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The gardens and outside courts had been searched for any trace of her； every corner of the castle had been examined； the guards had been threatened with torture； so as to drag the truth from them； no one had seen anything of the princess； and nothing could be found that suggested either flight or abduction。 Joan； struck down by this new blow in the midst of other troubles； was for a time utterly prostrated； then； when she had recovered from her first surprise； she behaved as all people do if despair takes the place of reason： she gave orders for what was already done to be done again； she asked the same questions that could only bring the same answers； and poured forth vain regrets and unjust reproaches。 The news spread through the town； causing the greatest astonishment： there arose a great commotion in the castle； and the members of the regency hastily assembled； while couriers were sent out in every direction； charged to promise 12；000 ducats to whomsoever should discover the place where the princess was concealed。 Proceedings were at once taken against the soldiers who were on guard at the fortress at the time of the disappearance。
Bertrand of Artois drew the queen apart； telling her his suspicions； which fell directly upon Charles of Durazzo； but Joan lost no time in persuading him of the improbability of his hypothesis： first of all； Charles had never once set his foot in Castel Nuovo since the day of his stormy interview with the queen； but had made a point of always leaving Andre by the bridge when he came to the town with him； besides； it had never been noticed； even in the past； that the young duke had spoken to Marie or exchanged looks with her： the result of all attainable evidence was； that no stranger had entered the castle the evening before except a notary named Master Nicholas of Melazzo； an old person； half silly； half fanatical； for whom Tommaso Pace； valet de chambre to the Duke of Calabria； was ready to answer with his life。 Bertrand yielded to the queen's reasoning； and day by day advanced new suggestions； each less probable than the last； to draw his mistress on to feel a hope that he was far from feeling himself。
But a month later； and precisely on the morning of Monday the 30th of April； a strange and unexpected scene took place； an exhibition of boldness transcending all calculations。 The Neapolitan people were stupefied in astonishment； and the grief of Joan and her friends was changed to indignation。 Just as the clock of San Giovanni struck twelve； the gate of the magnificent palace of the Durazzo flung open its folding doors； and there came forth to the sound of trumpets a double file of cavaliers on richly caparisoned horses； with the duke's arms on their shields。 They took up their station round the house to prevent the people outside from disturbing a ceremony which was to take place before the eyes of an immense crowd； assembled suddenly； as by a miracle； upon the square。 At the back of the court stood an altar； and upon the steps lay two crimson velvet cushions embroidered with the fleur…de…lys of France and the ducal crown。 Charles came forward； clad in a dazzling dress； and holding by the hand the queen's sister； the Princess Marie； at that time almost thirteen years of age。 She knelt down timidly on one of the cushions； and when Charles had done the same； the grand almoner of the Duras house asked the young duke solemnly what was his intention in appearing thus humbly before a minister of the Church。 At these words Master Nicholas of Melazzo took his place on the left of the altar； and read in a firm； clear voice； first； the contract of marriage between Charles and Marie； and then the apostolic letters from His Holiness the sovereign pontiff； Clement VI； who in his own name removing all obstacles that might impede the union； such as the age of the young bride and the degrees of affinity between the two parties； authorised his dearly beloved son Charles； Duke of Durazzo and Albania； to take in marriage the most illustrious Marie of Anjou； sister of Joan； Queen of Naples and Jerusalem； and bestowed his benediction on the pair。
The almoner then took the young girl's hand； and placing it in that of Charles； pronounced the prayers of the Church。 Charles； turning half round to the people； said in a loud voice
〃Before God and man； this woman is my wife。〃
〃And this man is my husband；〃 said Marie； trembling。
〃Long live the Duke and Duchess of Durazzo！〃 cried the crowd； clapping their hands。 And the young pair； at once mounting two beautiful horses and followed by their cavaliers and pages； solemnly paraded through the town； and re…entered their palace to the sound of trumpets and cheering。
When this incredible news was brought to the queen； her first feeling was joy at the recovery of her sister； and when Bertrand of Artois was eager to head a band of barons and cavaliers and bent on falling upon the cortege to punish the traitor； Joan put up her hand to stop him with a very mournful look。
〃Alas！〃 she said sadly； 〃it is too late。 They are legally married； for the head of the Churchwho is moreover by my grandfather's will the head of our familyhas granted his permission。 I only pity my poor sister； I pity her for becoming so young the prey of a wretched man who sacrifices her to his own ambition； hoping by this marriage to establish a claim to the throne。 O God！ what a strange fate oppresses the royal house of Anjou！ My father's early death in the midst of his triumphs； my mother's so quickly after； my sister and I； the sole offspring of Charles I； both before we are women grown fallen into the hands of cowardly men； who use us but as the stepping…stones of their ambition！〃 Joan fell back exhausted on her chair； a burning tear trembling on her eyelid。
〃This is the second time；〃 said Bertrand reproachfully； 〃that I have drawn my sword to avenge an insult offered to you； the second time I return it by your orders to the scabbard。 But remember； Joan； the third time will not find me so docile； and then it will not be Robert of Cabane or Charles of Durazzo that I shall strike； but him who is the cause of all your misfortunes。〃
〃Have mercy； Bertrand！ do not you also speak these words； whenever this horrible thought takes hold of me； let me come to you： this threat of bloodshed that is drummed into my ears； this sinister vision that haunts my sight； let me come to you； beloved； and weep upon your bosom； beneath your breath cool my burning fancies； from your eyes draw some little courage to revive my perishing soul。 Come； I am quite unhappy enough without needing to poison the future by an endless remorse。 Tell me rather to forgive and to forget； speak not of hatred and revenge； show me one ray of hope amid the darkness that surrounds me； hold up my wavering feet； and push me not into the abyss。〃
Such altercations as this were repeated as often as any fresh wrong arose from the side of Andre or his party； and in proportion as the attacks made by Bertrand and his friends gained in vehemenceand we must add； in justiceso did Joan's objections weaken。 The Hungarian rule； as it became； more and more arbitrary and unbearable； irritated men's minds to such a point； that the people murmured in secret and the nobles proclaimed aloud their discontent。 Andre's soldiers indulged in a libertinage which would have been intolerable in a conquered city： they were found everywhere brawling in the taverns or rolling about disgustingly drunk in the gutters； and the prince； far from rebuking such orgies； was accused of sharing them himself。 His former tutor； who ought to have felt bound to drag him away from so ignoble a mode of life； rather strove to immerse him in degrading pleasures； so as to keep him out of business matters； without suspecting it； he was hurrying on the denouement of the terrible drama that was being acted behind the scenes at Castel Nuovo。 Robert's widow； Dona Sancha of Aragon； the good and sainted lady whom our readers may possibly have forgotten； as her family had done； seeing that God's anger was hanging over her house； and that no counsels； no tears or prayers of hers could avail to arrest it； after wearing mourning for her husband one whole year； accordin