CHAPTER IX.
I Meet with an Exciting Adventure.
About nine o'clock we came to a country inn where I decided to halt,and the troopers, well pleased at the prospect of refreshment,proceeded to stable the horses, while the hostess showed madame and herniece into the best room of the house. The arrival of such a largeparty caused some consternation, but the host and his servants bustledabout cheerfully, and the soldiers were soon sitting down to a roughbut abundant meal.
Having seen them satisfactorily settled, I was debating whether tointrude myself on the ladies or not, when the innkeeper informed methat they desired to see me. Accordingly, after speaking a word to thesergeant, I went upstairs, and entered the room where they sat at table.
Madame Coutance, who shortly before had sulked like a spoiled child,had now regained her good humour, and received me with smiles.
"Come, Sir Gaoler, it is not polite to keep your guests waiting," sheexclaimed, and I excused myself on the ground of being uncertainwhether my presence would be agreeable.
"Certainly! we require you as a taster. The Duke of Beaufort wasallowed one at Vincennes, and you would not count him of moreconsequence than two ladies?"
"I' faith!" I exclaimed, glancing at the viands, "if I am to play thatpart, there will be little for those who come after me. The night'sride has given me a wolf's appetite!"
"In that case," said Marie laughing, "we will be our own tasters. Sitdown, Albert, and let us begin."
For some reason best known to herself, or perhaps for no reason at all,Madame Coutance had become reconciled to the situation. I was receivedinto favour again. We laughed and joked merrily, and resumed thejourney in the best of good humour. The leathern coverings werefastened back, and I rode beside the open carriage more as an attendantcavalier than as the officer of an escort. This was far more agreeableto me, though I found it rather awkward to answer some of the questionswhich madame asked concerning the Cardinal.
"It is a pity the plot was discovered," she said; "in a day or two atthe outside Mazarin would have been lost."
"Conde is still in prison," I remarked meaningly.
"He will soon be free. The people are rising, and Mazarin will notdare to keep him in captivity. Ah, my friend, the tables will beturned then!"
"I wish these useless squabbles were at an end," said Marie.
"Have patience, child," exclaimed her aunt, "all will come right intime," and, turning to me, she added, "how long am I expected to remainat Aunay?"
"The Cardinal mentioned a month or two."
"Good faith!" she exclaimed with a toss of her head, "the Cardinal willbe over the borders before then!"
"It may be so," I admitted, not anxious to dispute the point.
We were still several miles from Aunay, when the sergeant, who rodewith two men in the rear, trotted forward briskly, and reining up myhorse, I waited for the soldier to speak.
"Are we likely to be pursued, monsieur?" asked he.
"It is just possible. Why?"
"Because there are a score of horsemen on our track. Pierre, who haskeen sight, declares they are cavaliers, young bloods most likely, fromParis."
In a few minutes they came within sight, and, as they approached moreclosely, I recognised that Pierre's description was correct. Theycertainly were not ordinary soldiers, and the only doubt remaining waswhether they were friends or foes.
The grizzled sergeant decided the question for me.
"Frondeurs, monsieur," he announced with the utmost coolness.
"Then they intend to rescue our prisoners. Can we throw them off?"
"We can try, monsieur, but they will probably overtake us in tenminutes."
"Then we must fight, though the odds are terribly against us."
"As monsieur pleases; we have only to obey orders," and without anotherword he recalled the soldiers who were in advance.
"What is it?" cried Madame Coutance, excitedly, as I returned to thecarriage, "what has happened?"
"Nothing as yet," I answered smiling; "but some of your party havefollowed us from Paris. For what purpose I leave you to guess."
She clapped her hands and laughed like a child; it just suited her tobe the central figure in any kind of adventure.
"A rescue!" she cried. "Marie, do you hear? Our brave cavaliers thinkwe are being dragged to prison, and have come to rescue us. Ah, thefine fellows! How vexed Mazarin will be! Perhaps he imagined I had nofriends!"
"Their folly can only do harm, madame," I replied.
"Chut! what absurdity! It is a rich joke, and Scarron shall make asong about it. How they will laugh when I explain that we are going toAunay and not to prison!"
