CHAPTER XIV.
THE TREATY.
There was a moment's silence. Diana seemed almost overcome. Bussywas already vowing eternal vengeance against her enemies. Shewent on:
"Scarcely had we touched the shore, when seven or eight men ranto us. They were the count's people, and I thought I recognizedamong them the two men who had escorted me when I left Meridor.A squire held two horses, a black one for the count and a whiteone for me. The count helped me to mount, and then jumped onhis own horse. Gertrude mounted en croupe behind one of the men,and we set off at full gallop. The count held the bridle of myhorse. I said to him that I was a sufficiently good horsewoman todispense with this, but he replied that the horse was inclined torun away. When we had gone about ten minutes, I heard Gertrude'svoice calling to me, and turning, I saw that four of the menwere taking her by a different path from that which we werefollowing. 'Gertrude,' cried I, 'why does she not come with me?''It is an indispensable precaution,' said the count; 'if we arepursued we must leave two tracks, and they must be able to sayin two places that they have seen a woman carried away by men.There is then a chance that M. d'Anjou may take a wrong road,and go after your servant instead of you.' Although specious,this reply did not satisfy me, but what could I do? Besides,the path which the count was following was the one which ledto the Chateau de Meridor. In a quarter of an hour, at the rateat which we are going, we should have been at the castle, whenall at once, when we came to a cross road which I knew well,the count, instead of following the road to the castle, turnedto the left, and took a road which led away from it. I criedout, and in spite of our rapid pace had already my hand on thepommel in order to jump off, when the count, seizing me roundthe waist, drew me off my horse, and placed me on the saddlebefore him. This action was so rapid that I had only time toutter a cry. M. de Monsoreau put his hand on my mouth, and said,'Mademoiselle, I swear to you, on my honor, that I only act byyour father's orders, as I will prove to you at the first haltwe make. If this proof appears to you insufficient, you shallthen be free.' 'But, monsieur,' cried I, pushing away his hand,'you told me you were taking me to my father!' 'Yes, I told youso, because I saw that you hesitated to follow me, and a moment'smore hesitation would have ruined us both, as you know. Now, doyou wish to kill your father? Will you march straight to yourdishonor? If so, I will take you to Meridor.' 'You spoke of aproof that you acted in the name of my father.' 'Here it is,'said the baron, giving me a letter, 'keep it, and read it at thefirst stoppage. If, when you have read it, you wish to returnto Meridor, you are free; but if you have any respect for yourfather's wishes you will not.' 'Then, monsieur,' I replied, 'letus reach quickly our stopping-place, for I wish to know if youspeak the truth.' 'Remember, you follow me freely.' 'Yes, as freelyas a young girl can who sees herself placed between her father'sdeath and her own dishonor on the one hand, and on the otherthe obligation to trust herself to the word of a man whom shehardly knows.' 'Never mind, I follow you freely, monsieur, asyou shall see if you will give me my horse again.' The countcalled to one of his men to dismount and give me his horse. 'Thewhite mare cannot be far,' said he to the man; 'seek her in theforest and call her, she will come like a dog to her name orto a whistle; you can rejoin us at La Chatre.' I shuddered inspite of myself. La Chatre was ten leagues from Meridor, on theroad to Paris. 'Monsieur,' said I, 'I accompany you, but at LaChatre we make our conditions.' 'Mademoiselle, at La Chatre youshall give me your orders.' At daybreak we arrived at La Chatre,but instead of entering the village we went by across-road toa lonely house. I stopped. 'Where are we going?' I asked.'Mademoiselle,' said the count, 'I appeal to yourself. Can we,in flying from a prince next in power to the king, stop in anordinary village inn, where the first person would denounce us?''Well,' said I, 'go on.' We resumed our way. We were expected,for a man had ridden on before to announce our arrival. A goodfire burned in a decent room, and a bed was prepared. 'This isyour room,' said the count, 'I will await your orders.' He wentout and left me alone. My first thought was for my letter. Hereit is, M. de Bussy; read."
