the murderers
of Andre destroy one another, like venomous animals shut up in the same
cage.

Catherine of Tarentum, carrying off the treasure she had so gained,
arrived at the court of Naples, proud of her triumph and contemplating
vast schemes. But new troubles had come about in her absence. Charles
of Durazzo, for the last time desiring the queen to give him the duchy of
Calabria, a title which had always belonged to the heir presumptive, and
angered by her refusal, had written to Louis of Hungary, inviting him to
take possession of the kingdom, and promising to help in the enterprise
with all his own forces, and to give up the principal authors of his
brother's death, who till now had escaped justice.

The King of Hungary eagerly accepted these offers, and got ready an army
to avenge Andre's death and proceed to the conquest of Naples. The tears
of his mother Elizabeth and the advice of Friar Robert, the old minister,
who had fled to Buda, confirmed him in his projects of vengeance. He had
already lodged a bitter complaint at the court of Avignon that, while the
inferior assassins had been punished, she who was above all others guilty
had been shamefully let off scot free, and though still stained with her
husband's blood, continued to live a life of debauchery and adultery.
The pope replied soothingly that, so far as it depended upon him, he
would not be found slow to give satisfaction to a lawful grievance; but
the accusation ought to be properly formulated and supported by proof;
that no doubt Joan's conduct during and after her husband's death was
blamable; but His Majesty must consider that the Church of Rome, which
before all things seeks truth and justice, always proceeds with the
utmost circumspection, and in so grave a matter more especially must not
judge by appearances only.

Joan, frightened by the preparations for war, sent ambassadors to the
Florentine Republic, to assert her innocence of the crime imputed to her
by public opinion, and did not hesitate to send excuses even to the
Hungarian court; but Andre's brother replied in a letter laconic and
threatening:--

"Your former disorderly life, the arrogation to yourself of exclusive
power, your neglect to punish your husband's murderers, your marriage to
another husband, moreover your own excuses, are all sufficient proofs
that you were an accomplice in the murder."

Catherine would not be put out of heart by the King of Hungary's threats,
and l