Mademoiselle de Montalais was right; the young cavalier was goodly to
look upon.
look upon.
He was a young man of from twenty-four to twenty-five years of age,
tall and slender, wearing gracefully the picturesque military costume
of the period. His large boots contained a foot which Mademoiselle de
Montalais might not have disowned if she had been transformed into a
man. With one of his delicate but nervous hands he checked his horse in
the middle of the court, and with the other raised his hat, whose long
plumes shaded his at once serious and ingenuous countenance.
tall and slender, wearing gracefully the picturesque military costume
of the period. His large boots contained a foot which Mademoiselle de
Montalais might not have disowned if she had been transformed into a
man. With one of his delicate but nervous hands he checked his horse in
the middle of the court, and with the other raised his hat, whose long
plumes shaded his at once serious and ingenuous countenance.
The guards, roused by the steps of the horse, awoke, and were on foot
in a minute. The young man waited till one of them was close to his
saddle-bow: then, stooping towards him, in a clear, distinct voice,
which was perfectly audible at the window where the two girls were
concealed, “A message for his royal highness,” he said.
in a minute. The young man waited till one of them was close to his
saddle-bow: then, stooping towards him, in a clear, distinct voice,
which was perfectly audible at the window where the two girls were
concealed, “A message for his royal highness,” he said.
“Ah, ah!” cried the soldier. “Officer, a messenger!”
But this brave guard knew very well that no officer would appear,
seeing that the only one who could have appeared dwelt at the other
side of the castle, in an apartment looking into the gardens. So he
hastened to add: “The officer, monsieur, is on his rounds; but, in his
absence, M. de Saint-Remy, the maitre d’hotel, shall be informed.”
seeing that the only one who could have appeared dwelt at the other
side of the castle, in an apartment looking into the gardens. So he
hastened to add: “The officer, monsieur, is on his rounds; but, in his
absence, M. de Saint-Remy, the maitre d’hotel, shall be informed.”
“M. de Saint-Remy?” repeated the cavalier, slightly blushing.
“Do you know him?”
“Why, yes; but request him, if you please, that my visit be announced
to his royal highness as soon as possible.”
to his royal highness as soon as possible.”
“It appears to be pressing,” said the guard, as if speaking to himself,
but really in the hope of obtaining an answer.
but really in the hope of obtaining an answer.
The messenger made an affirmative sign with his head.
“In that case,” said the guard, “I will go and seek the maitre d’hotel
myself.”
myself.”
The young man, in the meantime, dismounted; and whilst the others were
making their remarks upon the fine horse the cavalier rode, the soldier
returned.
making their remarks upon the fine horse the cavalier rode, the soldier
returned.
“Your pardon, young gentleman; but your name, if you please?”
“The Vicomte de Bragelonne, on the part of his highness M. le Prince de
Conde.”
Conde.”
The soldier made a profound bow, and, as if the name of the conqueror
of Rocroi and Lens had given him wings, he stepped lightly up the steps
leading to the ante-chamber.
of Rocroi and Lens had given him wings, he stepped lightly up the steps
leading to the ante-chamber.
A. de Bragelonne had not had time to fasten his horse to the iron bars
of the perron, when M. de Saint-Remy came running, out of breath,
supporting his capacious body with one hand, whilst with the other he
cut the air as a fisherman cleaves the waves with his oar.
of the perron, when M. de Saint-Remy came running, out of breath,
supporting his capacious body with one hand, whilst with the other he
cut the air as a fisherman cleaves the waves with his oar.
“Ah, Monsieur le Vicomte! You at Blois!” cried he. “Well, that is a
wonder. Good-day to you—good-day, Monsieur Raoul.”
wonder. Good-day to you—good-day, Monsieur Raoul.”
“I offer you a thousand respects, M. de Saint-Remy.”
“How Madame de la Vall—I mean, how delighted Madame de Saint-Remy will
be to see you! But come in. His royal highness is at breakfast—must he
be interrupted? Is the matter serious?”
be to see you! But come in. His royal highness is at breakfast—must he
be interrupted? Is the matter serious?”
