The King was up on his feet, in a moment.
A great cry of horror went up from the immense crowd round the palace.
The King took a step forward.
Immediately half a dozen strong hands were laid upon him to hold him back.
There, on the balcony, immediately in front of him, in the litter of broken glass from the huge windows, lay the Duke, motionless, at full length, bleeding from a dozen jagged wounds.
A madness, a fury, which culminated in a passionate resentment of the hands that were holding him back, took possession of the King.
Hardly knowing what he did, he struck out, right and left, savagely, viciously, with all his force.
In a moment he was free—
He stepped out on to the balcony.
Led by the tall, grey-haired physician, four or five of the Court officials followed him, hard on his heels, picked up the Duke, and carried him back into the safety of the little room within—