La Dame de Monsoreau (85 page)

" And with whom did you cross swords ? " he asked.

"With Antraguet."

" You gave him his quietus, anyway."

" Quite the contrary — he killed one of Quelus's lackeys."

" They were on their guard, then ? "

" Faith, I should think they were ! " cried Chicot. " Yon howl: f Death to the Angevines ! ' you fire off your cannon and ring your bells and set all the old pots and pans in Paris quivering, and yet you fancy that these honest fellows must be as deaf as you are stupid."

" And now, now," murmured the King, in a hollow voice, " we have a civil war on our hands."

The words made Quelus start.

" The devil! " he exclaimed ; " it is true."

" Ah!" said Chicot; "you are beginning to perceive it, are you ? That is fortunate. Here are Schomberg and Maugiron, who have not the slightest suspicion of it, so far."

" We can think of nothing," answered Schomberg, " except of our duty to defend his Majesty's person and crown."

" Oh, indeed! " said Chicot; «still, M. de Clisson has something to do in that line; he does n't shout so loud, but he will acquit himself of his task at least as well as you."

" But, M. Chicot," said Quelus, " although you are always pitching into us, in season and out of season, you thought just as we did two hours ago, or, at any rate, if you did n't think like us, you shouted like us."

«I ? " said Chicot.

" Yes, and you even fenced at the wall, crying: ' Death to the Angevines ! ''

" Oh, it is quite a different matter where I am concerned; every one knows I am a fool; but for men of your high intelligence to "

" Come, come, gentlemen," said Henri, " peace ; we '11 soon have quite enough of war."

" What are your Majesty's orders ? " said Quelus.

" That you show the same zeal in calming the people that you have in stirring them up. Lead back the Swiss, the guards, and the people of my household to the Louvre, and have the gates shut. I should wish the Parisians to-morrow to look on the whole thing as a mere drunken frolic."

The young gentlemen went away, looking rather foolish, and

passed the King's orders to the officers who had accompanied them during their escapade.

As for Henri, he returned to his mother, who, though gloomy and dispirited, was very busy giving orders to her people.

" Well," said she, " what has happened ? "

" Just what you had predicted, mother."

« They have fled ? "

" Alas ! yes."

« Ah !" said she ; « and what next?"

"Nothing; I think what did occur was quite enough."

" The city ? "

" Is in a tumult; but the city does not trouble me — I have the city under my thumb."

" I know," said Catharine; " then it is the provinces."

" Which will revolt, rise in rebellion," continued Henri.

" What do you intend doing ? "

" I see but one way of acting."

« What is it ?

" To accept the situation frankly."

" In what manner ? "

" I intend to give my orders to my colonels and guards, arm the militia, withdraw the army from La Charite, and march on. Aniou."

« And what about M. de Guise ? "

"JVL de Guise ? Oh, I '11 arrest him, if necessary."

" Ah, yes, it would be all very well if these violent measures could succeed."

" But what else can I do'? "

Catharine dropped her head on her breast and reflected for a moment.

"The plan you have mentioned is impracticable, my son," said she.

" Ah ! " cried Henri, fretfully ; " it would seem as if nothing I think of to-day has any value."

" No, but you are agitated; try to regain your composure, and we will see."

" Then, mother, invent ideas for me ; we must do something, we must act."

" You can see for yourself, my son, that I was giving orders."

« For what ? "

" For the departure of an ambassador."

* To whom are we sending him ? "

" To your brother."

" An ambassador to that traitor ! You degrade me, mother/'

" This is not the moment to be proud," said Catharine, sternly.

" An ambassador to ask for peace ? "

" To buy it, if need be."

" For what advantages in return ? "

" What, my son! " answered the Florentine; " why, after the peace has been concluded, you can secure quietly the persons of those who have made war on you. Have you not just said you should like to have them in your power ? "

" Oh! I would give four provinces of my kingdom for that, a province for every man."

