So saying, the cardinal returned to the king’s chamber, followed by the duke. The priest went straight to the queen-mother.
“The papers of Lasagne, the secretary of the Prince de Conde, have been communicated to you, and you now know that the Bourbons are endeavoring to dethrone your son.”
“I know all that,” said Catherine.
“Well, then, will you give orders to arrest the king of Navarre?”
“There is,” she said with dignity, “a lieutenant-general of the kingdom.”
At this instant Francois II. groaned piteously, complaining aloud of the terrible pains in his ear. The physician left the fireplace where he was warming himself, and went to the bedside to examine the king’s head.
“Well, monsieur?” said the Duc de Guise, interrogatively.
“I dare not take upon myself to apply a blister to draw the abscess. Maitre Ambroise has promised to save the king’s life by an operation, and I might thwart it.”
“Let us postpone the treatment till to-morrow morning,” said Catherine, coldly, “and order all the physicians to be present; for we all know the calumnies to which the death of kings gives rise.”
She went to her son and kissed his hand; then she withdrew to her own apartments.