she took her
post at his side; on the 25th of September a serious crisis came on; and
he remained for some time "without speaking, or hearing, or seeing."
Marguerite had an altar set up in her chamber; and all the French, of the
household, great lords and domestics, knelt beside the sick man's sister,
and received the communion from the, hands of the Archbishop of Embrun,
who, drawing near the bed, entreated the king to turn his eyes to the
holy sacrament. Francis came out of his lethargy, and asked to
communicate likewise, saying, "God will cure me, soul and body." He
became convalescent, and on the 20th of October he was sufficiently
recovered for Marguerite to leave Madrid, and go and resume negotiations
at Toledo, whither Charles V. had returned.

The day but one after her arrival she wrote to the king, "The emperor
gave me courteous and kind reception, and, after coming to meet me at the
entrance of this house, he used very kind and courteous language to me.
He desired that he and I should be alone in the same room, and one of my
women to keep the door. This evening I will send you word of what has
been done; entreating you, my lord, to put on before Sieur Alancon (the
king's custodian) an air of weakness and weariness, for your debility
will strengthen me and will hasten my despatch, which seems to me slower
than I can tell you; as well for the sake of seeing you liberated, which
you will be by God's help, as of returning and trying whether your dear
hand can be of any use to you." Marguerite was impressed by the
good-will she discovered at the court of Toledo in respect of the King of
France, his liberation, and the establishment of peace; she received from
the people in the streets, as well as from the great lords in their
houses, the most significant proofs of favor. Charles V. took umbrage at
it, and had the Duke of Infantado, amongst others, informed that, if he
wished to please the emperor, neither he nor his sons must speak to
Madame d'Alencon. "But," said she, "I am not tabooed to the ladies, to
whom I will speak double." She contracted a real intimacy with even the
sister of Charles V., Eleanor, widow of the King of Portugal, whom
Charles had promised to the Duke of Bourbon, and between whom and her
brother, King Francis, Marguerite set brewing a marriage, which was not
long deferred. But, in spite of her successes at the court, and even in
the family of the emperor, Marguerite had no illusions tou