A Gentleman from Gascony: A Romance of the Huguenots — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

170 A GENTLEMAN FROM GASCONY. “The most infamous. I'll have no more of it. Am I king, or am I not?” The lips of Catherine de Medicis curved in a peculiar smile. “Oh, yes, you are king,” she said, slowly. “But you would I were not,” ejaculated Charles, im~ petuously. “Oh! I know that my brother is your favorite son, and you would gladly see him reign in my place. Well, it is easy to accomplish that. The [Italian daggers are still sharp. The Italian poisons are still known to you.” The most accomplished actress of her day uttered a deep sigh, her face took on the mask of injured inno- cence, and even a tear twinkled in the corner of her eye. A wave of remorse swept over her affectionate if weak son. He threw himself at her feet. “Forgive me, my mother, forgive me.” Queen Catherine raised him and pressed him to her heart. | “Will you never learn to trust me?” she murmured. “Will you never realize that it is I who hold the crown firmly upon your head?” “Yes, yes, Iknow; forgive me,” half sobbed her son. “And no more weakness?” | “Nomore. You are my brains, the brains of France. I follow where you direct.” “Tis well.” And she touched a silver bell, which rested on a table at her elbow. A page answered her summons. “The Duchess de Bassompierre awaits. Admit her.” The page bowed and departed. “The Duchess de Bassompierre!” said the king, start- GComicbooks (E(©)