A broad silk band like a badge of mourning hid one of the man's eyes, showing only the other eye, two prominent cheek-bones, and the curve of a vulture's nose, while a grayish beard covered the lower part of his face. He wore a long thick cloak, beneath which one might have imagined a whole arsenal. Besides this, although it was not the custom of those called to court, he wore at his side a long campaign sword, broad, and with a double blade. One of his hands was hidden beneath his cloak, and never left the handle of a long dagger.
"Ah! you here, monsieur?" said the queen seating herself; "you know that I promised you after Saint Bartholomew, when you rendered us such signal service, not to let you be idle. The opportunity has arisen, or rather I have made it. Thank me, therefore."
"Madame, I humbly thank your majesty," replied the man with the black bandage, in a reserved voice at once low and insolent.
"A fine opportunity; you will not find another such in your whole life. Make the most of it, therefore."
"I am waiting, madame, only after the preamble, I fear"—
"That the commission may not be much? Are not those who wish to advance fond of such commissions? The one of which I speak would be envied by the Tavannes and even by the De Guises."
"Ah! madame," said the man, "believe me, I am at your majesty's orders, whatever they may be."
"In that case, read," said Catharine.
She handed him the parchment. The man read it and grew pale.
"What!" he exclaimed, "an order to arrest the King of Navarre!"