"
"Let us postpone the treatment till to-morrow morning," said
Catherine, coldly, "and order all the physicians to be present; for we
all know the calumnies to which the death of kings gives rise."
She went to her son and kissed his hand; then she withdrew to her own
apartments.
"With what composure that audacious daughter of a shop-keeper alluded
to the death of the dauphin, poisoned by Montecuculi, one of her own
Italian followers!" said Mary Stuart.
"Mary!" cried the little king, "my grandfather never doubted her
innocence."
"Can we prevent that woman from coming here to-morrow?" said the queen
to her uncles in a low voice.
"What will become of us if the king dies?" returned the cardinal, in a
whisper. "Catherine will shovel us all into his grave."
Thus the question was plainly put between Catherine de' Medici and the
house of Lorraine during that fatal night. The arrival of the
Connetable de Montmorency and the Chancelier de l'Hopital were
distinct indications of rebellion; the morning of the next day would
therefore be decisive.
XII
DEATH OF FRANCOIS II
On the morrow the queen-mother was the first to enter the king's
chamber.
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