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〃And the queen？〃
〃No one would believe you if you ventured to denounce her； but when the Catanese and her son； the Count of Terlizzi and his wife and her most intimate friends； have been accused by you； when they fail to endure the torture； and when they denounce her unanimously…〃
〃I see； my lord。 You do not only want my life； you would have my soul too。 Very well； once more I commend to you my children。〃
With a deep sigh he walked up to the tribunal。 The chief…justice asked Tommaso Pace the usual questions； and a shudder of horror passed through the assembly when they saw the poor wretch in desperation opening his mouth； which streamed with blood。 But surprise and terror reached their height when Nicholas of Melazzo slowly and firmly gave a list of Andre's murderers； all except the queen and the princes of the blood； and went on to give all details of the assassination。
Proceedings were at once taken for the arrest of the grand seneschal； Robert of Cabane； and the Counts of Terlizzi and Morcone； who were present and had not ventured to make any movement in self…defence。 An hour later； Philippa； her two daughters； and Dona Cancha joined them in prison； after vainly imploring the queen's protection。 Charles and Bertrand of Artois； shut up in their fortress of Saint Agatha； bade defiance to justice； and several others； among them the Counts of Meleto and Catanzaro； escaped by flight。
As soon as Master Nicholas said he had nothing further to confess； and that he had spoken the whole truth and nothing but the truth； the chief…justice pronounced sentence amid a profound silence； and 1897 without delay Tommaso Pace and the notary were tied to the tails of two horses； dragged through the chief streets of the town； and hanged in the market place。
The other prisoners were thrown into a subterranean vault； to be questioned and put to the torture on the following day。 In the evening； finding themselves in the same dungeon； they reproached one another； each pretending he had been dragged into the crime by someone else。 Then Dona Cancha； whose strange character knew no inconsistencies； even face to face with death and torture； drowned with a great burst of laughter the lamentations of her companions； and joyously exclaimed
〃Look here； friends； why these bitter recriminationsthis ill mannered raving？ We have no excuses to make； and we are all equally guilty。 I am the youngest of all； and not the ugliest； by your leave； ladies； but if I am condemned； at least I will die cheerfully。 For I have never denied myself any pleasure I could get in this world； and I can boast that much will be forgiven me； for I have loved much： of that you； gentlemen； know something。 You； bad old man；〃 she continued to the Count of Terlizzi； 〃do you not remember lying by my side in the queen's ante…chamber？ Come； no blushes before your noble family； confess； my lord； that I am with child by your Excellency； and you know how we managed to make up the story of poor Agues of Durazzo and her pregnancyGod rest her soul！ For my part； I never supposed the joke would take such a serious turn all at once。 You know all this and much more； spare your lamentations； for； by my word； they are getting very tiresome： let us prepare to die joyously； as we have lived。〃
With these words she yawned slightly； and； lying down on the straw； fell into a deep sleep； and dreamed as happy dreams as she had ever dreamed in her life。
On the morrow from break of day there was an immense crowd on the sea front。 During the night an enormous palisade had been put up to keep the people away far enough for them to see the accused without hearing anything。 Charles of Durazzo； at the head of a brilliant cortege of knights and pages； mounted on a magnificent horse； all in black； as a sign of mourning； waited near the enclosure。 Ferocious joy shone in his eyes as the accused made their way through the crowd； two by two； their wrists tied with ropes； for the duke every minute expected to hear the queen's name spoken。 But the chief… justice； a man of experience； had prevented indiscretion of any kind by fixing a hook in the tongue of each one。 The poor creatures were tortured on a ship； so that nobody should hear the terrible confessions their sufferings dragged from them。
But Joan； in spite of the wrongs that most of the conspirators had done her； felt a renewal of pity for the woman she had once respected as a mother； for her childish companions and her friends； and possibly also some remains of love for Robert of Cabane； and sent two messengers to beg Bertram de Baux to show mercy to the culprits。 But the chief…justice seized these men and had them tortured； and on their confession that they also were implicated in Andre's murder； he condemned them to the same punishment as the others。 Dona Cancha alone； by reason of her situation； escaped the torture； and her sentence was deferred till the day of her confinement。
As this beautiful girl was returning to prison； with many a smile for all the handsomest cavaliers she could see in the crowd； she gave a sign to Charles of Durazzo as she neared him to come forward； and since her tongue had not been pierced （for the same reason） with an iron instrument； she said some words to him a while in a low voice。
Charles turned fearfully pale； and putting his hand to his sword； cried
〃Wretched woman！〃
〃You forget； my lord； I am under the protection of the law。〃
〃My mother！oh； my poor mother！ 〃murmured Charles in a choked voice； and he fell backward。
The next morning the people were beforehand with the executioner； loudly demanding their prey。 All the national troops and mercenaries that the judicial authorities could command were echelonned in the streets； opposing a sort of dam to the torrent of the raging crowd。 The sudden insatiable cruelty that too often degrades human nature had awaked in the populace： all heads were turned with hatred and frenzy； all imaginations inflamed with the passion for revenge； groups of men and women； roaring like wild beasts； threatened to knock down the walls of the prison； if the condemned were not handed over to them to take to the place of punishment： a great murmur arose； continuous； ever the same； like the growling of thunder： the queen's heart was petrified with terror。
But； in spite of the desire of Bertram de Baux to satisfy the popular wish； the preparations for the solemn execution were not completed till midday； when the sun's rays fell scorchingly upon the town。 There went up a mighty cry from ten thousand palpitating breasts when a report first ran through the crowd that the prisoners were about to appear。 There was a moment of silence； and the prison doors rolled slowly back on their hinges with a rusty； grating noise。 A triple row of horsemen； with lowered visor and lance in rest； started the procession； and amid yells and curses the condemned prisoners came out one by one； each tied upon a cart； gagged and naked to the waist； in charge of two executioners； whose orders were to torture them the whole length of their way。 On the first cart was the former laundress of Catana； afterwards wife of the grand seneschal and governess to the queen； Philippa o