During this conversation Marie, had remained silent, but now in a lowvoice she asked, "Are there many, Albert?"
"A score, perhaps," I replied; "but do not be alarmed. As your auntsays, they will probably regard the venture as a rich joke. Now I mustgo to my men," and I ordered the coachman to drive on rapidly.
The six troopers rode three abreast behind the coach, which rattledalong swiftly, while the sergeant and I followed. Each instant broughtour pursuers nearer, and it soon became evident that they were able toride us down.
"Pardon, monsieur," said the sergeant, "but if there is to be a fightwe had better get it over. At present we are only spoiling our horses."
"True," I replied, and called on the troopers to halt.
The cavaliers were advancing at a gallop. Foremost of the throng rodemy cousin Henri and Baron Maubranne, while close in their rear pressedPeleton, and half a dozen horsemen with whose features I wasunacquainted. Behind these again came several men whom I had met atPerret's--Armand d'Arcy, Lautrec, and finally, Raoul.
The sword trembled in my hand, and my heart sank on recognising Raoul.How could I fight against the staunch comrade who had always beendearer to me than a brother? It was impossible. For the sake of ourfriendship I must endeavour to avert a struggle.
The Frondeurs, I gladly believe, would have listened to reason but forPeleton and Baron Maubranne, who, with raised swords, rushed at me,yelling "Down with the _Mazarin_!"
In self-defence I was compelled to parry their blows, and Peleton,lunging rather wildly, received the point of my sword in his chest. Atthis the cavaliers, headed by Maubranne, charged us in a body, but mytroopers withstood the shock manfully, and the baron rolled to theground.
At the first clash of swords all thoughts of peace took wing; theintoxication of the fight got into our blood, and made us reckless.Spurring into the throng, I called on my men, who attacked with suchzest that the cavaliers began to give way.
Henri, however, quickly rallied them; the fight was renewed withincreased fury, and the air was filled with the clatter of steel andthe shouts of the combatants.
"The air was filled with the clatter of steel."]
The old sergeant had not praised his men without cause. They wereseasoned soldiers, hard and tough as iron, and without the least senseof fear. Fighting was their trade, and they were masters of the craft.
As for myself, I could ride, and handle a sword, but this was my firstexperience of a fight. I forgot the lessons in sword-play my fatherhad taught me, and struck out wildly, hitting right and left. I sawD'Arcy's smiling face go down before me, felt Lautrec's sword pierce myarm, and then came directly in front of Raoul.
As it chanced I was able to stay my hand at the very moment ofstriking, but Raoul, poor lad, had not the same good fortune, and, justas I lowered my weapon, his sword passed through my body. I am an oldman now, but I can still see the look of horror on his face, and hearhis cry of anguish. I remember smiling at him feebly and trying tospeak; then the fading daylight vanished, and with the darkness cameunconsciousness.
The next thing I can remember was Raoul asking some one if I shoulddie. Not being able to see him I stretched out my hand, and he,bending over me, spoke my name softly.
"My men?" I whispered faintly.
"They are a
ll living! Do you know who I am?"
"Yes. Raoul."
"If you do not go away, M. Beauchamp, you will kill my patient."
This was said in a voice soft and sweet as a child's, and I concludedthe speaker was a doctor. Raoul made some reply, but I could notunderstand his words, and gradually my sense of hearing failedaltogether. For weeks I lay hovering between life and death, and whenat length I was able to look about me and realise something of whatwent on, I was painfully weak and helpless.
Thrice every day there came into my room a tall, grave, white-beardedman, who sometimes smiled kindly, but more often shook his head in asorrowful manner. And always, throughout the day and night, there satby my bedside a grief-stricken youth who tended me with the utmostcare. This youth, so sad and melancholy, was Raoul, but Raoul soaltered as to be scarcely recognisable. For hours he would sitmotionless as a statue, then, rising gently, he would give me themedicine according to the doctor's orders, or smooth the tumbled pillowwhich I was helpless to re-arrange for myself.
One morning, waking after a long sleep, I felt considerably better. Mycomrade sat as usual beside the bed, but, wearied by the night watch,his head had sunk on his breast, and he had fallen asleep. I halfturned to look at him more closely, but at the first movement hestarted up wide awake.
