Jobain, however, was not long before he observed the ribbon round his brother's neck, and pressed him to explain the meaning of the little bag which he saw suspended there.

Young Gaston, confused at finding his secret so nearly discovered, bade him inquire no further,--that there was a mystery attached to it which he dared not tell; "but you will soon see," he added, cheerfully, "a great change in my father: and he and my dear mother will be well together." A few days after this, the brothers were playing at the _jeu de paume_, and a dispute arose between them which grow more and more violent, till Gaston forgot himself so far as to strike Jobain on the face: it was but a childish quarrel, which the next moment might have healed, but Jobain's passion was so excited, that in his first fury he rushed to his father, and accused Gaston of concealing in his bosom a bag of poison, intended to be administered to the count, in order to cause his death.
Count Gaston, on hearing this accusation, without giving himself time for a moment's reflection, which would have shown him the improbability of the story, burst into so ungovernable a fury that he became almost frantic, and it was with the utmost difficulty his knights prevented his instantly putting his son to death.

The states of Foix and Bearn, to whose judgment he was at length induced to refer the sentence of this involuntary parricide, were more moderate.

"My lord," said they, "saving your grace, we will not that Gaston should die: he is your heir, and you have no other." It is even asserted, that those of Foix in particular would not consent to retire until they had received a promise from the count that he would not attempt his son's life.

It was, therefore, on the servants of young Gaston that the weight of his fury fell; and he caused no less than fifteen to suffer the utmost extremity of torture, under which they died.