He had seen that the corridors had been full of soldiers as he had come through them, and that Catholic gentlemen moved among them completely armed. Now he heard a rising commotion outside the walls, with the sound of firearms and cries of pursuit and fear.
He had courage enough, but it was moral rather than physical - less of the body than of the mind. He might smile at open danger, ruling his fear. But this uncertainty, with no more than surmise of the extent of the dreadful truth, gave him the most terrible two hours that his life would know.
Then a captain entered, and led him to the king's armoury, where Charles was sitting, his hands on the arms of the chair, and his head sunk forward. As he raised it, Henry saw that his forehead was beaded with sweat.
"Leave me, Le Chastre," he s
