第22章

Norwasthisall.IhadneverintheworsttimesblamedtheKingofNavarreforhisdenialofme,Ihadbeenfoolish,indeed,seeingthatitwasinthebargain,hadIdoneso;norhadIeverdoubtedhisgood-willorhisreadinesstorewardmeshouldoccasionarise.Now,Iflatteredmyself,Ihadgivenhimthatwhichheneeded,andhadhithertolacked——anexcuse,Imean,forinterferenceinmybehalf.

WhetherIwasrightorwronginthisnotionIwassoontolearn,foratthismomentHenry\'scavalcade,whichhadleftmeahundredpacesbehind,cametoastop,andwhilesomeofthenumberwavedtometocomeon,onespurredbacktosummonmetotheking.I

hastenedtoobeytheorderasfastasIcould,butIsawonapproachingthatthoughallwasatastandstilltillIcameup,neithertheKingofNavarrenorM.deTurennewasthinkingprincipallyofme.Everyface,fromHenry\'stothatofhisleastimportantcourtier,woreanairofgravepreoccupation;whichI

hadnodifficultyinascribingtothedoubtpresentineverymind,andoutweighingeveryinterest,whethertheKingofFrancewasdead,ordying,ormerelywounded.

\'Quick,sir!\'Henrysaidwithimpatience,assoonasIcamewithinhearing.\'Donotdetainmewithyouraffairslongerthanisnecessary.M.deTurennepressesmetocarryintoeffecttheorderIgaveyesterday.ButasyouhaveplacedyourselfinjeopardyonmyaccountIfeelthat;somethingisduetoyou.Youwillbegoodenough,therefore,topresentyourselfatonceatM.

laVarenne\'slodging,andgivemeyourparoletoremaintherewithoutstirringabroaduntilyouraffairisconcluded.\'

AwarethatIowedthisrespite,whichatoncesecuredmypresentsafetyandpromisedwellforthefuture,tothegreateventthat,eveninM.deTurenne\'smind,hadovershadowedallothers,I

bowedinsilence.Henry,however,wasnotcontentwiththis.

\'Come,sir,\'hesaidsharply,andwitheveryappearanceofanger,\'doyouagreetothat?\'

IrepliedhumblythatIthankedhimforhisclemency.

\'Thereisnoneedofthanks,\'herepliedcoldly.\'WhatIhavedoneiswithoutprejudicetoM.deTurenne\'scomplaint.Hemusthavejustice.\'

Ibowedagain,andinamomentthetroopweregoneatagalloptowardsMeudon,whence,asIafterwardslearned,theKingofNavarre,attendedbyaselectbodyoffive-and-twentyhorsemen,wearingprivatearms,rodeonatfullspeedtoSt.CloudtopresenthimselfathisMajesty\'sbedside.AgroomwhohadcaughttheCid,whichhadescapedintothetownwithnootherinjurythanaslightwoundintheshoulder,by-and-bymetmewiththehorse;andinthiswayIwasenabledtorendermyselfwithsomedecencyatVarenne\'slodging,asmallhouseatthefootofthehill,notfarfromtheCastle-gate.

HereIfoundmyselfundernogreaterconstraintthanthatwhichmyownparolelaiduponme;andmyroomhavingtheconveniencyofawindowlookinguponthepublicstreet,Iwasenabledfromhourtohourtocomprehendandenterintothevariousalarmsandsurpriseswhichmadethatdayremarkable.Themanifoldreportswhichflewfrommouthtomouthontheoccasion,aswellastheovermasteringexcitementwhichseizedall,aresowellremembered,however,thatIforbeartodwelluponthem,thoughtheyservedtodistractmymindfrommyownposition.SufficeitthatatonemomentweheardthatHisMajestywasdead,atanotherthatthewoundwasskindeep,andagainthatwemightexpecthimatMeudonbeforesunset.TherumourthattheDuchessdeMontpensierhadtakenpoisonwasnosoonerbelievedthanwewereaskedtolistentothegunsofParisfiringFEUXDEJOIEinhonouroftheKing\'sdeath.

ThestreetsweresocloselypackedwithpersonstellingandhearingthesetalesthatIseemedfrommywindowtobelookingonafair.Norwasallmyamusementwithoutdoors;foranumberofthegentlemenoftheCourt,hearingthatIhadbeenatSt.Cloudinthemorning,andintheverychamber,athingwhichmademeforthemomentthemostdesirablecompanionintheworld,rememberedonasuddenthattheyhadaslightacquaintancewithme,andhonouredmebycallinguponmeandsittingagreatpartofthedaywithme.FromwhichcircumstanceIconfessIderivedasmuchhopeastheydiversion;knowingthatcourtiersarethebestweather-prophetsintheworld,whohatenothingsomuchastobediscoveredinthecompanyofthoseonwhomthesundoesnotshine.

