ng in
violence. There had been such a wholesale butchery of the Huguenots that
their number was greatly reduced. The larger part were dead; many had
fled; a few had remained in concealment. Occasionally a great outcry
arose in one district or another; it meant that one of these was
discovered. Then the execution was either private or public according as
the victim was driven into a corner or could escape. In such
circumstances it furnished great amusement for the neighborhood where
the affair took place; for instead of growing calmer as their enemies
were annihilated, the Catholics grew more and more ferocious; the fewer
the remaining victims, the more bloodthirsty they seemed in their
persecution of the rest.

Charles IX. had taken great pleasure in hunting the Huguenots, and when
he could no longer continue the chase himself he took delight in the
noise of others hunting them.

One day, returning from playing at mall, which with tennis and hunting
were his favorite amusements, he went to his mother's apartments in high
spirits, followed by his usual train of courtiers.

"Mother," he said, embracing the Florentine, who, observing his joy, was
already trying to detect its cause; "mother, good news! _Mort de tous
les diables!_ Do you know that the admiral's illustrious carcass which
it was said was lost has been found?"

"Aha!" said Catharine.

"Oh, heavens! yes. You thought as I did, mother, the dogs had eaten a
wedding dinner off him, but it was not so. My people, my dear people, my
good people, had a clever idea and have hung the admiral up at the
gibbet of Montfaucon.

"_Du haut en bas Gaspard on a jete,_
_Et puis de bas en haut on l'a monte_."[3]

"Well!" said Catharine.

"Well, good mother," replied Charles IX., "I have a strong desire to
see him again, dear old man, now I know he is really dead. It is very
fine weather and everything seems to be blooming to-day. The air is full
of life and perfume, and I feel better than I ever did. If you like,
mother, we will get on horseback and go to Montfaucon."

"Willingly, my son," said Catharine, "if I had not made an appointment
which I cannot defer; and beside, to pay a visit to a man of such
importance as the admiral, we should invite the whole court. It will be
an occasion for observers to make curious observations. We shall see who
comes and who stays away."

"Faith, you are right, mother, we will put it off till to-morrow; that
will be better, s