had I a son, you would be regent, or
in default of you it would be the King of Poland; or in default of him
it would be my brother Francois; but I have no son, and after me the
throne belongs to my brother the Duc d'Anjou, who is absent. As some day
he will claim this throne I do not wish him to find in his place a man
who by almost equal rights might dispute it with him, and who
consequently might expose the kingdom to civil war. This is why I do not
appoint you regent, madame, for you would have to choose between your
two sons, which would be painful for a mother. This is why I do not
choose my brother Francois, for he might say to his elder brother, 'You
had a throne, why did you leave it?' No, I have chosen as regent one who
can take the crown on trust, and who will keep it in his hand and not
on his head. Salute this regent, madame; salute him, brother; it is the
King of Navarre!"

And with a gesture of supreme authority the King himself saluted Henry.

Catharine and D'Alencon made a gesture between a nervous shudder and a
salute.

"Here, my Lord Regent," said Charles to the King of Navarre, "here is
the parchment which, until the return of the King of Poland, gives you
the command of the armies, the keys of the treasury, and the royal power
and authority."

Catharine devoured Henry with her eyes; Francois swayed so that he could
scarcely stand; but this weakness of the one and strength of the other,
instead of encouraging Henry, showed him the danger which threatened
him.

Nevertheless he made a violent effort and overcoming his fears took the
parchment from the hands of the king, raised himself to his full height,
and gave Catharine and Francois a look which meant:

"Take care! I am your master."

"No," said she, "never; never shall my race bow to a foreign one; never
shall a Bourbon reign in France while a Valois remains!"

"Mother," cried Charles IX., sitting up among the crimson sheets of his
bed, more frightful looking than ever, "take care, I am still King. Not
for long, I well know; but it does not take long to give an order; it
does not take long to punish murderers and poisoners."

"Well! give the order, if you dare, and I will give mine! Come,
Francois, come!"

And the queen left the room rapidly, followed by the Duc d'Alencon.

"Nancey!" cried Charles; "Nancey! come here! I order you, Nancey, to
arrest my mother, and my brother, arrest"--

A stream of blood choked his utterance, just as t