CHAPTER LXIII.
IN WHICH IT IS PROVED THAT GRATITUDE WAS ONE OF ST. LUC'S VIRTUES.
The next morning, M. de Monsoreau rose early, and descended intothe courtyard of the palace. He entered the stable, where Rolandwas in his place.
"Are the horses of monseigneur taught to return to their stablealone?" asked he of the man who stood there.
"No, M. le Comte."
"But Roland did so yesterday."
"Oh, he is remarkably intelligent."
"Has he ever done it before?"
"No, monsieur; he is generally ridden by the Duc d'Anjou, whois a good rider, and never gets thrown."
"I was not thrown," replied the count, "for I also am a goodrider; no, I tied him to a tree while I entered a house, andat my return he had disappeared. I thought he had been stolen,or that some passer-by had played a bad joke by carrying himaway; that was why I asked how he returned to the stable."
"He returned alone, as monsieur said just now."
"It is strange. Monseigneur often rides this horse, you say?"
"Nearly every day."
"His highness returned late last night?"
"About an hour before you."
"And what horse did he ride? was it a bay with a white star onhis forehead?"
"No, monsieur, he rode Isolin, which you see here."
"And in the prince's escort is there any one who rides such ahorse as I describe?"
"I know of no one."
"Well," said Monsoreau, impatiently, "saddle me Roland."
"Roland?"
"Yes, are there any orders against it?"
"No; on the contrary, I was told to let you have any horse youpleased."
When Roland was saddled, Monsoreau said to the man, "What areyour wages?"
"Twenty crowns, monsieur."
"Will you earn ten times that sum at once?"
"I ask no better. But how?"
"Find out who rode yesterday the horse I described."
"Ah, monsieur, what you ask is very difficult, there are so manygentlemen come here."
"Yes, but two hundred crowns are worth some trouble."
"Certainly, M. le Comte, and I will do my best to discover."
"That is right, and here are ten crowns to encourage you."
"Thanks, M. le Comte."
"Well, tell the prince I have gone to reconnoiter the wood forthe chase."
As he spoke he heard steps behind him, and turned.
"Ah, M. de Bussy!" he cried.
"Why, M. le Comte, who would have thought of seeing you here!"
"And you, who they said was so ill."
"So I am; my doctor orders absolute rest, and for a week I havenot left the city. Ah! you are going to ride Roland; I sold himto the duke, who is very fond of him."
"Yes, he is an excellent animal; I rode him yesterday."
"Which makes you wish for him again to-day?"
"Yes."
"You were speaking of a chase."
"Yes, the prince wishes for one."
"Whereabouts is it to be?"
"Near Meridor. Will you come with me?"
"No, thank you, I do not feel well."
"Oh!" cried a voice from behind, "there is M. de Bussy out withoutpermission."
"Ah! there is my doctor scolding. Adieu, comte."
Bussy went away, and Monsoreau jumped into the saddle.
"What is the matter?" said Remy; "you look so pale, I believeyou are really ill."
"Do you know where he is going?"
"No."
"To Meridor."
"Well, did you hope he would not?"
"Mon Dieu! what will happen, after what he saw yesterday?"
"Madame de Monsoreau will deny everything."
"But he saw her."
"She will say he did not."
"She will never have the courage."
"Oh, M. de Bussy, is it possible you do not know women betterthan that!"
"Remy, I feel very ill."
"So I see. Go home, and I will prescribe for you."
"What?"
"A slice of fowl and ham, and some lobster."
"Oh, I am not hungry."
"The more reason I should order you to eat."
"Remy, I fear that that wretch will make a great scene at Meridor.I ought to have gone with him when he asked me."
"What for?"
"To sustain Diana."
"Oh, she will sustain herself. Besides, you ought not to be out;we agreed you were too ill."
"I could not help it, Remy, I was so unquiet."
Remy carried him off, and made him sit down to a good breakfast.
M. de Monsoreau wished to see if it were chance or habit thathad led Roland to the park wall; therefore he left the bridle onhis neck. Roland took precisely the same road as on the previousday, and before very long M. de Monsoreau found himself in thesame spot as before. Only now the place was solitary, and nohorse was there. The count climbed the wall again, but no onewas to be seen; therefore, judging that it was useless to watchfor people on their guard, he went on to the park gates. Thebaron, seeing his son-in-law coming over the drawbridge, advancedceremoniously to meet him. Diana, seated under a magnificentsycamore, was reading poetry, while Gertrude was embroideringat her side. The count, seeing them, got off his horse, andapproached them.
"Madame," said he, "will you grant me the favor of an interview?"
"Willingly, monsieur."
"What calm, or rather what perfidy!" thought the count.
"Do you do us the honor of remaining at the chat?" asked the baron.
"Yes, monsieur, until to-morrow, at least."
The baron went away to give orders, and Diana reseated herself,while Monsoreau took Gertrude's chair, and, with a look sufficientto intimidate most people, said:
"Madame, who was in the park with you yesterday?"
"At what time?" said Diana, in a firm voice.
"At six."
"Where?"
"Near the copse."
"It must have been some one else, it was not I."
"It was you, madame."
"What do you know about it?"
"Tell me the man's name!" cried Monsoreau, furiously.
"What man?"
"The man who was walking with you."
"I cannot tell, if it was some other woman."
"It was you, I tell you."
"You are wrong, monsieur."
"How dare you deny it? I saw you."
"You, monsieur?"
"Yes, madame, myself. And there is no other lady here."
"You are wrong again; there is Jeanne de Brissac."
"Madame de St. Luc?"
"Yes, my friend."
"And M. de St. Luc?"
"Never leaves her; theirs was a love-match; you must have seenthem."
"It was not them; it was you, with some man whom I do not know,but whom I will know, I swear. I heard your cry."
"When you are more reasonable, monsieur, I shall be ready to hearyou; at present I will retire."
"No, madame, you shall stay."
"Monsieur, here are M. and Madame de St. Luc, I trust you willcontain yourself."
Indeed, M. and Madame de St. Luc approached. She bowed to Monsoreau,and St. Luc gave him his hand; then, leaving his wife to Monsoreau,took Diana, and after a walk they returned, warned by the bell fordinner, which was early at Meridor, as the baron preserved theold customs. The conversation was general, and turned naturallyon the Duc d'Anjou, and the movement his arrival had caused.Diana sat far from her husband, between St. Luc and the baron.