On this occasion, however, although every preparation had been made, Concini was saved by a mere accident.  He chanced to be delayed as he was about to leave his house, and did not in consequence reach the Louvre until the King had quitted the palace in order to attend mass at the chapel of the Petit Bourbon.  Instead, therefore, of proceeding in the first place to the apartments of his Majesty, as had been anticipated, the Marechal no sooner ascertained that Louis was already gone than he hastened to pay his respects to the Queen-mother, for which purpose he took a different direction.  This unexpected impediment greatly embarrassed the conspirators, who, secure of success, had displayed an extraordinary want of caution.  In addition to his brother M. du Hallier, Vitry had assembled a great number of his friends in the court of the palace, who, although they all wore their cloaks, had nevertheless allowed it to be perceived that they carried pistols in their belts, contrary to the edict forbidding the use of such weapons within the limits of the royal residence.  In compliance with the commands of Louis himself, moreover, the bodyguard were under arms; and the unwonted movement in the immediate vicinity of his apartments was so evident, and withal so threatening in its aspect, that a rumour soon spread through the palace that some serious enterprise was in contemplation.

And meanwhile the young monarch was on his knees before the altar of his God, praying, or seeming to pray; asking that his trespasses might be forgiven as he forgave those who trespassed against him; although he anticipated that before his return to his desecrated palace-home the deed of blood would be accomplished.  Suddenly, however, his devotions were interrupted by the entrance of De Vitry into the chapel, who, approaching De Luynes, whispered to him the tidings of his disappointment.  In another second the lips of the favourite touched the ear of his royal master, to whom he hurriedly murmured—­

“Sire, the man you wot of is now in the apartment of the Queen-mother.  What do you decide?  All is in readiness.”

“Touch him not in her presence as you value your lives,” was the agitated reply; “we shall find him at the Louvre on our return.”

A brief interval of suspense succeeded.  The prelate who had officiated then uttered the final blessing; and as the carriage which contained the King and his favourite entered the palace by one gate, that of Concini quitted it by another.  Inexperienced as he was, however, Louis at once perceived that he was no longer in a position to recede; and hasty orders were issued to Vitry and his friends to accomplish their fatal project on the following day, while the King at the same time secretly commanded that the light horse of his bodyguard, and the members of his household, should be in attendance at an early hour in the morning, as well as a coach and six, at the entrance of the grand gallery.  The pretext for this arrangement was a hunting-party; but its actual intention was to ensure and protect the King’s flight, should his purpose prematurely transpire or prove abortive.  And meanwhile Marie de Medicis slept, wholly unsuspicious of the change which was about to be effected in her fortunes!