A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 173: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XVIII. BY GRACE OF GOD, KING OF FRANCE. “SHow yourself aman, myson. A king should have no fears.”’ And Catharine de Medicis, the wily Florentine who had been the cause of so much woe to France by the in- troduction of the infamous methods of her infamous family, laid her hand upon the shoulder of her son, Charles [X., that hand which, beneath its velvet touch, possessed muscles of steel. “Fear, mother,” said the king, shivering beneath the contact. “It is not that, but I am weary of the sight of blood.” “From the blood of the heretics only can your throne be cemented.” “There is no more necessity of that,” and the king rose and commenced nervously to pace the floor. “Coligny is dead, and my brother-in-law is a good Catholic.” “Idiot!” sneered the queen-mother. “Do you be- lieve in that? How long will his recantation last? Just so long as it suits his convenience. Would he were with the other heretics who went to torment on the day of blessed Saint Bartholomew.” “Hush! hush!” said the king, turning pale, “ne more of that!” “The most glorious day of your reign.” Comichoo S (©)