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Updated: May 27, 2025
A venerable old man, who might have been taken for the Chancelier de l'Hopital, had the latter not died in the preceding year, now joined the three gentlemen, all four walking rapidly so as to reach a spot where their conference could not be overheard by their attendants. The Comte de Solern followed at a slight distance to keep watch over the king.
The Comte de Solern alone knew the whole of the plan which he was now about to carry out. This devoted friend was also useful to his master, in possessing a body of discreet and affectionate followers, who blindly obeyed his orders.
By ten o'clock no one remained in the hall but a few intimates, the two Gondis, Tavannes, Solern, Birago, the king, and the queen-mother. The king sat plunged in the blackest melancholy. The silence was oppressive. Catherine seemed embarrassed. She wished to leave the room, and waited for the king to escort her to the door; but he still continued obstinately lost in thought.
When they reached it the Comte de Solern, preceding the king, met a man who was evidently on the watch, and with whom he exchanged a few words; the man then retired to a distance.
Coligny was right; my murderers are not among the Huguenots, but in the Louvre. You are either imposters or regicides! Jacob, call Solern." "Sire," said Marie Touchet, "the Ruggieri have your word as a gentleman. You wanted to taste of the fruit of the tree of knowledge; do not complain of its bitterness."
Passing a mirror on her way, she glanced into it and made a sign with her eyes to the two Gondis, which escaped the king's notice, for he was at the moment exchanging looks of intelligence with the Comte de Solern and Villeroy. Tavannes was thoughtful. "Sire," said the latter, coming out of his reverie, "I think you are royally ennuyed; don't you ever amuse yourself now?
"My mother is still on the watch," said Charles to the Comte de Solern. "She has her forge as you have yours," remarked the German. "Dear count, what do you think of a king who is reduced to become a conspirator?" said Charles IX., bitterly, after a pause. "I think, sire, that if you would allow me to fling that woman into the river, as your young cousin said, France would soon be at peace."
These men were the king and the Comte de Solern, who soon reached the banks of the Seine, at a point where a boat and two rowers, carefully selected by de Solern, awaited them. In a very few moments they reached the other shore. "My mother has not gone to bed," cried the king. "She will see us; we chose a bad place for the interview."
"Sire," said the Comte de Solern, "the fatigues of tennis and hunting, your toil at this forge, and if I may say it love, are chariots which the devil is offering you to get the faster to Saint-Denis." "Solern," said the king, in a piteous tone, "if you knew the fire they have put into my soul and body! nothing can quench it. Are you sure of the men who are guarding the Ruggieri?"
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