A Warning from L'Estang
The hour being late when we reached Le Blanc, Jacques proposed that we
should put up at the inn. Old Pierre came bustling out with a hearty
welcome; the horses were stabled, a room was prepared, and by the time
we had removed the traces of our journey Pierre brought in a substantial
and appetising supper.
"Why, Pierre," I exclaimed laughing, "you must have laid your larder
bare!"
"All the larders in the village would be laid bare for monsieur's use,"
replied the old man, and I believed him.
"Come Jacques," I said, "sit down and fall-to; the ride to-day must have
put an edge on your appetite!" for we had eaten nothing since the early
morning.
After supper I bade Pierre seat himself and tell us the news of the
neighbourhood, which he did willingly, though there was but little to
relate. The castle still remained closed, and when I asked about the
keys he said they had been taken away by the officer, and no one knew
what had become of them.
"That need not keep us out long," said Jacques, "we can easily get
fresh ones made in the morning; Urie will see to that."
"Has Etienne Cordel been in the village lately?" I asked.
"He is always here, monsieur," cried the old man with an angry outburst;
"he collects the money for the crown, and acts as if he were the
rightful owner. He gives himself as many airs as if he were some great
lord!"
"Which he may be one of these days; he has powerful friends at Court.
Doesn't he talk of what he will do in the future?"
"He tells idle tales, monsieur," replied Pierre with a frown.
"What does he say?"
"That before long the estates will be his own, and that the king has
promised to make him the Sieur Le Blanc. He is going to live in the
castle and grind us under his feet. But"--and the old man shook his head
scornfully--"I don't think his life at the castle will be a long one! A
rascally lawyer to be our master, forsooth!"
"Well, Pierre," I said, "at present I intend living there myself, and, I
do not suppose Cordel will care to keep me company. Send word to Urie
that I shall need his services at daylight, and now we will go to bed;
Jacques is half asleep already."
"I do feel drowsy, monsieur," said Jacques, almost as if it were a crime
to be tired, "but I shall be fresh by the morning."
The news of my return quickly spread, and next day all the village had
assembled outside Pierre's door. Men, women and children were there, and
I confess their hearty and genuine welcome touched me very closely. I
had always been a favourite with them, and the death of my father, of
whose prowess at D'Angely they had heard, increased their love.
"Ho, ho!" exclaimed one burly fellow, "now that our young lord has come
back Monsieur Cordel can take himself off, or he will get a taste of my
cudgel!"
"No, no, my friend!" I cried hastily, for his companions had begun to
cheer, "you must not interfere with Monsieur Cordel, or you will get
into trouble. I have returned to Le Blanc by the king's instructions,
but his majesty has not yet signed the necessary papers permitting me to
take possession of my property. That will come in time, but meanwhile we
must be patient and give no cause of offence."
"We will do whatever you tell us, monsieur," they answered.
From the first streak of dawn Urie, the blacksmith and worker in iron,
had with the assistance of Jacques been busily fashioning the new keys.
It was a troublesome business, and evening was again approaching when I
succeeded in entering my old home.
Rather to my surprise, I discovered that the royal troops had committed
little damage, and in a few days, through the willing labours of the
villagers, everything was restored to its former condition. Several of
my father's old servants were eager to return, but, knowing how
uncertain the future was, I decided to manage with as few as possible.
"I fear, monsieur," said Jacques one evening, about a week after our
return, "that we must expect trouble."
"How so?" I asked.
"Cordel has been in the village, and has gone off in a towering passion.
It seems he has only just learned of your arrival, and has let fall
several threats to old Pierre."
"Pshaw!" I exclaimed, "what harm can the fellow do us?"
"I do not know, monsieur; but he is a false knave and full of cunning.
He will play you a nasty trick if he can find a way!"
"We will wait till that time comes," I replied cheerfully, thinking
Jacques had magnified the danger.
Cordel did not tax my patience long. The very next afternoon an officer
with an escort of twenty troopers, clattering up to the drawbridge,
demanded admittance in the king's name. He was accompanied by the
lawyer, and, knowing it would be folly to offer resistance, I ordered
the bridge to be lowered.
"Edmond Le Blanc?" said the officer brusquely.
"Permit me to put you right," I replied: "the Sieur Le Blanc!"
He looked at Cordel, who said, "No one bears that name now. His father
was outlawed, and his estate confiscated. The castle belongs to the
king; this fellow has no right here, and," viciously, "I doubt if he has
a right to his life. In any case, as the king's representative, I order
you to arrest him!"
"You will be responsible?" asked the officer, who seemed suddenly to
have become somewhat timorous. "You will give me an order in writing?"
