ery, where she would not
even have the sad consolation of weeping for a consort who had never
been her husband.

She was still in the same position when Queen Catharine sent to ask if
she would not like to go with her and the whole court on a pious
visitation to the hawthorn of the Cemetery of the Innocents.
Marguerite's first impulse was to refuse to take part in this cavalcade.
But the thought that this excursion might possibly give her a chance to
learn something new about the King of Navarre's fate decided her to go.
So she sent word that if they would have a palfrey ready for her she
would willingly go with their majesties.

Five minutes later a page came to ask if she was ready to go down, for
the procession was preparing to start.

Marguerite warned Gillonne by a gesture to look after the wounded man
and so went downstairs.

The King, the queen mother, Tavannes, and the principal Catholics were
already mounted. Marguerite cast a rapid glance over the group, which
was composed of about a score of persons; the King of Navarre was not of
the party.

Madame de Sauve was there. Marguerite exchanged a glance with her, and
was convinced that her husband's mistress had something to tell her.

They rode down the Rue de l'Astruce and entered into the Rue Saint
Honore. As the populace caught sight of the King, Queen Catharine, and
the principal Catholics they flocked together and followed the
procession like a rising tide, and shouts rent the air.

"_Vive le Roi!_"

"_Vive la Messe._"

"Death to the Huguenots!"

These acclamations were accompanied by the waving of ensanguined swords
and smoking arquebuses, which showed the part each had taken in the
awful work just accomplished.

When they reached the top of the Rue des Prouvelles they met some men
who were dragging a headless carcass. It was the admiral's. The men were
going to hang it by the feet at Montfaucon.

They entered the Cemetery des Saints Innocents by the gate facing the
Rue des Chaps, now known as the Rue des Dechargeurs; the clergy,
notified in advance of the visit of the King and the queen mother, were
waiting for their majesties to make them speeches.

Madame de Sauve took advantage of a moment when Catharine was listening
to one of the discourses to approach the Queen of Navarre, and beg leave
to kiss her hand. Marguerite extended her arm toward her, and Madame de
Sauve, as she kissed the queen's hand, slipped a tiny roll of paper up
her s