Then the rest fell upon the poor man, who did not even try to call for help, and his body was riddled with wounds and horribly mutilated, and then left bathed in its blood." "Terrible!" murmured the queen, covering her face.
"It was only their first effort; the proscription lists are already full: Andre must needs have blood to celebrate his accession to the throne of Naples.

And do you know, Joan, whose name stands first in the doomed list ?" "Whose ?" cried the queen, shuddering from head to foot.
"Mine," said the count calmly.
"Yours!" cried Joan, drawing herself up to her full height; "are you to be killed next! Oh, be careful, Andre; you have pronounced your own death-sentence.

Long have I turned aside the dagger pointing to your breast, but you put an end to all my patience.

Woe to you, Prince of Hungary! the blood which you have spilt shall fall on your own head." As she spoke she had lost her pallor; her lovely face was fired with revenge, her eyes flashed lightning.

This child of sixteen was terrible to behold; she pressed her lover's hand with convulsive tenderness, and clung to him as if she would screen him with her own body.
"Your anger is awakened too late," said he gently and sadly; for at this moment Joan seemed so lovely that he could reproach her with nothing.
"You do not know that his mother has left him a talisman preserving him from sword and poison ?" "He will die," said Joan firmly; the smile that lighted up her face was so unnatural that the count was dismayed, and dropped his eyes.
The next day the young Queen of Naples, lovelier, more smiling than ever, sitting carelessly in a graceful attitude beside a window which looked out on the magnificent view of the bay, was busy weaving a cord of silk and gold.