"Raoul!" I whispered.
"Albert!"
"It is all right, old friend; I shall get on now."
Grasping my hand, which lay outside the coverlet, he pressed it gently,and, kneeling down, gave thanks to God for this first step in myrecovery.
"Amen to that," said I. "And now, my dear Raoul, tell me the news.Remember that I am ignorant of everything."
"First let me hear you say that you forgive me."
"Forgive you, old comrade? _Peste!_ there is nothing to forgive. Isit your fault that I am the less skilful hand with the sword?"
"That is nonsense," he replied slowly. "You could have killed me, butyou refused to strike."
"Friendship stayed my arm in time."
"But not mine!"
"Then after all I am the more skilful swordsman!"
"I nearly killed you," he said, and his lip quivered.
"But not quite. Let us forget all about it."
From that morning I began to regain strength, and could soon conversewith Raoul without fatigue. From him I learned that the safety of thetroopers was due to Marie, who, leaving the carriage, and running tothe scene of the fight, had called upon the Frondeurs to sheathe theirswords.
"Two of your men were wounded, though not seriously," said Raoul;"young D'Arcy received a nasty cut; Maubranne was picked up insensible,and Peleton will not forget you for some time."
"But for him and Maubranne, there need not have been a fight."
"They have a spite against you, and will make mischief if they can."
"Never mind them. What became of the escort?"
"The wounded men were taken to the inn; the others returned to Paris.Madame Coutance insisted on your being brought to Aunay, and here youhave remained ever since."
"Then really," I said, when Raoul gave me this information, "you haveall done your best to fulfil Mazarin's orders!"
"It was a mistake. We believed the ladies were to be imprisoned atReuil, and, besides, it was possible that Madame Coutance hadpossession of a valuable document."
"You should have searched the Palais Royal for that," I remarked with alaugh.
"You have spoiled our scheme for a time. Your cousin did the Fronde anill turn when he advised you to go to Paris; you have proved a thorn inour side from the very first day."
I asked after D'Arcy, and found that he had returned with his friendsto the capital, where new and startling plots were being hatched.
"Without a doubt we shall crush the Cardinal this time," exclaimed mycomrade, whose good spirits revived with my increasing strength. "Hewill miss his trusty henchman, and there is really no one of importanceon his side."
"Then De Retz has not received his red hat?"
"No! Mazarin played him a fine trick over that, and set all Parislaughing for weeks. The little abbe is desperately angry, and intendstaking ample vengeance."
"How Marie's aunt must wish she were back in the Rue Crillon!"
"She has vowed not to leave Aunay till you have recovered. The doctordeclares you owe your life to her and Marie, who nursed you during thefirst fortnight. By the way, your doublet was spoiled; so I sent foranother; you shall put it on in the morning."
"To go downstairs?'
"If you can persuade the doctor to grant you permission. And now tryto sleep, or you will be ill again."
The doctor appeared rather reluctant next morning to give his consent,but I begged so hard that at last he yielded, and Raoul helped me todress. Then, leaning on the arm of my comrade, and partly supported bythe medical man, I made my way to the drawing-room, where the ladiesgave me a hearty welcome. The disagreeable part I had played incarrying out Mazarin's orders was forgotten; Madame Coutance could talkonly about the fight, and her niece about my wounds.
"Between you all," I said, "you have saved my life."
"Next to God you have the doctor and Raoul to thank," remarked Marie.
"Raoul certainly," exclaimed her aunt laughing. "But for his sword-cutin the first place we could not have nursed you at all."
"It was, indeed, very kind of you," I replied, ignoring the first partof her speech, "especially as I am in the pay of the hated Mazarin."
"That is nothing, absolutely nothing. We are winning, and can affordto be generous. The Cardinal stands on the edge of a mine which willshortly explode. De Retz and your cousin Henri have made thingscertain this time; there will be no more mistakes."
