La Dame de Monsoreau (104 page)

" Oh, the matter is simple enough," said Schomberg, " we will fight until death ensues."

" Doubtless ; but how are we to fight ? " asked Quelus.

" With sword and dagger," answered Bussy ; " we all have had good practice at both."

" On'foot ? " said Quelus.

" Yes, our movements will be freer; why should we bother about horses ? "

" On foot, then."

" On what day ? "

" Why, as soon as possible."

"No," said D'Epernon, "I have a thousand matters to settle, and a will to make. Excuse me, but I prefer a little delay -A delay of three or four or six days will sharpen our appetites for the affair."

" Spoken like a hero," said Bussy, somewhat ironically.

" Do you agree ? "

" Yes," said Livarot; " we 're getting along beautifully."

"Let us draw lots, then," said Bussy.

" Just a word," said Antraguet; " I propose this: let us divide the ground fairly. As the names will be drawn two by two, let us chalk out four compartments, one for each pair."

"Well said."

" I propose for number one the long square between the two lime-trees yonder ; it's a lovely spot."

" Agreed."

" But the sun ? "

" Yes," said another, " the second would be turned to the east."

" No, no, gentlemen," said Bussy ; " such an arrangement would be unfair. We may kill, but we must not assassinate one another. Let us draw a semicircle ; in this way the sun will strike us all obliquely."

Bussy showed how they were to stand if his proposal were accepted; then the names were drawn.

The first that came out was that of Schomberg; the second that of Ribeirac. They were to be the first pair.

Quelus and Antraguet were the second.

Livarot and Maugiron were the third.

When Bussy heard the name of Quelus, whom he had hoped to have for an adversary, he frowned.

When D'Epernon heard his name coupled with Bussy's, he turned pale and had to pull his mustache very hard to call up some color in his cheeks.

" Now, gentlemen/' said Bussy, " until the day of the combat we belong to one another. We are friends, be it for life or death. Will you do me the honor of dining with me at the Hotel de Bussy ? "

All bowed in token of assent and proceeded to the residence of Bussy, where a sumptuous banquet kept them together until daybreak.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

IN WHICH CHIOOT FALLS ASLEEP.

ALL these movements of the Angevines had attracted the King's notice first, then Chicot's.

The King remained inside the Louvre, waiting impatiently for the return of his friends from their promenade with the gentlemen of Anjou.

Chicot had followed the party at a distance, had examined the situation with the sagacity for which he was preeminently distinguished, and, after seeing enough to be convinced of the purpose of Bussy and Quelus, had turned back and gone to the dwelling of Monsoreau.

Monsoreau was cunning, beyond a doubt, but not cunning enough to throw dust in the eyes of Chicot. The Gascon brought many a message of condolence from the King, and so it was impossible for the grand huntsman to receive him otherwise than courteously.

Chicot found Monsoreau in bed.

His visit to the duke the night before had completely relaxed the springs of an organization not yet restored to its former vigor, and E-emy, with his chin in his hand, was watching fretfully the first attacks of the fever that threatened to seize its victim a second time.

Still, he was able to talk and even to conceal, to some extent, his hatred of the Due d'Anjou so skilfully that any other than Chicot might not have suspected its existence. But

his very reticence and discretion, helped the Gascon to fathom his thoughts.

" The fact of the matter is," thought Chicot, " no one would express such devotion to M. d'Anjou as he does, without having some underhand motive for doing so."

Chicot, who had had a good deal of experience in the matter of invalids, wanted to find out whether the count's fever was not a farce, somewhat like that played once upon a time by M. Nicolas David.

However, when he observed the expression of Remy's face as he felt the patient's pulse he said to himself:

" The man is really ill. He is not fit for any enterprise. Now let us see what M. de Bussy is doing."

And he ran to the Hotel de Bussy, which was in a blaze of light and plunged in savory odors that would have drawn from Gorenflot exclamations of ecstatic delight.

" Is the festival for M. de Bussy's marriage ? " he asked a lackey.

