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Charles followed them； unresisting； to the fatal balcony where Andre had been hanged。 He was there asked if he desired to confess； and when he said yes； they brought a monk from the sane convent where the terrible scene had been enacted： he listened to the confession of all his sins； and granted him absolution。 The duke at once rose and walked to the place where Andre had been thrown down for the cord to be put round his neck； and there； kneeling again； he asked his executioners
〃Friends； in pity tell me； is there any hope for my life？〃
And when they answered no； Charles exclaimed：
〃Then carry out your instructions。〃
At these words； one of the equerries plunged his sword into his breast； and the other cut his head off with a knife； and his corpse was thrown over the balcony into the garden where Andre's body had lain for three days unburied。
CHAPTER VII
The King of Hungary； his black flag ever borne before him； started for Naples； reusing all offered honours； and rejecting the canopy beneath which he was to make his entry； not even stopping to give audience to the chief citizens or to receive the acclamations of the crowd。 Armed at all points； he made for Castel Nuovo； leaving behind him dismay and fear。 His first act on entering the city was to order Dona Cancha to be burnt； her punishment having been deferred by reason of her pregnancy。 Like the others； she was drawn on a cart to the square of St。 Eligius； and there consigned to the flames。 The young creature； whose suffering had not impaired her beauty； was dressed as for a festival； and laughing like a mad thing up to the last moment； mocked at her executioners and threw kisses to the crowd。
A few days later； Godfrey of Marsana； Count of Squillace and grand admiral of the kingdom； was arrested by the king's orders。 His life was promised him on condition of his delivering up Conrad of Catanzaro； one of his relatives； accused of conspiring against Andre。 The grand admiral committed； this act of shameless treachery； and did not shrink from sending his own son to persuade Conrad to come to the town。 The poor wretch was given over to the king； and tortured alive on a wheel made with sharp knives。 The sight of these barbarities； far from calming the king's rage； seemed to inflame it the more。 Every day there were new accusations and new sentences。 The prisons were crowded： Louis's punishments were redoubled in severity。 A fear arose that the town； and indeed the whole kingdom； were to be treated as having taken part in Andre's death。 Murmurs arose against this barbarous rule； and all men's thoughts turned towards their fugitive queen。 The Neapolitan barons had taken the oath of fidelity with no willing hearts； and when it came to the turn of the Counts of San Severino； they feared a trick of some kind； and refused to appear all together before the Hungarian； but took refuge in the town of Salerno； and sent Archbishop Roger； their brother； to make sure of the king's intentions beforehand。 Louis received him magnificently； and appointed him privy councillor and grand proto notary。 Then； and not till then； did Robert of San Severino and Roger； Count of Chiaramonte； venture into the king's presence； after doing homage； they retired to their homes。 The other barons followed their example of caution； and hiding their discontent under a show of respect； awaited a favourable moment for shaking off the foreign yoke。 But the queen had encountered no obstacle in her flight； and arrived at Nice five days later。 Her passage through Provence was like a triumph。 Her beauty； youth； and misfortunes； even certain mysterious reports as to her adventures； all contributed to arouse the interest of the Provencal people。 Games and fetes were improvised to soften the hardship of exile for the proscribed princess； but amid the outbursts of joy from every town； castle； and city； Joan； always sad； lived ever in her silent grief and glowing memories。
At the gates of Aix she found the clergy； the nobility； and the chief magistrates； who received her respectfully but with no signs of enthusiasm。 As the queen advanced； her astonishment increased as she saw the coldness of the people and the solemn； constrained air of the great men who escorted her。 Many anxious thoughts alarmed her； and she even went so far as to fear some intrigue of the King of Hungary。 Scarcely had her cortege arrived at Castle Arnaud； when the nobles； dividing into two ranks； let the queen pass with her counsellor Spinelli and two women； then closing up； they cut her off from the rest of her suite。 After this； each in turn took up his station as guardian of the fortress。
There was no room for doubt： the queen was a prisoner； but the cause of the manoeuvre it was impossible to guess。 She asked the high dignitaries； and they； protesting respectful devotion； refused to explain till they had news from Avignon。 Meanwhile all honours that a queen could receive were lavished on Joan； but she was kept in sight and forbidden to go out。 This new trouble increased her depression： she did not know what had happened to Louis of Tarentum； and her imagination； always apt at creating disasters； instantly suggested that she would soon be weeping for his loss。
But Louis； always with his faithful Acciajuoli； had after many fatiguing adventures been shipwrecked at the port of Pisa； thence he had taken route for Florence； to beg men and money； but the Florentines decided to keep an absolute neutrality； and refused to receive him。 The prince； losing his last hope； was pondering gloomy plans； when Nicholas Acciajuoli thus resolutely addressed him：
〃My lord； it is not given to mankind to enjoy prosperity for ever： there are misfortunes beyond all human foresight。 You were once rich and powerful； and you are now a fugitive in disguise； begging the help of others。 You must reserve your strength for better days。 I still have a considerable fortune； and also have relations and friends whose wealth is at my disposal： let us try to make our way to the queen； and at once decide what we can do。 I myself shall always defend you and obey you as my lord and master。〃
The prince received these generous offers with the utmost gratitude； and told his counsellor that he placed his person in his hands and all that remained of his future。 Acciajuoli； not content with serving his master as a devoted servant； persuaded his brother Angelo； Archbishop of Florence； who was in great favour at Clement VI's court； to join with them in persuading the pope to interest himself in the cause of Louis of Tarentum。 So； without further delay； the prince； his counsellor； and the good prelate made their way to the port of Marseilles； but learning that the queen was a prisoner at Aix； they embarked at Acque…Morte； and went straight to Avignon。 It soon appeared that the pope had a real affection and esteem for the character of the Archbishop of Florence； for Louis was received with paternal kindness at the court of Avignon； which was far more than he had expected： When he kneeled before the sovereign pontiff； His Holiness bent affectionately towards him and helped him to rise； saluting him by the title of king。
Two days later； another prelate； the Archbishop of Aix； came into the queen's presence；
〃Most gracious and dearly beloved sovereign； permit the most humble and devoted of your servants to ask pardon； in the name of your subjects； for the painful but necessary measure they have thought fit to take concerning your Majesty。 When you arrived on our coast； your loyal town of Aix had learned from a trustworthy source that the King of France was proposing to give our country to one of his own sons； making good this loss to you by the cession of another domain； also that the Duke of Normandy had come to Avignon to request this exchange in person。 We were quite decided； madam； and had made a vow to God that we would give up everything rather than suffer the hateful tyranny of the French。 But before spilling blood we thought it best to secure your august person as a sacred hostage； a sacred ark which no man dared touch but was smitten to the ground； which indeed must keep away from our walls the scourge of war。 We have now read the formal annulment of this hateful plan； in a brief sent by the sovereign pontiff from Avignon； and in this brief he himself guarantees your good faith。
〃We give you your full and entire liberty； and henceforth we shall only endeavour to keep you among us by prayers and protestations。 Go then； madam； if that is your pleasure； but before you leave these lands； which will be plunged into mourning by your withdrawal； leave with us some hope that you forgive the apparent violence to which we have subjected you； only in the fear that we might lose you； and remember that on the day when you cease to be our queen you sign the death…warrant of all your subjects。〃
Joan reassured the archbishop and the deputation from her good town of Aix with a melancholy smile； and promised that she would always cherish the memory of their affection。 For this time she could not be deceived as to the real sentiments of the nobles and people； and a fidelity so uncommon； revealed with sincere tears； touched her heart and