A GRAND SCHEME FOR A GREAT MAN
The Duc de Guise, since he had borne the title of Lieutenant-General of
the kingdom, occupied apartments in the Louvre itself. The ambitious
chief of the house of Lorraine thus slept, or rather lay awake, every
night in the royal dwelling of the kings of France.
What waking dreams did he have beneath that chimera-haunted roof? His
dreams had taken a great stride forward since the day when he confided
to Gabriel, in his tent before Civitella, his designs upon the throne of
Naples. Would he be content now? Being a guest in the royal palace,
would he not say to himself that before long he might well become its
master? Did he not already feel vaguely the pressure of a crown about
his temples? Did he not with a complacent smile contemplate the good
sword which, more powerful than the magician's wand, might transform his
hopes to reality?
We may imagine that even as early as this, François de Lorraine did
harbor such thoughts; for consider! Did not the king himself, by calling
him to his assistance in his distress, justify his wildest ambition? To
intrust to him the welfare of France at such a time was to recognize him
as the first captain of his age! François I. would not have been so
modest! No, he would have girded on the sword of Marignan. But Henri
II., although of great personal courage, lacked the will to command and
the force to execute.
The Duc de Guise said all this to himself; but he also told himself that
it was not enough to be able to justify his rash hopes in his own eyes,
but that he must justify them in the eyes of France; that he must by
glorious services and signal success purchase his right and carve out
his own destiny.
The fortunate general who had had the opportunity to arrest the second
invasion of Charles V. at Metz knew very well that he had not yet
accomplished so much that he could venture to try for the whole. Even
when at this time he had driven back to the frontier the Spanish and the
English, still it was not enough. In order that France might throw
herself into his hands, or allow him to take her to himself, he must not
only repair her losses, but must make conquests for her.
Such were the-reflections which had preoccupied the great mind of the
Duc de Guise since his return from Italy.
He was going over them again on this very day when Gabriel de
Montgommery was concluding his new, apparently insane, yet sublime
agreement with Henri II.
Alone in his room, François de Guise, standing at the window, was
looking into the courtyard with eyes that saw not, and mechanically
thrumming upon the glass with his fingers.
One of his people knocked softly at the door, and upon receiving the
duke's permission to enter, announced Vicomte d'Exmès.
"Vicomte d'Exmès!" said the Duc de Guise, who had a memory like
Cæsar's, and who also had the best of reasons for remembering Gabriel.
"Vicomte d'Exmès! My young companion in arms of Metz and Renty and
Valenza! Show him in, Thibault; show him in at once!"
The valet; bowed and left the room to introduce Gabriel.
Our hero (we surely have the right to give him that name) had not
hesitated. With the instinct which illuminates the brain at critical
moments, and which if it shines throughout the ordinary extent of one's
life is called genius, Gabriel, on leaving the king, as if he had
foreseen the secret thoughts which the Duc de Guise was fondling in his
mind at that moment, betook himself at once to the apartments of the
lieutenant-general.
He was perhaps the only living man who could understand and assist him.
Gabriel might well have been touched by the reception which he met with
from his former commander.
The Duc de Guise went quite to the door to meet him, and folded him in
his arms.
"Ah, you are here at last, my hero!" he said effusively. "Whence have
you come h What has become of you since St. Quentin? Ah, how often I
have thought of you and spoken of you, Gabriel!"
"Have I really kept any place in your memory, Monseigneur?"
"_Pardieu_! he has the assurance to ask me such a question!" cried the
duke. "As if you hadn't ways of your own of making yourself remembered
by people. Coligny, who is worth more alone than all the rest of the
Montmorencys together, has told me (but in very ambiguous terms, for
some unknown reason) a part of your exploits at St. Quentin;
nevertheless, from what he did say, I should judge that he said nothing
regarding the greater portion of them."
"Yet I did too little!" said Gabriel, with a sad smile.
"Ambitious boy!" said the duke.
"Indeed I am ambitious!" was Gabriel's response, with a mournful shake
of the head.
"But, thank God, you have returned!" rejoined the Duc de Guise. "Once
more we are together, my friend; you remember what plans we made
together in Italy! Ah, poor Gabriel, France needs your valor more than
ever now. To what dire extremity have they reduced our country!"
"All that I am, and all that I have," said Gabriel, "is consecrated to
her support; I only await your signal, Monseigneur."
"Thanks, my friend," the duke responded; "be sure that I will avail
myself of your offer, and you will not have long to wait for my signal."
"Then it will be for me to thank you, Monseigneur," cried Gabriel.
"To tell the truth, however," the duke continued, "the more I look
around me, the more embarrassing and serious do I find the situation. I
had to hasten at first to the point where the greatest urgency existed,
to organize effective means of resistance in the neighborhood of Paris,
and to present a formidable defensive front to the enemy,--to stop his
progress, in short. But all that amounts to nothing. He has St. Quentin;
he has the North! I ought to be at work, and I long to be. But in what
direction?"
He stopped, as if to consult Gabriel. He knew the young man's breadth of
view, and he had on more than one occasion found his advice worth
following; but now Vicomte d'Exmès spoke not a word, carefully watching
the duke, and letting him approach the subject in his own way, so to
speak.
François de Lorraine thereupon continued:--
"Do not reprove me for my sloth, my dear friend. I am not one of those
who hesitate, as you know; but I am of those who reflect. You will not
blame me for it; for you are like me,--determined and cautious at the
same time. The pensiveness of your young face," the duke added, "seems
to me of a severer cast than formerly. I hardly dare to ask you about
yourself. You had stern duties to perform, I remember, and formidable
foes to discover. Have you other misfortunes to deplore than those of
your country? I fear so; for when I last saw you, you were only serious,
and now I find you sad."
