"How long will these feasts last?" one had said. "The Cardinal plays his own game at home—it would be well to return immediately."
"They say he will persuade the King to enforce the Inquisition," the other answered, "so resolute is he to extirpate heresy."
And the two men had looked stern, gloomy, and anxious for guests at a bridal feast, and Rénèe recalled their words with a bitter shudder.
It was the Inquisition that had arrested her father and handed him over to his death; it was the Inquisition that had confiscated his entire property and left her mother and herself dependent on charity.
Her face grew hard and almost fierce.
"Extirpate heresy," she said half aloud. "Well, I will die that way too."
The joy-fires sprang up and the bells and the music blended; presently the stars faded in the light of the risen moon.
St. Batholomew's Day was over and the famous marriage accomplished at last.
CHAPTER V
WILLIAM OF ORANGE
The morrow of the wedding, in the still early hours before the tourneys, mummings, and festivals had begun, while Anne was in the hands of women again being combed, perfumed, and arrayed for the gaieties of the day, the Prince left the town hall unattended and crossed the market square to the handsome residence where his brothers were lodged. Count Louis and Count Adolphus were still abed, weary with dancing and feasting, but Count John was in the great library of the house writing letters. This Nassau was a fine member of his fine race, well-made, alert, with intelligent noble features, though blunter than those of his brothers and too broad for perfect comeliness; his eyes were dark and unusually brilliant, his close hair and moustaches light brown; he had not the great courtliness and magnificence of William nor the singular charm of his younger brother, but he was a very frank, open, high-minded gentleman of a winning appearance, though somewhat grave for his twenty-five years.