512.] Queen Christina returned the next year and passed some time at Fontainebleau.

It was there, in a gallery that King Louis Philippe caused to be turned into apartments, which M.Guizot at one time occupied, that she had her first equerry, Monaldeschi, whom she accused of having betrayed her, assassinated almost before her own eyes; and she considered it astonishing, and very bad taste, that the court of France should be shocked at such an execution.

"This barbarous princess," says Madame de Motteville, "after so cruel an action as that, remained in her room laughing and chatting as easily as if she had done something of no consequence or very praiseworthy.

The queen-mother, a perfect Christian, who had met with so many enemies whom she might have punished, but who had received from her nothing but marks of kindness, was scandalized by it.

The king and Monsieur blamed her, and the minister, who was not a cruel man, was astounded." The queen-mother had other reasons for being less satisfied than she had been at the first trip of Queen Christina of Sweden.