CHAPTER XX.
It was about two o'clock in the day, when the party of the Duke ofNemours entered the little town of Maintenon; for that Prince hurriedalong his prisoners at a rapid rate, although he was aware that, themain body of fugitives from the field of Ivry having taken a differentdirection, he was less likely to be pursued than if he had followedthe same course towards Mantes. As he approached Maintenon, indeed, hesomewhat slackened his speed, and gave orders for putting his men intobetter order; and before he reached the gates he brought his ownhorse, and those of the rest, to a walk, as if quietly marchingthrough the country.
All appearance of flight and apprehension was banished; and DeMontigni heard one of the soldiers, speaking to a citizen as theyentered, declare, that they had had a skirmish at Ivry, in which theKing had been defeated and driven back. A somewhat bitter smile curledhis lip; but he made no observation; and the good townsman shaking hishead with a doubtful look, replied.
"Ay, it may be so; but different tidings are about the place; and ifyou have won a battle, why are you marching away from the field?"
"Why, Coquin?" replied the soldier readily, "because we are carryingthe tidings to Chartres, with orders to the governor to send out hispeople and cut off the fugitives from Alen?on."
Still the man looked unconvinced; but the soldier rode on after histroop; and the Duke stopped in the town two hours to refresh hishorses. While there, he sent for the officer commanding in the place,and held a long, private conversation with him, which afforded anopportunity to De Montigni and Rose d'Albret to speak togetherunnoticed, for the first time since their capture. The Duke hadordered dinner to be prepared, and had courteously invited them topartake of it, leaving them alone in the dining hall of the inn, whilehe held his communication with the governor without. But though it wasa solace and a comfort to both of them, to be enabled to pour theirgriefs and anxieties into each other's bosom, yet their conference wasa sad and fruitless one; for they could arrange no plan of action forthe future, they could extract no hope from the painful situation inwhich they were placed. All they could do was to promise and repromisefaith and constancy to each other, and to wait for coming events, inthe hope of ultimate deliverance. De Montigni found no difficulty inbinding Rose to fly with him whenever the opportunity should offer;and each vowed to the other to look upon their engagement as completeand inviolable, whatever means might be employed to break it.
"Let us regard ourselves as wedded, dearest Rose," said De Montigni;"and fear not for the result. The King is each day gaining advantagesover his enemy. This faction must soon be crushed, notwithstanding theassistance it receives from Spain; my ransom will soon be agreed upon;and should they attempt to detain my bride, I will deliver her, shouldneed be, with the strong hand. If bloodshed be the result, let Chazeulanswer for it. The fault is his, not mine."
"Oh! no, no!" cried Rose; "do nothing rashly, Louis. I am yours, willbe ever yours. Better to wait for months--ay, even for years, than dipyour hands in kindred blood.--But I will trust that there is no needfor such terrible deeds. When once the King's authority is at allestablished, Monsieur de Liancourt will soon yield to it. He is notone of those who will hold out to the last, in favour of a failingcause. But, at all events," she added, as the door opened, "be thetime long or short, be the trial hard or light, I am yours for ever."
She knew not how hard that trial was to be.
As she spoke, the Duke of Nemours, with one or two of the gentlemenattached to him, entered the room; and the meal which he had orderedwas soon after served. The irritation under which he had laboured, onaccount of the loss of the battle, when first De Montigni and his faircompanion had fallen into his hands, had passed away; and towards Rosed'Albret, at least, he had resumed all that courtesy for which he wasrenowned. To De Montigni his demeanour was varying and uncertain;never, indeed, returning to the harsh rudeness which he had at firstdisplayed, but sometimes cold and icy, sometimes gay and almost kind.He was a Prince who had acquired, without much cause, a highreputation throughout Europe, and De Montigni knew him by report to bebrave to a fault, generous to prodigality, and affecting a chivalroustone in his conduct and manners; but he was not aware of the faults,which afterwards developed themselves so remarkably and caused theDuke's ruin and his death,--selfishness, ambition, tyrannicalseverity, and a wild vanity, that led him to overestimate in allthings his own abilities, and his own importance.
