He proved to be a
school-master of Angouleme--which was Epernon's country. His name
was Ravaillac.
The curtains of the coach were drawn, the vehicle was put about,
and driven back to the Louvre, whilst to avoid all disturbance it
was announced to the people that the King was merely wounded.
But St. Michel went on to the Arsenal, taking with him the knife
that had stabbed his master, to bear the sinister tidings to
Henry's loyal and devoted friend. Sully knew enough to gauge
exactly whence the blow had proceeded. With anger and grief in
his heart he got to horse, ill as he was, and, calling together
his people, set out presently for the Louvre, with a train one
hundred strong, which was presently increased to twice that
number by many of the King's faithful servants who joined his
company as he advanced. In the Rue de la Pourpointicre a man in
passing slipped a note into his hand.
It was a brief scrawl: "Monsieur, where are ye going? It is done.
I have seen him dead. If you enter the Louvre you will not escape
any more than he did."
Nearing St. Innocent, the warning was repeated, this time by a
gentleman named du Jon, who stopped to mutter:
"Monsieur le Duc, our evil is without remedy.
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