“So be it, then.” Chicot installed the monk by the bed, and went downstairs to the host. “M. Bernouillet,” said he, “a great event has taken place in your house.” “What do you mean?” “The hateful royalist, the enemy of our religion upstairs, received to-day a messenger from Rome.” “I know that: it was I who told you.” “Well, our holy father, the Pope, had sent him to this conspirator, who, however, probably did not suspect for what purpose.” “And why did he come?” “Go up-stairs, lift up the bedclothes, look at his neck, and you will see.” “You frighten me.” “I say no more. The Pope did you honor in choosing your house for the scene of his vengeance.” Then Chicot put ten crowns into the hand of the host, and went down to the stable to get out the horses. M. Bernouillet went up and found Gorenflot praying. He looked as directed, and found the wound. “May every enemy of our religion die thus,” said he to Gorenflot. “Amen,” replied the monk. These events passed about the same time that Bussy brought the Baron de Méridor back to his daughter. CHAPTER XXXIII. HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD. The month of April had arrived. The great cathedral of Chartres was hung with white, and the king was standing barefooted in the nave. The religious ceremonies, which were for the purpose of praying for an heir to the throne of France, were just finishing, when Henri, in the midst of the general silence, heard what seemed to him a stifled laugh. He turned round to see if Chicot were there, for he thought no one else would have dared to laugh at such a time. It was not, however, Chicot who had laughed at the sight of the two chemises of the Holy Virgin which were said to have such a prolific power, and which were just being drawn from their golden box; but it was a cavalier who had just stopped at the door of the church, and who was making his way with his muddy boots through the crowd of courtiers in their penitents’ robes and sacks. Seeing the king turn, he stopped for a moment, and Henri, irritated at seeing him arrive thus, threw an angry glance at him. The newcomer, however, continued to advance until he reached the velvet chair of M. le Duc d’Anjou, by which he knelt down. He, turning round, said, “Bussy!” “Good morning, monseigneur.” “Are you mad?” “Why so?” “To come here to see this nonsense.” “Monseigneur, I wish to speak to you at once.” “Where have you been for the last three weeks?” “That is just what I have to tell you.” “Well, you must wait until we leave the church.” “So much the worse.” “Patience, here is the end.” Indeed, the king was putting on one of these chemises, and the queen another. Then they all knelt down, and afterwards the king, taking off his holy tunic, left the church. “Now, monseigneur,” said Bussy, “shall we go to your house?” “Yes, at once, if you have anything to tell me.” “Plenty of things which you do not expect.”