There was something in her speech and manner which made me wonder whyshe was so bitter against the Cardinal. My recent adventures hadtaught me valuable lessons, and I knew that many of those who talked soloudly of liberty and justice had their own private schemes to advanceat the expense of the public welfare; and I was half-inclined to thinkthat Marie's aunt was a Frondeuse of this description. However, shewas very kind to me, and I still look back on those early days of myrecovery with a certain amount of pleasure.
From the date of my leaving home I had lived at high pressure, in amaze of intrigue and strife. My wits, such as they were, had ever beenemployed; my life had been in danger a score of times. The calm whichfollowed this incessant scheming and fighting was delicious, and I didnot feel very sorry that Raoul had given me a dig with his sword.
Though sorely needed by his patron, he refused to leave Aunay as longas I was in the slightest danger; the ladies treated me like a brother,while the doctor spared neither time nor trouble to bring about therestoration of my health. It was new to me to be thus petted, and Ithoroughly enjoyed it.
Madame would not hear of my going home.
"That would be a fine thing indeed!" she exclaimed banteringly. "Imean to claim the credit of your recovery. But as soon as yourstrength returns you shall write, and I will provide a messenger todeliver your letter."
"My mother will be anxious," I said. "No doubt Belloc has told hersomething of what has happened."
"Make yourself easy on that head," exclaimed Raoul. "I thought ofthat, and sent D'Arcy to caution him. He will only mention that youhave met with a slight accident."
This was very thoughtful as well as kind of my comrade, and I thankedhim heartily.
Three weeks after my first coming downstairs, he took his departure forthe capital. His patron had already sent him several urgent messages,and now that the doctor had pronounced me out of danger he felt it hisduty to go.
"We are nearing the end," said he; "and the Duke has need of all hisfriends. Mazarin may make a desperate effort, but I prophesy that bythe time you are well he will be dead or banished."
"In either case Paris will be no place for me, and I shall return tothe farm."
"Not at all," he answered earnestly. "I shall speak to
the Duke, andhe will take you into his service."
Unwilling to vex him, I let the subject drop, though not having theslightest intention of joining the Cardinal's enemies. So I hobbledinto the courtyard to witness his departure, and echoed his farewell,"Till we meet again," as he passed through the gateway.
At first I missed him a great deal, but each succeeding day increasedmy strength; I was able to walk alone, and altogether felt verycomfortable. Either by myself or accompanied by the ladies I took theair on the terrace, or, wandering through the charming grounds,strolled by the margin of the silvery stream skirting the chateau.
The bitter strife of clashing interests, the tumult and horrors of thecapital, did not extend to this peaceful spot; it might have been theheart of another country. The peasants were courteous and respectful,toiling patiently like oxen in yoke. As yet they had not learned theirpower, and the noble was still a master to be obeyed without murmur orcomplaint. Much to her aunt's annoyance, Marie went among them,smiling pleasantly, speaking kind words, bearing help to thedistressed, soothing the sick, and treating them all, in fact, likehuman beings. At Aunay she was really happy, and her face wore anexpression of content which one never saw in Paris.
"I could wish to live in the country always," she remarked once, "it isso peaceful after noisy, brawling Paris."
So the days glided by till there came to us in the chateau strangeechoes of the outside world. The wildest rumours were repeated by thegentry of the neighbouring estates. One day we heard Conde wasmarching on Paris with ten thousand soldiers; the next that he had beenpoisoned in his cell at Havre. Some asserted that Mazarin, having madepeace with De Retz, had triumphed over all his enemies, others thatOrleans had hanged the Cardinal out of hand.
These tales agitated Madame Coutance, and I knew she longed to be backin the midst of the storm. While I remained at Aunay this wasimpossible, but, in spite of her desire, she would not let me depart.
"You will become a vegetable at Vancey," she said, "and I want to pushyour fortunes. Mazarin must soon be beaten, and you shall join thegreat prince. I have influence with him, and will use it."
Thanking her warmly, I pointed out that, having pledged my word toMazarin, I could not accept the prince's favours.
"Bah!" she exclaimed, "no one can help a fallen favourite!"
"Then there is the Queen-Mother; I cannot range myself among herenemies."
"You are very simple," said madame smiling. "Anne of Austria has noenemies; we all bow to her and the little King. Conde is her chieffriend," and with that she went away, leaving me to think over thematter.