LORD WENTWORTH
Three days later, on the 1st of September, Lord Wentworth, governor of
Calais, having received final instructions from his brother-in-law, Lord
Grey, and having seen him off for England, mounted his horse and rode
back to his hotel, where Gabriel and Jean Peuquoy were then quartered,
as well as Diane, who was in another part of the house.
Madame de Castro had no idea that her lover was so near; and in
conformity with the promise given to Arnauld by Lord Grey's minion, she
had not had the least opportunity of communicating with him after
leaving St. Quentin.
Lord Wentworth offered a most striking contrast to his brother-in-law;
for the former was as affable and approachable and open-handed as the
latter was arrogant and cold and covetous. He was a tall, fine-looking
man, with most refined manners. He was apparently about forty; a few
white hairs were already scattered here and there among his profuse
black locks, which were naturally curly. But his youthful air and the
eager fire in his gray eyes showed that the impetuous passion of a young
man was still dominant within him; and he led as joyous and active a
life as if he were still only twenty.
He went first into the hall where Vicomte d'Exmès and Jean Peuquoy were
awaiting him, and saluted them affably and smilingly as his guests and
not his prisoners.
"Welcome to my house, Monsieur, and you too, Master," said he. "I am
very much indebted to my dear brother-in-law for having brought you
here, Monsieur le Vicomte; and I have double cause to rejoice in the
taking of St. Quentin. Pardon me; but in this gloomy abode of war, where
I am confined, agreeable distractions are of such rare occurrence, and
society is so limited, that I am very happy to find some one from time
to time whom it is a pleasure to converse with; and I fear that my own
selfishness will lead me to wish that your ransom may be delayed as long
as possible."
"It is likely to be delayed longer than I supposed, my Lord," Gabriel
replied. "Lord Grey may have told you that my squire, whom I intended to
send to Paris to bring the money, fell into a dispute _en route_, being
drunk at the time, with one of the escort, and received a wound in the
head, slight, it is true, but which I fear will detain him at Calais
longer than I hoped."
"So much the worse for the poor fellow, and so much the better for me,"
said Lord Wentworth.
"You are too kind, my Lord," said Gabriel, with a sad smile.
"No, indeed; upon my word, there's no kindness about it. True kindness,
no doubt, would move me to allow you to start for Paris yourself at
once, on parole. But I tell you again, I am too selfish and too bored to
think of that; and I have no difficulty, although from different
motives, in entering into the suspicious intentions of my
brother-in-law, who made me solemnly promise not to give you your
liberty except in exchange for a bag of crowns. What do you say? Shall
we be prisoners together, and do our best to sweeten the tedium of
captivity for each other?"
Gabriel bowed without saying a word. He would have liked much better
that Lord Wentworth should have accepted his parole and left him free to
go about his task. But could he, a perfect stranger, expect such
confidence?
He comforted himself a little with the thought that Coligny was probably
with Henri II. at that moment. He had enjoined upon him to report to the
king what he had been able to do toward prolonging the resistance of St.
Quentin. Surely his noble friend could not have failed him! And Henri,
true to his royal word, was perhaps waiting but-for the son's return to
fulfil his promise with regard to the father.
It was not surprising that Gabriel was not altogether able to master his
uneasiness, because of its twofold character; he had not even succeeded
in catching a glimpse of another person equally dear to him before
leaving St. Quentin. So he heartily cursed the mishap that had befallen
that incorrigible drunkard, Martin-Guerre, and was far from sharing Jean
Peuquoy's satisfaction on that point; for the worthy burgher was
secretly delighted to find his mysterious schemes forwarded by this very
delay which caused Gabriel so much sorrow.
Meanwhile Lord Wentworth, not choosing to notice his prisoner's gloomy
distraction, continued,--
"Moreover, Monsieur d'Exmès, I shall do my best not to be too harsh a
jailer; and to prove to you at once that my actions are directed by no
insulting suspicion, I will cheerfully give you permission to go in and
out at your will, and to go wherever you please in the town, if you will
give me your parole that you will not attempt to escape."
At this, Jean Peuquoy could not restrain a movement of unequivocal
satisfaction; and to communicate it to Gabriel, he gave a sharp twitch
at the young man's coat-tail, and thereby considerably surprised him.
"I accept gratefully, my Lord," Gabriel replied to the governor's
courteous offer; "and you have my word of honor that I will not think of
any such attempt."
"That is quite satisfactory, Monsieur," said Lord Wentworth; "and if the
hospitality which it is in my power, and which duty and pleasure prompt
me, to offer you (although my temporary quarters are but ill adapted to
your proper entertainment) seems burdensome and perchance tiresome, why,
you must not feel at all constrained to accept it; rest assured I shall
not take it ill of you in the least if you prefer more free and more
convenient quarters, such as you can easily find in Calais, to the poor
accommodations which I can place at your disposal."