ThereturnoftheKingofNavarre,whichhappenedaboutthemiddleoftheafternoon,whileitdissipatedthefearsofsomeanddashedthehopesofothers,putanendtothisstateofuncertaintybyconfirming,tothesurpriseofmany,thatHisMajestywasinnodanger.Welearnedwithvaryingemotionsthatthefirstappearances,whichhaddeceived,notmyselfonly,butexperiencedleeches,hadbeenthemselvesbeliedbysubsequentconditions;andthat,inaword,Parishadasmuchtofear,andloyalmenasmuchtohope,asbeforethiswickedandaudaciousattempt.

Ihadnomorethanstomachedthissurprisinginformation,whichwaslesswelcometome,Iconfess,thanitshouldhavebeen,whenthearrivalofM.d\'Agen,whogreetedmewiththeaffectionwhichheneverfailedtoshowme,distractedmythoughtsforatime.

ImmediatelyonlearningwhereIwasand,thestrangeadventureswhichhadbefallenmehehadriddenoff;stoppingonlyonce,whenhehadnearlyreachedme,forthepurposeofwaitingonMadamedeBruhl.Iaskedhimhowshehadreceivedhim.

\'Likeherself,\'herepliedwithaningenuousblush.\'MorekindlythanIhadarighttoexpect,ifnotaswarmlyasIhadthecouragetohope.\'

\'Thatwillcomewithtime,\'Isaid,laughing.\'AndMademoiselledelaVire?\'

\'Ididnotseeher,\'heanswered,\'butIheardshewaswell.Andahundredfathomsdeeperinlove,\'headded,eyeingmeroguishly,\'thanwhenIsawherlast.\'

Itwasmyturntocolournow,andIdidso,feelingallthepleasureanddelightsuch,astatementwascalculatedtoaffordme.PicturingmademoiselleasIhadseenherlast,leaningfromherhorsewithlovewrittensoplainlyonherweepingfacethatallwhoranmightread,IsankintosodeliciousareveriethatM.laVarenne,enteringsuddenly,surprisedusbothbeforeanotherwordpassedoneitherside.

Hislookandtonewereasabruptasitwasinhisnature,whichwassoftandcompliant,tomakethem.\'M.deMarsac,\'hesaid,\'Iamsorrytoputanyconstraintuponyou,butIamdirectedtoforbidyoutoyourfriends.AndImustrequestthisgentlemantowithdraw.\'

\'Butalldaymyfriendshavecomeinandout,\'Isaidwithsurprise.\'Isthisaneworder?\'

\'Awrittenorder,whichreachedmenofartherbackthantwominutesago,\'heansweredplainly.\'Iamalsodirectedtoremoveyoutoaroomatthebackofthehouse,thatyoumaynotoverlookthestreet.\'

\'Butmyparolewastaken,\'Icried,withanaturalfeelingofindignation.

Heshruggedhisshoulders.\'IamsorrytosaythatIhavenothingtodowiththat,\'heanswered.\'Icanonlyobeyorders.

Imustaskthisgentleman,therefore,towithdraw.\'

OfcourseM.d\'Agenhadnooptionbuttoleaveme;whichhedid,Icouldsee,notwithstandinghiseasyandconfidentexpressions,withagooddealofmistrustandapprehension.Whenhewasgone,LaVarennelostnotimeincarryingouttheremainderofhisorders.AsaconsequenceIfoundmyselfconfinedtoasmallandgloomyapartmentwhichlooked,atadistanceofthreepaces,uponthesmoothfaceoftherockonwhichtheCastlestood.Thischange,fromawindowwhichcommandedallthelifeofthetown,andinterceptedeverybreathofpopularfancy,toaclosetwhithernosoundspenetrated,andwheretheverytransitionfromnoontoeveningscarcelymadeitselfknown,couldnotfailtodepressmyspiritssensibly;themoreasItookittobesignificantofachangeinmyfortunesfullyasgrave.

ReflectingthatImustnowappeartotheKingofNavarreinthelightofabeareroffalsetidings,IassociatedtheordertoconfinememorecloselywithhisreturnfromSt.Cloud;andcomprehendingthatM.deTurennewasoncemoreatlibertytoattendtomyaffairs,IbegantolookaboutmewithforebodingswhichwerenonethelesspainfulbecausetheparoleIhadgivendebarredmefromanyattempttoescape.

