Besides, there are still three
Valois princes--"
"She is no longer a mother, she is all queen," said the cardinal. "In
my opinion, this is the moment to make an end of her. Vigor, and more
and more vigor! that's my prescription!" he cried.
So saying, the cardinal returned to the king's chamber, followed by
the duke. The priest went straight to the queen-mother.
"The papers of Lasagne, the secretary of the Prince de Conde, have
been communicated to you, and you now know that the Bourbons are
endeavoring to dethrone your son."
"I know all that," said Catherine.
"Well, then, will you give orders to arrest the king of Navarre?"
"There is," she said with dignity, "a lieutenant-general of the
kingdom."
At this instant Francois II. groaned piteously, complaining aloud of
the terrible pains in his ear. The physician left the fireplace where
he was warming himself, and went to the bedside to examine the king's
head.
"Well, monsieur?" said the Duc de Guise, interrogatively.
"I dare not take upon myself to apply a blister to draw the abscess.
Maitre Ambroise has promised to save the king's life by an operation,
and I might thwart it.
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