, in a threatening manner.

"Sire, we are not in any danger," replied Lorenzo, tranquilly. "I knew
before I came into this house that I should leave it safely, just as
I know that the king will be evilly disposed to my brother Cosmo a few
weeks hence. My brother may run some danger then, but he will escape it.
If the king reigns by the sword, he also reigns by justice," added the
old man, alluding to the famous motto on a medal struck for Charles IX.

"You know all, and you know that I shall die soon, which is very well,"
said the king, hiding his anger under nervous impatience; "but how will
my brother die,--he whom you say is to be Henri III.?"

"By a violent death."

"And the Duc d'Alencon?"

"He will not reign."

"Then Henri de Bourbon will be king of France?"

"Yes, sire."

"How will he die?"

"By a violent death."

"When I am dead what will become of madame?" asked the king, motioning
to Marie Touchet.

"Madame de Belleville will marry, sire."

"You are imposters!" cried Marie Touchet. "Send them away, sire."

"Dearest, the Ruggieri have my word as a gentleman," replied the king,
smiling. "Will madame have children?" he continued.

"Yes, sire; and madame will live to be more than eighty years old."

"Shall I order them to be hanged?" said the king to his mistress. "But
about my son, the Comte d'Auvergne?" he continued, going into the next
room to fetch the child.

"Why did you tell him I should marry?" said Marie to the two brothers,
the moment they were alone.

"Madame," replied Lorenzo, with dignity, "the king bound us to tell the
truth, and we have told it."

"_Is_ that true?" she exclaimed.

"As true as it is that the governor of the city of Orleans is madly in
love with you."

"But I do not love him," she cried.

"That is true, madame," replied Lorenzo; "but your horoscope declares
that you will marry the man who is in love with you at the present
time."

"Can you not lie a little for my sake?" she said smiling; "for if the
king believes your predictions--"

"Is it not also necessary that he should believe our innocence?"
interrupted Cosmo, with a wily glance at the young favorite. "The
precautions taken against us by the king have made us think during the
time we have spent in your charming jail that the occult sciences have
been traduced to him."

"Do not feel uneasy," replied Marie. "I know him; his suspicions are at
an end."

"We are innocent," said the grand-master of t