in on a line with the knees and the ankles.
The choice of these places where there is little flesh, and where,
consequently, the wedge could only be forced in by crushing the bones,
made this form of torture, called the "question," horribly painful. In
the "ordinary question" four wedges were driven in,--two at the knees,
two at the ankles; but in the "extraordinary question" the number was
increased to eight, provided the doctor certified that the prisoner's
vitality was not exhausted. At the time of which we write the "boots"
were also applied in the same manner to the hands and wrists; but,
being pressed for time, the cardinal, the lieutenant-general, and the
chancellor spared Christophe that additional suffering.

The _proces verbal_ was begun; the provost dictated a few sentences as
he walked up and down with a meditative air, asking Christophe his name,
baptismal name, age, and profession; then he inquired the name of the
person from whom he had received the papers he had given to the queen.

"From the minister Chaudieu," answered Christophe.

"Where did he give them to you?"

"In Paris."

"In giving them to you he must have told you whether the queen-mother
would receive you with pleasure?"

"He told me nothing of that kind," said Christophe. "He merely asked me
to give them to Queen Catherine secretly."

"You must have seen Chaudieu frequently, or he would not have known that
you were going to Blois."

"The minister did not know from me that in carrying furs to the queen
I was also to ask on my father's behalf for the money the queen-mother
owes him; and I did not have time to ask the minister who had told him
of it."

"But these papers, which were given to you without being sealed or
enveloped, contained a treaty between the rebels and Queen Catherine.
You must have seen that they exposed you to the punishment of all those
who assist in a rebellion."

"Yes."

"The persons who persuaded you to this act of high treason must have
promised you rewards and the protection of the queen-mother."

"I did it out of attachment to Chaudieu, the only person whom I saw in
the matter."

"Do you persist in saying you did not see the Prince de Conde?"

"Yes."

"The Prince de Conde did not tell you that the queen-mother was inclined
to enter into his views against the Messieurs de Guise?"

"I did not see him."

"Take care! one of your accomplices, La Renaudie, has been arrested.
Strong as he is, he was no