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prevented indiscretion of any kind by fixing a hook in the tongue of each one。 The poor creatures were tortured on a ship； so that nobody should hear the terrible confessions their sufferings dragged from them。
But Joan； in spite of the wrongs that most of the conspirators had done her； felt a renewal of pity for the woman she had once respected as a mother； for her childish companions and her friends； and possibly also some remains of love for Robert of Cabane； and sent two messengers to beg Bertram de Baux to show mercy to the culprits。 But the chief…justice seized these men and had them tortured； and on their confession that they also were implicated in Andre's murder； he condemned them to the same punishment as the others。 Dona Cancha alone； by reason of her situation； escaped the torture； and her sentence was deferred till the day of her confinement。
As this beautiful girl was returning to prison； with many a smile for all the handsomest cavaliers she could see in the crowd； she gave a sign to Charles of Durazzo as she neared him to come forward； and since her tongue had not been pierced （for the same reason） with an iron instrument； she said some words to him a while in a low voice。
Charles turned fearfully pale； and putting his hand to his sword； cried
〃Wretched woman！〃
〃You forget； my lord； I am under the protection of the law。〃
〃My mother！oh； my poor mother！ 〃murmured Charles in a choked voice； and he fell backward。
The next morning the people were beforehand with the executioner； loudly demanding their prey。 All the national troops and mercenaries that the judicial authorities could command were echelonned in the streets； opposing a sort of dam to the torrent of the raging crowd。 The sudden insatiable cruelty that too often degrades human nature had awaked in the populace： all heads were turned with hatred and frenzy； all imaginations inflamed with the passion for revenge； groups of men and women； roaring like wild beasts； threatened to knock down the walls of the prison； if the condemned were not handed over to them to take to the place of punishment： a great murmur arose； continuous； ever the same； like the growling of thunder： the queen's heart was petrified with terror。
But； in spite of the desire of Bertram de Baux to satisfy the popular wish； the preparations for the solemn execution were not completed till midday； when the sun's rays fell scorchingly upon the town。 There went up a mighty cry from ten thousand palpitating breasts when a report first ran through the crowd that the prisoners were about to appear。 There was a moment of silence； and the prison doors rolled slowly back on their hinges with a rusty； grating noise。 A triple row of horsemen； with lowered visor and lance in rest； started the procession； and amid yells and curses the condemned prisoners came out one by one； each tied upon a cart； gagged and naked to the waist； in charge of two executioners； whose orders were to torture them the whole length of their way。 On the first cart was the former laundress of Catana； afterwards wife of the grand seneschal and governess to the queen； Philippa of Cabane： the two executioners at right and left of her scourged her with such fury that the blood spurting up from the wounds left a long track in all the streets passed by the cortege。
Immediately following their mother on separate carts came the Countesses of Terlizzi and Morcone； the elder no more than eighteen years of age。 The two sisters were so marvellously beautiful that in the crowd a murmur of surprise was heard； and greedy eyes were fixed upon their naked trembling shoulders。 But the men charged to torture them gazed with ferocious smiles upon their forms of seductive beauty； and； armed with sharp knives； cut off pieces of their flesh with a deliberate enjoyment and threw them out to the crowd； who eagerly struggled to get them； signing to the executioners to show which part of the victims' bodies they preferred。
Robert of Cabane； the grand seneschal； the Counts of Terlizzi and Morcone； Raymond Pace； brother of the old valet who had been executed the day before； and many more； were dragged on similar carts； and both scourged with ropes and slashed with knives； their flesh was torn out with red…hot pincers； and flung upon brazen chafing…dishes。 No cry of pain was heard from the grand seneschal； he never stirred once in his frightful agony； yet the torturers put such fury into their work that the poor wretch was dead before the goal was reached。
In the centre of the square of Saint Eligius an immense stake was set up： there the prisoners were taken； and what was left of their mutilated bodies was thrown into the flames。 The Count of Terlizzi and the grand seneschal's widow were still alive； and two tears of blood ran down the cheeks of the miserable mother as she saw her son's corpse and the palpitating remains of her two daughters cast upon the firethey by their stifled cries showed that they had not ceased to suffer。 But suddenly a fearful noise overpowered the groans of the victims ； the enclosure was broken and overturned by the mob。 Like madmen； they rushed at the burning pile；armed with sabres； axes； and knives； and snatching the bodies dead or alive from the flames； tore them to pieces； carrying off the bones to make whistles or handles for their daggers as a souvenir of this horrible day。
CHAPTER VI
The spectacle of this frightful punishment did not satisfy the revenge of Charles of Durazzo。 Seconded by the chief…justice； he daily brought about fresh executions； till Andre's death came to be no more than a pretext for the legal murder of all who opposed his projects。 But Louis of Tarentum； who had won Joan's heart； and was eagerly trying to get the necessary dispensation for legalising the marriage； from this time forward took as a personal insult every act of the high court of justice which was performed against his will and against the queen's prerogative： he armed all his adherents； increasing their number by all the adventurers he could get together； and so put on foot a strong enough force to support his own party and resist his cousin。 Naples was thus split up into hostile camps； ready to come to blows on the smallest pretext； whose daily skirmishes； moreover； were always followed by some scene of pillage or death。
But Louis had need of money both to pay his mercenaries and to hold his own against the Duke of Durazzo and his own brother Robert； and one day he discovered that the queen's coffers were empty。 Joan was wretched and desperate； and her lover； though generous and brave and anxious to reassure her so far as he could； did not very clearly see how to extricate himself from such a difficult situation。 But his mother Catherine； whose ambition was satisfied in seeing one of her sons； no matter which； attain to the throne of Naples； came unexpectedly to their aid； promising solemnly that it would only take her a few days to be able to lay at her niece's feet a treasure richer than anything she had ever dreamed of； queen as she was。
The empress then took half her son's troops； made for Saint Agatha； and besieged the fortress where Charles and Bertrand of Artois had taken refuge when they fled from justice。 The old count； astonished at the sight of this woman； who had been the very soul of the conspiracy； and not in the least understanding her arrival as an enemy； sent out to ask the intention of this display of military force。 To which Catherine replied in words which we translate literally：
〃My friends； tell Charles； our faithful friend； that we desire to speak with him privately and alone concerning a matter equally interesting to us both； and he is not to be alarmed at our arriving in the guise of an enemy； for this we have done designedly； as we shall explain in the course of our interview。 We know he is confined to bed by the gout； and therefore feel no surprise at his not coming out to meet us。 Have the goodness to salute him on our part and reassure him； telling him that we desire to come in； if such is his good pleasure； with our intimate counsellor； Nicholas Acciajuoli； and ten soldiers only； to speak with him concerning an important matter that cannot be entrusted to go…betweens。〃
Entirely reassured by these frank； friendly explanations； Charles of Artois sent out his son Bertrand to the empress to receive her with the respect due to her rank and high position at the court of Naples。 Catherine went promptly to the castle with many signs of joy； and inquiring after the count's health and expressing her affection； as soon as they were alone； she mysteriously lowered her voice and explained that the object of her visit was to consult a man of tried experience on the affairs of Naples； and to beg his active cooperation in the queen's favour。 As； however； she was not pressed for time； she could wait at Saint Agatha for the count's recovery to hear his views and tell him of the march of events since he left the court。 She succeeded so well in gaining the old man's confidence and banishing his suspicions； that he begged her to honour them with her presence as long as she was able； and little by little received all her men within the walls。 This was what Catherin