Whereupon a deep prolonged groan arose from the antechamber, like an accompaniment to the psalm which the cardinal murmured: "Cedant iniquitates meæ ad vocem deprecationis meæ."
"Dead," repeated the king, making the sign of the cross as he sat in his fauteuil; "my brother, my brother!"
"The sole heir of the throne of France," murmured Catherine, who, having quitted the bed whereon the corpse was lying, had placed herself beside the only son who now remained to her.
"Oh!" said Henri, "this throne of France is indeed large for a king without issue; the crown is indeed large for a single head. No children! no heirs! Who will succeed me?"
Hardly had he pronounced these words when a loud noise was heard on the staircase and in the apartments.
Nambu hurriedly entered the death chamber, and announced—"His Highness Monseigneur le Duc de Guise."
Struck by this reply to the question which he had addressed to himself, the king turned pale, rose, and looked at his mother. Catherine was paler than her son. At the announcement of the horrible misfortune which mere chance had foretold to his race, she grasped the king's hand, and pressed it, as if to say—
"There lies the danger; but fear nothing, I am near you."
The son and mother, under the influence of the same terror and the same menace, had comprehended each other.
The duke entered, followed by his officers. He entered, holding his head loftily erect, although his eyes ranged from the king to the death-bed of his brother with a glance not free from a certain embarrassment.