CHAPTER XXX.
DE LOIGNAC'S INTERVIEW WITH THE FORTY-FIVE.
Each of the young men placed himself at a window to watch for the returnof the king. Ernanton, however, soon forgot his present situation, andbecame abstracted in thinking who the woman could be who had enteredParis as his page, and whom he had since seen in such a splendid litter;and with a heart more disposed to love adventure than to make ambitiouscalculations, he forgot why he was sitting there, till, suddenly raisinghis head, he saw that St. Maline was no longer there. He understood atonce that he had seen the king arrive, and had gone to him. He rosequickly, traversed the gallery, and arrived at the king's room just asSt. Maline was coming out.
"Look!" cried he joyfully, "what the king has given me," and he showed agold chain.
"I congratulate you, monsieur," said Ernanton, quietly, and he enteredin his turn.
St. Maline waited impatiently until he came out again, which he did inabout ten minutes, although it appeared an hour to St. Maline.
When Ernanton came out, he looked all over him, and seeing nothing, hecried joyfully, "And you, monsieur, what has he given to you?"
"His hand to kiss," replied Ernanton.
St. Maline crushed his chain impatiently in his hands, and they bothreturned in silence. As they entered the hall, the trumpet sounded, andat this signal all the Forty-five came out of their rooms, wonderingwhat was the matter; while they profited by this reunion to examine eachother. Most of them were richly dressed, though generally in bad taste.They all had a military tournour, and long swords, boots and gloves ofbuckskin or buffalo, all well gilded or well greased, were almostuniversal.
The most discreet might be known by their quiet colors, the mosteconomical by the substantial character of their equipments, and themost gay by their white or rose-colored satins. Perducas de Pincornayhad bought from some Jew a gold chain as thick as a cable; Pertinax deMontcrabeau was all bows and embroidery: he had bought his costume froma merchant who had purchased it of a gentleman who had been wounded byrobbers. It was rather stained with blood and dirt, it was true, but hehad managed to clean it tolerably. There remained two holes made by thedaggers of the robbers, but Pertinax had had them embroidered in gold.
Eustache de Miradoux did not shine; he had had to clothe Lardille,Militor, and the two children. All the gentlemen were there admiringeach other, when M. de Loignac entered frowning, and placed himself infront of them, with a countenance anything but agreeable.
"Gentlemen," said he, "are you all here?"
"All!" they replied.
"Gentlemen, you have been summoned to Paris as a special guard to theking; it is an honorable title, but it engages you to much. Some of youseem not to have understood your duties; I will, therefore, recall themto you. If you do not assist at the deliberations of the council, youwill constantly be called upon to execute the resolutions passed there;therefore, the responsibility of those secrets rests upon you. Supposenow that one of the officers on whom the safety of the state and thetranquillity of the crown reposes, betray the secrets of the council, ora soldier charged with a commission does not execute it, his life is theforfeit; you know that?"
"Doubtless," replied many voices.
"Well, gentlemen, this very day a measure of his majesty's has beenbetrayed, and a step which he wished to take rendered, perhaps,impossible."
Terror began to replace pride in the minds of the Forty-five, and theylooked at each other with suspicion and disquietude.
"Two of you, gentlemen," continued De Loignac, "have been heard in theopen street chattering like a couple of old women, and that about gravethings."
St. Maline advanced. "Monsieur," said he, "pray explain at once, thatsuspicion may not rest on us all."
"That is easy. The king heard to-day that one of his enemies--preciselyone of those whom we have been enrolled to guard him against--hadarrived in Paris to conspire against him. This name was pronouncedquietly, but was overheard by a soldier on guard, that is to say, by aman who should be regarded as a wall--deaf, dumb, and immovable.However, that man repeated this name in the street with a noise andboasting which attracted the attention of the passers-by and raisedquite an emotion; I know it, for I was there, and heard and saw all, andhad I not placed my hand on his shoulder to stop him, he would havecompromised such grave interests, that, had he not been quiet at mytouch, I should have been compelled to poniard him on the spot."
Pertinax de Montcrabeau and Perducas de Pincornay turned deadly pale,and Montcrabeau tried to stammer out some excuses. All eyes were turnedtoward them.
