CHAPTER LII.
THE EXAMINATION.
The spectacle which struck the young men as they entered the circle,although seen but for a few moments, was one never to be forgotten.
As we have said, Charles IX. had watched the gentlemen as the guards ledthem one by one from the pricker's hut.
Both he and D'Alencon anxiously followed every movement, waiting to seethe King of Navarre come out. Both, however, were doomed todisappointment. But it was not enough to know that the king was notthere, it was necessary to find out what had become of him.
Therefore when the young couple were seen approaching from the end ofthe alley, D'Alencon turned pale, while Charles felt his heart growglad; he instinctively desired that everything his brother had forcedhim to do should fall back on the duke.
"He will outwit us again," murmured Francois, growing still paler.
At that moment the King was seized with such violent pains that hedropped his bridle, pressed both hands to his sides, and shrieked like amadman.
Henry hastily approached him, but by the time he had traversed the fewhundred feet which separated them, Charles had recovered.
"Whence do you come, monsieur?" said the King, with a sternness thatfrightened Marguerite.
"Why, from the hunt, brother," replied she.
"The hunt was along the river bank, and not in the forest."
"My falcon swooped down on a pheasant just as we stopped behind everyone to look at the heron."
"Where is the pheasant?"
"Here; a beautiful bird, is it not?"
And Henry, in perfect innocence, held up his bird of purple, blue, andgold plumage.
"Ah!" said Charles, "and this pheasant caught, why did you not rejoinme?"
"Because the bird had directed its flight towards the park, sire, andwhen we returned to the river bank we saw you half a mile ahead of us,riding towards the forest. We set out to gallop after you, therefore,for being in your Majesty's hunting-party we did not wish to lose you."
"And were all these gentlemen invited also?" said Charles.
"What gentlemen?" asked Henry, casting an inquiring look about.
"Why, your Huguenots, by Heaven!" said Charles; "at all events if theywere invited it was not by me."
"No, sire," replied Henry, "but possibly Monsieur d'Alencon asked them."
"Monsieur d'Alencon? How so?"
"I?" said the duke.
"Why, yes, brother," said Henry; "did you not announce yesterday thatyou were King of Navarre? The Huguenots who demanded you for their kinghave come to thank you for having accepted the crown, and the King forhaving given it. Is it not so, gentlemen?"
"Yes! yes!" cried twenty voices. "Long live the Duc d'Alencon! Long liveKing Charles!"
"I am not king of the Huguenots," said Francois, white with anger; then,glancing stealthily at Charles, "and I sincerely trust I never shallbe!"
"No matter!" said Charles, "but you must know, Henry, that I considerall this very strange."
"Sire," said the King of Navarre, firmly, "God forgive me, but one wouldsay that I were undergoing an examination."
"And if I should tell you that you were, what would you answer?"
"That I am a king like yourself, sire," replied Henry, proudly, "for itis not the crown but birth that makes royalty, and that I would gladlyanswer any questions from my brother and my friend, but never from myjudge."
"And yet," murmured Charles, "I should really like to know for once inmy life how to act."
"Let Monsieur de Mouy be brought out," said D'Alencon, "and then youwill know. Monsieur de Mouy must be among the prisoners."
"Is Monsieur de Mouy here?" asked the King.
Henry felt a moment's anxiety and exchanged glances with Marguerite; buthis uneasiness was of short duration.
No voice replied.
"Monsieur de Mouy is not among the prisoners," said Monsieur de Nancey;"some of our men think they saw him, but no one is sure of it."
D'Alencon uttered an oath.
"Well!" said Marguerite, pointing to La Mole and Coconnas, who had heardall that had passed, and on whose intelligence she felt she coulddepend, "there are two gentlemen in the service of Monsieur d'Alencon;question them; they will answer."
The duke felt the blow.
"I had them arrested on purpose to prove that they do not belong to me,"said he.
The King looked at the two friends and started on seeing La Mole again.
"Ah! that Provencal here?" said he.
Coconnas bowed graciously.