" Then, to secure the end you must employ the means," answered Catharine, in thrilling tones that aroused all the feelings of hatred and vengeance in Henri's heart.

" I believe you are right, mother," said he; " but whom shall we send ? "

" Search among your friends."

" Useless, mother; I do not know a single man to whom I could entrust such a mission."

" Entrust it to a woman, then."

" To a woman, mother ! Would you consent ? "

"My son, I am very old and very weary, and death, perhaps, will await me on my return hither; but I will make this journey so quickly that I shall be at Angers before your brother and your brother's friends have had time to realize their power."

" 0 mother ! kind, good mother ! " cried Henri, kissing her hands passionately, " you are always my support, my good genius, and my savior ! "

" Which means I am always Queen of France," murmured Catharine, regarding her son with eyes in which there was, at least, as much pity as tenderness.

CHAPTER LXIV.

IN WHICH IT IS PROVED THAT GRATITUDE WAS ONE OF

SAINT-LUC'S VIRTUES.

THE morning after the night when M. de Monsoreau had made such a pitiable appearance at the Due d'Anjou's supper that he was allowed to retire before the end, the count rose very early and descended into the courtyard of the palace.

He had decided on interviewing the groom whom he had met before, and, if it were possible, extracting from him some information as to the habits of Roland.

He entered a large outhouse where forty magnificent steeds were munching contentedly the straw and oats of Anjou.

His first glance was for Roland.

Roland was in his stall and enjoying the bounteous repast before him to his heart's content.

His second glance was for the groom.

The groom was standing, with folded arms, giving all his attention, as an honest groom should do, to the more or less greedy fashion in which his master's horses were swallowing their customary provender.

" I say, my good fellow," said the count, " would you tell me if it is the habit of the horses of his highness to return to the stables of their own accord, and if they are trained to do so ? "

" No, M. le Comte," answered the groom. " Has your question reference to any particular horse ? "

" Yes, to Roland."

" Ah, now I remember, Roland did return alone yesterday ; but that does not surprise me in the least, he is a very intelligent beast."

"Yes," said Monsoreau, "I" saw that myself; did he ever do so before ? "

" No, monsieur," answered the groom. " The Due d ? Anjou rides him usually. The duke is a fine horseman and not easily thrown."

" I was not thrown off, my friend," said the count, annoyed that any man, and especially a groom, should believe he could be unhorsed, he, the grand huntsman of France ! " Although I may not be as perfect a cavalier as the Due d'Anjou, I have

a pretty good seat in the saddle. No, I tied him to a tree near a house I wished to enter. On my return, he had disappeared. I imagined that he must have been stolen, or that some gentleman, happening to pass that way, had played a stupid trick on me by taking my horse to the city with him. That is the reason why I asked you who had led him to the stable."

" He came back alone, as the major-domo had the honor of telling you yesterday, M. le Comte."

" It is strange," said Monsoreau.

He remained in deep thought for a moment j then, changing the conversation:

" Does his highness ride this horse often ? " said he.

"He used to ride him almost every day before his stud arrived."

" Did his highness return late yesterday evening ? "

" About an hour before yourself, M. le Comte."

" And what horse did he ride ? Was it not a bay with white feet, and a star on the forehead ? "

" No, monsieur; yesterday his highness rode Isolin," answered the groom; " the one yonder."

" And was there no gentleman in the prince's suite mounted on a horse like the one I have described ? "

" I do not know any one who has such a horse."

" That will do," said Monsoreau, impatient at succeeding so badly in his investigations ; " that will do, thanks. Saddle me Roland."

" You want Roland, M. le Comte ? "

" Yes. Has the prince ordered you not to give him to me ? "

" No, monsieur; on the contrary, his highness' equerry has ordered me to place the entire stable at your disposal."

How be angry with a prince who was so exceedingly courteous ?

M. de Monsoreau made a sign to the groom, who at once set about saddling the horse.

When this task was accomplished he led Roland to the count.

"Listen," said Monsoreau, taking the reins in his hands, " and answer me."

