Henry had tweaked the soothsayer by the beard and made him dance twice or thrice about the room.

To the Duc de Vendome expressing great anxiety in regard to Thomassin, Henry replied, "The astrologer is an old fool, and you are a young fool." A certain prophetess called Pasithea had informed the Queen that the King could not survive his fifty-seventh year.

She was much in the confidence of Mary de' Medici, who had insisted this year on her returning to Paris.

Henry, who was ever chafing and struggling to escape the invisible and dangerous net which he felt closing about him, and who connected the sorceress with all whom he most loathed among the intimate associates of the Queen, swore a mighty oath that she should not show her face again at court.

"My heart presages that some signal disaster will befall me on this coronation.