MONSIEUR DE PREAULX
I kept off the road as far as possible to avoid being tracked. Even if
no further attempt to follow me was made to-night, which was
uncertain, as de Gomeron was not the man to let the barest chance slip
through his fingers, yet there was no doubt as to what would happen on
the morrow. I congratulated myself on having crippled the last of the
sleuthhounds, as my gentlemen would be placed thereby in a difficulty
in regard to my route, and if they scoured the country in twos and
threes, I felt confident of being able, with Jacques' aid, to give a
good account of myself did we meet, despite my bruised leg, which
reminded me of itself unpleasantly.
As I patted Couronne's neck I thought of Nicholas, and with the memory
of him the face of Marie came up. I felt myself in a measure
responsible for his death, and was resolved to weigh out in full to
Marie the payment I had promised them both. It was a debt I would
discharge to the end of the measure.
A sense of relief came to my mind with this resolve, and, as Rouvres
could not be far distant, I slackened pace to let the horses breathe a
trifle, and began to hastily plan my future course of action on
reaching Paris. I had not only discovered what was evidently a deep
and widely-spread plot, but had also stumbled on the dreadful secret
of the death of the woman who was to be Queen of France in name, as
she was in reality. It was certain that she had been foully murdered.
It was certain that the King's most trusted captain and many of his
greatest nobles were hilt-deep in treachery--so much I knew. I had
seen with mine own eyes, and heard with mine own ears, but beyond this
I had no proofs--and what would my word weigh against theirs! Besides
this there was my own trouble. D'Ayen's mocking warning was explicit
enough when read with Palin's confidence, and any doubt I may have had
on that point was almost set at rest by what I had overheard. In
short, I was the rival of the King, and felt my head very loose upon
my neck.
What was I to do? It was no easy matter to decide; but I came to the
conclusion that my best course was to seek out the all-powerful Sully,
tell him what I knew, and beg the help of that great man. I did not
know him, except by repute; but my case was strong and my cause good.
I would delay not a moment about this on reaching Paris; but it was
Rouvres I had to come to first, and many a league lay for reflection
between me and the Louvre.
So I jogged on, not quite certain of my way, and every now and again
making a cast to find the road, for by riding parallel with it I knew
I must reach my destination. Once, however, I lost myself for about an
hour, and, on finding the road again, resolved to keep to it for the
remainder of my journey, as the moon was rapidly waning, and that
darkness which touches the edge of the morning was at hand.
At last I heard the Lauds chime solemnly out into the night, and in a
few minutes pulled up the weary beasts before the gates of Rouvres.
Here I found a difficulty I might have anticipated. The gates were
shut, and the unpleasant prospect of a dreary wait of some hours lay
before me. This was not to be borne, and I raised a clamour that might
have awakened the dead. It had the desired effect of rousing the watch
at the gate; a wicket was opened, the light of a lanthorn flashed
through, and a gruff voice bade me begone.
'Open,' I roared, 'open in the King's name.'
'_Pardieu!_ Monsieur, the gates are kept shut in the King's name, and
his Majesty does not like his subjects' rest being disturbed,'
answered another voice, and from its tone and inflection I guessed it
was that of an officer.
'In that case, monsieur,' I said, 'let me in so that we may both go to
our beds, and a thousand apologies for disturbing you. My servant is
already at the _Grand Cerf_, and one man cannot take Rouvres.'
'Then you are that M. de Preaulx of the Anjoumois, whose lackey
Jacques Bisson arrived last night--for it is morning now?'
'You keep good watch, monsieur--who else should I be?' I said, with an
inward 'thank heaven' at the accident that had discovered to me my new
name.
There was no reply for a moment, though I heard some one laughing, and
the rays of the light were cast to the right and to the left of me to
see that I was really alone. Finally orders were given for my
admission. The gates went open with a creaking, and I was within
Rouvres.
As I rode in I stopped to thank the officer for his courtesy, and the
light being very clear, he observed my condition, and exclaimed,
'_Diable!_ But you have ridden far, monsieur, and with a led horse
too!'
'I ride in the King's name, monsieur,' I replied a little coldly, and,
thanking him once more, was seized with an inspiration, and begged the
favour of his company at dinner at the _Grand Cerf_.
'With pleasure, monsieur. Permit me to introduce myself. I am the
Chevalier d'Aubusson, lieutenant of M. de Sancy's company of
ordonnance.'
I raised my hat in response; 'His Majesty has no braver word than M.
de Sancy. At twelve then, monsieur, I shall have the pleasure of
meeting you again; good night, or rather good morning!'
'Adieu!' he answered, 'I will be punctual. The _Grand Cerf_ is but a
couple of hundred toises to your right.'