"What were you doing when you were arrested?" asked the King.
"Sire, we were planning deeds of war and of love."
"On horseback, armed to the teeth, ready for flight!"
"No, sire," said Coconnas; "your Majesty is misinformed. We were lyingunder the shade of a beech tree--_sub tegmine fagi_."
"Ah! so you were lying under the shade of a beech tree?"
"And we might easily have escaped had we thought that in any way we hadroused your Majesty's anger. Now, gentlemen, on your honor as soldiers,"continued Coconnas, turning to the light-horse, "do you not think thathad we so wished we could have escaped?"
"The fact is," said the lieutenant, "that these gentlemen did not evenattempt to run."
"Because their horses were too far away," said the Duc d'Alencon.
"I humbly beg monseigneur's pardon," said Coconnas; "but I was on mine,and my friend the Comte Lerac de la Mole was holding his by the bridle."
"Is this true, gentlemen?" said the King.
"Yes, sire," replied the lieutenant; "on seeing us Monsieur de Coconnaseven dismounted."
Coconnas smiled in a way which signified, "You see, sire!"
"But the other horses, the mules, and the boxes with which they wereladen?" asked Francois.
"Well," said Coconnas, "are we stable boys? Send for the groom who hadcharge of them."
"He is not here," exclaimed the duke, furious.
"Then he must have become frightened and run away," said Coconnas; "onecannot expect a clown to have the manners of a gentleman."
"Always the same system," said D'Alencon, gnashing his teeth."Fortunately, sire, I told you that for some time these gentlemen havenot been in my service."
"I!" exclaimed Coconnas, "am I unfortunate enough no longer to belong toyour highness?"
"By Heaven! monsieur, you ought to know that better than any one, sinceyou yourself gave me your dismissal, in a letter so impertinent that,thank God, I kept it, and fortunately have it with me."
"Oh!" exclaimed Coconnas, "I had hoped that your highness would forgiveme for a letter written under the first impulse of anger. I had beentold that your highness had tried to strangle my friend La Mole in oneof the corridors of the Louvre."
"What is he saying?" interrupted the King.
"At first I thought your highness was alone," continued Coconnas,ingenuously, "but afterwards I learned that three others"--
"Silence!" exclaimed Charles; "we have heard enough. Henry," said he tothe King of Navarre, "your word not to try to escape."
"I give it to your Majesty, sire."
"Return to Paris with Monsieur de Nancey, and remain in your chamberunder arrest. You, gentlemen," continued he, addressing the two friends,"give up your swords."
La Mole looked at Marguerite. She smiled. La Mole at once handed hissword to the nearest officer. Coconnas did the same.
"Has Monsieur de Mouy been found?" asked the King.
"No, sire," said Monsieur de Nancey; "either he was not in the forest orhe escaped."
"So much the worse," said the King; "but let us return. I am cold anddizzy."
"Sire, it is from anger, probably," said Francois.
"Possibly; but my eyes trouble me. Where are the prisoners? I cannot seethem. Is it night already? Oh! mercy! I am burning up! Help! Help!"
The unfortunate King dropped the bridle of his horse, stretched out hisarms, and fell backward. The courtiers, frightened at this secondattack
, caught him as he fell.
Francois, standing apart, wiped the perspiration from his brow, for healone knew the cause of the trouble from which his brother wassuffering.
On the other side the King of Navarre, already under the guard ofMonsieur de Nancey, looked upon the scene with growing astonishment.
"Well! well!" murmured he, with that wonderful intuition which at timesmade him seem inspired, "was I perhaps fortunate in having been stoppedin my flight?"
He glanced at Margot, whose great eyes, wide open with surprise, werelooking first at him and then at the King.
This time Charles was unconscious. A litter was brought and he was laidon it. They covered him with a cloak, taken from the shoulders of one ofthe courtiers. The procession silently set out in the direction ofParis, whence that morning light-hearted conspirators and a happy Kinghad started forth, and to which now a dying King was returning,surrounded by rebel prisoners.