" With the greatest pleasure, M. le Comte," replied the groom.

" How much do you earn a year ? "

" Twenty crowns, monsieur."

" Would you like to earn ten years' wages at one stroke ? "

" Shouldn't I, though ! " said the groom. " But how am I to do it ? "

" Find out who rode yesterday the bay with the white feet and the star on the forehead."

" Ah, monsieur/ 7 answered the groom, " it will be very hard for me to do that! There are so many noblemen constantly paying visits to his highness."

" Yes; but two hundred crowns make a rather neat little sum, ( and it ought to be worth while going to some trouble to get hold of them."

" Undoubtedly, M. le Cointe; and so, I am not refusing your offer; far from it."

" Very good," said the count. " I am pleased with your readiness. Here are ten crowns, to encourage you ; you see, whatever happens, you don't lose anything."

" Thanks, M. le Comte."

" And now you will tell the prince 1 have gone to inspect the wood and to have everything ready for the hunt he has ordered for to-morrow."

As he finished speaking, the straw behind him. crackled under the footsteps of another visitor.

The count turned round.

" M. de Bussy ! " he exclaimed.

" Eh ! it is you, M. de Monsoreau ? " said Bussy; " good morning; I am quite surprised to meet you at Angers."

" And I am equally surprised to meet you, monsieur ; I was told you were ill."

" And you were correctly informed," answered Bussy ; " my doctor orders absolute rest, and I have not been outside the city during the past week. Ah, you are, it appears, going to ride Roland, are you ? I sold the beast to M. d'Anjou, and he is so proud of him that he rides him almost every day."

Monsoreau turned pale.

" Yes," said he, "I can easily understand that; Eoland is a first-rate animal."

" It was a lucky chance for you to hit on that horse for your ride to-day."

" Oh, Roland and I are old acquaintances," replied the count, " I rode him. yesterday."

" And you liked him so well that you are going to mount him again to-day ? "

" Yes," said the count.

" Excuse me," resumed Bussy, " I think I heard you speaking of getting up a hunt for us ? " " The prince desires to course a stag."

"Is it true, as I have heard, that there are many in the neighborhood ? " " Yes."

"And where do you intend starting the animal ? " « Near Meridor."

It was now Bussy's turn to change color, which he did, in spite of himself.

" Will you be one of the party ? " asked Monsoreau. " No, a thousand thanks," answered Bussy, " I shall go to bed now ; I have become feverish again."

" Well, upon my word ! " cried a voice from the threshold of the stable; " this is a nice state of things ! M. de Bussy out of bed without my permission ! "

" Le Haudouin! " exclaimed Bussy ; " good, now I J m in for a scolding. Good-by, count; take care of Roland." " You may rest easy on that point."

Bussy withdrew, and M. de Monsoreau leaped into the saddle.

" What ails you ? " inquired Le Haudouin ; " you are so pale that I am almost inclined to believe you are ill myself." " Do you know where he is going ? " said Bussy. « No."

" To Meridor."

" Well, did you expect him to keep away from it ? " " Great God! what will happen, after what he saw yesterday ? "

" Madame de Monsoreau will deny everything." " But he saw her."

" She will insist he must have been purblind at the time." " Diane will never have the strength to do that." " Oh, M. de Bussy, is it possible that you are so ignorant of women ? "

" Remy, I feel very ill."

" I can see you are. Go home, and be sure you take my prescription for this morning." " What is it ? "

" Some stewed chicken, a slice of ham, and a bisk of crawfish."

" Oh, T 'in not hungry."

" The more reason why you should obey my orders and eat."

" Remy, I have a presentiment that this ruffian will create a terrible scene at Meridor. I see now I should have accepted his invitation and gone with him when he asked me."

" For what purpose ? "

" To support Diane."

" Diane, I tell you, can support herself; I said so before, and I repeat it ; and, as you must do something to support yourself also, come along with me at once. Besides, you know well you ought not to let people see you up. Why did you quit your room without my leave ? "