"Let us not speak of myself, Monseigneur, I beg," said Gabriel. "Let us
speak of France, and then we shall be speaking of my hopes."
"So be it," rejoined the duke. "I will tell you with perfect frankness
my thoughts and my anxiety. It seems to me that the most essential thing
at this moment is to raise the spirits of our people, and restore our
former glorious reputation by some striking blow; to change our
defensive attitude to an offensive one; and, finally, not to content
ourselves with repairing our defeats, but to atone for them by some
glorious success."
"That is precisely my opinion, Monseigneur," cried Gabriel, eagerly,
surprised and delighted at a coincidence so in line with his own
schemes.
"That being your opinion," resumed the Duc de Guise, "doubtless, you
have thought more than once of our country's peril and of the means of
extricating her from it?"
"Indeed, I have often thought of it," said Gabriel.
"Well, then," continued François de Lorraine, "have you, my friend,
gone any further than I? Have you looked this serious difficulty in the
face? Where, when, and how to attempt so brilliant a stroke, which we
both deem so essential?"
"Monseigneur, I think I know."
"Can it be?" cried the duke. "Oh, speak, speak, my friend!"
"_Mon Dieu_! perhaps I have spoken too soon, after all," said Gabriel.
"The proposition I have to make is one of those which will certainly
require long preparation. You are very powerful, Monseigneur; but the
project I have to suggest may seem impracticable even to you."
"I am not generally subject to vertigo," said the duke, smiling.
"Never mind, Monseigneur," rejoined Gabriel. "At first sight, my plan
will--I fear, and I forewarn you--seem extraordinary, insensate, nay,
even impossible; really, however, it is only difficult and dangerous."
"But that only makes it more attractive," said François de Lorraine.
"Well, Monseigneur, it is agreed, then, that you will not, in the first
place, be horrified. I say again, there will be great risks to be run;
but the means of success are in my power, and when I have unfolded them,
you yourself will agree with me."
"If that be so, I beg you to speak, Gabriel," said the duke. "But who
comes to interrupt us now?" he added impatiently. "Is that you knocking,
Thibault?"
"Yes, Monseigneur," said the valet, entering the room. "Monseigneur
ordered me to let him know when the hour for the council to assemble had
arrived, and it is now striking two. Monsieur de Saint-Remy and the
other gentlemen will call for Monseigneur directly."
"True, true," rejoined the duke; "there is a council-meeting to be held
now, and an important one too. It is indispensable that I should be
present. Very well, Thibault. Leave us; show the gentlemen in when they
arrive. You see, Gabriel, that my duty calls me to the king's side. This
evening you can unfold your plan to me at your leisure,--and it must be
a noble one, since it comes from your brain; meanwhile I beseech you to
satisfy my curiosity and my impatience in a few words. What do you mean
to do, Gabriel?"
"In two words, Monseigneur, _take Calais_," said Gabriel, calmly.
"Take Calais!" almost shouted the Duc de Guise, falling back in
surprise.
"You forget, Monseigneur," said Gabriel, with the same tranquil air,
"that you promised me not to be horrified at the first impression."
"Oh, but have you considered this carefully?" said the duke. "Take
Calais, defended by a strong garrison, by impregnable fortifications,
and by the sea!--Calais, which has been in the power of England more
than two centuries! Calais, guarded as carefully as the very key of
France! I love an audacious scheme; but will this not be a rash one?"
"Yes, Monseigneur," Gabriel replied; "but it is just because it is such
a rash undertaking that no one would ever dream of it or suspect it that
it has a better chance of success."
"In truth, that is very possible," said the duke, thoughtfully.
"When you have listened to me, Monseigneur, you will say, 'It is
certain!' The rule of conduct to be observed is clearly marked out for
us in advance,--to keep it in most absolute secrecy, to throw the enemy
off the scent by some false manœuvre, and to appear before the town
unexpectedly. In a fortnight Calais will be ours."
"But," the duke rejoined earnestly, "these general indications are not
sufficient. Your plan, Gabriel,--you have a plan?"
"Yes, Monseigneur; it is simple, but sure--"
Gabriel had not time to conclude, for at that moment the door opened and
the Comte de Saint-Remy entered, attended by a number of nobles attached
to the Guise party.
"His Majesty awaits the lieutenant-general of the kingdom at the
council-board," said Saint-Remy.
"I am at your service, gentlemen," rejoined the duke, saluting the
new-comers.
Then turning quickly to Gabriel, he said in a low voice,--
"I must leave you now, my friend, as you see; but the unspeakably
magnificent scheme which you have thrown into my brain will not leave me
the whole day, I promise you. If you really think such a project can be
executed, I believe I am capable of understanding you. Can you return
here this evening at eight? We shall have the whole night to ourselves
without fear of interruption."
"I will be prompt to the hour," said Gabriel, "and I will make good use
of my time meanwhile."
"I make bold to remind Monseigneur that it is now after two," said the
Comte de Saint-Remy.
"I am here; I am quite ready!" the duke responded.
He took a few steps toward the door, then turned and looked at Gabriel,
and approaching him once more, as if to be sure that he had understood
him aright,--
"Take Calais?" he said again in a low voice, and with a sort of
questioning inflection.
And Gabriel, bowing his head affirmatively, replied with his sweet, calm
smile,--
"Yes, take Calais."
The Duc de Guise went to attend the council, and Gabriel followed him
from the room and left the Louvre.