"That is of the utmost importance," said Ambroise. "Now I can do nothing more here, and I ask your permission to retire, Madame,--still to devote myself to the king, however, and to prepare for my great task." "Go, good Master, go!" said Mary; "and accept in advance my thanks and blessing. Until to-morrow!" "Until to-morrow, Madame," replied Ambrose Paré. "Be of good cheer!" "I shall not cease to pray," said Mary. "And you also, Monsieur le Comte, once more I thank you," she continued, addressing Gabriel. "You are of those of whom Master Paré has spoken, whose devotion to the king has been put to the proof; therefore come to-morrow, I beg you, to give your illustrious friend the moral support of your presence." "I will be here, Madame," said Gabriel, as he withdrew with the surgeon after respectfully saluting the queen and the cardinal. "Yes, and I will be here too," said Catherine de Médicis to herself from her post of observation,--"yes, I will be here; for this Paré is quite capable of saving the king's life with his great skill, and of thus destroying his own party, as well as the prince and myself. The imbecile! But I will be here!" CHAPTER XXXII WELL-GUARDED SLUMBER Catherine de Médicis remained at her post for some time, although none but Mary Stuart and the cardinal were left in the king's chamber; but she neither saw nor heard anything of interest. The queen administered the sleeping-draught to François, who seemed, as Ambroise Paré had promised, to fall at once into a more peaceful slumber. Then everything was still. The cardinal, seated in his chair, was deep in thought; while Mary, on her knees, was pouring out her very soul in prayer. The queen-mother softly withdrew to her own room to imitate the cardinal's reflective mood. If she had remained a few moments longer, however, she would have witnessed a scene quite worthy of herself. Mary Stuart, rising from her knees, said to the cardinal,-- "There is no reason why you should stay to watch with me, dear uncle; for I intend to remain here till the king awakes. Dayelle, the physicians, and the servants in attendance will be quite sufficient for any emergency that can arise; so that you may go and take a little rest. I will send to you if it is necessary." "No," said the cardinal; "the Duc de Guise, who has been delayed by a number of pressing matters, told me that before he retired he would come to learn the latest news of the king, and I promised to await him here. Hark! do I not hear his step now?" "Oh, don't let him make any noise!" cried Mary, rushing to the door to warn Le Balafré. The Duc de Guise entered, pale and excited. He saluted the queen, but in his preoccupation did not think to ask for the king's welfare; he went straight to his brother, and led him aside to a window-recess. "Terrible news!" he began,--"a veritable thunder-stroke!" "In Heaven's name, what is it?" asked the cardinal.