"Sire," cried the king of Navarre, firmly, "Heaven pardon me for saying such a thing! but most persons would say I was undergoing an examination."

“And if it were so, how would you answer?”

"That I am a king like yourself," replied Henry, proudly, "for it is not the crown but birth that confers royalty; and that though I would cheerfully answer any questions asked by my friend and brother, I should peremptorily refuse to reply to my judge."

"I only wish," muttered Charles, "that for once in my life I could hit upon what it was right to do."

"M. de Mouy is doubtless among those persons secured," cried the duke d'Alençon; "let him be brought before your majesty, we shall then know all we require."

"Is M. de Mouy among the prisoners ?" inquired the king.

Henry felt a momentary uneasiness, and exchanged glances with Marguerite; but it was quickly dispersed.

No voice answered to the inquiry after de Mouy.

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"That individual is not among the parties arrested," said M. de Nancey; some of my men fancy they saw him, but no one is certain on the subject."

An oath escaped from the lips of d'Alençon.

"Ha!" cried Marguerite, pointing to la Mole and Coconnas, who had heard all that had passed, and on whose wit and intelligence she felt sure she might reckon-"here, sire, are two gentlemen in the service of M. d'Alençon; question them-they will reply to you."

The duke felt the blow.

"I had them arrested purposely, to be enabled to prove that they neither of them belonged to me," answered the duke.

The king contemplated the two friends, and started at seeing la Mole again.

"What! that Provençal here?" said he, frowning.
Coconnas bowed most respectfully.

"What were you doing when you were arrested?" asked Charles.

"Sire, myself and friend. were busily engaged planning deeds of love and war."

"What, with horses ready saddled, armed to the teeth, and every preparation made for flight?"

"Not so, sire! replied Coconnas; "your majesty is misinformed on this subject: we were lying beneath a sheltering beech, sub tegmine fagi, and might easily have ridden away had we entertained the slightest suspicion that we had been so unfortunate as to offend your majesty. Now, gentlemen," continued he, turning towards the light horsemen—“ candidly and fairly, on your honour as soldiers, could we, or could we not have escaped, had such been our desire?"

say,

"Truth compels me to declare," answered the lieutenant, "that neither of these cavaliers made the slightest attempt at flight."

"Because in all probability their horses were too far off," chimed in the duke d'Alençon.

"Your pardon, my lord duke,” responded Coconnas, “but our horses could scarcely be nearer than they were; I being upon mine, and M. de la Mole holding his, in the very act of mounting."

"Is this correct?" inquired the king.

"Perfectly so,” replied the lieutenant, “and more; upon seeing us approach, M. de Coconnas got off his horse.

Coconnas looked at the king with a sort of grim smile that seemed to say "There, you see!"

"But what did all those led horses, those mules laden with cases and packages, signify then," demanded François.

"How can we tell you," replied Coconnas, "we are neither grooms nor squires; ask these questions of the varlet who had charge of them."

"He is not to be found!" exclaimed the duke, almost frantic with rage.

"Most likely he was frightened, and ran away," retorted Coconnas; 66 one cannot expect a clown to have the notions or manners of a gentleman."

"Still the same system," said d'Alençon, gnashing his teeth: "fortunately, sire, I told you beforehand that neither of these persons had been in my service for some days past."

"Is it possible," cried Coconnas, “that I have the misfortune no longer to form part of your highness's retinue?" "Morbleu! monsieur, why affect ignorance on this sub

ject, when you yourself gave in your dismissal in a letter so impertinent that I have thought proper to preserve it, and happily have it about me."

"I confess," said Coconnas, "I had flattered myself with the hope of being forgiven for writing that letter, under the first influence of vexation at learning that your highness had endeavoured to strangle my friend la Mole in one of the corridors of the Louvre.'

"What is that he says?" interrupted the king.

"At first I thought your highness was alone in the affair; but afterwards I learned that three other persons

"Silence!" exclaimed Charles, "we have heard enough." Then turning to the king of Navarre, he said, "Henry, your word not to escape?"

"I give it to your majesty."

"Return to Paris with M. de Nancey, and remain in your chamber under arrest. As for you, messieurs," continued he, speaking to the two friends, "give up your swords."

La Mole looked at Marguerite, who smiled; the young man immediately delivered his sword to the nearest officer, Coconnas following his friend's example.

