The princess, after the votes were counted, rose and solemnly pronounced the judgment of the court. Then each one in turn signed the record of the sitting. First the Duc d'Enghien, poor child, who knew not what he was signing, and whose first signature was to cost the life of a man; then the princess, then the dukes, then the ladies of the council, then the officers and sheriffs. Thus everybody had a share in the reprisals. Nobility and bourgeoisie, army and parliament, everybody must be punished for the act of vengeance. As everybody knows, when all the world in general must be punished, the result is that nobody at all is punished. When the last signature had been appended, the princess, who had her vengeance in her grasp at last, and whose pride was satisfied thereby, went herself and opened the window, which had been opened twice before, and, yielding to her consuming thirst for popularity, exclaimed in a loud voice:-- "Men of Bordeaux, Richon will be avenged, and fitly; rely upon us for that." A shout of joy, like the roar of thunder, welcomed this declaration, and the people scattered through the streets, happy in the anticipation of the spectacle promised by the words of the princess. But Madame de Condé had no sooner returned to her own room with Lenet, who followed her sadly, still hoping to induce her to change her resolution, than the door was thrown open, and Madame de Cambes, pale as death and weeping bitterly, threw herself at her feet. "O madame, in Heaven's name, listen to me!" she cried: "in Heaven's name do not turn me away!" "What's the matter, pray, my child?" inquired the princess. "Why do you weep?" "I weep, madame, because I have learned that the judges voted for death, and that you ratified their vote; and yet, madame, you cannot put Monsieur de Canolles to death." "Why not, my dear, I pray to know? they put Richon to death." "Because, madame, this same Monsieur de Canolles saved your Highness at Chantilly." "Ought I to thank him for being deceived by our stratagem?" "Ah! madame, that's where you are in error; Monsieur de Canolles was not for one instant deceived by the substitution. He recognized me at the first glance." "Recognized you, Claire?" "Yes, madame. We made a part of the journey together; Monsieur de Canolles--Monsieur de Canolles was in love with me; and under those circumstances--Ah! madame, perhaps he did wrong, but it is not for you to reproach him for it,--under those circumstances he sacrificed his duty to his love." "So the man whom you love--" "Yes," said the viscountess. "The man whom you asked my leave to marry--" "Yes." "Was--"