Bussy took the letter and read:
"MY BELOVED DIANA--As I do not doubt that, yielding to my prayer,you have followed the Comte de Monsoreau, he must have told youthat you had the misfortune to please M. le Duc d'Anjou, andthat it was this prince who had you forcibly carried away andtaken to the castle of Beauge; judge by this violence of what theprince is capable, and with what you were menaced. Your dishonorI could not survive; but there is a means of escape--that ofmarrying our noble friend. Once Countess of Monsoreau, the countwould protect his wife. My desire is, then, my darling daughter,that this marriage should take place as soon as possible, andif you consent, I give you my paternal benediction, and prayGod to bestow upon you every treasure of happiness.
"Your father, who does not order, but entreats,
"BARON DE MERIDOR."
"Alas!" said Bussy, "if this letter be from your father, it isbut too positive."
"I do not doubt its being from him, and yet I read it three timesbefore deciding. At last I called the count. He entered at once;I had the letter in my hand. 'Well, have you read it?' said he.'Yes,' I replied. 'Do you still doubt my devotion and respect?''This letter imposes belief on me, monsieur; but in case I yieldto my father's wishes, what do you propose to do?' 'To take youto Paris, mademoiselle; that is the easiest place to hide you.''And my father?' 'As soon as there is no longer danger ofcompromising you, you know he will come to you wherever you are.''Well, monsieur, I am ready to accept your protection on theconditions you impose.'
"'I impose nothing, mademoiselle,' answered he, 'I simply offeryou a method of safety.' 'Well, I will accept this safety onthree conditions.' 'Speak, mademoiselle.' 'The first is, thatGertrude shall return to me.' She is here. 'The second is, thatwe travel separately to Paris.' 'I was about to propose it toyou.' 'And the third is, that our marriage, unless I myselfacknowledge some urgent necessity for it, shall only take placein presence of my father.' 'It is my earnest desire; I counton his benediction to draw upon us that of heaven.'
"I was in despair. I had hoped for some opposition to my wishes.'Now, mademoiselle,' said he, 'allow me to give you some advice.''I listen, monsieur.' 'Only to travel by night.' 'Agreed.' 'To letme choose the route, and the places where you should stop. Allmy precautions will be taken with the sole aim of escaping theDuc d'Anjou.' 'I have no objection to make, monsieur.' 'Lastly,at Paris, to occupy the lodging I shall prepare for you, howeversimple and out of the way it may be.' 'I only ask to live hidden,monsieur, the more out of the way, the better it will suit me.''Then, as we are agreed on all points, mademoiselle, it onlyremains for me to present to you my humble respects, and to sendto you your femme de chambre.' 'On my side! monsieur, be surethat if you keep all your promises, I will keep mine.' 'That isall I ask,' said the count, 'and the promise makes me the happiestof men.'
"With these words, he bowed and went out. Five minutes after,Gertrude entered. The joy of this good girl was great; she hadbelieved herself separated from me forever. I told her all thathad passed. As I finished, we heard the sound of a horse's hoofs.I ran to the window; it was M. de Monsoreau going away. He hadfulfilled two articles of the treaty. We passed all the day inthat little house, served by our hostess; in the evening thechief of our escort appeared, and asked me if I were ready. Isaid yes, and five minutes after, we set off. At the door I foundmy white mare. We traveled all night, and stopped at daybreak.I calculated we had gone about thirty-five miles, but my horsehad a very easy pace, and on leaving the house a fur cloak hadbeen thrown over me to protect me from the cold. It took us sevendays to reach Paris in this manner, and I saw nothing of thecount. We entered the city at night, and the first object I saw,after passing through the gate, was an immense monastery; thenwe crossed the river, and in ten minutes we were in the Place dela Bastile. Then a man who seemed to be waiting for us, advancedand said, 'It is here.' The chief of our escort jumped off hishorse, and presented me his hand to dismount also. A door wasopen, and the staircase
lighted by a lamp. 'Madame,' said the manto me, 'you are now at home. At this door finishes the missionI received; may I flatter myself I have fulfilled it accordingto your wishes?' 'Yes, monsieur,' said I, 'I have only thanksto give you. Offer them in my name to all your men; I would wishto reward them in a better manner, but I possess nothing.' 'Donot be uneasy about that, madame,' said he, 'they are largelyrecompensed.'
