ame, and you shall judge for yourself."

"Well, then, Carlotta, since you are ready to sacrifice yourself in my
service, you must still continue for my sake to be in love with the King
of Navarre and, above all, to be very jealous,--jealous as an Italian
woman."

"But, madame," asked Charlotte, "how does an Italian woman show her
jealousy?"

"I will tell you," replied Catharine, and after nodding her head two or
three times she left the room as deliberately and noiselessly as she had
come in.

Charlotte, confused by the keen look of those eyes dilated like a cat's
or a panther's without thereby losing anything of their inscrutability,
allowed her to go without uttering a single word, without even letting
her breathing be heard, and she did not even take a respiration until
she heard the door close behind her and Dariole came to say that the
terrible apparition had departed.

"Dariole," said she, "draw up an armchair close to my bed and spend the
night in it. I beg you to do so, for I should not dare to stay alone."

Dariole obeyed; but in spite of the company of her faithful attendant,
who stayed near her, in spite of the light from the lamp which she
commanded to be left burning for the sake of greater tranquillity,
Madame de Sauve also did not fall asleep till daylight, so insistently
rang in her ears the metallic accent of Catharine's voice.

* * * * *

Though Marguerite had not fallen asleep till daybreak she awoke at the
first blast of the trumpets, at the first barking of the dogs. She
instantly arose and began to put on a costume so negligent that it could
not fail to attract attention. Then she summoned her women, and had the
gentlemen ordinarily in attendance on the King of Navarre shown into her
antechamber, and finally opening the door which shut Henry and De la
Mole into the same room, she gave the count an affectionate glance and
addressing her husband she said:

"Come, sire, it is not sufficient to have made madame my mother believe
in what is not; it still remains for you to convince your whole court
that a perfect understanding exists between us. But make yourself quite
easy," added she, laughing, "and remember my words, rendered almost
solemn by the circumstances. To-day will be the last time that I shall
put your majesty to such a cruel test."

The King of Navarre smiled and ordered his gentlemen to be admitted.

Just as they were bowing to him he pretended s