"I tell you," exclaimed Cordel furiously, taken aback by this question,
"that I am carrying out the wishes of Monseigneur. If you desire to make
an enemy of him, you must."
"But Monseigneur is not the king," said the perplexed officer.
"You must choose between them," I remarked, rather enjoying his dilemma.
"This man appears to shelter himself under the authority of Monseigneur;
I am here at the express command of his majesty, to whom, as you wear
his uniform, I suppose you are responsible. However, the business is
none of mine, but when the king calls you to account, remember that I
gave you warning."
"A plague on you both!" cried the officer, now thoroughly exasperated.
"To offend Monseigneur will be bad; to offend the king may be worse. Do
I understand, monsieur, that you are here by the king's wish?"
"I am acting on his instructions. Of course, if you force me to
accompany you, I must submit, but it will be at your own peril."
He drew Cordel aside, and the two conversed earnestly together for
several minutes. Then, turning to me, he said, "I am going away,
monsieur; when I return it will be with his majesty's order in my
pocket."
"You will find me always ready to obey his majesty's commands," I
answered, and at that the whole body rode off, Cordel turning round to
give me a glance of bitter and vindictive hatred.
"The lawyer's first move!" observed Jacques, who had been standing by my
side during the parley, "what will be the second?"
"To seek the advice of his patron. To-morrow most likely he will set out
for Paris. It was bound to come to this, but I am rather sorry.
Monseigneur has immense influence over the king. I fear that he and the
Queen-Mother will prove more than a match for the Admiral. However, we
will go on hoping until the worst happens."
The next evening Jacques returned with the information that the lawyer
had departed. Having expected this move I was not surprised, but it made
my prospects distinctly gloomy. Anjou possessed much influence at Court,
and the king was hardly likely to quarrel with his brother over the
affairs of an unknown and penniless lad.
Several weeks passed, and even after Cordel's return from Paris I
remained in quiet possession of the castle. I received no papers from
the king, but, on the other hand, no one made any attempt to molest me.
It appeared as if the cloud had passed over without bursting. But I was
yet to learn of what Etienne Cordel was capable.
I was sitting one night alone in my room, reading for the second time a
letter from Jeanne. She wrote very brightly and hopefully. She continued
to be a decided favourite with her royal mistress, and was very happy in
her service. This was good news, as I thought it unwise for her to come
to Le Blanc until my affairs were settled.
She wrote at great length, too, on a subject that was producing much
excitement in Queen Joan's little court. This was a proposal that Henry
of Bearn should marry the king's sister, Margaret. Charles was said to
be eager for the marriage, which was also approved of by the leading
Huguenot gentlemen, but thus far Queen Joan had refused her consent.
"Faith," I said to myself, "nothing could be better; it would give our
party a strong friend at Court. It might help me out of my difficulty
too. I wish the marriage were taking place to-morrow!"
It was a wild night outside; very cold, with a heavy downfall of rain,
while now and then the wind howled round the building in furious gusts.
I had put the letter away, and was sitting down again when some one
knocked at the door. Knowing it must be Jacques, I told him to enter.
"A wild night, Jacques," I remarked. "We have the best of it indoors."
"Truly, monsieur, only those who are forced will ride abroad in weather
like this. But there is one person eager enough for your company to
brave the storm. He has travelled far, too, by the look of his horse."
"A visitor for me! Where is he? Who is it?"
"He is in the courtyard, where, if you take my advice, you will let him
stay. As to who he is, he either has no name or is too shy to tell it.
He is muffled up so closely that one cannot see his face."
"And he will not give his name?"
"He says it is sufficient to tell you he is the writer of the letter
from St. Jean d'Angely."
"It is all right, Jacques. Have the horse put in the stables, and bring
the rider here."
"Is it wise, monsieur? One cannot be too careful in these days."
"The man is a friend, Jacques, and will do me no harm. You are getting
fanciful."
"Very good, monsieur," said he stolidly, and turned away.
"The writer of the letter from St. Jean d'Angely," I said. "He must have
come from Paris on purpose to see me! What does he want? Does he bring
news? What a dolt Jacques is! Why is he so long? Ah, they are coming!"
and in my eagerness I hurried to the door.
My visitor was heavily cloaked and closely muffled, and he made no
movement toward undoing his wrappings.
"Is it L'Estang?" I asked, at which he turned as if to remind me that my
servant was present.
"You can trust Jacques as you would trust myself," I said; "but come
into my room, while he prepares some supper; you are wet; it is a wild
night."
"A terrible night, monsieur; I was glad to see the walls of your
castle."
