Part 136 (2/2)
”In the meanwhile do not fail to come to my room to-morrow evening.”
”Indeed I will not fail, madame!” said Henry, gallantly kissing the hand of his wife.
With the same caution she had used in coming Marguerite returned to her own apartments.
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE TREATISE ON HUNTING.
Three days had elapsed since the events we have just related. Day was beginning to dawn, but every one was already up and awake at the Louvre as usual on hunting days, when the Duc d'Alencon entered the apartments of the queen mother in answer to the invitation he had received.
Catharine was not in her bedroom; but she had left orders that if her son came he was to wait for her.
At the end of a few minutes she came out of a private closet, to which no one but herself had admission, and in which she carried on her experiments in chemistry. As Catharine entered the room there came either from the closet or from her clothes the penetrating odor of some acrid perfume, and through the open door D'Alencon perceived a thick vapor, as of some burnt aromatic substance, floating in the laboratory like a white cloud.
The duke could not repress a glance of curiosity.
”Yes,” said Catharine de Medicis, ”I have been burning several old parchments which gave out such an offensive smell that I put some juniper into the brazier, hence this odor.”
D'Alencon bowed.
”Well,” said the queen, concealing under the wide sleeves of her dressing-gown her hands, which here and there were stained with reddish spots, ”is there anything new since yesterday?”
”Nothing, mother.”
”Have you seen Henry?”
”Yes.”
”Does he still refuse to leave?”
”Absolutely.”
”The knave!”
”What do you say, madame?”
”I say that he will go.”
”You think so?”
”I am sure of it.”
”Then he will escape us?”
”Yes,” said Catharine.
<script>