“Oh, my son, you are not so blasé as I thought!” said Chicot.
“Escaped!” cried Henri, in such a thundering voice that all the gentlemen who were crowded round the window turned in terror. Schomberg tore his hair, Quelus and Maugiron struck themselves like madmen; as for D’Epernon, he had vanished. This sight calmed the king.
“Gently, my son,” said he, laying hold of Maugiron.
“No! mordieu!” cried he, “I will kill myself!” and he knocked his head against the wall.
“Hola! help me to hold him.”
“It would be an easier death to pass your sword through your body!” said Chicot.
“Quelus, my child,” said the king, “you will be as blue as Schomberg when he came out of the indigo.”
Quelus stopped, but Schomberg still continued to tear at his hair.
“Schomberg, Schomberg, a little reason, I beg.”
“It is enough to drive one mad!”