They were both convinced that Coligny had egged on Poltrot to murder Duke Francis, and they had sworn to exact vengeance.

Being informed of the queen-mother's and the Duke of Anjou's intention, they entered into it eagerly; the young Duke of Guise believed his mother quite capable of striking down the admiral in the very midst of one of the great assemblies at court; the fair ladies of the sixteenth century were adepts in handling dagger and pistol.

In default of the Duchess of Nemours, her son was thought of for getting rid of Coligny.

"It was at one time decided," says the Duke de Bouillon in his Memoires, "that M.de Guise should kill the admiral during a tilt-at-the-ring which the king gave in the garden of the Louvre, and in which all Messieurs were to lead sides.

I was on that of the duke, who was believed to have an understanding with the admiral.