The king noticed Diane's incredulous smile, and said,—
"I give you my word."
"Thanks, your Majesty. This is not all, however. You can well afford to give one guarantee more to this poor maniac, who is hurling himself into the abyss before your very eyes. You must be indulgent to those who are about to die. I ask of you no signed writing, which might compromise you,—doubtless, you would refuse it; but here is a Bible, Sire; place your royal hand upon it, and take this oath: 'In exchange for a town of the first class, the recovery of which I shall owe to Gabriel de Montgommery alone, I pledge myself upon the holy gospels to restore Vicomte d'Exmès's father to liberty; and I declare in advance that if I prove false to this oath, said viscount is freed from all allegiance to me and mine. I say that whatever he may do to punish me for my false swearing will be well done, and absolve him before God and man for any crime against my person.' Take that oath, Sire."
"By what right do you ask it of me?" said Henri.
"I told you, Sire, by the right of one who is soon to die."
The king still hesitated; but the duchess with her disdainful smile made a sign to him that he might take the required oath without fear.
She really believed that for the moment Gabriel had lost his reason; and she shrugged her shoulders in pity.
"Very well; I consent," said Henri, with a fatal impulse.
With his hand on the gospel, he repeated the words of the oath which Gabriel dictated.
"At least," said the young man, when the king had done, "this will suffice to spare your remorse. Madame Diane is not the only witness to our new contract, for God also has witnessed it. Now, I have no more time to lose. Adieu, Sire. In two months from now I shall be no longer among the living, or my father will be in my arms."