“Yes, and no, Monsieur de Saint-Remy. A moment’s delay, however, would
be disagreeable to his royal highness.”
be disagreeable to his royal highness.”
“If that is the case, we will force the consigne, Monsieur le Vicomte.
Come in. Besides, Monsieur is in an excellent humor to-day. And then
you bring news, do you not?”
Come in. Besides, Monsieur is in an excellent humor to-day. And then
you bring news, do you not?”
“Great news, Monsieur de Saint-Remy.
“And good, I presume?”
“Excellent.”
“Come quickly, come quickly then!” cried the worthy man, putting his
dress to rights as he went along.
dress to rights as he went along.
Raoul followed him, hat in hand, and a little disconcerted at the noise
made by his spurs in these immense salons.
made by his spurs in these immense salons.
As soon as he had disappeared in the interior of the palace, the window
of the court was repeopled, and an animated whispering betrayed the
emotion of the two girls. They soon appeared to have formed a
resolution, for one of the two faces disappeared from the window. This
was the brunette; the other remained behind the balcony, concealed by
the flowers, watching attentively through the branches the perron by
which M. de Bragelonne had entered the castle.
of the court was repeopled, and an animated whispering betrayed the
emotion of the two girls. They soon appeared to have formed a
resolution, for one of the two faces disappeared from the window. This
was the brunette; the other remained behind the balcony, concealed by
the flowers, watching attentively through the branches the perron by
which M. de Bragelonne had entered the castle.
In the meantime the object of so much laudable curiosity continued his
route, following the steps of the maitre d’hotel. The noise of quick
steps, an odor of wine and viands, a clinking of crystal and plates,
warned them that they were coming to the end of their course.
route, following the steps of the maitre d’hotel. The noise of quick
steps, an odor of wine and viands, a clinking of crystal and plates,
warned them that they were coming to the end of their course.
The pages, valets and officers, assembled in the office which led up to
the refectory, welcomed the newcomer with the proverbial politeness of
the country; some of them were acquainted with Raoul, and all knew that
he came from Paris. It might be said that his arrival for a moment
suspended the service. In fact, a page, who was pouring out wine for
his royal highness, on hearing the jingling of spurs in the next
chamber, turned round like a child, without perceiving that he was
continuing to pour out, not into the glass, but upon the tablecloth.
the refectory, welcomed the newcomer with the proverbial politeness of
the country; some of them were acquainted with Raoul, and all knew that
he came from Paris. It might be said that his arrival for a moment
suspended the service. In fact, a page, who was pouring out wine for
his royal highness, on hearing the jingling of spurs in the next
chamber, turned round like a child, without perceiving that he was
continuing to pour out, not into the glass, but upon the tablecloth.
Madame, who was not so preoccupied as her glorious spouse was, remarked
this distraction of the page.
this distraction of the page.
“Well?” exclaimed she.
“Well!” repeated Monsieur; “what is going on then?”
A. de Saint-Remy, who had just introduced his head through the doorway,
took advantage of the moment.
took advantage of the moment.
“Why am I to be disturbed?” said Gaston, helping himself to a thick
slice of one of the largest salmon that had ever ascended the Loire to
be captured between Paimboeuf and Saint-Nazaire.
slice of one of the largest salmon that had ever ascended the Loire to
be captured between Paimboeuf and Saint-Nazaire.
“There is a messenger from Paris. Oh! but after monseigneur has
breakfasted will do; there is plenty of time.”
breakfasted will do; there is plenty of time.”
“From Paris!” cried the prince, letting his fork fall. “A messenger
from Paris, do you say? And on whose part does this messenger come?”
from Paris, do you say? And on whose part does this messenger come?”
“On the part of M. le Prince,” said the maitre d’hotel promptly.
Every one knows that the Prince de Conde was so called.
“A messenger from M. le Prince!” said Gaston, with an inquietude that
escaped none of the assistants, and consequently redoubled the general
curiosity.
escaped none of the assistants, and consequently redoubled the general
curiosity.