Bidding Jacques see that a good meal was got ready, I led my visitor
into my chamber, where he removed his hat and cloak, which I sent away
to be dried I made him take off his boots, and gave him a change of
clothing, for his own was soaked by the heavy rain.
"It is kind of you, monsieur," he said, "but I must depart before
morning. I am supposed to be in Paris, and I cannot afford to be
recognized here."
"Still," I said pleasantly, "you may as well be comfortable while you
remain. No one will see you but Jacques, and I would trust him with my
life. Join me when you are ready."
Jacques had everything arranged so that there was no need for any one to
enter the room, and at a sign from me he went out, though very
reluctantly, being afraid apparently lest my unexpected visitor should
have some evil design on my life.
L'Estang sat down to the table and ate and drank like a man who had
fasted long.
"It is a curious situation, is it not?" said he presently. "Here am I,
in the service of Anjou, accepting the hospitality of one of Coligny's
attendants. We ought really to be cutting each other's throats!"
"There can be no question of strife between you and me, L'Estang."
"No," he said slowly, "I am too much in your debt. I have not
forgotten."
"You repaid me at D'Angely, and now I fancy I shall be in your debt. You
have journeyed from Paris on purpose to see me!"
"To warn you of danger!"
"From Cordel? He is my bitter enemy, and hates me, though I scarcely
know why."
"The reason is plain. You are in his way, and baulk his plans. He has
been very useful to Monseigneur, and is deep in his secrets."
"But that does not concern me!"
L'Estang looked at me a moment before replying. "It concerns you very
nearly, monsieur. Cordel expects to be paid for his work, and his wages
were agreed upon long ago. They are the estates of Le Blanc, and a
patent of nobility. Cordel flies high."
"It appears so."
"As you know, the estates were confiscated, and he was made receiver for
the crown. That was the first step. Good progress had been made with the
second, when Coligny appealed to the king at Blois."
"You know that?"
"I am acquainted with many things," he answered, smiling. "The king
brought up the subject in Paris; Monseigneur protested, but Charles had
one of his obstinate fits and declared he would do as he pleased.
Monseigneur went to his mother, who talked to Charles with the result
that the papers are still unsigned."
"The Admiral will use his influence," I said.
"The Admiral is a broken reed, monsieur; but if it were not so, your
danger would be just as great. Cordel has been in Paris: he is furious
at the check to his plans, and afraid lest they should be overthrown. He
can see but one way out of the difficulty."
"And that?"
"Is obvious; you are the obstacle in his path, and he intends to remove
it."
"You mean that he will try to take my life?"
"If you were dead, he would obtain the estates without trouble, and the
patent would follow."
"Pshaw!" I exclaimed, "Etienne Cordel is too timorous a knave to play
with naked steel, or even to fire a pistol from behind a hedge!"
"But not too timorous to employ others," said L'Estang. "There are
scores of ruffians in Paris ready to earn a few crowns, and Cordel knows
where to seek them. That is what brought me here to-night. Weigh well
what I say, monsieur. This rascal has marked you down, and sleeping or
waking your life is in danger."
I thanked the kind-hearted adventurer warmly for his service--it was
strange to think that but for a trifling accident he might have been
earning Cordel's pay--and promised to observe the greatest caution.
"If I learn anything more," he said, "I will send you a note by a trusty
messenger, and that you may be sure it comes from me I will sign it
D'Angely."
"A good suggestion, monsieur. Now, there is still time for an hour or
two's sleep before starting on your journey."
"I must not be here at daylight: if Cordel recognizes me, I can do you
no more good."
"The mornings are dark; I will call you in ample time, and Jacques will
have your horse ready. You can be miles away from Le Blanc before the
villagers are stirring."
The heavy supper and the warmth of the room after his cold, wet ride had
made him drowsy, and on my promising to call him at the end of two
hours he went to bed.
It was still dark when Jacques undid the fastenings of the gate, and I
bade my guest farewell.
"Remember my warning!" he whispered, "and keep free from Cordel's
clutches."
"A short visit, monsieur," commented Jacques, as L'Estang rode off.
"But full of interest, nevertheless. My visitor came all the way from
Paris in this wretched weather and at some risk to himself to warn me
against Etienne Cordel"; and thereupon I told Jacques the story, though
without revealing the adventurer's identity.
"The tale rings true," said he, "but we ought to be a match for the
lawyer's cut-throats. 'Tis a pity that Cordel won't give us a chance of
measuring swords with him."
"He knows better how to handle the goose-quill," I laughed, leaving
Jacques to fasten the gate, and returning to my room.