upplication； the two arms cast about him； and the tears shed by Joan： he fell at her feet and kissed them rapturously； with no thought of seeking excuse for his presence； with no word of love； for it was as if they had loved always： he lavished the tenderest caresses on her； dried her tears； and pressed his trembling lips upon her lovely head。 Joan began to forget her anger； her vows； and her repentance： soothed by the music of her lover's speech； she returned uncomprehending monosyllables： her heart beat till it felt like breaking； and once more she was falling beneath love's resistless spell； when a new interruption occurred； shaking her roughly out of her ecstasy； but this time the young count was able to pass quietly and calmly into a room adjoining； and Joan prepared to receive her importunate visitor with severe and frigid dignity。
The individual who arrived at so inopportune a moment was little calculated to smooth Joan's ruffled brow； being Charles； the eldest son of the Durazzo family。 After he had introduced his fair cousin to the people as their only legitimate sovereign； he had sought on various occasions to obtain an interview with her； which in all probability would be decisive。 Charles was one of those men who to gain their end recoil at nothing； devoured by raging ambition and accustomed from his earliest years to conceal his most ardent desires beneath a mask of careless indifference； he marched ever onward； plot succeeding plot； towards the object he was bent upon securing； and never deviated one hair's…breadth from the path he had marked out； but only acted with double prudence after each victory； and with double courage after each defeat。 His cheek grew pale with joy； when he hated most； he smiled； in all the emotions of his life； however strong； he was inscrutable。 He had sworn to sit on the throne of Naples； and long had believed himself the rightful heir； as being nearest of kin to Robert of all his nephews。 To him the hand of Joan would have been given； had not the old king in his latter days conceived the plan of bringing Andre from Hungary and re…establishing the elder branch in his person； though that had long since been forgotten。 But his resolution had never for a moment been weakened by the arrival of Andre in the kingdom； or by the profound indifference wherewith Joan； preoccupied with other passion； had always received the advances of her cousin Charles of Durazzo。 Neither the love of a woman nor the life of a man was of any account to him when a crown was weighed in the other scale of the balance。
During the whole time that the queen had remained invisible； Charles had hung about her apartments； and now came into her presence with respectful eagerness to inquire for his cousin's health。 The young duke had been at pains to set off his noble features and elegant figure by a magnificent dress covered with； golden fleur…de…lys and glittering with precious stones。 His doublet of scarlet velvet and cap of the same showed upby their own splendour the warm colouring of his skin； while his face seemed illumined by his black eyes that shone keen as an eagle's。
Charles spoke long with his cousin of the people's enthusiasm on her accession and of the brilliant destiny before her； he drew a hasty but truthful sketch of the state of the kingdom； and while he lavished praises on the queen's wisdom； he cleverly pointed out what reforms were most urgently needed by the country； he contrived to put so much warmth； yet so much reserve； into his speech that he destroyed the disagreeable impression his arrival had produced。 In spite of the irregularities of her youth and the depravity brought about by her wretched education； Joan's nature impelled her to noble action： when the welfare of her subjects was concerned； she rose above the limitations of her age and sex； and； forgetting her strange position； listened to the Duke of Durazzo with the liveliest interest and the kindliest attention。 He then hazarded allusions to the dangers that beset a young queen； spoke vaguely of the difficulty in distinguishing between true devotion and cowardly complaisance or interested attachment； he spoke of the ingratitude of many who had been loaded with benefits； and had been most completely trusted。 Joan； who had just learned the truth of his words by sad experience； replied with a sigh； and after a moment's silence added
May God； whom I call to witness for the loyalty and uprightness of my intentions； may God unmask all traitors and show me my true friends！ I know that the burden laid upon me is heavy； and I presume not on my strength； but I trust that the tried experience； of those counsellors to whom my uncle entrusted me； the support of my family； and your warm and sincere friendship above all； my dear cousin； will help me to accomplish my duty。〃
〃My sincerest prayer is that you may succeed； my fair cousin； and I will not darken with doubts and fears a time that ought to be given up to joy； I will not mingle with the shouts of gladness that rise on all sides to proclaim you queen； any vain regrets over that blind fortune which has placed beside the woman whom we all alike adore； whose single glance would make a man more blest than the angels； a foreigner unworthy of your love and unworthy of your throne。〃