"Has M. de Mouy been found?" inquired the king.

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No, sire," answered M. de Nancey; "either he was not in the forest, or he has escaped."

"So much the worse," rejoined Charles; "but let us return to Paris. I am cold, and my head seems dizzy."

"Tis anger that excites you, sire," observed François. "It may be; but my eyes seem troubled. Where are the prisoners? I cannot distinguish anything. Is it so soon dark? Oh, mercy! help-help-I die!-I die!"

So saying, the unfortunate king let go the reins of his horse, and fell backwards, wildly stretching forth his hands; while his terrified courtiers, alarmed at this sudden seizure, prevented him from falling.

Standing apart from the clustering nobles, François wiped the cold drops from his brow; for he alone of all the company knew the cause of Charles's violent attack.

The king was now quite insensible. A litter was brought, and he being extended on it, was covered with a cloak taken from the shoulders of one of his attendants.

The melancholy procession then proceeded towards Paris, in a very different frame of mind to that in which it had departed thence in the morning. Then, a merry jocund party had set forth, consisting of conspirators whose hearts beat high with hope, and a joyous monarch, promising himself many such days of princely enjoyment: their return displayed a dying king surrounded by rebel prisoners.

Marguerite, who throughout all this had not for an instant lost her self-possession, gave her husband a look of intelligence, then passing so close to la Mole that he was enabled to catch the two brief words she uttered, she said—

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"Mé deide." (Fear nothing.)

"Now, gentlemen," exclaimed the captain of light horse, we are ready to start.

“Would it be a liberty," inquired Coconnas, "to ask where we are going to?"

"I believe to Vincennes," replied the lieutenant.

"I would rather be going anywhere else," answered Coconnas; "but people are sometimes obliged to do things against their will."

The king recovered his senses during the journey, and even a portion of his strength: he declared himself equal to remounting his horse, but that was not permitted.

"Let maître Ambroise Paré be immediately summoned," said Charles, as he reached the Louvre. Then descending from his litter, he walked slowly towards his apartments, leaning on the arm of Tavannes, and strictly forbidding any persons following him.

All had observed his extreme gravity of look and manner. During the journey homewards, he had appeared lost in reflection, not addressing a word to those around him. Still it was evident, that the recently-discovered conspiracy formed no part of his thoughts, but that he was solely occupied with his own illness-a malady so strange, so sudden and severe, and the symptoms of which reminded the spectators of those visible in the last sickness of François II.

Arrived at his chamber, Charles seated himself on a species of chaise-longue, and supported his head on the cushions: then reflecting that there might be some little delay ere the arrival of maître Ambroise Paré, he determined to employ

the intermediate space as well as he could. He clapped his hands--a guard appeared.

"Let the king of Navarre be informed I desire to speak with him," said Charles.

The man bowed, and departed.

Again was the king visited by a repetition of the distressing sufferings he had previously undergone; his head fell back; his ideas seemed crowded and confused, till he could not separate one from the other; a sort of blood-coloured vapour seemed to float before his eyes; his mouth was parched, and he fruitlessly sought to slake the burning thirst by which he was consumed by swallowing the contents of a carafe of water.

During the almost lethargic state into which Charles had sunk, a sudden noise was heard of approaching footsteps; the door rolled back on its hinges, and Henry stood before him.

"You sent for me, sire," said he. "I am here."

The sound of the well-known voice effectively roused Charles, who, raising his languid head mechanically, held out his hand to Henry.

"Sire," observed Henry, whose arms hung beside him, without any attempt to imitate the offered cordiality on the part of the king, "your majesty forgets that I am no longer your brother, but your prisoner."

"True, true," answered Charles, "and I thank you for having reminded me of it; but was there not also some promise on your part, when we last spoke together, to answer me candidly whatever questions I might put to you?"

"I did so pledge myself to your majesty, and I am ready to keep my word."

The king poured some water into the palm of his hand, and applied it to his temples.

"First, then," said he, "tell me truly, Henry, how much of the charge brought against you by the duke d'Alençon is correct?"

"Half of it. It was M. d'Alençon who was to have fled. and I who was to have accompanied him.”

"And why should you have done so, Henry? Are you dissatisfied with my conduct towards you?"