As they sat together at the table, for a time, the fairer points ofthe Duke's character were alone exhibited to his prisoners. Headdressed De Montigni more than once, pressed Rose to partake of themeal before them, spoke of the events of the battle, and even laudedhighly the skill and character of the King.--The young Baron deceivedhimself into the belief that these external signs of a high and noblenature, might be the genuine indications of the heart; and he resolvedto cast himself upon his generosity, to explain to him thecircumstances in which he stood, and to beseech him to refrain, atleast for a short period, from placing Mademoiselle d'Albret in thepower of those who were but too likely to misuse the opportunity. Asif to check him in such purposes, almost the next moment, Nemoursresumed towards him his haughty and overbearing manner; and thus hewent on from time to time; at one moment appearing to forget that DeMontigni was an adversary and a prisoner, and the next treating himalmost as if he were a condemned criminal.
After the space of repose I have mentioned, the march towards Chartreswas resumed, but the pace at which they proceeded was now slow; andbefore they reached that fair old town, the sun set in cloudlesssplendor, and the stars looked out in the sky. Weary, silent, anxious,and distressed, Rose d'Albret rode on, replying to the frequentattentions of Nemours with but a monosyllable, till at length theyreached the gates, where they where detained during a few minutes; forthe news of the defeat of Ivry had already reached the city, and allwas anxious precaution to guard against surprise. At length the partywas admitted; torches were procured at the Corps de Garde; and bytheir red and gloomy light, flashing upon the tall houses with theirmanifold small windows, the cavalcade wound on, through the narrowstreets, towards the castle.
Intelligence of the arrival of the Duke of Nemours, had been sent onto the governor from the gates; and the outer court of the citadel wasfilled with gentlemen and officers when the party entered. Nemoursdismounted from his horse as soon as he had given the word to halt;and, advancing to a stern-looking, middle-aged man, who seemed to bethe chief of those present, he embraced him, saying,
"Well, Monsieur de la Bourdasi?res, I have come to you sooner than Iexpected. We have been badly served at Ivry; and the foreign troopshave once more betrayed our confidence. However, I bring two prisonerswith me--or at least one," he added, "for the lady is not a prisoner,and of her I will speak to you by and by, if you will have thegoodness now to place her for the time under the protection of Madamede la Bourdasi?res."
The governor seemed to ask a question, which De Montigni did not hear;but Nemours replied, immediately, "Oh, yes, of the highest. It isMademoiselle d'Albret, the daughter of the late Count de Marennes."
"Right willingly," replied the governor. "We will give her what poorentertainment we can;" and advancing with Nemours to the side ofRose's jennet, he assisted her to dismount, saying, "my wife will bemost happy to entertain you, Mademoiselle d'Albret."
Rose turned an anxious look towards De Montigni, who sprang from hishorse, and approaching her before any one could interfere, took herhand, saying, "I am rejoiced to find you placed under such protection,dearest Rose."
The governor turned a grave and inquiring look towards him; but DeMontigni added, loud enough for all to hear, "Do not fear. Thecontract for our marriage, between your father and my uncle, cannot bebroken, let them do what they will."
"Come, come, enough of this, Sir!" said the Duke of Nemours; and thegovernor, taking Rose by the hand, led her away into the castle.
"Monsieur de Nemours," said the young nobleman, as soon as she wasgone, "I am your prisoner; and I cannot bl
ame you for seizing themomentary advantage you had obtained, to make me so. I know thereputation of the Duke of Nemours too well to suppose, that he willshow any want of courtesy toward one placed in such a situation; I,therefore, demand to be put to ransom, and that without farther delay,according to the common customs and usages of war."
Nemours gazed at him, for an instant, from head to foot, and then,turning on his heel, replied, "I will consider of it, Sir."