Sleepandhabitenabledme,nevertheless,topassthenightincomfort.Veryearlyinthemorningagreatfiringofguns,whichmadeitselfheardeveninmyquarters,ledmetosupposethatParishadsurrendered;buttheservantwhobroughtmemybreakfast;declinedinasurlyfashiontogivemeanyinformation.Intheend,Ispentthewholedayalone,mythoughtsdividedbetweenmymistressandmyownprospects,whichseemedtogrowmoreandmoregloomyasthehourssucceededoneanother.Noonecamenearme,nostepbrokethesilenceofthehouse;andforawhileIthoughtmyguardianshadforgotteneventhatIneededfood.Thisomission,itistrue,wasmadegoodaboutsunset,butstillM.laVarennedidnotappear,theservantseemedtobedumb,andIheardnosoundsinthehouse.

Ihadfinishedmymealanhourormore,andtheroomwasgrowingdark,whenthesilencewasatlastbrokenbyquickstepspassingalongtheentrance.Theypaused,andseemedtohesitateatthefootofthestairs,butthenextmomenttheycameonagain,andstoppedatmydoor.Irosefrommyseatonhearingthekeyturnedinthelock,andmyastonishmentmaybeconceivedwhenI

sawnootherthanM.deTurenneenter,andclosethedoorbehindhim.

Hesalutedmeinahaughtymannerasheadvancedtothetable,raisinghiscapforaninstantandthenreplacingit.Thisdonehestoodlookingatme,andIathim,inasilencewhichonmysidewastheresultofpureastonishment;onhis,ofcontemptandakindofwonder.Theeveninglight,whichwasfastfailing,lentasombrewhitenesstohisface,causingittostandoutfromtheshadowsbehindhiminawaywhichwasnotwithoutitsinfluenceonme.

\'Well!\'hesaidat,last,speakingslowlyandwithunimaginableinsolence,\'Iamheretolookatyou!\'

Ifeltmyangerrise,andgavehimbacklookforlook.\'Atyourwill,\'Isaid,shruggingmyshoulders.

\'Andtosolveaquestion,\'hecontinuedinthesametone.\'Tolearnwhetherthemanwhowasmadenoughtoinsultanddefymewastheoldpennilessdullardsomecalledhim,orthedare-devilotherspaintedhim.\'

\'Youaresatisfiednow?\'Isaid.

Heeyedmeforamomentclosely;thenwithsuddenheathecried,\'CursemeifIam!NorwhetherIhavetodowithamanverydeeporveryshallow,afooloraknave!\'

\'Youmaysaywhatyoupleasetoaprisoner,\'Iretortedcoldly.

\'Turennecommonlydoes——towhomhepleases!\'heanswered.Thenextmomenthemademestartbysaying,ashedrewoutacomfit-

boxandopenedit,\'Iamjustfromthelittlefoolyouhavebewitched.IfshewereinmypowerIwouldhaveherwhippedandputonbreadandwatertillshecametohersenses.Assheisnot,Imusttakeanotherway.Haveyouanyidea,mayIask,\'hecontinuedinhiscynicaltone,\'whatisgoingtobecomeofyou,M.deMarsac?\'

Ireplied,myheartinexpressiblylightenedbywhathehadsaidofmademoiselle,thatIplacedthefullestconfidenceinthejusticeoftheKingofNavarre.

Herepeatedthenameinatone,Ididnotunderstand.

\'Yes,sir,theKingofNavarre,\'Iansweredfirmly.

\'Well,Idaresayyouhavegoodreasontodoso,\'herejoinedwithasneer.\'UnlessIammistakenheknewalittlemoreofthisaffairthanheacknowledges.\'

\'Indeed?TheKingofNavarre?\'Isaid,staringstolidlyathim.

\'Yes,indeed,indeed,theKingofNavarre!\'heretorted,mimickingme,withanearerapproachtoangerthanIhadyetwitnessedinhim.\'Butlethimbeamoment,sirrah!\'hecontinued,\'anddoyoulistentome.Orfirstlookatthat.

Seeingisbelieving.\'

Hedrewoutashespokeapaper,or,tospeakmorecorrectly,aparchment,whichhethrustwithakindofsavagescornintomyhand.RepressingforthemomentthesurpriseIfelt,Itookittothewindow,andreadingitwithdifficulty,foundittobearoyalpatentdrawn,asfarasIcouldjudge,indueform,andappointingsomepersonunknown——forthenamewasleftblank——tothepostofLieutenant-GovernoroftheArmagnac,withasalaryoftwelvethousandlivresayear!

\'Well,sir?\'hesaidimpatiently.

\'Well?\'Iansweredmechanically.Formybrainreeled;theexhibitionofsuchapaperinsuchawayraisedextraordinarythoughtsinmymind.

\'Canyoureadit?\'heasked.

\'Ce