A herald commanded silence, and the bishop spoke:-- "It is the will of our most gracious lord that I announce to the court the impending marriage of Her Grace, the Princess, Mademoiselle de Burgundy, to the princely Dauphin of France, son to our lord's royal ally, King Louis.

His Grace of Burgundy hopes within three weeks to open his campaign against the Swiss, and it is his intention to cause the marriage ceremony to take place before his departure.

When the details have been arranged, they will be announced to the court." The bishop had barely stopped speaking when the shutter in the chancel of the ladies' gallery above the throne opened, and a voice rang through the vast audience hall, like the tones of an alarm bell:-- "Make one more announcement, please, my Lord Bishop.

Say that if this wondrous ceremony is to come off within three weeks, the Dauphin of France must be content with a dead bride." No one saw the face of the speaker.

The shutter closed, and a deep silence fell upon the room.