"I am ready."
"And you?" continued Maurevel, turning to the other five sbirros.
They all saluted respectfully.
"Listen to me, then, gentlemen," said Maurevel; "this is my plan: two of you will remain at this door, two at the door of the sleeping-room, and two will go with me."
"Afterwards?" said the lieutenant.
"Pay close attention to this: we are ordered to prevent the prisoner from calling out, shouting, or resisting. Any infraction of this order is to be punished by death."
"Well, well, he has full permission," said the lieutenant to the man chosen by him to follow Maurevel into the king's room.
"Full," said Maurevel.
"Poor devil of the King of Navarre!" said one of the men. "It was written above that he should not escape this."
"And here too," said Maurevel, taking Catharine's order from the hands of the lieutenant and returning it to his breast.