A sharp reply was springing to De Montigni's lips; but he repressedit, recollecting how much the fate of himself and one most dear tohim, might depend upon the man to whom he was speaking. The colourcame in his cheek, however; and he bit his lip to keep down the angerwhich could scarcely be suppressed, while Nemours, calling one of hisgentlemen to him, gave some directions in a low tone.
"Take a parole from his servant," he said aloud, in conclusion, "andlet him have free ingress and egress to wait upon his master. As tothe chamber, speak with some of the people of Monsieur de laBourdasi?res about it;" and then, turning round to De Montigni again,he added, "we shall meet to-morrow, Sir; in the mean time, goodnight."
Thus saying, he walked away and entered the castle, marshalled by someof the officers of the governor. De Montigni remained for a moment ortwo, while the followers of Nemours and the people assembled in thecourt conversed together round about him, in regard to the events ofthe day, and many an anxious inquiry was addressed to those who hadshared in the battle, as to the course which it had taken, and theresults which it was likely to produce. Each man answered according tohis particular character and disposition. Some made light of it;asserted that it could scarcely be called a battle lost; that Mayennewas at the head of nearly as many men as ever; and that, though theenemy did possess the field, they had paid dearly for it. Others, moresincere, or more alarmed, acknowledged, that at last it had been acomplete rout, that each had fled as best he could, and that the Kingwas pursuing Mayenne, sword in hand, towards Mantes. Others contentedthemselves with a significant shrug of the shoulders, or a simpleexclamation of anger and mortification; but, upon the whole, thegovernor's officers easily divined that a great victory had been wonby the Royalists,--a terrible defeat sustained by their own party.
At length, the gentleman to whom Nemours had last spoken, and who hadbeen conversing with another man at some distance, advanced towards DeMontigni, saying, "Now, Monsieur le Baron, if you will follow me andMonsieur de la Haye, we will show you to your chamber.--Come hither,"he continued, beckoning to De Montigni's servant who had been takenwith him; "you can wait upon your master till he is ransomed, so youwill see where he lodges;" and, leading the way with the officer towhom he had been speaking, he conducted the young nobleman into thecastle. Following the walls which in those days were extensive, heapproached a small detached building, which seemed to be used as ahouse of refreshment for the soldiery, or what we should, in thepresent day, call the canteen.
The lower story was thronged with men drinking and talking; but,walking through the passage, they reached a narrow and ill-constructedstairs, which led to some rooms above. In one of these was found abed, a table, and a chair, all of the homeliest description. Thecasements were not in the best state of repair, and no curtains werethere to keep out the glare of day or the winds of night. The wallswere in the rough primeval state in which the hands of the mason hadleft them, and everything bore an aspect of misery and discomfort, notvery consoling to the eyes of the captive.
This, he was informed, was to be his abode while he remained in thecity of the Druids: and, well knowing that remonstrance was in vain,he seated himself in the solitary chair, while the officer of Nemourstook the parole of his servant, and then, making a cold bow to theprisoner, retired.
De Montigni remained in silence, with his head resting on his hand,for a moment or two, while his follower gazed on him with adisconsolate countenance; but, at length, the man ventured tointerrupt his master's reverie by saying, "This is a strange place toput you in, Sir. Not very civil, _pardie_, though you be a prisoner."
"The place matters little, my good friend," answered the youngnobleman. "We slept in the Alps in worse abodes than this. It is thebeing a prisoner that makes the lodging bad--and at such a time too!"he added, with a bitter sigh, "when happiness was within my grasp;when the cause of the King was victorious; when another minute wouldhave saved us both."
"'Twas unlucky indeed, Sir," said the servant. "They say fortunechanges every seven years; God forbid that ours should last as long,for we have made a sad beginning in France. But, at all events, I willtry to render the place somewhat more comfortable for you, Sir. Moneywill do anything in Chartres, as well as elsewhere."
