"Very well," said Le Balafré; "with this assurance I will retire, for it is true that I am exhausted. But be cautious!" He said a few consoling words to Mary Stuart, and left the room with as little noise as possible. Meanwhile the cardinal had seated himself at a table, and was making a copy of the decree of the commission, of which he had the original before him. That done, he rose and walked toward the king's bed. But Mary Stuart stood erect in front of him, and stopped him with a gesture. "Where are you going?" said she, in a low tone, but firmly, and with signs of growing anger. "Madame," replied the cardinal, "it is important, indispensable, that the king should sign this paper." "What is most important, and most indispensable, is that the king should rest quietly," said Mary. "Let me have his name at the bottom of this writing, Madame, and I will importune you no more." "But you will awake him," retorted the queen; "and I do not choose that you shall. Besides, he is not capable of holding a pen at this moment." "I will hold it for him," said the cardinal. "I have told you that I will not have it!" replied Mary Stuart, authoritatively. The cardinal stopped a moment, amazed at this obstacle, which he had never dreamed of. Then he continued in his most insinuating tones,-- "Listen to me, Madame,--my dear niece, listen to me; I will tell you what is at stake. You understand very well that I would respect the king's repose if I were not constrained by the most urgent necessity. It is our fortune and yours, our welfare and yours, which are at stake. Understand me. This paper must be signed before daybreak, or we are lost!--lost, I tell you." "That does not concern me," said Mary, calmly. "Indeed it does! Once more I tell you, our ruin is your ruin, child that you are!" "Even so, what does it matter to me?" the queen replied. "Do you suppose I concern myself with your ambition? My ambition is to save my beloved, to preserve his life if I can, and meanwhile to guard his priceless repose. Master Paré constituted me the guardian of the king's slumber. I forbid you to disturb it, Monsieur! Understand me! I forbid you! If the king dies, my royalty dies too!--it is all one to me! But as long as one breath remains in his body, I will defend it against the hateful demands of your intrigues. I have contributed more than I ought, my uncle, to the strengthening of your power and influence when my François was still well and strong; but I take your power from your hands again as soon as I have to concern myself with forcing respect to be shown to what may be the last hours of peace on earth that God will vouchsafe this poor life. The king, Master Paré said, would need to-morrow all of the little strength he has left. No one on earth, on any pretext whatsoever, shall deprive him of one moment of this refreshing slumber." "But when the motive is such an important and urgent one?" said the cardinal.