ng. But, in face of the
assembled States-general, and threatened by a battle with Montmorency,
the Balafre declared the circumstances unfavorable; he refused, against
his brother's utmost urgency, to arrest the king of Navarre, the
queen-mother, l'Hopital, the Cardinal de Tournon, the Gondis, Ruggiero,
and Birago, objecting that such violent measures would bring on a
general rebellion. He postponed the cardinal's scheme until the fate of
Francois II. should be determined.

The deepest silence reigned in the king's chamber. Catherine,
accompanied by Madame de Fiesque, went to the bedside and gazed at her
son with a semblance of grief that was admirably simulated. She put
her handkerchief to her eyes and walked to the window where Madame de
Fiesque brought her a seat. Thence she could see into the courtyard.

It had been agreed between Catherine and the Cardinal de Tournon that
if the Connetable should successfully enter the town the cardinal would
come to the king's house with the two Gondis; if otherwise, he would
come alone. At nine in the morning the duke and cardinal, followed
by their gentlemen, who remained in the hall, entered the king's
bedroom,--the captain on duty having informed them that Ambroise Pare
had arrived, together with Chapelain and three other physicians, who
hated Pare and were all in the queen-mother's interests.

A few moments later and the great hall of the Bailliage presented much
the same aspect as that of the Salle des gardes at Blois on the day when
Christophe was put to the torture and the Duc de Guise was proclaimed
lieutenant-governor of the kingdom,--with the single exception that
whereas love and joy overflowed the royal chamber and the Guises
triumphed, death and mourning now reigned within that darkened room, and
the Guises felt that power was slipping through their fingers. The maids
of honor of the two queens were again in their separate camps on either
side of the fireplace, in which glowed a monstrous fire. The hall was
filled with courtiers. The news--spread about, no one knew how--of some
daring operation contemplated by Ambroise Pare to save the king's life,
had brought back the lords and gentlemen who had deserted the house the
day before. The outer staircase and courtyard were filled by an anxious
crowd. The scaffold erected during the night for the Prince de Conde
opposite to the convent of the Recollets, had amazed and startled the
whole nobility. All present spoke in a l