The king was obliged to unbutton his doublet. It seemed as though
joy would suffocate him.
"Name them!" commanded he.
"He dares deny the king's supremacy; he calls the Bishop of Rome the
sole head and holy Father of the Church."
"Ah, does he so?" exclaimed the king, laughing. "Well, we shall see
now whether this holy Father will save this faithful son from the
scaffold which we will erect for him. Yes, yes, we must give the
world a new example of our incorruptible justice, which overtakes
every one, however high and mighty he may be, and however near our
throne he may stand. Really, really, it grieves our heart to lay low
this oak which we had planted so near our throne, that we might lean
upon it and support ourselves by it; but justice demands this
sacrifice, and we will make it--not in wrath and spite, but only to
meet the sacred and painful duty of our royalty. We have greatly
loved this duke, and it grieves us to tear this love from our
heart."
And with his hand, glittering with jewels, the king wiped from his
eyes the tears which were not there.
"But how?" asked the king, then, after a pause, "will you have the
courage to repeat your accusation publicly before Parliament? Will
you, his wife, and you, his mistress, publicly swear with a sacred
oath to the truth of your declaration?"
"I will do so," said the duchess, solemnly, "for he is no longer my
husband, no longer the father of my children, but simply the enemy
of my king; and to serve him is my most sacred duty.
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