〃You forget； Charles；〃 said the queen； putting out her hand as though to check his words； 〃Andre is my husband； and it was my grandfather's will that he should reign with me。〃
〃Never！〃 cried the duke indignantly； 〃he King of Naples！ Nay； dream that the town is shaken to its very foundations； that the people rise as one man； that our church bells sound a new Sicilian vespers； before the people of Naples will endure the rule of a handful of wild Hungarian drunkards； a deformed canting monk； a prince detested by them even as you are beloved！〃
〃But why is Andre blamed？ What has he done？〃
〃What has he done？ Why is he blamed； madam？ The people blame him as stupid； coarse； a savage； the nobles blame him for ignoring their privileges and openly supporting men of obscure birth； and I； madam；〃here he lowered his voice；〃I blame him for making you unhappy。〃
Joan shuddered as though a wound had been touched by an unkind hand； but hiding her emotion beneath an appearance of calm； she replied in a voice of perfect indifference
〃You must be dreaming； Charles； who has given you leave to suppose I am unhappy？〃
〃Do not try to excuse him； 'my dear cousin；〃 replied Charles eagerly； 〃you will injure yourself without saving him。〃
The queen looked fixedly at her cousin； as though she would read him through and through and find out the meaning of his words； but as she could not give credence to the horrible thought that crossed her mind； she assumed a complete confidence in her cousin's friendship； with a view to discovering his plans； and said carelessly
〃Well； Charles； suppose I am not happy； what remedy could you offer me that I might escape my lot？〃
〃You ask me that； my dear cousin？ Are not all remedies good when you suffer； and when you wish for revenge？〃
〃One must fly to those means that are possible。 Andre will not readily give up his pretensions： he has a party of his own； and in case of open rupture his brother the King of Hungary may declare war upon us； and bring ruin and desolation upon our kingdom。〃
The Duke of Duras faintly smiled； and his countenance assumed a sinister； expression。
〃You do not understand me；〃 he said。
〃Then explain without circumlocution；〃 said the queen； trying to conceal the convulsive shudder that ran through her limbs。
〃Listen； Joan；〃 said Charles； taking his cousin's hand and laying it upon his heart： 〃can you feel that dagger？〃
〃I can；〃 said Joan； and she turned pale。
〃One word from youand〃
〃Yes？〃
〃To…morrow you will be free。〃
〃A murder！〃 cried Joan； recoiling in horror： 〃then I was not deceived； it is a murder that you have proposed。〃
〃It is a necessity；〃 said the duke calmly： 〃today I advise； later on you will give your orders。〃
〃Enough； wretch！ I cannot tell if you are more cowardly or more rash： cowardly； because you reveal a criminal plot feeling sure that I shall never denounce you； rash； because in revealing it to me you cannot tell what witnesses are near to hear it all。〃
〃In any case； madam； since I have put myself in your hands； you must perceive that I cannot leave you till I know if I must look upon myself as your friend or as your enemy。〃
〃Leave me；〃 cried Joan； with a disdainful gesture； 〃you insult your queen。〃
〃You forget； my dear cousin； that some day I may very likely have a claim to your kingdom。〃
〃Do not force me to have you turned out of this room；〃 said Joan； advancing towards the door。
〃Now do not get excited； my fair cousin； I am going： but at least remember that I offered you my hand and you refused it。 Remember what I say at this solemn moment： to…day I am the guilty man； some day perhaps I may be the judge。〃
He went away slowly； twice turning his head； repeating in the language of signs his menacing prophecy。 Joan hid her face in her hands； and for a long time remained plunged in dismal reflections； then anger got the better of all her other feelings； and she summoned Dona Cancha； bidding her not to allow anybody to enter； on any pretext whatsoever。
This prohibition was not for the Count of Artois； for the reader will remember that he was in the adjoining room。
CHAPTER III
Night fell； and from the Molo to the Mergellina； from the Capuano Castle to the hill of St。 Elmo； deep silence had succeeded the myriad sounds that go up from the noisiest city in the world。 Charles of Durazzo； quickly walking away from the square of the Correggi； first casting one last look of vengeance at the Castel Nuovo； plunged into the labyrinth of dark streets that twist and turn； cross and recross one another； in this ancient city； and after a quarter of an hour's walking； that was first slow； then very rapid； arrived at his ducal palace near the church of San Giovanni al Mare。 He gave certain instructions in a harsh； peremptory tone to a page who took his sword and cloak。 Then Charles shut himself into his room； without going up to see his poor mother； who was weeping； sad and solitary over