“I cannot prevent it,” said the chancellor; “but I shall record the protest of the queen-mother.”
“Robertet!” called the Duc de Guise.
When Robertet entered, the lieutenant-general pointed to the chancellor.
“I appoint you chancellor of France in the place of that traitor,” he said. “Monsieur de Maille, take Monsieur de l’Hopital and put him in the prison of the Prince de Conde. As for you, madame,” he added, turning to Catherine; “your protest will not be received; you ought to be aware that any such protest must be supported by sufficient force. I act as the faithful subject and loyal servant of king Francois II., my master. Go on, Antoine,” he added, looking at the surgeon.
“Monsieur de Guise,” said l’Hopital; “if you employ violence either upon the king or upon the chancellor of France, remember that enough of the nobility of France are in that hall to rise and arrest you as a traitor.”
“Oh! my lords,” cried the great surgeon; “if you continue these arguments you will soon proclaim Charles IX!—for king Francois is about to die.”
Catherine de’ Medici, absolutely impassive, gazed from the window.
“Well, then, we shall employ force to make ourselves masters of this room,” said the cardinal, advancing to the door.
But when he opened it even he was terrified; the whole house was deserted! The courtiers, certain now of the death of the king, had gone in a body to the king of Navarre.
“Well, go on, perform your duty,” cried Mary Stuart, vehemently, to Ambroise. “I—and you, duchess,” she said to Madame de Guise,—“will protect you.”