"I know it, but the world must believe him guilty. Let your friend die. His death alone can save the honour of our family. I am dying that the secret may be preserved." M. de la Mole, after enduring excruciating tortures at the hand of Catherine, without making any admissions, died on the scaffold. _IV--"The Bourbon Shall Not Reign_!" Before he died Charles showed Catherine the poisoned book, which he had kept under lock and key. "And now burn it, madame. I read this book too much, so fond was I of the chase. And the world must not know the weaknesses of kings. When it is burnt, please summon my brother Henry. I wish to speak to him about the regency." Catherine brought Henry of Navarre to the king, and warned him that if he accepted the regency he was a dead man. Charles, however, though on his death-bed, declared Henry should be regent. "Madame," he said, addressing his mother, "if I had a son he would be king, and you would be regent. In your stead, did you decline, the King of Poland would be regent; and in his stead, D'Alençon. But I have no son, and therefore the throne belongs to D'Anjou, who is absent. To make D'Alençon regent is to invite civil war. I have therefore chosen the fittest person for regent Salute him, madame; salute him, D'Alençon. It is the King of Navarre!" "Never," cried Catherine, "shall my race yield to a foreign one! Never shall a Bourbon reign while a Valois lives!" She left the room, followed by D'Alençon. "Henry," said Charles, "after my death you will be great and powerful. D'Anjou will not leave Poland--they will not let him. D'Alençon is a traitor. You alone are capable of governing. It is not the regency only, but the throne I give you." A stream of blood choked his speech. "The fatal moment is come," said Henry. "Am I to reign, or to live?" "Live, sire!" a voice answered, and Renè appeared. "The queen has sent me to ruin you, but I have faith in your star. It is foretold that you shall be king. Do you know that the King of Poland will be here very soon? He has been summoned by the queen. A messenger has come from Warsaw. You shall be king, but not yet." "What shall I do, then?" "Fly instantly to where your friends wait for you." Henry stooped and kissed his brother's forehead, then disappeared down a secret passage, passed through the postern, and, springing on his horse, galloped off. "He flies! The King of Navarre flies!" cried the sentinels. "Fire on him! Fire!" said the queen. The sentinels levelled their pieces, but the king was out of reach. "He flies!" muttered D'Alençon. "I am king, then!" At the same moment the drawbridge was hastily lowered, and Henry d'Anjou galloped into the court, followed by four knights, crying, "France! France!" "My son!" cried Catherine joyfully. "Am I too late?" said D'Anjou. "No. You are just in time. Listen!"