"Oh, Monsieur le Vicomte," said Jean Peuquoy, in a tone of entreaty, "if
you would only condescend to accept the best chamber in the house of my
cousin, Pierre Peuquoy the armorer, you would make him very proud, and
you would fill my cup of happiness, I swear to you!"
And the worthy man accompanied these words with a meaning gesture; for
good Peuquoy was all mystery and reticence now, and had become so
obscure as almost to inspire fear.
"Thanks, my friend," said Gabriel; "but really, to take advantage of
such permission would be perhaps to abuse it."
"No, I assure you," said Lord Wentworth, warmly, "you are entirely at
liberty to accept this lodging at Pierre Peuquoy's. He is a rich
bourgeois, energetic and skilful at his trade, and the honestest fellow
imaginable. I know him well, for I have often bought arms of him; and he
has a very pretty creature at his house too,--his daughter or his wife,
I am not very clear which."
"His sister, my Lord," said Jean Peuquoy,--"my cousin Babette. Oh, yes,
she is very comely; and if only I were not so old! But the Peuquoys
won't die out after all; Pierre has lost his wife, but she left him two
sturdy boys, who will amuse you, Monsieur le Vicomte, if you choose to
accept my cousin's very cordial hospitality."
"I not only authorize you to accept it, but engage that you will do so,"
added Lord Wentworth.
Indeed, Gabriel began to think, and not unreasonably, that the handsome
and courtly governor of Calais was very willing to disencumber himself,
for private reasons, of a companion who would be always in his house,
and who, by virtue of the very freedom that he allowed him, might
interfere with his own. In fact, Lord Wentworth did reason thus; for as
Lord Grey had expressed it elegantly to Arnauld, he preferred female
prisoners to male.
Gabriel no longer had any scruples, and said, turning to Jean Peuquoy
with a smile,--
"Since Lord Wentworth permits me, my friend, I will stay at your
cousin's."
Jean Peuquoy almost leaped for joy.
"Upon my word, I really think that you do very wisely," said Lord
Wentworth. "Not that I should not have been delighted to entertain you
as best I could; but in a house guarded night and day by soldiers, and
where my tedious authority requires me to maintain strict rules, you
might not have found yourself always at your ease, as you will with the
brave armorer. And a young man has need to be at his ease, we all know."
"You seem to know it, at all events," said Gabriel, laughing; "and I can
see that you know the full value of independence."
"Yes, indeed I do!" rejoined Lord Wentworth, in the same playful tone;
"I am not yet old enough to despise liberty."
Then, turning to Jean Peuquoy,--
"Do you rely upon your cousin's purse, Master Peuquoy," said he, "in
your own behalf, as you rely upon his house when Monsieur d'Exmès's
welfare is in question? Lord Grey told me that you expected to borrow
the hundred crowns agreed upon for your ransom."
"Whatever Pierre owns belongs to Jean," was the burgher's sententious
reply; "it is always so with the Peuquoys. I was so sure beforehand that
my cousin's house was mine that I have already sent Monsieur d'Exmès's
wounded squire there; and I am so sure too that his purse is as open to
me as his door that I beg you to send one of your people with me to
bring back the sum agreed upon."
"Useless, Master Peuquoy," said Lord Wentworth; "and you also are free
to go on parole. I will come and call upon Vicomte d'Exmès at Pierre
Peuquoy's to-morrow or the next day; and I will select, as an equivalent
of the sum due my brother-in-law, one of the beautiful suits of armor
which your cousin makes so well."
"As you please, my Lord," said Jean.
"Meanwhile, Monsieur d'Exmès," said the governor, "need I say to you
that as often as you choose to knock at my door you will be as welcome
as you are at liberty not to do it at all? I repeat, life is rather dull
at Calais, as you will soon discover, no doubt; and you will enter into
an alliance with me, I trust, against our common enemy, ennui. Your
presence is a very great boon, by which I desire to profit as much as
possible. If you keep away from me, I shall importune you, I give you
fair warning; and remember too, that I only give you a sort of half
liberty, and that the friend ought to bring the prisoner here with him
often."
"Thanks, my Lord," said Gabriel; "I accept with gratitude all your
kindness. By way of revenge," he added, smiling; "for war has its sudden
changes, and the friend of to-day may become the enemy of to-morrow."
"Oh," said Lord Wentworth, "I am safe, too safe, alas! behind these
impregnable walls. If the French were fated to recapture Calais, they
would not have waited two hundred years for it. I am quite tranquil
about it; and if it ever falls to your lot to do the honors of Paris to
me, it will be in time of peace, I fancy."
