Raymond was created major…domo。 Finally； Marie of Valois on her deathbed commended the two young princesses to her care； begging her to look on them as her own…daughters。 Thus Philippa the Catanese； honoured in future as foster mother of the heiress to the throne of Naples； had power to nominate her husband grand seneschal； one of the seven most important offices in the kingdom；； and to obtain knighthood for her sons。 Raymond of Cabane was buried like a king in a marble tomb in the church of the Holy Sacrament； and there was speedily joined by two of his sons。 The third； Robert； a youth of extraordinary strength and beauty； gave up an ecclesiastical career； and was himself made major…domo； his two sisters being married to the Count of Merlizzi and the Count of Morcone respectively。 This was now the state of affairs； and the influence of the grand seneschal's widow seemed for ever established； when an unexpected event suddenly occurred； causing such injury as might well suffice to upset the edifice of her fortunes that had been raised stone by stone patiently and slowly： this edifice was now undermined and threatened to fall in a single day。 It was the sudden apparition of Friar Robert； who followed to the court of Rome his young pupil； who from infancy had been Joan's destined husband； which thus shattered all the designs of the Catanese and seriously menaced her future。 The monk had not been slow to understand that so long as she remained at the court； Andre would be no more than the slave； possibly even the victim； of his wife。 Thus all Friar Robert's thoughts were obstinately concentrated on a single end； that of getting rid of the Catanese or neutralising her influence。 The prince's tutor and the governess of the heiress had but to exchange one glance； icy； penetrating； plain to read： their looks met like lightning flashes of hatred and of vengeance。 The Catanese； who felt she was detected； lacked courage to fight this man in the open； and so conceived the hope of strengthening her tottering empire by the arts of corruption and debauchery。 She instilled by degrees into her pupil's mind the poison of vice； inflamed her youthful imagination with precocious desires； sowed in her heart the seeds of an unconquerable aversion for her husband； surrounded the poor child with abandoned women； and especially attached to her the beautiful and attractive Dona Cancha； who is branded by contemporary authors with the name of a courtesan； then summed up all these lessons in infamy by prostituting Joan to her own son。 The poor girl； polluted by sin before she knew what life was； threw her whole self into this first passion with all the ardour of youth； and loved Robert of Cabane so violently； so madly； that the Catanese congratulated herself on the success of her infamy； believing that she held her prey so fast in her toils that her victim would never attempt to escape them。
A year passed by before Joan； conquered by her infatuation； conceived the smallest suspicion of her lover's sincerity。 He； more ambitious than affectionate； found it easy to conceal his coldness under the cloak of a brotherly intimacy； of blind submission； and of unswerving devotion； perhaps he would have deceived his mistress for a longer time had not Bertrand of Artois fallen madly in love with Joan。 Suddenly the bandage fell from the young girl's eyes； comparing the two with the natural instinct of a woman beloved which never goes astray； she perceived that Robert of Cabane loved her for his own sake； while Bertrand of Artois would give his life to make her happy。 A light fell upon her past： she mentally recalled the circumstances that preceded and accompanied her earliest love； and a shudder went through her at the thought that she had been sacrificed to a cowardly seducer by the very woman she had loved most in the world； whom she had called by the name of mother。
Joan drew back into herself； and wept…bitterly。 Wounded by a single blow in all her affections； at first her grief absorbed her； then； roused to sudden anger； she proudly raised her head； for now her love was changed to scorn。 Robert； amazed at her cold and haughty reception of him； following on so great a love； was stung by jealousy and wounded pride。 He broke out into bitter reproach and violent recrimination； and； letting fall the mask； once for all lost his place in Joan's heart。
His mother at last saw that it was time to interfere： she rebuked her son； accusing him of upsetting all her plans by his clumsiness。
〃As you have failed to conquer her by love；〃 she said； 〃you must now subdue her by fear。 The secret of her honour is in our hands； and she will never dare to rebel。 She plainly loves Bertrand of Artois； whose languishing eyes and humble sighs contrast in a striking manner with your haughty indifference and your masterful ways。 The mother of the Princes of Tarentum； the Empress of Constantinople； will easily seize an occasion of helping on the princess's love so as to alienate her more and more from her husband： Cancha will be the go between； and sooner or later we shall find Bertrand at Joan's feet。 Then she will be able to refuse us nothing。〃