" No, monsieur," replied the latter; " M. de Bussy has become reconciled with several noblemen of the court, and they are celebrating the reconciliation by a banquet, and such a banquet ! There never was the like of it! "

" Unless he should poison them, and I know Bussy is incapable of such a trick as that," thought Chicot, " there 's no danger for his Majesty in this direction."

He returned to the Louvre and went to the armory, in which Henri was walking up and down, cursing and swearing at a great rate.

The King had sent three couriers for Quelus, and as neither he nor his companions saw any reason why his Majesty should be so uneasy, they had stopped on their return from Bussy's at the house of M. de Birague, where every one in the livery of the King was sure to find a full glass, a slice of ham, and preserved fruit.

It was the method adopted by the Birague s to keep in favor at court.

When Chicot appeared at the door of Henri's cabinet, the latter uttered a loud cry.

" Oh ! my dear friend," he said, " do you know what is become of them ? "

" Of whom ? Your minions ? "

" Alas ! yes, my poor friends ! "

" They must lie very low by this time," answered Chicot.

" They have killed them !" cried Henri, leaping up,' a threatening look in his eyes; " they are dead !"

" Dead, I am afraid that they are "

" You know it and you laugh, pagan !"

" Have patience,- my son. Yes, dead, dead drunk."

" Oh ! you mountebank, how you frightened me ! But why are you always calumniating these gentlemen ? "

" On the contrary, I 'm always eulogizing them."

"You are always jeering — come, try and be serious, I beg. You know they went out with the Angevines ? "

" I should think I know it! "

« Well, with what result ? "

" With the result I mentioned : they are dead drunk, or very near it."

" But Bussy,- Bussy ? "

" Bussy is fuddling them; he 's a very dangerous man."

" For mercy's sake, Ghicot! "

" What! am I not right ? Bussy .s giving them a dinner, I tell you, giving your friends a dinner. How do you like that, my son ? eh ? "

" Bussy giving them a dinner ! Oh, impossible; they are sworn enemies."

" Exactly; if they were friends they wouldn't need to get drunk together. Listen, how are your legs ? "

" What do you mean ? "

" Are you able to walk to the river ? "

" I would walk to the end of the world to witness such a thing."

" You need n't go so far; go to the Hotel de Bussy and you '11 see this miracle ! "

" You '11 come with me ? "

"Thanks, I am just from there."

"But, Chicot"

"No, no; don't you understand that I who have seen the whole thing do not require to be convinced ? Besides, my legs are three inches shorter than they were yesterday; I have driven them into my belly by walking so much. If I go on at this gait, my legs will soon begin at the knees. Go yourself, my son, go."

The King flashed an angry glance at him.

" It is very good-natured of you," said Chicot, " to fly into a

passion for the sake of these people. They laugh and make merry and intrigue against your government. In such an emergency, it behooveth us, my Henri, to withstand them like the philosophers we are; they laugh, let us laugh ; they dins, have something good and hot served up at once ; they intrigue, let us go to bed after supper."

The King could not help smiling.

" Then you will have the proud consolation," continued Chicot, " of knowing that you are a true sage. France has had her long-haired kings, her bold king, her great king, her slothful kings ; I 'in sure they '11 call you Henri the Patient — Ah ! my son, patience is such a beautiful virtue — especially in a person who does n't happen to have any other ! "

" Betrayed ! " said the King to himself, " betrayed — these people have n't even the manners of gentlemen."

" Aha ! aha ! so you 're troubled on account of your friends still, are you ? " cried Chicot, pushing the King before him into the hall in which supper had been just served, " you first bewail them as dead, and, when you are told ihey are not dead, you are as tearful and troubled as ever. Henri, you '11 always be a whimperer."

" You try my patience too much, M. Chicot."

" Come, now, try and be a little consistent ; would you rather see each of them with seven or eight rapier-thrusts in his stomach ? "

" I should like to be able to rely on my friends," said Henri, in a gloomy voice.

" Oh, venire de biche ! rely on me, I am still with you, my son; but you '11 have to feed me. Please, some pheasant — and truffles," he added, stretching out his plate.

