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But ennui was the curse of his life; he was ennuyé now, and was wondering if any one would come and amuse him, when M. le Duc d'Epernon was announced. Henri was delighted. "Ah! good-evening, duke; I am enchanted to see you. Why were you not present at the execution of Salcede? I told you there would be room in my box." "Sire, I was unable to avail myself of your majesty's kindness." "Unable?"
"Monsieur," said the Lieutenant Tanchon to him politely, "will it please you to address the people?" and added in a whisper, "a confession will save your life." Salcede looked earnestly at him, as though to read the truth in his eyes. "You see," continued Tanchon, "they abandon you. There is no other hope in the world but what I offer you."
Henri looked doubtful. "My son," said Catherine, "do I not see some tumult yonder?" "What clear sight you have! I believe you are right. I have such bad eyes, and yet I am not old. Yes, here comes Salcede." "He fears," said Catherine; "he will speak." "If he has strength," said the king. "See, his head falls about like that of a corpse." "He is frightful," said Joyeuse.
About a month before the execution of Salcede, the host and hostess, all of whose rooms were then empty, were looking out of the window, sadly, and were watching the exercises of some soldiery on the Pre-aux-Clercs, when they saw an officer, followed by a single soldier, advancing toward their hotel. He was about to pass, when the host called out loudly "Oh! wife, what a beautiful horse!"
"They tried to carry off the criminal." "I did not see that." "It is the rumor all through the city, however." "A groundless one." "I believe your majesty is wrong." "On what do you found your belief?" "Because Salcede denied before the people what he had confessed to the judges." "Ah! you know that, already." "I try to know all that interests your majesty."
"Yes, monsieur." "Who was it?" "Salcede." "Oh! oh!" cried all. "But where is she?" cried Bussy. "Has she disappeared? how did you know she was here?" "Because I accompanied her to the Porte St. Antoine." "I heard that they had shut the gates." "Yes, they had." "Then, how did she pass." "In her own fashion.
But it was too late; the head of Salcede fell helplessly on one side, he glanced once more to where he had seen the page, and then expired. Tanchon gave some rapid orders to his archers, who plunged into the crowd in the direction indicated by Salcede's glance. "I am discovered!" said the page to Ernanton. "For pity's sake, aid me! they come, they come!" "What do you want?" "To fly!
"Excuse me, monsieur, if I insist, but it is not I who invent, for it appears that Salcede has confessed." "Where? before the judges?" "No, monsieur; at the torture." "They asserted that he did, but they do not repeat what he said." "Excuse me again, monsieur, but they do." "And what did he say?" cried the cavalier impatiently. "As you seem so well informed, what were his words?"
"M. de Guise tried to have you assassinated, monseigneur; Salcede confessed it at the torture, and, if I mistake not, he plays a great part in all this, and he will be delighted to see you receive a check before Antwerp, or even perhaps to obtain, for nothing, that death of a son of France, for which he had promised to pay so dearly to Salcede.
Each of them produced the seal of Cleopatra's head, and were received with all sorts of courtesies, especially the young man with the lackeys. Nevertheless, excepting this young man, they all seemed timid and preoccupied. Most of them dispersed, however, until supper-time, either to swell the crowd at the execution of Salcede, or to see Paris. About two o'clock, others began to arrive.
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