"
The executioner, sick of his task, saw a movement in the king's
gallery, and fumbled with his axe.
"Monsieur le baron," he said, "I do not want to execute you; a
moment's delay may save you."
All the people again cried, "Mercy!"
"Come!" said the king, "mercy for that poor Castelnau, who saved the
life of the Duc d'Orleans."
The cardinal intentionally misunderstood the king's speech.
"Go on," he motioned to the executioner, and the head of Castelnau
fell at the very moment when the king had pronounced his pardon.
"That head, cardinal, goes to your account," said Catherine de'
Medici.
The day after this dreadful execution the Prince de Conde returned to
Navarre.
The affair produced a great sensation in France and at all the foreign
courts. The torrents of noble blood then shed caused such anguish to
the chancellor Olivier that his honorable mind, perceiving at last the
real end and aim of the Guises disguised under a pretext of defending
religion and the monarchy, felt itself no longer able to make head
against them. Though he was their creature, he was not willing to
sacrifice his duty and the Throne to their ambition; and he withdrew
from his post, suggesting l'Hopital as his rightful successor.
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