Jacob knocked twice, and at a word brought in the two Florentines. Marie Touchet was immediately struck by the grand presence which distinguished Lorenzo in the sight of great and small alike. This austere and venerable man, whose silver beard was relieved against an overcoat of black velvet, had a forehead like a marble dome. His severe countenance, with two black eyes that darted points of fire, inspired a thrill as of a genius emerged from the deepest solitude, and all the more impressive because its power was not dulled by contact with other men. It was as the steel of a blade that has not yet been used. Cosmo Ruggieri wore the Court dress of the period. Marie nodded to the King, to show him that he had not exaggerated the picture, and to thank him for introducing her to this extraordinary man. "I should have liked to see the witches too," she whispered. Charles IX., sunk again in brooding, made no reply; he was anxiously nipping off some crumbs of bread that happened to lie on his doublet and hose. "Your science cannot work on the sky, nor compel the sun to shine, Messieurs de Florence," said the King, pointing to the curtains which had been drawn to shut out the gray mist of Paris. "There is no daylight." "Our science, Sire, enables us to make a sky as we will," said Lorenzo Ruggieri. "The weather is always fair for those who work in a laboratory by the light of a furnace." "That is true," said the King.--"Well, father," said he, using a word he was accustomed to employ to old men, "explain to us very clearly the object of your studies." "Who will guarantee us impunity?" "The word of a King!" replied Charles, whose curiosity was greatly excited by this question. Lorenzo Ruggieri seemed to hesitate, and Charles exclaimed: "What checks you? we are alone." "Is the King of France here?" asked the old man. Charles IX. reflected for a moment, then he replied, "No." "But will he not come?" Lorenzo urged. "No," replied Charles, restraining an impulse of rage. The imposing old man took a chair and sat down. Cosmo, amazed at his boldness, dared not imitate his brother. Charles IX. said, with severe irony: "The King is not here, monsieur, but you are in the presence of a lady whose permission you ought to wait for." "The man you see before you, madame," said the grand old man, "is as far above kings as kings are above their subjects, and you shall find me courteous, even when you know my power." Hearing these bold words, spoken with Italian emphasis, Charles and Marie looked at each other and then at Cosmo, who, with his eyes fixed on his brother, seemed to be asking himself, "How will he get himself out of the awkward position we are in?"