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iminals can suffer no worse than Charles in the long hours that passed before that fatal moment when he learned that his mother was indeed guilty。 On the third day the doctor stated on his soul and conscience that Agnes of Durazzo was pregnant。
〃Very good；〃 said Charles； dismissing the doctor with no sign of emotion。
That evening the duchess took a medicine ordered by the doctor； and when； half an hour later； she was assailed with violent pains； the duke was warned that perhaps other physicians ought to be consulted； as the prescription of the ordinary doctor； instead of bringing about an improvement in her state； had only made her worse。
Charles slowly went up to the duchess's room； and sending away all the people who were standing round her bed； on the pretext that they were clumsy and made his mother worse； he shut the door； and they were alone。 The poor Agnes； forgetting her internal agony when she saw her son； pressed his hand tenderly and smiled through her tears。
Charles； pale beneath his bronzed complexion； his forehead moist with a cold sweat； and his eyes horribly dilated； bent over the sick woman and asked her gloomily
〃Are you a little better； mother？〃
〃Ah； I am in pain； in frightful pain； my poor Charles。 I feel as though I have molten lead in my veins。 O my son； call your brothers； so that I may give you all my blessing for the last time； for I cannot hold out long against this pain。 I am burning。 Mercy！ Call a doctor： I know I have been poisoned。〃
Charles did not stir from the bedside。
〃Water！〃 cried the dying woman in a broken voice；〃 water！ A doctor； a confessor！ My childrenI want my children！〃
And as the duke paid no heed； but stood moodily silent； the poor mother； prostrated by pain； fancied that grief had robbed her son of all power of speech or movement； and so； by a desperate effort； sat up； and seizing him by the arm； cried with all the strength she could muster
〃Charles； my son； what is it？ My poor boy； courage； it is nothing； I hope。 But quick； call for help； call a doctor。 Ah； you have no idea of what I suffer。〃
〃Your doctor；〃 said Charles slowly and coldly； each word piercing his mother's heart like a dagger；〃your doctor cannot come。〃
〃Oh why？〃 asked Agnes； stupefied。
〃Because no one ought to live who knows the secret of our shame。〃
〃Unhappy man！〃 she cried； overwhelmed with； pain and terror； 〃you have murdered him！ Perhaps you have poisoned your mother too！ Charles； Charles； have mercy on your own soul！〃
〃It is your doing；〃 said Charles； without show of emotion： 〃you have driven me into crime and despair； you have caused my dishonour in this world and my damnation in the next。〃
〃What are you saying？ My own Charles； have mercy！ Do not let me die in this horrible uncertainty； what fatal delusion is blinding you？ Speak； my son； speak： I am not feeling the poison now。 What have I done？ Of what have I been accused？〃
She looked with haggard eyes at her son： her maternal love still struggled against the awful thought of matricide； at last； seeing that Charles remained speechless in spite of her entreaties； she repeated； with a piercing cry
〃Speak； in God's name； speak before I die！〃
〃Mother； you are with child。〃
〃What！〃 cried Agnes； with a loud cry； which broke her very heart。 〃O God； forgive him！ Charles； your mother forgives and blesses you in death。〃
Charles fell upon her neck； desperately crying for help： he would now have gladly saved her at the cost of his life； but it was too late。 He uttered one cry that came from his heart； and was found stretched out upon his mother's corpse。
Strange comments were made at the court on the death of the Duchess of Durazzo and her doctor's disappearance； but there was no doubt at all that grief and gloom were furrowing wrinkles on Charles's brow； which was already sad enough。 Catherine alone knew the terrible cause of her nephew's depression； for to her it was very plain that the duke at one blow had killed his mother and her physician。 But she had never expected a reaction so sudden and violent in a man who shrank before no crime。 She had thought Charles capable of everything except remorse。 His gloomy； self absorbed silence seemed a bad augury for her plans。 She had desired to cause trouble for him in his own family； so that he might have no time to oppose the marriage of her son with the queen； but she had shot beyond her mark； and Charles； started thus on the terrible path of crime； had now broken through the bonds of his holiest affections； and gave himself up to his bad passions with feverish ardour and a savage desire for revenge。 Then Catherine had recourse to gentleness and submission。 She gave her son to understand that there was only one way of obtaining the queen's hand； and that was by flattering the ambition of Charles and in some sort submitting himself to his patronage。 Robert of Tarentum understood this； and ceased making court to Joan； who received his devotion with cool kindness； and attached himself closely to Charles； paying him much the same sort of respect and deference that he himself had affected for Andre； when the thought was first in his mind of causing his ruin。 But the Duke of Durazzo was by no means deceived as to the devoted friendship shown towards him by the heir of the house of Tarentum； and pretending to be deeply touched by the unexpected change of feeling； he all the time kept a strict guard on Robert's actions。
An event outside all human foresight occurred to upset the calculations of the two cousins。 One day while they were out together on horseback； as they often were since their pretended reconciliation； Louis of Tarentum； Robert's youngest brother； who had always felt for Joan a chivalrous； innocent love；a love which a young man of twenty is apt to lock up in his heart as a secret treasure；Louis； we say； who had held aloof from the infamous family conspiracy and had not soiled his hands with Andre's blood； drawn on by an irrepressible passion； all at once appeared at the gates of Castel Nuovo； and while his brother was wasting precious hours in asking for a promise of marriage； had the bridge raised and gave the soldiers strict orders to admit no one。 Then； never troubling himself about Charles's anger or Robert's jealousy； he hurried to the queen's room； and there； says Domenico Gravina； without any preamble； the union was consummated。
On returning from his ride； Robert； astonished that the bridge was not at once lowered for him； at first loudly called upon the soldiers on guard at the fortress； threatening severe punishment for their unpardonable negligence； but as the gates did not open and the soldiers made no sign of fear or regret； he fell into a violent fit of rage； and swore he would hang the wretches like dogs for hindering his return home。 But the Empress of Constantinople； terrified at the bloody quarrel beginning between the two brothers； went alone and on foot to her son； and making use of her maternal authority to beg him to master his feelings； there in the presence of the crowd that had come up hastily to witness the strange scene； she related in a low voice all that had passed in his absence。
A roar as of a wounded tiger escaped from Robert's breast： all but blind with rage； he nearly trampled his mother under the feet of his horse； which seemed to feel his master's anger； and plunging violently； breathed blood from his nostrils。 When the prince had poured every possible execration on his brother's head； he turned and galloped away from the accursed castle； flying to the Duke of Durazzo； whom he had only just left； to tell him of this outrage and stir him to revenge。 Charles was talking carelessly with his young wife； who was but little used to such tranquil conversation and expansiveness； when the Prince of Tarentum； exhausted； out of breath； bathed in perspiration； came up with his incredible tale。 Charles made him say it twice over； so impossible did Louis's audacious enterprise appear to him。 Then quickly changing from doubt to fury； he struck his brow with his iron glove； saying that as the queen defied him he would make her tremble even in her castle and in her lover's arms。 He threw one withering look