Thekingturnedawayhishead，andretiredslowly，confidingtheprisonerstothecareofStephenVayvodaandtheCountofZornic，whoguardedthemduringthenightinaroomadjoiningtheking’schamber。
ThenextdayLouisheldanothermeetingofhiscouncil，andorderedthatCharlesshouldhavehisthroatcutontheveryspotwherepoorAndrehadbeenhanged。Hethensenttheotherprincesoftheblood，loadedwithchains，toHungary，wheretheywerelongkeptprisoners。
Charles，quitethunderstruckbysuchanunexpectedblow，overwhelmedbythethoughtofhispastcrimes，trembledlikeacowardfacetofacewithdeath，andseemedcompletelycrushed。Bowed，uponhisknees，hisfacehalfhiddeninhishands，fromtimetotimeconvulsivesobsescapedhim，ashetriedtofixthethoughtsthatchasedeachotherthroughhismindliketheshapesofamonstrousdream。Nightwasinhissoul，buteverynowandthenlightflashedacrossthedarkness，andoverthegloomybackgroundofhisdespairpassedgildedfiguresfleeingfromhimwithsmilesofmockery。Inhisearsbuzzedvoicesfromtheotherworld;hesawalongprocessionofghosts，liketheconspiratorswhomNicholasofMelazzohadpointedoutinthevaultsofCastelNuovo。Butthesephantomseachheldhisheadinhishand，andshakingitbythehair，bespatteredhimwithdropsofblood。Somebrandishedwhips，someknives：eachthreatenedCharleswithhisinstrumentoftorture。Pursuedbythenocturnaltrain，thehaplessmanopenedhismouthforonemightycry，buthisbreathwasgone，anditdieduponhislips。Thenhebeheldhismotherstretchingoutherarmsfromafar，andhefanciedthatifhecouldbutreachherhewouldbesafeButateachstepthepathgrewmoreandmorenarrow，piecesofhisfleshweretornoffbytheapproachingwalls;atlast，breathless，nakedandbleeding，hereachedhisgoal;buthismotherglidedfartheraway，anditwasalltobeginoveragain。The，phantomspursuedhim，grinningandscreaminginhisears：——
\"Cursedbehewhoslayethhismother！\"
Charleswasrousedfromthesehorrorsbythecriesofhisbrothers，whohadcometoembracehimforthelasttimebeforeembarking。Thedukeinalowvoiceaskedtheirpardon，andthenfellbackintohisstateofdespair。Thechildrenweredraggedaway，beggingtobeallowedtosharetheirbrother’sfate，andcryingfordeathasanalleviationoftheirwoes。Atlengththeywereseparated，butthesoundoftheirlamentationsoundedlongintheheartofthecondemnedman。Afterafewmoments，twosoldiersandtwoequerriescametotellthedukethathishourhadcome。