"It is not I who want to destroy this man," said the king; "it is he who wants to destroy himself.

I will myself tell him that, if he lets himself be brought to justice, he has no mercy whatever to expect from me." He saw Biron at Fontainebleau, received him after dinner, spoke to him with his usual familiarity, and pointing to his own equestrian statue in marble which was on the mantelpiece, said, "What would the King cf Spain say if he saw me like that, eh ?" "He would not be much afraid of you," answered Biron.

Henry gave him a stern look.
The marshal tried to take back his words: "I mean, sir, if he were to see you in that statue yonder, and not in your own person." The retreat was not successful; the shot had taken effect; Henry left the room, went back into his closet, and gave orders to his captain of the guard to arrest him.

Then he returned to the room and said, "Marshal, reflect upon what I have said to you." Biron preserved a frigid silence.

"Adieu, Baron de Biron!" said the king, thus by a single word annulling all his dignities, and sending him before his proper judges to answer for his treasons.