It was eleven at night, and the Duc d'Anjou was waiting impatiently at home for a messenger from the Duc le Guise. He walked restlessly up and down, looking every minute at the clock. All at once he heard a horse in the courtyard, and thinking it was the messenger, he ran to the window, but it was a groom leading up and down a horse which was waiting for its master, who almost immediately came out. It was Bussy, who, as captain of the duke's guards, came to give the password for the night. The duke, seeing this handsome and brave young man, of whom he had never had reason to complain, experienced an instant's remorse, but on his face he read so much joy, hope, and happiness, that all his jealousy returned. However, Bussy, ignorant that the duke was watching him, jumped into his saddle and rode off to his own hotel, where he gave his horse to the groom. There he saw Remy.
“I have just come in. Indeed, since I have no longer a patient, it seems to me that the days have forty-eight hours.”
“Of being beaten. That was how her love showed itself.”
“And does your heart not speak for her to-night?”
“Because I would have taken you with me.”
“Is at Compiegne, preparing a chase for the king.”
“The order was given publicly this morning.”
“Ah, well; Jourdain, my sword.”
“I will accompany you to the door, for two reasons.”
“Firstly, lest you should meet any enemies.” Bussy smiled.
“Oh! mon Dieu, I know you fear no one, and that Remy the doctor is but a poor companion; still, two men are not so likely to be attacked as one. Secondly, because I have a great deal of good advice to give you.”
“Come, my dear Remy, come. We will speak of her; and next to the pleasure of seeing the woman you love, I know none greater than talking of her.”
Bussy then took the arm of the young doctor, and they set off. Remy on the way tried hard to induce Bussy to return early, insisting that he would be more fit for his duel on the morrow.
Bussy smiled. “Fear nothing,” said he.
“Ah! my dear master, to-morrow you ought to fight like Hercules against Antaus—like Theseus against the Minotaur—like Bayard—like something Homeric, gigantic, impossible; I wish people to speak of it in future times as the combat, par excellence, and in which you had not even received a scratch.”
“Be easy, my dear Remy, you shall see wonders. This morning I put swords in the hands of four fencers, who during eight minutes could not touch me once, while I tore their doublets to pieces.”
So conversing, they arrived in the Rue St. Antoine.
“Adieu! here we are,” said Bussy.
“To make sure that you will return before two o'clock, and have at least five or six hours' sleep before your duel.”
“Oh! that will be enough; Bussy's word is never doubted.”
Remy watched, and saw Bussy enter, not this time by the window, but boldly through the door, which Gertrude opened for him. Then Remy turned to go home; but he had only gone a few steps, when he saw coming towards him five armed men, wrapped in cloaks. When they arrived about ten yards from him, they said good night to each other, and four went off in different directions, while the fifth remained stationary.
“Remy, in person. Is it an indiscretion to ask what your lordship does at this hour so far from the Louvre?”
“Ma foi! I am examining, by the king's order, the physiognomy of the city. He said to me, 'St. Luc, walk about the streets of Paris, and if you hear any one say I have abdicated, contradict him.'“
“Nowhere; and as it is just midnight, and I have met no one but M. de Monsoreau, I have dismissed my friends, and am about to return.”
“With a troop of armed men; ten or twelve at least.”
“He ought to be at Compiegne.”
“He ought to be, but he is not.”
“On the contrary, he avoided me, which astonished me, as on seeing him, I expected a terrible battle.”
“To the Rue de la Tixanderie.”
“M. de St. Luc, a great misfortune is about to happen.”
“Bussy! speak, Remy; I am his friend, you know.”
“Oh! M. de Bussy thought him at Compiegne.”
“And, profiting by his absence, is with Madame de Monsoreau.”
“Do you not see? he has had suspicions, and has feigned to depart, that he might appear unexpectedly.”
“Ah! it is the Duc d'Anjou's doing, I believe. Have you good lungs, Remy”
“Corbleu! like a blacksmith's bellows.”
“Well! let us run. You know the house?”
“Go on then.” And the young men set off like hunted deer.
“Is he much in advance of us?” said Remy.