"Then the little troop went away, and we went up the stairs ofour house, and found ourselves in a corridor. Three doors wereopen; we entered the middle one, and found ourselves in the roomwhere we now stand. On opening the door of my bedroom, to mygreat astonishment I found my own portrait there. It was onewhich had hung at Meridor, and the count had doubtless beggedit of my father. I trembled at this new proof that my fatherregarded me already as his wife.
"Nothing was wanting in the room; a fire burned in the grate, anda supper was ready in the sitting-room. I saw with satisfactionthat it was laid for one only, and yet when Gertrude said, 'Well,mademoiselle, you see the count keeps his promises.'--'Alas!yes,' replied I with a sigh, for I should have preferred thatby breaking his word he should have given me an excuse to breakmine. After supper, we examined the house, but found no one init. The next day Gertrude went out, and from her I learned thatwe were at the end of the Rue St. Antoine, near the Bastile. Thatevening, as we were sitting down to supper, some one knocked.I grew pale.
"'If it be the count?' asked Gertrude. 'You must open to him;he has kept his promises, and I must keep mine.' A moment afterhe entered. 'Well, madame,' said he, 'have I kept my word?''Yes, monsieur, and I thank you for it.' 'Then you will receiveme?' said he, with an ironical smile. 'Enter, monsieur,' said I,'have you any news?' 'Of what, madame?' 'Of my father, firstly?''I have not been to Meridor and have not seen the baron.' 'Thenof Beauge, and the Duc d'Anjou?' 'I have been to Beauge, andhave spoken to the duke.' 'What does he say?' 'He appears todoubt.' 'Of what?' 'Of your death.' 'But you confirmed it?' 'Idid all I could.' 'Where is the duke?' I then asked. 'He returnedto Paris yesterday. One does not like to stay in a place whereone has the death of a woman to reproach one's self with.' 'Haveyou seen him in Paris?' 'I have just left him.' 'Did he speak ofme?' 'I did not give him time; I spoke incessantly of a promisewhich he made to me.' 'What is it?' 'He promised me as a rewardfor services rendered to him, to make, me chief huntsman.' 'Ah,yes,' said I, thinking of my poor Daphne 'you are a terrible hunter,I know.' 'It is not for, that reason I obtain it, but the dukedare not be ungrateful to me.'
"'Can I write to my father?' said I. 'Doubtless; but your lettersmay be intercepted.' 'Am I forbidden to go out?' 'Nothing isforbidden; but I beg to point out to you that you may be followed.''At least I must go on Sunday to mass.' 'It would be better not;but if you do, I advise you to go to St. Catherine.' 'Where isthat?' 'Just opposite you.' There was a silence. Then I said, 'Whenshall I see you again, monsieur?' 'When I have your permissionto come.' 'Do you need it?' 'Certainly, as yet I am a strangerto you.' 'Monsieur,' said I, half frightened at this unnaturalsubmission, 'you can return when you like, or when you thinkyou have anything important to communicate.'
"'Thanks, madame,' said he, 'I will use your permission, butnot abuse it. I know you do not love me, and I will not abusea situation which forces you to receive me. You will, I trust,gradually become accustomed to the thought, and be willing, whenthe moment shall arrive, to become my wife.' 'Monsieur,' saidI, 'I appreciate your delicacy and frankness. I will use thesame frankness. I had a prejudice against you, which I trustthat time will cure.' 'Permit me,' said he, 'to partake thisanticipation and live in the hopes of that happy moment.' Thenbowing respectfully, he went out."