CHAPTER LXXXII.
A PROMENADE AT THE TOURNELLES.
In course of time the Angevin gentlemen had returned to Paris,although not with much confidence. They knew too well the king,his brother, and mother, to hope that all would terminate in afamily embrace. They returned, therefore, timidly, and glidedinto the town armed to the teeth, ready to fire on the leastsuspicion, and drew their swords fifty times before the Hoteld'Anjou on harmless bourgeois, who were guilty of no crime butof looking at them. They presented themselves at the Louvre,magnificently dressed in silk, velvet, and embroidery. HenriIII. would not receive them; they waited vainly in the gallery.It was MM. Quelus, Maugiron, Schomberg, and D'Epernon who came toannounce this news to them, with great politeness, and expressingall the regrets in the world.
"Ah, gentlemen," said Antragues, "the news is sad, but, comingfrom your mouths, it loses half its bitterness."
"Gentlemen," said Schomberg, "you are the flower of grace andcourtesy. Would it please you to change the reception which youhave missed into a little promenade?"
"Ah! gentlemen, we were about to propose it."
"Where shall we go?" said Quelus.
"I know a charming place near the Bastile," said Schomberg.
"We follow you, go on."
Then the eight gentlemen went out, arm in arm, talking gailyon different subjects, until Quelus said, "Here is a solitaryplace, with a good footing."
"Ma foi, yes."
"Well! we thought that you would one day accompany us here tomeet M. de Bussy, who has invited us all here."
"It is true," said Bussy.
"Do you accept?" said Maugiron.
"Certainly; we rejoice at such an honor."
"That is well," said Schomberg; "shall we each choose an opponent?"
"No," said Bussy, "that is not fair; let us trust to chance,and the first one that is free can join the others."
"Let us draw lots then," said Quelus.
"One moment," said Bussy, "first let us settle the rules of thegame."
"They are simple; we will fight till death ensues!"
"Yes, but how?"
"With sword and dagger."
"On foot?"
"Oh, yes! on horseback one's movements are not so free."
"Then, on foot."
"What day?"
"The soonest possible."
"No," said D'Epernon, "I have a thousand things to settle anda will to make; I would rather wait five or six days."
"So be it."
"Then draw lots."
"One moment! divide the ground into four compartments, each fora pair."
"Well said."
"I propose for number one, the long square between the chestnuts;it is a fine place."
"Agreed."
"But the sun? one would be turned to the east."
"No," said Bussy, "that is not fair;" and he proposed a new position,which was agreed to.
Schomberg and Ribeirac came first. They were the first pair;Quelus and Antragues the second; then Livarot and Maugiron thethird. D'Epernon, who saw himself left to Bussy, grew very pale.
"Now, gentlemen," said Bussy, "until the day of the combat, letus be friends. Will you accept a dinner at the Hotel Bussy?"
All agreed, and returned with Bussy to his hotel, where a sumptuousbanquet united them till morning.