"And this lover was"—
"Was King Ladislas, madame."
"Ah, yes!" murmured she; "have you any of the details of this story?"
"I have an old book which mentions it," replied Réné.
"Well, let us go into the other room, and you can show it me."
They left the cell, the door of which Réné closed after him.
"Has your majesty any other orders to give me concerning the sacrifices?"
"No, Réné, I am for the present sufficiently convinced. We will wait till we can secure the head of some criminal, and on the day of the execution you must arrange with the hangman."
Réné bowed in token of obedience, then holding his candle up he let the light fall on the shelves where his books stood, climbed on a chair, took one down, and handed it to the queen.
Catharine opened it.