Henri and his only friend went to bed early, the King sighing because his heart was so empty, Chicot breathless because his stomach was so full.

The next day MM. de Quelus, Schomberg, Maugiron, and D'Epernon presented themselves at the petit lever of the King ; the usher opened the portiere for the gentlemen, as he was in the habit of doing.

Chicot was still sleeping; the King had been unable to sleep. He jumped from his bed in a rage, and, tearing off the perfumed cloths that covered his cheeks and hands:

" Begone ! " he cried, " begone ! "

The usher, completely taken aback, explained to the young

men that the King dismissed them. They stared at one another, in bewilderment.

" But, sire," stammered Quelus, " we wanted to tell your Majesty "

" That you are no longer drunk," shouted Henri, " eh ? "

Chicot opened an eye.

" Excuse me, sire," said Quelus, gravely, " your Majesty is mistaken."

" And yet I haven't drunk the wine of Anjcu, I have n't!"

" Ah, very good, very good, indeed !" said Quelus, with a smile, " I understand now - Well " —

« Well! — well what ? "

" If your Majesty will remain alone with us, we will tell you."

" I hate drunkards and traitors."

" Sire ! " cried the three gentlemen in chorus.

" Patience, gentlemen," said Quelus, interrupting them ; " his Majesty slept badly and has had a nightmare. Just a word with him, and our highly venerated prince will be thoroughly awake."

This impertinent apology, made by a subject for his king, impressed Henri. He conjectured that people who were bold enough to utter such words could hardly have done anything dishonorable.

" Speak," said he, " and be brief."

" If I can, sire, but I shall find it difficult."

" Yes — it is natural to turn and twist when certain accusations are made."

" No, sire ; on the contrary, it is natural to go straight to the point," answered Quelus, looking at Chicot and the usher in a manner that was a repetition of his request for a private audience.

At a sign from the King, the usher bowed himself out. Chicot opened the other eye and said:

" Don't mind me, I sleep like a log."

CHAPTER LXXXV.

IN WHICH CHICOT WAKES.

WHEN it was seen that Chicot was such a conscientious sleeper, nobody troubled his head about him.

Besides, it had become a custom to consider Chicot as a piece of furniture belonging to the King's bedchamber.

" Your Majesty," said Quelus, inclining, " knows only half of the matter, and that half the least interesting one. Assuredly, — and no one has the least intention of denying it, — assuredly, we have dined with M. de Bussy,-and I must even say, to the credit of his cook, that we have dined well."

" There was a certain Austrian or Hungarian wine, especially," said Schomberg, "that, in my opinion, was simply a wonder ! "

" Oh ! that growling German ! " interrupted the King ; " he 's fond of wine, I always suspected it."

" And I was always sure of it," said Chicot. " I have seen him drunk a score of times."

Schomberg wheeled round and faced him.

11 Pay no attention, my son," said the Gascon, " the King will tell you I talk in my sleep."

Schomberg turned again to the King.

" By my faith, sire," said he, " I conceal neither my likes nor dislikes ; good wine is good."

" We ought not to call a thing good which makes us forget our sovereign," said the King, quietly.

Schomberg was about to reply, doubtless unwilling to abandon so excellent a cause, when Quelus made a sign to him.

" You are right," said Schomberg, "go on."

"I was saying, then, sire," continued Quelus, "that during the banquet, and particularly after it, we had some most interesting and serious conversations, dealing, for the most part, with the interests of your Majesty."

"• Your exordium is rather long," said Henri, " that is a bad sign."

" Venire de, biche ! what a babbler this Valois of ours is ! " cried Chicot.

" I say, Master Gascon ! " said Henri, haughtily, " if you 're not asleep, get out of here."

" Hang it, man ! if I 'm not asleep, it 's because you won't let ine; your tongue rattles like the clappers on a Good Friday."

Quelus, seeing that it was impossible to talk seriously, no matter how serious the subject might be, in this royal abode where frivolity had grown to be a habit, sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and rose, evidently much annoyed.