I know that the burden laid upon me is heavy,and I presume not on my strength,but I trust that the tried experience,of those counsellors to whom my uncle entrusted me,the support of my family,and your warm and sincere friendship above all,my dear cousin,will help me to accomplish my duty.""My sincerest prayer is that you may succeed,my fair cousin,and Iwill not darken with doubts and fears a time that ought to be given up to joy;I will not mingle with the shouts of gladness that rise on all sides to proclaim you queen,any vain regrets over that blind fortune which has placed beside the woman whom we all alike adore,whose single glance would make a man more blest than the angels,a foreigner unworthy of your love and unworthy of your throne.""You forget,Charles,"said the queen,putting out her hand as though to check his words,"Andre is my husband,and it was my grandfather's will that he should reign with me.""Never!"cried the duke indignantly;"he King of Naples!Nay,dream that the town is shaken to its very foundations,that the people rise as one man,that our church bells sound a new Sicilian vespers,before the people of Naples will endure the rule of a handful of wild Hungarian drunkards,a deformed canting monk,a prince detested by them even as you are beloved!""But why is Andre blamed?What has he done?""What has he done?Why is he blamed,madam?The people blame him as stupid,coarse,a savage;the nobles blame him for ignoring their privileges and openly supporting men of obscure birth;and I,madam,"--here he lowered his voice,"I blame him for making you unhappy."Joan shuddered as though a wound had been touched by an unkind hand;but hiding her emotion beneath an appearance of calm,she replied in a voice of perfect indifference--"You must be dreaming,Charles;who has given you leave to suppose Iam unhappy?"
"Do not try to excuse him,'my dear cousin,"replied Charles eagerly;"you will injure yourself without saving him."The queen looked fixedly at her cousin,as though she would read him through and through and find out the meaning of his words;but as she could not give credence to the horrible thought that crossed her mind,she assumed a complete confidence in her cousin's friendship,with a view to discovering his plans,and said carelessly--"Well,Charles,suppose I am not happy,what remedy could you offer me that I might escape my lot?""You ask me that,my dear cousin?Are not all remedies good when you suffer,and when you wish for revenge?""One must fly to those means that are possible.Andre will not readily give up his pretensions:he has a party of his own,and in case of open rupture his brother the King of Hungary may declare war upon us,and bring ruin and desolation upon our kingdom."The Duke of Duras faintly smiled,and his countenance assumed a sinister,expression.
"You do not understand me,"he said.
"Then explain without circumlocution,"said the queen,trying to conceal the convulsive shudder that ran through her limbs.
"Listen,Joan,"said Charles,taking his cousin's hand and laying it upon his heart:"can you feel that dagger?""I can,"said Joan,and she turned pale.
"One word from you--and--"
"Yes?"
"To-morrow you will be free."
"A murder!"cried Joan,recoiling in horror:"then I was not deceived;it is a murder that you have proposed.""It is a necessity,"said the duke calmly:"today I advise;later on you will give your orders.""Enough,wretch!I cannot tell if you are more cowardly or more rash:cowardly,because you reveal a criminal plot feeling sure that I shall never denounce you;rash,because in revealing it to me you cannot tell what witnesses are near to hear it all.""In any case,madam,since I have put myself in your hands,you must perceive that I cannot leave you till I know if I must look upon myself as your friend or as your enemy.""Leave me,"cried Joan,with a disdainful gesture;"you insult your queen.""You forget,my dear cousin,that some day I may very likely have a claim to your kingdom.""Do not force me to have you turned out of this room,"said Joan,advancing towards the door.
"Now do not get excited,my fair cousin;I am going:but at least remember that I offered you my hand and you refused it.Remember what I say at this solemn moment:to-day I am the guilty man;some day perhaps I may be the judge."He went away slowly,twice turning his head,repeating in the language of signs his menacing prophecy.Joan hid her face in her hands,and for a long time remained plunged in dismal reflections;then anger got the better of all her other feelings,and she summoned Dona Cancha,bidding her not to allow anybody to enter,on any pretext whatsoever.
This prohibition was not for the Count of Artois,for the reader will remember that he was in the adjoining room.