"Would to Heaven it would get me out of it!" replied De Montigni. "Hewill never dare refuse to put me to ransom, surely?"
"I do not know, Sir," rejoined the man. "I have heard that, in thesecivil wars, they have done strange things; but, if he do, you mustmake your escape, Sir; and, as I was saying just now, money can doeverything."
De Montigni shook his head, but he suffered the man to proceed as hethought fit to give the chamber an air of greater comfort. A sconcewas brought up from below, to replace the solitary lamp which had beenleft by the officer; a piece of tapestry was obtained from some otherquarter to cover the window; a bundle of rushes were found to strewthe floor; a white sheet was spread over the bed, to cover thesomewhat dirty furniture with which it had been previously decorated;and, thanks to the proximity of the canteen, wine and provisions ofvarious kinds soon ornamented the table, which was covered with one ofthose fine white cloths for which, Le Grand assures us, France was atthat time famous.
But, when the door opened and closed, De Montigni saw the figure of asoldier, either passing to and fro, or leaning on his partizan; and hefelt bitterly that he was a prisoner, without power to alter thecourse of events which were taking place around him, to thedestruction of all his hopes, to the frustration of those dreams ofjoy in which he had indulged but a few hours before. With the usualcourse of bitter and unavailing regret in a young and inexperiencedmind, he reproached himself for not having done every act that mighthave averted the misfortune which had fallen upon him. He blamedhimself for having joined the battle, when he had no occasion to doso; he forgot all the inducements and arguments to which his mind hadyielded when he left Rose in the farm at Mainville, in order to sharein the glories and the dangers of the field of Ivry. He next regrettedthat, anxious to bear her the first tidings of success, he had hurriedback as soon as he saw the fight irretrievably turned against theLeaguers, and acknowledged that he ought to have gone on with the Kingin pursuit of the enemy.
He who knows by frequent trial the fallibility of human judgment, andhow often the best calculations are proved false by the unexpectedturns of fate, judges as surely as he can by the light of reason, actsresolutely when his decision is formed, and leaves the rest to thewill of God, thanking Him who alone gives success, if his effortsprove effectual, bowing, without self-condemnation, if disappointmentfollows. But the young cannot do this; for it is the invariable faultof youth to attribute too much to human powers. We only discover theirfeebleness when we have tried them; and this is one of the firstlessons of earthly existence, the great school wherein we learn, or,at least, may acquire, the knowledge that fits us for a higher stateof being. The world is a school, and we are but school-boys, and allthat we obtain is destined for another scene.
The night which De Montigni first passed as a prisoner, was withoutrepose, as it well might be. Had his busy thoughts permitted sleep tovisit his eyelids during the first five hours of the night, the noiseswhich rose up from below would have effectually banished the gentleguest; but those sounds were hardly heard by the captive, and, longafter his servant had left him, he sat and mused; now reviewing thepast; now forming airy schemes for the future, destroyed as soon asraised; now pondering over the bitter present with unavailing angerand regret. Shortly after daylight, he was up and dressed; and, whenhis servant again appeared, he sent him at o
nce to the Duke of Nemoursto know when he would fix his ransom, according to the custom of theday. The answer was cold and formal, "That Monsieur de Nemours wouldsee the Baron de Montigni in the course of the morning, and would theninform him of his intentions."
This was all that the man had been able to obtain; and, for manyanother impatient hour, De Montigni paced his narrow chamber, givingway to every dark and painful imagination, till, at length, a step,different from that of the guard at the door, was heard without, aboutan hour after noon, and the voice of the Duke of Nemours was instantlyrecognized by the prisoner, telling the soldier he might retire to theroom below.
They were words of good augury to the young nobleman, who mentallysaid, "He comes to name my ransom;" and the impression was fartherconfirmed by the cheerful and courteous countenance of the Duke, whoentered the moment after, more with the air of an old acquaintancethan a captor.
