you say," said Maurevel, "were I to tell you that the one
you are about to arrest is the King of Navarre himself?"

"I should say, captain, that it is serious business and that without an
order signed by King Charles IX."--

"Read this," said Maurevel.

And drawing from his doublet the order which Catharine had given him he
handed it to the lieutenant.

"Very well," replied the latter after he had read it. "I have nothing
further to say."

"And you are ready?"

"I am ready."

"And you?" continued Maurevel, turning to the other five sbirros.

They all saluted respectfully.

"Listen to me, then, gentlemen," said Maurevel; "this is my plan: two of
you will remain at this door, two at the door of the sleeping-room, and
two will go with me."

"Afterwards?" said the lieutenant.

"Pay close attention to this: we are ordered to prevent the prisoner
from calling out, shouting, or resisting. Any infraction of this order
is to be punished by death."

"Well, well, he has full permission," said the lieutenant to the man
chosen by him to follow Maurevel into the king's room.

"Full," said Maurevel.

"Poor devil of the King of Navarre!" said one of the men. "It was
written above that he should not escape this."

"And here too," said Maurevel, taking Catharine's order from the hands
of the lieutenant and returning it to his breast.

Maurevel inserted the key Catharine had given him into the lock, and
leaving two men at the outer door, as had been agreed on, he entered the
antechamber with the four others.

"Ah! ah!" said Maurevel, hearing the noisy breathing of the sleeper, the
sound of which reached even as far as that, "it seems that we shall find
what we are looking for."

Orthon, thinking it was his master returning, at once started up and
found himself face to face with five armed men in the first chamber.

At sight of the sinister face of Maurevel, who was called the King's
Slayer, the faithful servant sprang back, and placing himself before the
second door:

"Who are you?" said he, "and what do you want?"

"In the King's name," replied Maurevel, "where is your master?"

"My master?"

"Yes, the King of Navarre."

"The King of Navarre is not in his room," said Orthon, barring the door
more than ever, "so you cannot enter."

"Excuses, lies!" said Maurevel. "Come, stand back!"

The Bearnais people are stubborn; this one growled like one of his own
mountain dogs, and far from being intimidated:

"