As I rode up the narrow and ill-paved street I heard d'Aubusson
whistling a catch as he turned into the guard-room, and congratulated
myself on my stratagem and the luck that had befriended it. I knew
enough of court intrigue to be aware that de Sancy and the Marshal
were at each other's throats, and that I could therefore always get
protection here by declaring myself against Biron. Then came a short
turn to the right, and Monsieur de Preaulx of the Anjoumois was at the
door of the _Grand Cerf_. It opened to my knock, and Jacques, faithful
knave, was in waiting. After this there followed the usual little
delay and bustle consequent on a new arrival.
As I dismounted Jacques whispered in my ear, 'You are M. de Preaulx of
Saumur in the Anjoumois, monsieur.'
'So M. d'Aubusson tells me,' I replied in the same tone, and then
louder, 'but you might have made a mess of it, Jacques--however, you
meant well, and I owe you five crowns for your good intentions. Now
call mine host, and tell him to show me to my rooms whilst you see to
the horses.'
Mine host was already there, in slippered feet, with a long candle in
one hand and a cup of warmed Romanee in the other. He led the way with
many bows, and I limped after him to a room which was large and
comfortable enough.
'Here is some mulled Romanee for monsieur le baron,' he said, as he
handed me the goblet; 'his lordship the count will observe that the
best room has been kept for him, and later on I will have the pleasure
of setting the finest dinner in France before the most noble marquis;
good night, monseigneur, good night and good dreams,' and he tottered
off, leaving me to drink the mulled wine, which was superb, and to
sleep the sleep of the utterly weary.
It was late when I awoke and found Jacques in my room, attending to my
things. The rest had done my leg good, although it was still stiff,
and the wearing of a long boot painful. As I finished my toilet I
asked my man,
'Horses ready?'
'They will be by the time Monsieur has dined. I shall put the valises
on the nag we got at Evreux for you.'
'Right. _Morbleu!_ I hear M. d'Aubusson below. It is very late.'
'It has just gone the dinner hour.'
I hurried downstairs, leaving Jacques to pack, and was only just in
time to receive my guest.
'A hundred pardons, monsieur; but I overslept myself.'
''Tis a sleepy place,' he answered, 'there is nothing to do but to
sleep.'
'Surely there is something to love.'
'Not a decent ankle under a petticoat.'
'At any rate we can eat. Come, sit you down. My ride has made me
hungry as a wolf, and I have far to go.'
The dinner was excellent, the Armagnac of the finest vintage, and
d'Aubusson to all appearances a gay frank-hearted fellow, and we
became very friendly as the wine cup passed.
'Tell me what induced M. de Sancy to quarter his company here?' I
asked towards the close of the meal, as the lieutenant was cursing his
luck at being stationed at Rouvres.
He burst out laughing; 'Oh! M. de Sancy has a government and five
thousand livres a year to maintain his company, and being a pious soul
has enlisted all the saints, and keeps them as far as possible from
the temptations of Paris.'
'Enlisted the saints!'
'Yes--this Armagnac is excellent--yes, the saints. Our gentlemen are
all from heaven--there is St. Andre, St. Vincent, St. Martin, St.
Blaise, St. Loy, St. Pol, and half the calendar besides!'
'Ha! ha! the heavenly host.'
'Oh! I am proud, I assure you. I command the company from Paradise.'
'Or the gendarmes of the Kyrielle.'
'_Noel_! _Noel!_' he called out gaily, and as he did so we heard a
clatter of hoofs in the courtyard, and a few moments afterwards the
landlord ushered in two gentlemen. It took me but a glance to
recognise in one the Italian Zamet, and in the other the Chevalier
Lafin. It cost me an effort to compose myself, so much was I startled;
but I comforted myself with the assurance that I was unknown to them,
and that an arrest would be no easy matter with Sancy's company at
hand. Beyond bowing to us, however, as they passed, they took no
further notice of me for the present, and contented themselves with
ordering some wine, and conversing in low tones at the table at which
they sat.
Nevertheless, it was a piece of ill luck. These men were evidently
back on their way to Paris, and by coming through Rouvres had stumbled
upon me in such a manner as to hold me at serious disadvantage. My one
consolation was that Zamet did not look like a fighting man, and as
for the other, there was an equal chance for each of us; but I had no
idea what their force might be outside. It turned out that it was very
small, and it was owing to this that the incident I am about to
describe ended so peacefully. A look or two in our direction appeared
to indicate that the new arrivals were discussing us, and my doubts
were soon set at rest by a lackey entering and holding a brief
whispered talk with Zamet. He dismissed the man quietly, and then
bending forward said something to Lafin, and both, rising, approached
us.
