Taking advantage of the amazement produced on the sentinel by his words and the sound of the pistol-shots, he ran on and disappeared in the Rue du Coq without having received a scratch.
It was at this moment that Catharine stopped the captain of the guards, saying:
"Stay here; I myself will go and see what is the matter."
"But, madame," replied the captain, "the danger your majesty runs compels me to follow you."
"Stay here, monsieur," said Catharine, in a still more imperious tone, "stay here. There is a more powerful protection around kings than the human sword."
The captain remained where he was.
Taking a lamp, Catharine slipped her bare feet into a pair of velvet slippers, left her room, and reaching the corridor, still full of smoke, advanced as impassible and as cold as a shadow towards the apartments of the King of Navarre.
Silence reigned supreme.
Catharine reached the door, crossed the threshold, and first saw Orthon, who had fainted in the antechamber.
"Ah! ah!" said she, "here is the servant; further on we shall probably find the master." She entered the second door.