While all this was going on； the old king died； and the Catanese； who had unceasingly kept on the watch for the moment she had so plainly foreseen； loudly called to her son； when she saw Bertrand slip into Joan's apartment； saying as she drew him after her
〃Follow me； the queen is ours。〃
It was thus that she and her son came to be there。 Joan； standing in the middle of the chamber； pallid； her eyes fixed on the curtains of the bed； concealed her agitation with a smile； and took one step forward towards her governess； stooping to receive the kiss which the latter bestowed upon her every morning。 The Catanese embraced her with affected cordiality； and turning ； to her son； who had knelt upon one knee； said； pointing to Robert
〃My fair queen； allow the humblest of your subjects to offer his sincere congratulations and to ay his homage at your feet。〃
〃Rise； Robert；〃 said Joan； extending her hand kindly； and with no show of bitterness。 〃We were brought up together； and I shall never forget that in our childhoodI mean those happy days when we were both innocentI called you my brother。〃
〃As you allow me； madam；〃 said Robert； with an ironical smile； 〃I too shall always remember the names you formerly gave me。〃
〃And I；〃 said the Catanese； 〃shall forget that I speak to the Queen of Naples； in embracing once more my beloved daughter。 Come； madam； away with care： you have wept long enough； we have long respected your grief。 It is now time to show yourself to these good Neapolitans who bless Heaven continually for granting them a queen so beautiful and good； it is time that your favours upon the heads of your faithful subjects； and my son； who surpasses all in his fidelity； comes first to ask a favour of you； in order that he may serve you yet more zealously。〃
Joan cast on Robert a withering look； and； speaking to the Catanese； said with a scornful air
〃You know； madam； I can refuse your son nothing。〃
〃All he asks；〃 continued the lady； 〃is a title which is his due； and which he inherited from his fatherthe title of Grand Seneschal of the Two Sicilies： I trust； my； daughter； you will have no difficulty in granting this。〃
〃But I must consult the council of regency。〃
〃The council will hasten to ratify the queen's wishes；〃 replied Robert； handing her the parchment with an imperious gesture： 〃you need only speak to the Count of Artois。〃
And he cast a threatening glance at the curtain； which had slightly moved。
〃You are right；〃 said the queen at once； and going up to a table she signed the parchment with a trembling hand。
〃Now； my daughter； I have come in the name of all the care I bestowed on your infancy； of all the maternal love I have lavished on you； to implore a favour that my family will remember for evermore。〃
The queen recoiled one' step； crimson with astonishment and rage； but before she could find words to reply； the lady continued in a voice that betrayed no feeling
〃I request you to make my son Count of Eboli。〃
〃That has nothing to do with me； madam； the barons of this kingdom would revolt to a man if I were on my own authority to exalt to one of the first dignities the son of a…〃
〃A laundress and a negro； you would say； madam？〃 said Robert； with a sneer。 〃Bertrand of Artois would be annoyed perhaps if I had a title like his。〃
He advanced a step towards the bed； his hand upon the hilt of his sword。
〃Have mercy； Robert！〃 cried the queen； checking him： 〃I will do all you ask。〃
And she signed the parchment naming him Count of Eboli。
〃And now；〃 Robert went on impudently； 〃to show that my new title is not illusory； while you are busy about signing documents； let me have the privilege of taking part in the councils of the crown： make a declaration that； subject to your good pleasure； my mother and I are to have a deliberative voice in the council whenever an important matter is under discussion。〃
〃Never！〃 cried Joan； turning pale。 〃Philippa end Robert； you abuse my weakness and treat your queen shamefully。 In the last few days I have wept and suffered continually； overcome by a terrible grief； I have no strength to turn to business now。 Leave me； I beg： I feel my strength gives； way。〃
〃What； my daughter；〃 cried the Catanese hypocritically； 〃are you feeling unwell？ Come and lie down at once。〃 And hurrying to the bed； she took hold of the curtain that concealed the Count of Artois。
The queen uttered a piercing cry； and threw herself before Philippa with the fury of a lioness。 〃Stop！〃 she cried in a choking voice； 〃take the privilege you ask； and now； if you value your own life； leave me。〃
The Catanese and her son departed instantly； not even waiting to reply； for they had got all they wanted； while Joan； trembling； ran desperately up to Bertrand； who had angrily drawn his dagger； and would have fallen upon the two favourites to take vengeance for the insults they had offered to the queen； but he was very soon disarmed by the lovely shining eyes raised to him in supplication； the two arms cast about him； and the tears shed by Joan： he fell at her feet and kissed