators。Itissheerfollytogivethemarmswhentheyhavenone，ortoleavetheminpossessionofarmswhentheyseizethem。Leteveryyoungersonbemadeincapableofdoingharm；thatisthelawofCrowns；theSultansofAsiafollowit。Theproofsofthisconspiracyareinmyroomupstairs，whereIaskedyoutofollowmelastevening，whenyoubademegood-night；butinsteadofdoingso，itseemsyouhadotherplans。Ithereforewaitedforyou。IfwedonottakethepropermeasuresimmediatelyyouwillmeetthefateofCharlestheSimplewithinamonth。””Amonth！”exclaimedtheking，thunderstruckatthecoincidenceofthatperiodwiththedelayaskedforbytheprincesthemselves。”’Inamonthweshallbemasters，’”headdedtohimself，quotingtheirwords。”Madame，”hesaidaloud，”whatareyourproofs？””Theyareunanswerable，monsieur；theycomefrommydaughterMarguerite。Alarmedherselfatthepossibilitiesofsuchacombination，herloveforthethroneoftheValoishasprovedstronger，thistime，thanallherotherloves。Sheasks，asthepriceofherrevelationsthatnothingshallbedonetoLaMole；butthescoundrelseemstomeadangerousvillainwhomwehadbetterberidof，aswellastheComtedeCoconnas，yourbrotherd’Alencon’srighthand。AsforthePrincedeConde，heconsentstoeverything，providedIamthrownintothesea；perhapsthatistheweddingpresenthegivesmeinreturnfortheprettywifeIgavehim！Allthisisaseriousmatter，monsieur。Youtalkofhoroscopes！IknowofthepredictionwhichgivesthethroneoftheValoistotheBourbons，andifwedonottakecareitwillbefulfilled。Donotbeangrywithyoursister；shehasbehavedwellinthisaffair。Myson，”continuedthequeen，afterapause，givingatoneoftendernesstoherwords，”evilpersonsonthesideoftheGuisesaretryingtosowdissensionsbetweenyouandme；