Proposed German and English Alliances--Anjou’s Refusal--Treaty with England--Capture of Mons--Defeat of Genlis--Walsingham’s Dispatches--War-Excitement--Deliberations in Council--Charles at Montpipeau--Catherine follows him--Her tears--Increasing influence of Coligny--His Death resolved on--Joan of Navarre in Paris--Her sudden Death--Distrust and Warnings--Coligny’s firmness--Plot and Counterplot--Henry of Navarre enters Paris--The Wedding--Masque at the Hôtel Bourbon--The Admiral’s last Letter--Plot to Assassinate him--The Duchess of Nemours--Maurevel sent for 353 CHAPTER XII. THE ASSASSINATION. [22d, 23d, and 24th August.] Coligny in the Tennis-Court--The Fatal Shot--The King’s Indignation and Threats--Letters to Provincial Governors--Precautions in the City--Interview between Charles and the Admiral--Despair of Catherine and Anjou--The Huguenot Council--Threats of violence--De Pilles and Pardaillan at the Louvre--The Turning-point--Conversation between Catherine and Anjou--Meeting in the Tuileries Garden--Guard sent to Coligny--Scene in the King’s Closet--Catherine’s Argument--De Retz Protests--Charles Yields at last--Guise in the City--Precautions--Anjou and Angoulême ride through Paris--Municipal Arrangements--Charles and La Rochefoucault--Margaret and her sister Claude--Coligny’s last Night 379 CHAPTER XIII. THE FESTIVAL OF BLOOD. [August and September, 1572.] The Huguenot Gentleman Killed--Midnight at the Louvre--Charles still hesitates--The Conspirators at the window--The pistol-shot--Guise recalled too late--Scene at Coligny’s Hotel--The assault and murder--Indignities--Montfauçon--Scene at the Louvre--Queen Margaret’s alarm--Proclamations--Salviati’s letter--List of Atrocities--Death of Ramus and La Place--Charles fires upon the Fugitives--Escape of Montgomery, Sully, Duplessis-Mornay, Caumont--The Miracle of the White Thorn--Charles conscience-stricken--Thanksgiving and Justification--Execution of Briquemaut and Cavaignes--Abjuration of Henry and Condé 404 CHAPTER XIV. MASSACRE IN THE PROVINCES. [August to October, 1572.]