f that fatal
night weighed on the Louvre. They had remained there, without any one
attempting to disturb them. At last, at the first stroke of the bell of
Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, which resounded through all hearts like a
funeral knell, Tavannes entered, and, in the midst of a death-like
silence, announced that King Charles IX. desired to speak to Henry.

It was useless to attempt resistance, and no one thought of it. They
heard the ceilings, galleries, and corridors creaking beneath the feet
of the assembled soldiers, who were in the court-yards, as well as in
the apartments, to the number of two thousand. Henry, after having taken
leave of his friends, whom he was never again to see, followed Tavannes,
who led him to a small gallery next the King's apartments, where he left
him alone, unarmed, and a prey to mistrust.

The King of Navarre counted here alone, minute by minute, two mortal
hours; listening, with increasing alarm, to the sound of the tocsin and
the discharge of fire-arms; seeing through a small window, by the light
of the flames and flambeaux, the refugees and their assassins pass;
understanding nothing of these shrieks of murder, these cries of
distress,--not even suspecting, in spite of his knowledge of Charles
IX., the queen mother, and the Duc de Guise, the horrible drama at this
moment enacting.

Henry had not physical courage, but he had better than that--he had
moral fortitude. Though he feared danger, yet he smiled at it and faced
it; but it was danger in the field of battle--danger in the open
air--danger in the eyes of all, and attended by the noisy harmony of
trumpets and the loud and vibrating beat of drums; but now he was
weaponless, alone, locked in, shut up in a semi-darkness where he could
scarcely see the enemy that might glide toward him, and the weapon that
might be raised to strike him.

These two hours were, perhaps, the most agonizing of his life.

In the hottest of the tumult, and as Henry was beginning to understand
that, in all probability, this was some organized massacre, a captain
came to him, and conducted the prince along a corridor to the King's
rooms. As they approached, the door opened and closed behind them as if
by magic. The captain then led Henry to the King, who was in his armory.

When they entered, the King was seated in a great arm-chair, his two
hands placed on the two arms of the seat, and his head falling on his
chest. At the noise made by their entrance