"Well, Monsieur de Montigni," he said, "how have you passed the night?By heaven, they have assigned you but a paltry lodging here. 'Tis noneof my doings this. La Bourdasi?re should have known better."
"The lodging matters little, my Lord," answered De Montigni, "it isthe imprisonment that is painful;" and, resolved to follow thedetermination he had formed the day before, and cast himself and Roseupon the generosity of the Duke, he added. "Nor is it my own captivitythat is the most grievous to me. It is the imprisonment of the ladyyou found with me."
"But she is not a prisoner, Monsieur de Montigni," replied Nemours;"therein you have made a mistake."
"She is worse than a prisoner, my Lord Duke," said the young nobleman,"if you send her back to the Ch?teau of Marzay.--Nay, hear me out, myLord. I have ever heard that the Duke of Nemours is the flower of theFrench nobility for chivalrous generosity. His name has reached meeven in Italy, where I have so long sojourned, and if when I enteredFrance I had been asked on whom I would soonest rely for aid andprotection in any honourable enterprise, I should have answered, 'onMonsieur de Nemours.' Now, my Lord, I will tell you the plain truthregarding the situation of myself and Mademoiselle d'Albret, and ifyour own heart will suffer you to send her back to the captivity inwhich she is held at Marzay, I am much mistaken."
He then proceeded to relate the circumstances in which he had foundRose on his return from Italy; the arts that had been employed todeceive them both; and the recourse which they had had to flight asthe only means of delivering the lady from the position in which theyhad placed her. Nemours listened with a varying countenance, butwithout any interruption. At one moment De Montigni thought he wastouched; at another, a heavy frown came upon his brow; at another, alook of impatience passed over his face, as if he were tired of thetale; and when the young nobleman had ended, he replied in anindifferent tone--"All very lamentable, Monsieur de Montigni; butstill, unless you were prepared to subscribe to the Holy CatholicUnion, I should not be justified in retaining Mademoiselle d'Albretfrom her guardian. Even if you were, indeed, it would still be aconsideration whether the long services of Monsieur de Chazeul wouldnot require us to bestow the hand of the lady upon him, rather thanupon a fresh and uncertain convert."
"What!" exclaimed De Montigni, hastily, "the contract with her father,her own inclination, and my undoubted right to count for nothing!"
"I am no lawyer," answered Nemours coldly; "I know no thing ofcontracts. If you think yourself injured in regard to that matter, thecourts are open to you."
"Nay, nay, Monsieur de Nemours," cried De Montigni. "Do not, for yourown good name's sake, treat the matter in such a tone! Do notsanction, by the approval of the Duke of Nemours, a line of conductwhich you must feel has been most base and dishonourable!"
The Duke coloured. "Well, Sir," he answered, "I will not sanction it.If all the circumstances be as you say, wrong has been done. But I amvery sorry, I cannot help it now. A different statement of the affairshas been made to me in letters from Chazeul; and, to end all in oneword, the lady is already far on her way towards Marzay."
De Montigni started and gazed on him with a stern and angry brow. "Andyou have really done this thing?" he asked.
"I have," replied Nemours, returning his glance with one of equalfire.
"Then, probably," said De Montigni, in a tone of bitter calmness,"Monsieur de Nemours is prepared still farther to favour his friend'shonest and honourable proceedings by retaining the lady's affiancedhusband in prison, and refusing to put him to ransom, as is customaryamongst gentleman in honourable warfare? Pray let me know my fate atonce."
"No, Sir," answered the Duke, "I do not intend to do any such thing. Ipropose to set you free as soon as possible, either by exchange orransom, for the very purpose of suffering you to pursue your claims tothis lady's hand as you may think fit. There is one littlepreliminary, indeed, but that is a trifle which will be soonarranged."
"That is like the Duke of Nemours again," exclaimed De Montigni,warmly. "What is the amount of ransom you demand?"
"Name it yourself, Monsieur de Montigni," replied Nemours.
