The Forty-Five Guardsmen | Page 8

him know as much, my daughter."
"Madame," said the queen, "I have not your strength when looking at
suffering."
"Do not look, then."
The king heard nothing; he was all eyes. They were lifting Salcede
from the car on to the scaffold, round which the archers had cleared a
large space, so that it was distinctly visible to all eyes.
Salcede was about thirty-five years of age, strong and vigorous; and his
pale features, on which stood drops of blood, were animated alternately
by hope and anguish. He was no vulgar assassin; he was of good birth,
and even distantly related to the queen, and had been a captain of some
renown. Those bound hands had valiantly borne the sword, and that
livid head, on which were depicted the terrors of death, had conceived
great designs. Therefore, to many of the spectators, he was a hero; to
others, a victim; some looked on him as an assassin; but the crowd
seldom despises those very great criminals who are registered in the
book of history as well as in that of justice. Thus they told, in the crowd,

that Salcede was of a race of warriors; that his father had fought against
the Cardinal de Lorraine, but that the son had joined with the Guises to
destroy in Flanders the rising power of the Duc d'Anjou, so hated by
the French.
He had been arrested and conducted to France, and had hoped to be
rescued by the way; but unfortunately for him, M. de Bellièvre had kept
such good watch, that neither Spaniards nor Lorraines, nor leaguers,
had been able to approach. In the prison Salcede hoped; during the
torture, on the car, even on the scaffold, he still hoped. He wanted
neither courage nor resignation; but he was one of those who defend
themselves to their last breath. He darted curious glances toward the
crowd, but constantly turned away, with a look of disappointment.
At this moment, an usher, raising the tapestry of the royal tent,
announced that the president Brisson and four councilors desired the
honor of an instant's conversation with the king on the subject of the
execution.
"Good," said the king. "Mother, you will be satisfied."
"Sire, a favor," said Joyeuse.
"Speak, Joyeuse; and provided it be not the pardon of the criminal--"
"Sire, permit my brother and me to retire."
"What! you take so little interest in my affairs that you wish to retire at
such a moment!"
"Do not say so, sire; all that concerns your majesty profoundly interests
me; but I am of a miserable organization, and the weakest woman is
stronger than I am on this point. I cannot see an execution without
being ill for a week; and as I am the only person who ever laughs at the
Louvre, since my brother--I know not why--has given it up, think what
would become of the Louvre--so sad already--if I were sad also."
"You wish to leave me then, Anne."

"Peste! sire, you are exacting; an execution is a spectacle of which,
unlike me, you are fond. Is not that enough for you, or must you also
enjoy the weakness of your friends?"
"If you will remain, Joyeuse, you will see that it is interesting."
"I do not doubt it, sire; I only think that the interest will be carried to a
point that I cannot bear;" and he turned toward the door.
"Go, then," said Henri, sighing; "my destiny is to live alone."
"Quick! Du Bouchage," said Anne to his brother. "The king says yes
now; but in five minutes he will say no."
"Thanks, my brother," said Bouchage; "I was as anxious as you to get
away."


CHAPTER V.
THE EXECUTION.
The councilors entered.
"Well, gentlemen," said the king, "is there anything new?"
"Sire," replied the president, "we come to beg your majesty to promise
life to the criminal; he has revelations to make, which, on this promise,
we shall obtain."
"But have we not obtained them?"
"Yes, in part; is that enough for your majesty?"
"No," said Catherine; "and the king has determined to postpone the
execution, if the culprit will sign a confession substantiating his

depositions before the judge."
"Yes," said Henri, "and you can let the prisoner know this."
"Your majesty has nothing to add?"
"Only that there must be no variation in the confessions, or I withdraw
my promise; they must be complete."
"Yes, sire; with the names of the compromised parties."
"With all the names."
"Even if they are of high rank?"
"If they were those of my nearest relations."
"It shall be as your majesty wishes."
"No misunderstanding, M. Brisson. Writing materials shall be brought
to the prisoner, and he will write his confessions; after that we shall
see."
"But I may promise?"
"Oh! yes, promise."