The False Chevalier

  CHAPTER IX

  A PHILOSOPHER BEHIND HORSE-PISTOLS

  The procession of carriages containing the guests rolled back to thePalace through the forest.

  The carriage of the Prince came last and in it sat the Prince andPrincess, Cyrene and Jude, while Lecour rode alongside for some miles.How more and more he dreaded the revelation of his humble birth. He saidhis adieux at length and turned back with the keenest misery in hisbreast he had ever felt--such misery indeed that after a little he couldnot resist retracing his route.

  The Prince's coach meanwhile had lagged behind the others at a pointwhere the road cut through a small gorge. His Excellency was giving theladies an account and history of the Chevalier's wounds, when in themiddle of it the horses stopped with a jerk. A commotion without anywords appeared to be going on outside. The Prince put his head out andfound himself looking into the barrels of a horse-pistol, while a maskedman of heavy build summoned him to be quiet. He saw moreover nine or tenhalf-naked fellows also disguised in rude masks, posted about, withmuskets and pistols pointed at the grooms and himself. The Princess fellin a faint. The Abbe threw himself under the seat. Such scenes werebeing enacted every day on the highroads in that lumbering old handmadecentury.

  The head of the man who had charge of the Prince was, as it were,thatched with a torn hat and his black hair straggled past his mask intufts down to his shoulders.

  "Purses!" he growled harshly, putting his head in at the window.

  "Cut-throat!" cried the Prince. "You shall swing for this as sure asthere is a Lieutenant of Police in Paris."

  The big man's answer was a ferocious "Enough!"

  And as his black finger twitched threateningly upon the trigger, Cyrenelaid her restraining hand on her cousin's arm. She took out her pursewith her other hand and passed it to the man. She promptly also pulledout that of the Princess. The Prince handed his own to her and it waspassed over with that of his wife.

  "Watches!" was the next order.

  With the same coolness she passed these likewise.

  He scowled next at the brooch Cyrene wore at her neck.

  "Give me that," he commanded. She stopped and said firmly--

  "Thou hast sufficient, thou."

  "I must have that."

  With a momentary impatience she tore it off.

  "Consult thy best interests and go," she said in a stern voice.

  He did not lack the necessary quickness of judgment, and signed to hismates who retreated into the woods, keeping the lackeys well coveredwith their firearms.

  "My ladies and my Lord," said the big man, still holding his pistolaimed at the Prince. "We levy this tax in _the name of the King_." Thatis what you say when you steal from us, the people. "We commend you theconsolation of your formula."

  Having made this singular speech, to the infinite fury of the Prince,who would have drawn his sword and leaped out at him had it not been forCyrene, he retired backward into the forest.

  Germain came into sight at this juncture. The scene shocked andastonished him, he drove his spurs into the flanks of his horse, which,with bounds of pain, flew forward, and leaping off, he peered anxiouslyinto the carriage. The situation was clear enough to him, for its likewas then only too common, so, placing aside for the time being his rageat the villains, he lifted and straightened the insensible lady into aposition on the seat-cushions, and sent a groom forward for help.

  The gratitude of the Prince was profuse. Cyrene spoke not a word. Theshock to her had been intense, and burying her face in her handkerchiefshe burst into tears, which more than ever agitated Lecour.

  In a few minutes d'Estaing and de Grancey drove up. They were astonishedat the speed and audacity of the affair.