Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/150

Rh silently filed at night. They escaped; and having, finally, all the witnesses in his hands, Du Bellay turned on Del Guasto and accused him and his master of the crime. Their guilt was proved, and spread horror throughout Europe. "I cannot murder ambassadors like your Master!" cried Francis to the Ambassador of Spain.

And Venice, which could not execute the Emperor or his governor, insisted on the death of the assassins in their employ. So Rincon and Fregoso were avenged.

Charles V. was deeply vexed, not by the discovery of the murder, but by his failure to secure the dispatches. He, however, did what he could, inventing false papers and spreading abroad a rumour that Francis had offered Germany as a prize to the Turk in reward for Soliman's help against the Empire. "It is," says Margaret, with bitter resignation, "only another of his accustomed lies." But the lie did harm to France with credulous Germany.

At this moment Francis might opportunely have avenged himself on Charles. The little town of Marano on the Adriatic offered itself to the French King. The town was small, but the situation was invaluable. Planted between Italy and Austria, opposite Venice and neighbouring the East. Marano would have been a hand at the throat of the Empire, and a hand stretched out to the allies of France. Du Bellay strongly urged Francis to take possession at once. He did, indeed, put some few soldiers in it, but, ever hesitating, the French King vacillated, and shrank from offending Charles so openly. Before his decision was taken, Venice had bought the little place.

Francis had done much to estrange Soliman; he had as yet given no pledge of his good faith. Had