Marguerite, who throughout all this had lost neither the control of hermind nor body, gave her husband a look of intelligence; then, passing soclose to La Mole that the latter was able to catch the following twoGreek words, she said:
"_Me deide_," which meant, "Fear nothing."
"What did she say?" asked Coconnas.
"She told me to fear nothing," replied La Mole.
"So much the worse," murmured the Piedmontese, "so much the worse; thatmeans that it is not good for us to be here. Every time that word hasbeen said to me in an encouraging tone I have either received a bulletor a sword-thrust in my body, or a flower pot on my head. 'Fearnothing,' whether in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, or French, has always meantfor me: 'Take care!'"
"Forward, gentlemen!" said the lieutenant of the light-horse.
"Without being indiscreet, monsieur," said Coconnas, "may we know wherewe are going?"
"To Vincennes, I think," said the lieutenant.
"I would rather go elsewhere," said Coconnas; "but one does not alwaysgo just where one wishes."
On the way the King recovered consciousness and some strength.
At Nanterre he even wanted to ride, but this was not allowed.
"Summon Maitre Ambroise Pare," said Charles, on reaching the Louvre.
He descended from his litter, ascended the stairs, leaning on the arm ofTavannes, and entered his apartment, giving orders that no one beallowed to follow him.
Every one had noticed that he seemed very grave. During the journey hehad been in a deep study, not addressing a word to any one, concernedneither with conspiracy nor conspirators. It was evident that he wasoccupied with his illness; a malady so sudden, so strange, so severe,some of the symptoms of which had been noticed in his brother FrancoisII. a short time before his death.
So the order to admit no one whomsoever to his rooms, except MaitrePare, caused no surprise. It was well known that the prince was amisanthrope. Charles entered his sleeping-room, seated himself in afolding-chair, and leaned his head against the cushions. Then reflectingthat Maitre Ambroise Pare might not be at home, and that there might besome delay before he saw him, he decided to employ the intervening time.
He clapped his hands, thus summoning a guard.
"Say to the King of Navarre that I wish to speak with him," saidCharles.
The man bowed and withdrew.
Just then Charles's head fell back, a great weight seemed to oppresshim; his ideas grew confused; it was as if a sort of bloody vapor werefloating before his eyes; his mouth was dry, although he had alreadyswallowed a whole carafe of water.
While he was in this drowsy state the door opened and Henry appeared.Monsieur de Nancey had followed him, but stopped in the antechamber.
The King of Navarre waited until the door was closed. Then he advanced.
"Sire," said he, "you sent for me; I am here."
The King started at the voice and mechanically extended his hand.
"Sire," said Henry, letting his arms hang at his side, "your Majestyforgets that I am no longer your brother but your prisoner."
"Ah! that is true," said Charles. "Thank you for having reminded me ofit. Moreover, it seems to me that when we last spoke together youpromised to answer frankly what I might ask you."
"I am ready to keep my word, sire. Ask your questions."
The King poured some cold water into his hand and applied it to hisforehead.
"Tell me, Henry, how much truth is there in the accusation broughtagainst you by the Duc d'Alencon?"
"Only a little. It was Monsieur d'Alencon who was to have fled, and Iwho was to have accompanied him."
"And why should you have gone with him? Are you dissatisfied with me,Henry?"
"No, sire; on the contrary, I have only praise for your majesty; andGod, who reads our hearts, knows how deeply I love my brother and myKing."
"It seems to me," said Charles, "that it is not natural to flee fromthose we love and who love us."
"I was not fleeing from those who love me; I was fleeing from those whohate me. Will your Majesty permit me to speak openly?"
"Speak, monsieur."
"Those who hate me, sire, are Monsieur d'Alencon and the queen mother."
"As for Monsieur d'Alencon I will not answer; but the queen motheroverwhelms you with attentions."
"That is just why I mistrust her, sire. And I do well to do so."
"Mistrust her?"
"Her, or those about her. You know, sire, that the misfortune of kingsis not always that they are too little but that they are too wellserved."
