g's physician ordered him to perform the operation.

"Cut the head of my son as though it were a plank!--with that horrible
instrument!" cried Catherine de' Medici. "Maitre Ambroise, I will not
permit it."

The physicians were consulting together; but Catherine spoke in so loud
a voice that her words reached, as she intended they should, beyond the
door.

"But, madame, if there is no other way to save him?" said Mary Stuart,
weeping.

"Ambroise," cried Catherine; "remember that your head will answer for
the king's life."

"We are opposed to the treatment suggested by Maitre Ambroise," said the
three physicians. "The king can be saved by injecting through the ear
a remedy which will draw the contents of the abscess through that
passage."

The Duc de Guise, who was watching Catherine's face, suddenly went up to
her and drew her into the recess of the window.

"Madame," he said, "you wish the death of your son; you are in league
with our enemies, and have been since Blois. This morning the Counsellor
Viole told the son of your furrier that the Prince de Conde's head was
about to be cut off. That young man, who, when the question was applied,
persisted in denying all relations with the prince, made a sign of
farewell to him as he passed before the window of his dungeon. You saw
your unhappy accomplice tortured with royal insensibility. You are now
endeavoring to prevent the recovery of your eldest son. Your conduct
forces us to believe that the death of the dauphin, which placed the
crown on your husband's head was not a natural one, and that Montecuculi
was your--"

"Monsieur le chancilier!" cried Catherine, at a sign from whom Madame de
Fiesque opened both sides of the bedroom door.

The company in the hall then saw the scene that was taking place in
the royal chamber: the livid little king, his face half dead, his eyes
sightless, his lips stammering the word "Mary," as he held the hand
of the weeping queen; the Duchesse de Guise motionless, frightened by
Catherine's daring act; the duke and cardinal, also alarmed, keeping
close to the queen-mother and resolving to have her arrested on the spot
by Maille-Breze; lastly, the tall Ambroise Pare, assisted by the king's
physician, holding his instrument in his hand but not daring to begin
the operation, for which composure and total silence were as necessary
as the consent of the other surgeons.

"Monsieur le chancelier," said Catherine, "the Messieurs de Guise wi