Monsieur, perhaps, fancied himself brought back again to the happy
times when the opening of a door gave him an emotion, in which every
letter might contain a state secret,—in which every message was
connected with a dark and complicated intrigue. Perhaps, likewise, that
great name of M. le Prince expanded itself, beneath the roofs of Blois,
to the proportions of a phantom.
times when the opening of a door gave him an emotion, in which every
letter might contain a state secret,—in which every message was
connected with a dark and complicated intrigue. Perhaps, likewise, that
great name of M. le Prince expanded itself, beneath the roofs of Blois,
to the proportions of a phantom.
Monsieur pushed away his plate.
“Shall I tell the envoy to wait?” asked M. de Saint-Remy.
A glance from Madame emboldened Gaston, who replied: “No, no! let him
come in at once, on the contrary. A propos, who is he?”
come in at once, on the contrary. A propos, who is he?”
“A gentleman of this country, M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne.”
“Ah, very well! Introduce him, Saint-Remy—introduce him.”
And when he had let fall these words, with his accustomed gravity,
Monsieur turned his eyes, in a certain manner, upon the people of his
suite, so that all, pages, officers, and equerries, quitted the
service, knives and goblets, and made towards the second chamber door a
retreat as rapid as it was disorderly.
Monsieur turned his eyes, in a certain manner, upon the people of his
suite, so that all, pages, officers, and equerries, quitted the
service, knives and goblets, and made towards the second chamber door a
retreat as rapid as it was disorderly.
This little army had dispersed in two files when Raoul de Bragelonne,
preceded by M. de Saint-Remy, entered the refectory.
preceded by M. de Saint-Remy, entered the refectory.
The short interval of solitude which this retreat had left him,
permitted Monsieur the time to assume a diplomatic countenance. He did
not turn round, but waited till the maitre d’hotel should bring the
messenger face to face with him.
permitted Monsieur the time to assume a diplomatic countenance. He did
not turn round, but waited till the maitre d’hotel should bring the
messenger face to face with him.
Raoul stopped even with the lower end of the table, so as to be exactly
between Monsieur and Madame. From this place he made a profound bow to
Monsieur, and a very humble one to Madame; then, drawing himself up
into military pose, he waited for Monsieur to address him.
between Monsieur and Madame. From this place he made a profound bow to
Monsieur, and a very humble one to Madame; then, drawing himself up
into military pose, he waited for Monsieur to address him.
On his part the prince waited till the doors were hermetically closed;
he would not turn round to ascertain the fact, as that would have been
derogatory to his dignity, but he listened with all his ears for the
noise of the lock, which would promise him at least an appearance of
secrecy.
he would not turn round to ascertain the fact, as that would have been
derogatory to his dignity, but he listened with all his ears for the
noise of the lock, which would promise him at least an appearance of
secrecy.
The doors being closed, Monsieur raised his eyes towards the vicomte,
and said, “It appears that you come from Paris, monsieur?”
and said, “It appears that you come from Paris, monsieur?”
“This minute, monseigneur.”
“How is the king?”
“His majesty is in perfect health, monseigneur.”
“And my sister-in-law?”
“Her majesty the queen-mother still suffers from the complaint in her
chest, but for the last month she has been rather better.”
chest, but for the last month she has been rather better.”
“Somebody told me you came on the part of M. le Prince. They must have
been mistaken, surely?”
been mistaken, surely?”
“No, monseigneur; M. le Prince has charged me to convey this letter to
your royal highness, and I am to wait for an answer to it.”
your royal highness, and I am to wait for an answer to it.”
Raoul had been a little annoyed by this cold and cautious reception,
and his voice insensibly sank to a low key.
and his voice insensibly sank to a low key.
The prince forgot that he was the cause of this apparent mystery, and
his fears returned.
his fears returned.
He received the letter from the Prince de Conde with a haggard look,
unsealed it as he would have unsealed a suspicious packet, and in order
to read it so that no one should remark the effects of it upon his
countenance, he turned round.
unsealed it as he would have unsealed a suspicious packet, and in order
to read it so that no one should remark the effects of it upon his
countenance, he turned round.
Madame followed, with an anxiety almost equal to that of the prince,
every maneuver of her august husband.
every maneuver of her august husband.
