forget what I asked of you? This
reliquary will open the doors to you."

"Be easy. Now try to keep your head straight."

La Mole raised his head and turned his eyes towards the little tower.

"Adieu, Marguerite," said he; "bless"--

He never finished. With one blow of his sword, as swift as a stroke of
lightning, Caboche severed the head, which rolled to the feet of
Coconnas.

The body fell back gently as if going to rest.

A great cry rose from thousands of voices, and, among them, it seemed to
Coconnas that he heard a shriek more piercing than all the rest.

"Thank you, my good friend," said Coconnas, and a third time he extended
his hand to the hangman.

"My son," said the priest, "have you nothing to confess to God?"

"Faith no, father," said the Piedmontese; "all that I had to say I said
to you yesterday."

Then turning to Caboche:

"Now, executioner, my last friend, one more favor!"

Before kneeling down he turned on the crowd a glance so calm and serene
that a murmur of admiration rose, which soothed his ear and flattered
his pride. Then, raising the head of his friend and pressing a kiss on
the purple lips, he gave a last look toward the little tower, and
kneeling down, still holding the well-loved head in his hand, he said:

"Now!"

Scarcely had he uttered the word before Caboche had cut off his head.

This done, the poor hangman began to tremble.

"It was time it was over," said he. "Poor fellow!"

And with difficulty he drew from the clinched fingers of La Mole the
reliquary of gold. Then he threw his cloak over the sad remains which
the tumbril was to convey to his own abode.

The spectacle over, the crowd dispersed.

CHAPTER LXI.

THE HEADSMAN'S TOWER.

Night descended over the city, which still trembled at the remembrance
of the execution, the details of which passed from mouth to mouth,
saddening the happy supper hour in every home. In contrast to the city,
which was silent and mournful, the Louvre was noisy, joyous, and
illuminated. There was a grand fete at the palace, a fete ordered by
Charles IX., a fete he had planned for that evening at the very time
that he had ordered the execution for the morning.

The previous evening the Queen of Navarre had received word to be
present, and, in the hope that La Mole and Coconnas would have escaped
during the night, since every measure had been taken for their safety,
she had promised her brother to comply with his wishes.