DE LOIGNAC'S INTERVIEW WITH THE FORTY-FIVE.
Each of the young men placed himself at a window to watch for the return
of the king. Ernanton, however, soon forgot his present situation, and
became abstracted in thinking who the woman could be who had entered
Paris as his page, and whom he had since seen in such a splendid litter;
and with a heart more disposed to love adventure than to make ambitious
calculations, he forgot why he was sitting there, till, suddenly raising
his head, he saw that St. Maline was no longer there. He understood at
once that he had seen the king arrive, and had gone to him. He rose
quickly, traversed the gallery, and arrived at the king's room just as
St. Maline was coming out.
"Look!" cried he joyfully, "what the king has given me," and he showed a
gold chain.
"I congratulate you, monsieur," said Ernanton, quietly, and he entered
in his turn.
St. Maline waited impatiently until he came out again, which he did in
about ten minutes, although it appeared an hour to St. Maline.
When Ernanton came out, he looked all over him, and seeing nothing, he
cried joyfully, "And you, monsieur, what has he given to you?"
"His hand to kiss," replied Ernanton.
St. Maline crushed his chain impatiently in his hands, and they both
returned in silence. As they entered the hall, the trumpet sounded, and
at this signal all the Forty-five came out of their rooms, wondering
what was the matter; while they profited by this reunion to examine each
other. Most of them were richly dressed, though generally in bad taste.
They all had a military tournour, and long swords, boots and gloves of
buckskin or buffalo, all well gilded or well greased, were almost
universal.
The most discreet might be known by their quiet colors, the most
economical by the substantial character of their equipments, and the
most gay by their white or rose-colored satins. Perducas de Pincornay
had bought from some Jew a gold chain as thick as a cable; Pertinax de
Montcrabeau was all bows and embroidery: he had bought his costume from
a merchant who had purchased it of a gentleman who had been wounded by
robbers. It was rather stained with blood and dirt, it was true, but he
had managed to clean it tolerably. There remained two holes made by the
daggers of the robbers, but Pertinax had had them embroidered in gold.
Eustache de Miradoux did not shine; he had had to clothe Lardille,
Militor, and the two children. All the gentlemen were there admiring
each other, when M. de Loignac entered frowning, and placed himself in
front of them, with a countenance anything but agreeable.
"Gentlemen," said he, "are you all here?"
"All!" they replied.
"Gentlemen, you have been summoned to Paris as a special guard to the
king; it is an honorable title, but it engages you to much. Some of you
seem not to have understood your duties; I will, therefore, recall them
to you. If you do not assist at the deliberations of the council, you
will constantly be called upon to execute the resolutions passed there;
therefore, the responsibility of those secrets rests upon you. Suppose
now that one of the officers on whom the safety of the state and the
tranquillity of the crown reposes, betray the secrets of the council, or
a soldier charged with a commission does not execute it, his life is the
forfeit; you know that?"
"Doubtless," replied many voices.
"Well, gentlemen, this very day a measure of his majesty's has been
betrayed, and a step which he wished to take rendered, perhaps,
impossible."
Terror began to replace pride in the minds of the Forty-five, and they
looked at each other with suspicion and disquietude.
"Two of you, gentlemen," continued De Loignac, "have been heard in the
open street chattering like a couple of old women, and that about grave
things."
St. Maline advanced. "Monsieur," said he, "pray explain at once, that
suspicion may not rest on us all."
"That is easy. The king heard to-day that one of his enemies--precisely
one of those whom we have been enrolled to guard him against--had
arrived in Paris to conspire against him. This name was pronounced
quietly, but was overheard by a soldier on guard, that is to say, by a
man who should be regarded as a wall--deaf, dumb, and immovable.
However, that man repeated this name in the street with a noise and
boasting which attracted the attention of the passers-by and raised
quite an emotion; I know it, for I was there, and heard and saw all, and
had I not placed my hand on his shoulder to stop him, he would have
compromised such grave interests, that, had he not been quiet at my
touch, I should have been compelled to poniard him on the spot."
Pertinax de Montcrabeau and Perducas de Pincornay turned deadly pale,
and Montcrabeau tried to stammer out some excuses. All eyes were turned
toward them.