"Explain yourself; you promised to tell me everything."
"Your Majesty will see that I will do so."
"Continue."
"Your Majesty loves me, you have said."
"I loved you before your treason, Henry."
"Pretend that you still love me, sire."
"Very well."
"If you love me you must want me to live, do you not?"
"I should be wretched were any harm to befall you."
"Well, sire, twice your Majesty has just escaped being wretched."
"How so?"
"Twice Providence has saved my life. It is true that the second timeProvidence assumed the features of your Majesty?"
"What form did it assume the first time?"
"That of a man who would be greatly surprised to see himself mistakenfor Providence; I mean Rene. You, sire, saved me from steel."
Charles frowned, for he remembered the night when he had taken Henry tothe Rue des Barres.
"And Rene?" said he.
"Rene saved me from poison."
"The deuce, Henriot, you have luck," said the King, trying to smile. Buta quick spasm of pain changed the effort into a nervous contraction ofthe lips. "That is not his profession."
"Two miracles saved me, sire. A miracle of repentance on the part of theFlorentine, and a miracle of goodness on your part. Well! I will confessto your Majesty that I am afraid Heaven will grow weary of workingmiracles, and I tried to run away, because of the proverb: 'Heaven helpsthose who help themselves.'"
"Why did you not tell me this sooner, Henriot?"
"Had I uttered these words yesterday I should have been a denunciator."
"And to-day?"
"To-day is different--I am accused and I am defending myself."
"Are you sure of the first attempt, Henriot?"
"As sure as I am of the second."
"And they tried to poison you?"
"Yes."
"With what?"
"With an opiate."
"How could they poison you with an opiate?"
"Why, sire, ask Rene; poisoning is done with gloves"--
Charles frowned; then by degrees his brow cleared.
"Yes," said he, as if speaking to himself. "It is the nature of wildcreatures to flee from death. Why, then, should not knowledge do whatinstinct does?"
"Well, sire!" said Henry, "is your Majesty satisfied with my frankness,and do you believe that I have told you everything?"
"Yes, Henriot, and you are a good fell
ow. Do you think that those whohate you have grown weary, or will new attempts be made on your life?"
"Sire, every evening I am surprised to find myself still living."
"It is because they know I love you, Henriot, that they wish to killyou. But do not worry. They shall be punished for their evil intentions.Meanwhile you are free."
"Free to leave Paris, sire?" asked Henry.
"No; you well know that I cannot possibly do without you. In the name ofa thousand devils! I must have some one here who loves me."
"Then, sire, if your Majesty keep me with you, will you grant me afavor"--
"What is it?"
"Not to keep me as a friend, but as a prisoner. Yes; does not yourMajesty see that it is your friendship for me that is my ruin?"
"Would you prefer my hatred?"
"Your apparent hatred, sire. It will save me. As soon as they think I amin disgrace they will be less anxious for my death."
"Henriot," said Charles, "I know neither what you desire, nor whatobject you seek; but if your wishes do not succeed, and if your objectis not accomplished, I shall be greatly surprised."
"I may, then, count on the severity of the King?"
"Yes."
"In that case I shall be less uneasy. Now what are your Majesty'scommands?"
"Return to your apartments, Henriot, I am in pain. I will see my dogsand then go to bed."
"Sire," said Henry, "your Majesty ought to send for a physician. Yourtrouble is perhaps more serious than you imagine."
"I have sent for Maitre Ambroise Pare, Henriot."
"Then I shall retire more satisfied."
"Upon my soul," said the King, "I believe that of all my family you arethe only one who really loves me."
"Is this indeed your opinion, sire?"
"On the word of a gentleman."
"Then commend me to Monsieur de Nancey as a man your deep anger may notallow to live a month. By this means you will have me many years to loveyou."
"Monsieur de Nancey!" cried Charles.
The captain of the guards entered.
"I commit into your hands the most guilty man of my kingdom. You willanswer for him with your life."
Henry assumed an air of consternation, and followed Monsieur de Nancey.