"Let us leave it in God's hands, my Lord," said Gabriel. "Monsieur de
Coligny, whom I have just left, used to say that man's wisest course was
to wait."
"Very true; and meanwhile to live as happily as possible. Apropos,
Monsieur, it has occurred to me that you must be badly off for funds;
you know that my purse is at your disposal."
"Thanks again, my Lord; my own, though not sufficiently well lined to
allow me to pay my ransom on the spot, is at least amply furnished to
defray the cost of my stay here. My only real anxiety, I confess, is
lest your cousin's house, Master Peuquoy, cannot open its doors thus
unexpectedly to three new guests without inconvenience; and in that case
I should much prefer to go in search of another lodging, where for a few
crowns--"
"You are joking," interrupted Jean, eagerly; "for Pierre's house is
large enough, thank God, to hold three whole families, if necessary. In
the provinces they don't build so stingily and in such narrow places as
in Paris."
"Very true," said Lord Wentworth; "and I promise you, Monsieur d'Exmès,
that the armorer's dwelling is not unworthy of a captain. A more
numerous suite than yours could easily be accommodated there; and two
trades might be carried oil under its roof without inconvenience. Was it
not your intention, Master Peuquoy, to settle there and carry on your
occupation of weaving? Lord Grey said something of such a plan, which I
shall be very glad to see carried out."
"And which very possibly will be carried out," said Jean. "If Calais and
St. Quentin are to belong to the same masters, I should prefer to be
near my family."
"Yes," rejoined Lord Wentworth, who misunderstood the meaning of the
cunning burgher's words; "yes, it may be that St. Quentin will be an
English town before long. But I am keeping you," he added; "and after
the fatigues of the journey, you must be in need of rest, Monsieur
d'Exmès. Once more I tell you both you are free. _Au revoir_; we shall
soon meet again, shall we not?"
He escorted the captain and the burgher to the door, shaking the hand of
one and nodding amicably to the other, and left them to make the best of
their way to the Rue du Martroi. On that street, if our readers
remember, Pierre Peuquoy lived, at the sign of the God Mars, and there
we shall soon find Gabriel and Jean again, if God so wills it.
"Upon my word!" said Lord Wentworth, when he had seen the last of them,
"I believe that I was very shrewd in thus getting rid of having to
entertain Vicomte d'Exmès in my house. He is a gentleman, and has lived
at court; and if he has ever seen the fair prisoner who is in my grasp,
he surely would never cease to remember her. Yes, indeed; for even I,
who have not yet talked with her, was dazzled by her when she merely
passed before me two hours since. How fair she is! I love her! I love
her! Poor heart, so long dumb in this gloomy solitude, how you are
beating now! But this youth, who seems to me so gallant and brave, might
well have interfered unpleasantly, on recognizing his king's daughter,
in the relations which I calculate upon establishing with Madame Diane.
The presence of a fellow-countryman, perhaps a friend, would no doubt
have delayed Madame de Castro's avowals, or encouraged her in her
refusal. Let us have no third party in our affairs. Even if I have no
disposition to have recourse in all this to means unworthy of myself, it
is unnecessary for me to create obstacles."
He struck a peculiar stroke upon a bell. In a moment a lady's maid
appeared.
"Jane," said Lord Wentworth, in English, "have you offered your services
to this lady, as I told you?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"How is she now, Jane?"
"She appears sad, my Lord, but not overwhelmed. She has a proud look,
and speaks firmly, and gives her orders mildly, but as if she were used
to being obeyed."
"Very well," said the governor. "Has she partaken of the refreshment
which you put before her?"
"She has scarcely touched a piece of fruit, my Lord; under the confident
air that she affects, it is not difficult to detect a good deal of
anxiety and suffering."
"That will do, Jane," said Lord Wentworth. "Go you back to the lady, and
ask her in my name--in the name of Lord Wentworth, governor of Calais,
on whom Lord Grey's rights have devolved--if she is willing to receive
me. Go, and come back at once."
In a few minutes, which seemed ages to Lord Wentworth, the maid
reappeared.
"Well?" he asked.
"Well, my Lord," Jane replied, "the lady not only consents, but desires
to see you at once."
"Indeed! everything goes as well as possible," said Lord Wentworth to
himself.
"But she has kept old Mary with her," added Jane, "and told me to come
right back again."
"Very well, Jane, go. She must be obeyed in everything, you understand.
Go, and say that I am but a moment behind you."
Jane went out; and Lord Wentworth, with his heart beating like a lover
of twenty, began to mount the stairs which led to Diane de Castro's
apartments.
"Oh, what bliss!" he said. "I love her! And she whom I love, a king's
daughter too, is in my power!"