Concini and his fellow-
conspirators had gone to work so confidently that a week before
the coronation a courier had appeared in Liege, announcing that
he was going with news of Henry's assassination to the Princes of
Germany, whilst at the same time accounts of the King's death
were being published in France and Italy.
Meanwhile, whatever inward misgivings Henry may have entertained,
outwardly at least he appeared serene and good-humoured at his
wife's coronation, gaily greeting her at the end of the ceremony
by the title of "Madam Regent."
The little incident may have touched her, arousing her conscience.
For that night she disturbed his slumbers by sudden screams, and
when he sprang up in solicitous alarm she falteringly told him
of a dream in which she had seen him slain, and fell to imploring
him with a tenderness such as had been utterly foreign to her of
late to take great care of himself in the days to come. In the
morning she renewed those entreaties, beseeching him not to leave
the Louvre that day, urging that she had a premonition it would
be fatal to him.
He laughed for answer. "You have heard of the predictions of La
Brosse," said he. "Bah! You should not attach credit to such
nonsense.
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