"Nothing can excuse you," said De Loignac; "even if you were drunk you
should be punished for that; and you shall be punished."
A terrible silence ensued. Then Pertinax said, "Pardon, monsieur! we are
provincials, new to the court, and unaccustomed to politics."
"You should not have accepted your posts without weighing their duties."
"For the future we will be as mute as sepulchers, we swear to you."
"Good; but can you repair the evil you have done to-day?"
"We will try."
"It is impossible, I tell you."
"Then, for this time, pardon us."
"You live," continued De Loignac, "with a sort of license which I must
repress. Those who find the terms too hard will return; I can easily
replace them; but I warn you that justice will be done among us,
secretly and expeditiously. Traitors will be punished with death on the
spot."
Montcrabeau nearly fainted, and Pertinax grew paler than ever.
"I shall have," De Loignac continued, "for smaller offenses lighter
punishments, as imprisonment, for instance. For this time, I spare the
lives of M. de Montcrabeau and M. de Pincornay, because they probably
acted in ignorance, and shall only enforce against them my third method
of punishment--a fine. You have received one thousand livres apiece,
gentlemen; you will each return one hundred."
"One hundred!" cried Pincornay; "Cap de Bious! I have not got them; I
have spent them on my equipment."
"Sell your chain, then. But I have something else to add; I have
remarked many signs of irritation between different members of your
body, and each time a difference arises I wish the matter referred to
me, and I alone shall have the power of allowing a duel to take place.
Dueling is much in fashion now, but I do not wish, that, to follow the
fashion, my company be constantly left imperfect. The first duel,
therefore, that takes place without my permission will be punished with
a rigorous imprisonment and a heavy fine. Now fifteen of you will place
yourselves this evening at the foot of the staircase when his majesty
receives, fifteen will keep without, and fifteen remain at home. Also,
as you should have some chief, and I cannot be everywhere, I will each
day name a chief for the fifteen, so that all shall learn to obey and
command. At present I do not know the capacities of any one, but I shall
watch and learn. Now, go, gentlemen; and M. de Montcrabeau and M. de
Pincornay, you will remember that I expect your fines to be paid
to-morrow."
They all retired except Ernanton, who lingered behind.
"Do you wish anything?" asked De Loignac.
"Yes, monsieur," said Ernanton, bowing; "it seems to me that you have
forgotten to point out to us our duties. To be in the king's service has
a glorious sound, doubtless, but I should wish to know in what this
service consists?"
"That, monsieur, is a question to which I cannot reply."
"May I ask why, monsieur?"
"Because I, myself, am often ignorant in the morning of what I shall
have to do in the evening."
"Monsieur, you are placed in such a high position that you must know
much of which we are ignorant."
"You love the king, I suppose?"
"I do; and I ought to do so, as a subject and a gentleman."
"Well! that is the cardinal point by which to regulate your conduct."
"Very well, monsieur; but there is one point which disquiets me."
"What is it?"
"Passive obedience."
"It is an essential condition."
"So I understand; but it is sometimes difficult for persons who are
delicate on points of honor."
"That does not concern me, M. de Carmainges."
"But, monsieur, when an order displeases you--"
"I read the signature of M. d'Epernon, and that consoles me."
"And M. d'Epernon?"
"He reads the signature of his majesty, and consoles himself as I do."
"You are right, monsieur, and I am your humble servant;" and Ernanton
was about to retire, when De Loignac stopped him.
"I will say to you," said he, "what I have not said to the others, for
no one else has had the courage to speak to me thus."
Ernanton bowed.
"Perhaps," continued De Loignac, "a great personage will come to the
Louvre this evening; if so, do not lose sight of him, and follow him
when he leaves."
"Pardon me, monsieur; but that seems the work of a spy."
"Do you think so? It is possible; but look here"--and he drew out a
paper which he presented to Ernanton, who read--
"'Have M. de Mayenne followed this evening, if he presents himself at
the Louvre.--D'EPERNON.'"
"Well, monsieur?"
"I will follow M. de Mayenne," said Ernanton, bowing.