Raoul, impassible, and a little disengaged by the attention of his
hosts, looked from his place through the open window at the gardens and
the statues which peopled them.
hosts, looked from his place through the open window at the gardens and
the statues which peopled them.
“Well!” cried Monsieur, all at once, with a cheerful smile; “here is an
agreeable surprise, and a charming letter from M. le Prince. Look,
Madame!”
agreeable surprise, and a charming letter from M. le Prince. Look,
Madame!”
The table was too large to allow the arm of the prince to reach the
hand of Madame; Raoul sprang forward to be their intermediary, and
did it with so good a grace as to procure a flattering acknowledgement
from the princess.
hand of Madame; Raoul sprang forward to be their intermediary, and
did it with so good a grace as to procure a flattering acknowledgement
from the princess.
“You know the contents of this letter, no doubt?” said Gaston to Raoul.
“Yes, monseigneur; M. le Prince at first gave me the message verbally,
but upon reflection his highness took up his pen.”
but upon reflection his highness took up his pen.”
“It is beautiful writing,” said Madame, “but I cannot read it.”
“Will you read it to Madame, M. de Bragelonne?” said the duke.
“Yes; read it, if you please, monsieur.”
Raoul began to read, Monsieur giving again all his attention. The
letter was conceived in these terms:
letter was conceived in these terms:
“MONSEIGNEUR—The king is about to set out for the frontiers. You are
aware the marriage of his majesty is concluded upon. The king has done
me the honor to appoint me his marechal-des-logis for this journey, and
as I knew with what joy his majesty would pass a day at Blois, I
venture to ask your royal highness’s permission to mark the house you
inhabit as our quarters. If, however, the suddenness of this request
should create to your royal highness any embarrassment, I entreat you
to say so by the messenger I send, a gentleman of my suite, M. le
Vicomte de Bragelonne. My itinerary will depend on your royal
highness’s determination, and instead of passing through Blois, we
shall come through Vendome or Romorantin. I venture to hope that your
royal highness will be pleased with my arrangement, it being the
expression of my boundless desire to make myself agreeable to you.”
aware the marriage of his majesty is concluded upon. The king has done
me the honor to appoint me his marechal-des-logis for this journey, and
as I knew with what joy his majesty would pass a day at Blois, I
venture to ask your royal highness’s permission to mark the house you
inhabit as our quarters. If, however, the suddenness of this request
should create to your royal highness any embarrassment, I entreat you
to say so by the messenger I send, a gentleman of my suite, M. le
Vicomte de Bragelonne. My itinerary will depend on your royal
highness’s determination, and instead of passing through Blois, we
shall come through Vendome or Romorantin. I venture to hope that your
royal highness will be pleased with my arrangement, it being the
expression of my boundless desire to make myself agreeable to you.”
“Nothing can be more gracious toward us,” said Madame, who had more
than once consulted the looks of her husband during the reading of the
letter. “The king here!” exclaimed she, in a rather louder tone than
would have been necessary to preserve secrecy.
than once consulted the looks of her husband during the reading of the
letter. “The king here!” exclaimed she, in a rather louder tone than
would have been necessary to preserve secrecy.
“Monsieur,” said his royal highness in his turn, “you will offer my
thanks to M. de Conde, and express to him my gratitude for the honor he
has done me.” Raoul bowed.
thanks to M. de Conde, and express to him my gratitude for the honor he
has done me.” Raoul bowed.
“On what day will his majesty arrive?” continued the prince.
“The king, monseigneur, will in all probability arrive this evening.”
“But how, then, could he have known my reply if it had been in the
negative?”
negative?”
“I was desired, monseigneur, to return in all haste to Beaugency, to
give counter-orders to the courier, who was himself to go back
immediately with counter-orders to M. le Prince.”
give counter-orders to the courier, who was himself to go back
immediately with counter-orders to M. le Prince.”
“His majesty is at Orleans, then?”
“Much nearer, monseigneur; his majesty must by this time have arrived
at Meung.”
at Meung.”
“Does the court accompany him?”
“Yes, monseigneur.”
“