k upon the door, and shouts of "Navarre! Navarre!" Her attendant,
supposing it to be Henry himself, hastily opened the door; when there
rushed in instead, a Huguenot nobleman, the Viscount de Leran,[1004]
wounded in the arm by sword and halberd, and pursued by four archers. In
his terror he threw himself on Margaret's bed, and when she jumped up, in
doubt of what could be the meaning of this strange incident, he clung to
her night-dress which was drenched with his blood. Nancay angrily
reproved the indiscretion of his soldiers, and Margaret, leaving the
Huguenot in her room to have his wounds dressed, suffered herself to be
conducted to the chamber of her sister, the Duchess of Lorraine. It was
but a few steps; but, on the way, a Huguenot was killed at three paces'
distance from her, and two others--the first gentleman of the King of
Navarre, and his first valet-de-chambre--ran to her imploring her to save
their lives. She sought and obtained the favor on her knees before
Catharine and Charles.[1005] A few other Huguenots who were in the Louvre
were ready to purchase their lives at any price, even to that of abjuring
their faith. They obtained pardon on promising the king to comply with all
his commands; and this, we are told, "the more easily, as Charles very
well knew that they had little or no religion."[1006]

[Sidenote: Navarre and Conde spared.]

The King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde were spared, although there
were not wanting those who would gladly have seen the ruin of the family
of Bourbon. Navarre was brother-in-law of Charles, and Conde of the Duke
of Nevers; this may have guaranteed their safety. Both of the young
princes, however, were summoned into the king's presence, where Charles,
acknowledging the murder of Coligny, the great cause of disturbances, and
the similar acts then perpetrated throughout the city, as sanctioned by
his authority, sternly told the two youths that he intended no longer to
tolerate two religions in his dominions. He desired them, therefore, to
conform to that creed which had been professed by all his predecessors,
and which he intended to uphold. They must renounce the profane doctrines
they had embraced, and return to the Catholic and Roman religion. If they
refused, they must expect to suffer the treatment which had just been
experienced by so many others.[1007]

The replies of the two princes were singularly unlike. Henry of Navarre,
bold enough where only physical brav