"Will twenty thousand livres suffice?" asked the young Baron.
"Fully!" said Nemours.
"Then they shall be yours with as much speed as can be used," repliedDe Montigni. "You will give me a messenger to my intendant atMontigni, who has more than enough in his hands to discharge the sumat once."
"Nay, I will do more," said Nemours, "I will set you free, to seek ityourself, and send it when you can.--Your time may be valuable to youjust now; and heaven forbid that I should detain you."
"Now you are generous indeed, my Lord," answered De Montigni, "and mybest thanks and gratitude are yours for ever."
"There is, however, one little preliminary," continued Nemours, in asomewhat dry tone; "which we must settle before you go."
"I suppose you mean a bond or engagement to pay the ransom?" said DeMontigni.
"Not so, my young friend," answered Nemours with a bitter smile. "Youwill have the kindness to recollect, that yesterday on the pleasantbanks of the Eure, at a place I believe called the ford of Mainville,you thought fit to charge me with want of courtesy towards a lady. Nowsuch charges should not be made lightly, and you have, moreover, byyour conduct since--though not exactly in the same words--implied thatyou sustained that charge. The Duke of Nemours, Sir, lies underimputation from no man living; and, therefore, waving the privilegesof his rank, as a Prince of a Sovereign house, he is ready to wipe itout in your blood without farther delay."
"Ah, Monsieur de Nemours," said De Montigni, "can you so tarnish thebright generosity you displayed just now, by--"
But Nemours waved his hand. "No more, Sir," he said, "no more!Arguments on such subjects are vain. The man who submits to insult, isa coward. You have heard what I have said. I pray you give me ananswer."
"Assuredly, my Lord," replied De Montigni, "I am happy that I havesome privileges too to wave, in order in some degree to put me on alevel with so high a Prince."
"Indeed, Sir!" said Nemours, in a tone of some surprise; "may Iinquire what they are?"
"Those of a prisoner, my Lord," answered the young Baron, calmly. "Itis an old law of honour and arms, that no prisoner or person underransom, can receive a challenge from any man, much less from hiscaptor. Nor is he bound to take the slightest notice of such aninvitation, the shame, if there be any insult or provocation given,resting upon the giver." Nemours coloured; but De Montigni proceeded:"This, my Lord Duke, is the privilege that I now wave, to gratify you;but it is upon condition, that I name the terms and circumstances ofour combat."
"Assuredly," replied Nemours, "that you have a right to demand. Whatare the terms?"
"Somewhat numerous, my Lord," replied De Montigni. After a moment'sthought, "First, that we fight without the town; next that our combatbe restricted to one pistol shot on each side; next, which isabsolutely necessary, my time being precious as you justly said butnow, that we be without seconds; for, as perhaps you are aware, I haveno friends in this town.[2] Moreover, taking you at your word, I willrequest you in all courtesy t
o give me under your hand a passport tocome and go, in return for which, I will give you a bond for theamount of the ransom, and by your permission, will send my servant,who is with me, to bring it at once from Montigni."
"Agreed, agreed," cried Nemours, with a well-pleased air. "But youhave forgotten to name the time, Monsieur de Montigni. I am at yourdisposal to-morrow, the next day, the day after,--the day followingthat I must quit Chartres."
De Montigni smiled: "I hope to quit it to-day, Monsieur de Nemours,"he replied. "It may take half-an-hour to have the ransom bond drawn;as long, perhaps, for me to buy a pistol, for you know that I wasunarmed when you made me prisoner. Say half-an-hour more for any otherunexpected impediment; and then I am at your service."
De Nemours embraced him as if he had done him the greatest favour, forsuch was the spirit of those times; and then calling to the guard frombelow, he discharged him from his task, bidding him bring materialsfor writing, as speedily as possible. "I will save you the trouble ofpurchasing pistols, Monsieur de Montigni," he continued; "you shallhave one of mine; and there are no better in all France."
