Henri saluted the people gravely; then, turning to the young men, he said, “Anne, lean against the tapestry; it may last a long time.”

“I hope so,” said Catherine.

“You think, then, that Salcede will speak, mother?”

“God will, I trust, give this confusion to our enemies.”

Henri looked doubtful.

“My son,” said Catherine, “do I not see some tumult yonder?”

“What clear sight you have!  I believe you are right.  I have such bad eyes, and yet I am not old.  Yes, here comes Salcede.”

“He fears,” said Catherine; “he will speak.”

“If he has strength,” said the king.  “See, his head falls about like that of a corpse.”

“He is frightful,” said Joyeuse.

“How should a man be handsome whose thoughts are so ugly?  Have I not explained to you, Anne, the secret connection of the physical and the moral, as Hippocrates and Galen understood and expounded them?”

“I admit it, sire, but I am not a good pupil.  I have sometimes seen very ugly men very good soldiers.  Have you not, Henri?” said he, turning to his brother:  but he looked without seeing, and heard without understanding, so the king answered for him.

“Eh, mon Dieu! my dear Anne, who says this man is not brave?  He is brave, pardieu, like a wolf, a bear, or a serpent.  He burned in his house a Norman gentleman, his enemy; he has fought ten duels, and killed three of his adversaries.  He has now been taken in the act of coining, for which he has been condemned to death.”

“That is a well-filled existence, but which will soon finish.”

“On the contrary,” said Catherine, “I trust it will finish as slowly as possible.”

“Madame,” said Joyeuse, “I see those four stout horses, who appear to me so impatient of their state of inactivity that I do not believe in a long resistance of the muscles, tendons, and cartilages of M. de Salcede.”

“Yes, but my son is merciful,” replied she, with the smile peculiar to herself, “and he will tell the men to go gently.”

“But, madame,” said the queen timidly, “I heard you say this morning that there were only to be two draws?”

“Yes, if he conducts himself well; in that case all will be finished as soon as possible, and, as you interest yourself so much in him, you had better let him know as much, my daughter.”

“Madame,” said the queen, “I have not your strength when looking at suffering.”

“Do not look, then.”

The king heard nothing; he was all eyes.  They were lifting Salcede from the car on to the scaffold, round which the archers had cleared a large space, so that it was distinctly visible to all eyes.