The Novels of Balzac - 31 Author:Honoré de Balzac Volume: 31 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1900 Original Publisher: Gebbie Subjects: Fiction / General Fiction / Classics Fiction / Literary Literary Criticism / European / French Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing t... more »ext. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: Catherine's exclamation had its inspiration in a strange prediction, spoken a few days before at the Castle of Chau- mont, on the opposite bank of the Loire, whither she had gone with her astrologer Ruggieri to consult a famous soothsayer. This woman was brought to meet her by Nostradamus, the chief of those physicians who in that great sixteenth century believed in the occult sciences, with Ruggieri, Cardan, Paracelsus, and many more. This fortune-teller, of whose life history has no record, had fixed the reign of Francis II. at one year's duration. " And what is your opinion of all this?" Catherine asked Chivemi. " There will be fighting," said the cautious gentleman. " The King of Navarre " " Oh ! say the Queen ! " Catherine put in. "Very true, the Queen," said Chiverni, smiling, "has made the Prince de Conde the chief of the Reformed party; he, as a younger son, may dare much ; and Monsieur le Cardinal talks of sending for him to come here." " If only he comes ! " cried the Queen, " I am saved ! " So it will be seen that the leaders of the great Reforming movement had been right in thinking of Catherine as an ally. " This is the jest of it," said the Queen ; " the Bourbons are tricking the Huguenots, and Master Calvin, de Beze, and the rest are cheating the Bourbons; but shall we be strong enough to take in the Huguenots, the Bourbons, and the Guises ? In front of three such foes we are justified in feeling our pulse," said she. "They have not the...« less