"You do me honour, Sir," replied De Montigni, "and I accept your offerwith gratitude; but you must name our place of meeting, as I amunacquainted with this locality."
"There is a stone cross," said Nemours, "little more than a quarter ofa league from the Porte Drouaise: it is so far on your way; and thereis a convenient field hard by, where we can have room to turn ourhorses. Yours is somewhat weary I fear from yesterday's exertions, butmine is not less so, so that there will be no inequality."
Everything was soon arranged. The pistols were sent for, the ransombond drawn up, the passport given, the signature of La Bourdasi?reobtained to it; and, as nearly three-quarters of an hour yet remainedof the appointed time, to which the Duke determined to be verypunctual, he ordered refreshments to be brought up into the chamber ofDe Montigni, and there, talking gaily over a thousand indifferentsubjects, passed half-an-hour as if he were occupied by no thoughtsbut those of peace and pleasure. De Montigni on his part did his bestto maintain the same tone, and played his part as well as might be;but he was less accustomed to such transactions than his companion;and his thoughts would revert from time to time to Rose d'Albret, anda cloud of care would settle on his brow.
As time wore by, and the appointed hour approached, the Duke called tothe people below, and ordered his horse to be brought from the stablesof the castle. Then turning to De Montigni he added, "I think, as youare not acquainted with the spot, it may be as well if I conduct youthither myself; but in the first place, dispatch your servant on hiserrand. I will take care that none of mine follow us; and your horsecan be brought round, after he is gone."
De Montigni made no objection, and the plan proposed was pursued.Nemours left his young companion for a few minutes, to make thearrangements necessary to guard against interruption; and, during thetime that he was thus left alone, De Montigni wrote a few hasty linesto Rose d'Albret, telling her of the circumstances in which he wasplaced, and bidding her farewell, if he should fall. The letter washardly sealed, when Nemours returned; and now that it was arrangedthey were to go forth for the purpose of taking each others' lives indeadly combat, he was all courtesy and urbanity, according to thecustoms of the day; and, to have heard his words, or to have witnessedhis demeanour, one would have supposed that De Montigni was a dear andintimate friend, or perhaps a younger brother. Each charged the pistolof the other, each opened his pourpoint, to show that he had nosecret, or coat of mail beneath; and then, after some ceremonies as towho should first descend the stairs, the Duke of Nemours led the way.Mounting their horses, which they found, held by some of the soldiers,at the door, they rode together towards the gates of the citadel.Several of the gentlemen attached to the Duke of Nemours wereassembled near the bridge, and De Montigni thought that there weresomewhat grave and even angry looks upon their countenances, whichmight indicate, that they were not quite so ignorant of the object ofhis companion and himself, as they affected to be. A little furtheron, at the outer gate, Monsieur de la Bourdasi?re came out of theguard house, and approaching the horse of the Duke of Nemours, spoketo him for a moment, in a low tone.
"Not if you value the friendship of Nemours," replied the Dukesternly. "The man who interferes in the slightest degree, is my enemyfrom that hour."
Thus saying he rode on; and passing the gates of Chartres, theyadvanced for some way along the road to Dreux, till at length thestone cross which the Duke had mentioned appeared in sight, anddismounting from their horses they knelt before it, and prayed forsome moments in silence. Then mounting again, they took their wayacross the plain, till they had lost sight of the cross, it beingconsidered, in those days, improper to commit murder in theneighbourhood of that symbol of salvation, although, with the heartfull of every passion and every purpose condemned by Christ, theywould kneel and pray, as they passed under the cross of him, who diedto bring peace upon earth, good-will amongst men. Then choosing anopen field by the bank of the river, the Duke made his companion a lowbow, and wheeled his horse, saying, "Here, Monsieur de Montigni, weshall have space enough. We fire as we pass; and mind your aim begood!"
De Montigni bowed in return, and took his ground at the opposite sideof the field.