"Nothing can excuse you," said De Loignac; "even if you were drunk youshould be punished for that; and you shall be punished."
A terrible silence ensued. Then Pertinax said, "Pardon, monsieur! we areprovincials, new to the court, and unaccustomed to politics."
"You should not have accepted your posts without weighing their duties."
"For the future we will be as mute as sepulchers, we swear to you."
"Good; but can you repair the evil you have done to-day?"
"We will try."
"It is impossible, I tell you."
"Then, for this time, pardon us."
"You live," continued De Loignac, "with a sort of license which I mustrepress. Those who find the terms too hard will return; I can easilyreplace them; but I warn you that justice will be done among us,secretly and expeditiously. Traitors will be punished with death on thespot."
Montcrabeau nearly fainted, and Pertinax grew paler than ever.
"I shall have," De Loignac continued, "for smaller offenses lighterpunishments, as imprisonment, for instance. For this time, I spare thelives of M. de Montcrabeau and M. de Pincornay, because they probablyacted in ignorance, and shall only enforce against them my third methodof punishment--a fine. You have received one thousand livres apiece,gentlemen; you will each return one hundred."
"One hundred!" cried Pincornay; "Cap de Bious! I have not got them; Ihave spent them on my equipment."
"Sell your chain, then. But I have something else to add; I haveremarked many signs of irritation between different members of yourbody, and each time a difference arises I wish the matter referred tome, and I alone shall have the power of allowing a duel to take place.Dueling is much in fashion now, but I do not wish, that, to follow thefashion, my company be constantly left imperfect. The first duel,therefore, that takes place without my permission will be punished witha rigorous imprisonment and a heavy fine. Now fifteen of you will placeyourselves this evening at the foot of the staircase when his majestyreceives, fifteen will keep without, and fifteen remain at home. Also,as you should have some chief, and I cannot be everywhere, I will eachday name a chief for the fifteen, so that all shall learn to obey andcommand. At present I do not know the capacities of any one, but I shallwatch and learn. Now, go, gentlemen; and M. de Montcrabeau and M. dePincornay, you will remember that I expect your fines to be paidto-morrow."
They all retired except Ernanton, who lingered behind.
"Do you wish anything?" asked De Loignac.
"Yes, monsieur," said Ernanton, bowing; "it seems to me that you haveforgotten to point out to us our duties. To be in the king's service hasa glorious sound, doubtless, but I should wish to know in what thisservice consists?"
"That, monsieur, is a question to which I cannot reply."
"May I ask why, monsieur?"
"Because I, myself, am often ignorant in the morning of what I shallhave to do in the evening."
"Monsieur, you are placed in such a high position that you must knowmuch of which we are ignorant."
"You love the king, I suppose?"
"I do; and I ought to do so, as a subject and a gentleman."
"Well! that is the cardinal point by which to regulate your conduct."
"Very well, monsieur; but there is one point which disquiets me."
"What is it?"
"Passive obedience."
"It is an essential condition."
"So I under
stand; but it is sometimes difficult for persons who aredelicate on points of honor."
"That does not concern me, M. de Carmainges."
"But, monsieur, when an order displeases you--"
"I read the signature of M. d'Epernon, and that consoles me."
"And M. d'Epernon?"
"He reads the signature of his majesty, and consoles himself as I do."
"You are right, monsieur, and I am your humble servant;" and Ernantonwas about to retire, when De Loignac stopped him.
"I will say to you," said he, "what I have not said to the others, forno one else has had the courage to speak to me thus."
Ernanton bowed.
"Perhaps," continued De Loignac, "a great personage will come to theLouvre this evening; if so, do not lose sight of him, and follow himwhen he leaves."
"Pardon me, monsieur; but that seems the work of a spy."
"Do you think so? It is possible; but look here"--and he drew out apaper which he presented to Ernanton, who read--
"'Have M. de Mayenne followed this evening, if he presents himself atthe Louvre.--D'EPERNON.'"
"Well, monsieur?"
"I will follow M. de Mayenne," said Ernanton, bowing.