'Monsieur will pardon me,' said Zamet, addressing me with his lisping
Italian accent, 'but I understand that you entered Rouvres late last
night.'
'Yes,' I answered, whilst d'Aubusson raised his eyebrows and leaned
back in his chair, twirling his moustache.
'Then would you be so kind as to inform me, if you came by the road
from Anet, whether you met a wounded horseman riding this way?'
'Before I answer any questions, will you be good enough to tell me who
you are, gentlemen?'
'I am Zamet, Comptroller of the King's household,' replied the
Italian.
'And I the Chevalier de Lafin, nephew and heir to the Vidame de
Chartres.'
'I see no reason to reply to your question, messieurs, even if you are
the persons you name.'
Zamet smiled slightly, with a meaning look towards Lafin, who burst
out:
'Have a care, monsieur, remember I follow the Marshal duc de Biron.'
'Of Burgundy and La Bresse,' I added with a sneer, rising from my
seat, my hand on my sword hilt.
'It is he,' exclaimed the Italian, and Lafin, who saw my movement,
stepped back half a pace, not from fear, but to gain room to draw his
weapon.
'My dear lieutenant,' and I turned to d'Aubusson, 'you complain that
this is a dull place. We shall now have some relaxation. These
gentlemen want a question answered, and I say certainly--I suggest the
garden as a suitable place for our conference. Will you do me the
favour to look on?'
'That will be slower than ever for me. If you will allow me to join
you?'
'Delighted. You are my guest, and it will make us exactly two to two.
Now, gentlemen,' I will answer your question on the lawn.' Whilst we
were speaking, some hurried words passed between Lafin and Zamet, and
as I turned to them with my invitation the Italian answered:
'There was no offence meant, monsieur. We had business with the man
from Anet,' he looked hard at me as he spoke, 'and at present we have
not leisure to attend to you. We will, therefore, not intrude on you
further. We but stay for a glass of wine, and then press onwards.'
'Hum!' exclaimed d'Aubusson, surveying him from head to bootheel, and
then turning an equally contemptuous look at Lafin, 'you are very
disobliging gentlemen.'
'This is not to be borne,' burst out Lafin. 'Come, sir----'
But Zamet again interposed.
'_Diavolo!_ Chevalier, your courage is known. We will settle with
these gentlemen another day--you forget. Will you risk all now? 'His
companion put back his half-drawn sword with a curse and a snap, and,
turning on his heel, went to the other end of the room, followed by
Zamet. There they drank their wine and departed, and an hour later I
also started. D'Aubusson insisted on accompanying me part of the way
with a couple of his saints, and, as we approached the Paris gate, we
observed a man riding slowly, a little ahead of us. 'I recognise the
grey,' said Jacques, coming to my side. 'Monsieur, that is one of the
three servants the two gentlemen who have gone before had with them.'
This small force accounted, as I have said, for the moderation Zamet
had shown; but it flashed upon me that the lackey had been left behind
for no other purpose than that of observing our route. Even if I was
wrong in this surmise it was well to be prudent, and turning to
d'Aubusson I said:
'Monsieur, I wish to be frank with you. It is true that I am bearing
news to Paris which will be of the greatest service to the King; but
my name is not de Preaulx.'
'I know that,' he said quietly, 'I am of the Anjoumois, and there is
no such name there.'
'And you did not arrest me?'
'Why the devil should I? The land is at peace, and I have been
Monsieur "I-Don't-Know-What" before now myself. Besides, you were in
my hands at the _Grand Cerf_. You are in my hands now. But I wanted to
know more, and when I saw that you were an object of M. Zamet's
attentions I knew you were on our side.'
'Exactly so, and I owe you much for this. There is another favour I
would ask.'
'And it is?'
'That you stop the man riding ahead of us until this evening.'
'As it will annoy Zamet, I shall do so with pleasure. I had half a
mind to stop the shoemaker himself.'
With this allusion to Zamet's ignoble origin he turned and gave a
short order to his men. As we came up to the gate the man before us
slackened pace so as to let us pass, with the obvious intention, so I
thought, of following me at his convenience. He had hardly pulled rein
when the two saints closed in, one on each side of him, and in a trice
he was in their hands. He protested violently, as might have been
expected, but in vain, and we waited until he was well out of sight on
his way to the guard-room.
At the gate we asked which way Zamet and his party had gone.
'By Tacoignieres, messieurs,' answered the sentinel.
'Then my way is by Septeuil,' I said. 'I owe you a long debt, M.
d'Aubusson, and will repay. We shall meet again.'
'_Pardieu!_ I hope so--and you dine with me at More's.'
'Or where you will--adieu.'
'A good journey.'
And with a parting wave of my hand I turned Couronne's head, and
galloped off, followed by Jacques.