"O God, forgive him! Charles, your mother forgives and blesses you in death." Charles fell upon her neck, desperately crying for help: he would now have gladly saved her at the cost of his life, but it was too late.

He uttered one cry that came from his heart, and was found stretched out upon his mother's corpse.
Strange comments were made at the court on the death of the Duchess of Durazzo and her doctor's disappearance; but there was no doubt at all that grief and gloom were furrowing wrinkles on Charles's brow, which was already sad enough.

Catherine alone knew the terrible cause of her nephew's depression, for to her it was very plain that the duke at one blow had killed his mother and her physician.

But she had never expected a reaction so sudden and violent in a man who shrank before no crime.
She had thought Charles capable of everything except remorse.

His gloomy, self absorbed silence seemed a bad augury for her plans.