The Chevalier d'Auriac

  CHAPTER II

  M. DE RONE CANNOT READ A CYPHER

  My first thought on leaving de Rone was to make my way direct to thequarters of the staff, where I felt sure of welcome and accommodationfor the rest of the night. These lay a hundred toises or so from theGeneral's pavilion, facing from me; but as I came near to them I saw apennon of light streaming from the partly open door of the largesttent, and from within burst a chorus of voices singing an old_chanson_ of Guienne.

  Frere Jacques, dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines-- Bim! Baum! Baum!

  Bim! Baum! Baum! The last line was repeated amidst peals of laughter,followed by the crashing of glass. It was enough for me. I was in nomood for any further folly, or any more d'Arbois, and resolved to makethe best of it in the open, as at this hour it was worse than uselessto attempt to find my lackey Jacques, whom I had left behind in thecamp with my belongings when I went on to the outposts. This man, Imay note, was a faithful servant of our house, rough of manner,perhaps, but one who could be trusted to the end of his sword; and itwas annoying to know that any search for him would be useless, as Ihad a message or so to send to Auriac, in the event of the worsthappening. But resigning myself to what could not be helped I found aspot under some peach trees, which was convenient enough for mypurpose. Tethering my horse to a stump, I removed the saddle, which Imade shift to use as a cushion, and, leaning my back against it, wassoon as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Enough had happenedto drive from my head any of the fumes of the d'Arbois that may havebeen lurking there. In short, I was as sober as MM. of the High Courtof Paris, and as wide awake as a cat on the look out for a mouse. Dowhat I could, sleep would not come, and I began, for want of a betterthing, to reflect on my position. To act on Nicholas' advice anddesert was out of the question; my private honour was not to besmirched, and the few hours I had yet to live were not to be spent inthe breaking of my faith. A few hours to live! Involuntarily Istretched out my arm and drew it back, feeling the muscle rise at themovement. Good Lord! It was cruel! When one is five-and-twenty, andstrong as a bull, it is hard to die. One death, that on the field, Icould face with an equal mind; but if the chances of to-morrow werenot kind, then there was the other matter, and the last of thed'Auriacs would swing like a _croquemort_ from the branch of a tree._Morbleu!_ It was not to be borne, and I swore that my own hand shouldfree my soul, rather than it should choke its way out to eternity atthe end of a greased rope. The slight flesh wound I had received fromde Gomeron beginning to sting at this moment, I thrust my hand into mypocket, and pulling out my kerchief, placed it over the spot. With thekerchief I drew out the knot of ribbon, and the sight of this, as Ipicked it up and held it between my fingers, changed the current of mythoughts. Almost in spite of myself I began to think of Madame, as Icalled her, by the only name I knew. It was a strangely formal titlefor one so young! Who was she? Some great lady of the court, perhaps.The wife--the thought jarred on me, and I put it aside, and then grewcold all over at the recollection of the danger she had escaped. Atany rate, it was my hand that had rescued her from her peril. If wemet again, it must surely be as friends, and it was pleasant to dwellon that. As my mind ran on in this way, I noticed a pin attached tothe dainty bow, and at first I had a mind to fasten the token to theside of my hat, saying half aloud to myself, '_Par Dieu!_ But I willbear this favour to the King to-morrow,' and then I felt I had noright to wear the ribbon, and, changing my intention to do so, thrustit back with a half smile at my folly.

  Gradually the moonlight faded into a shimmering mist, through whichpurple shadows came and went; gradually the mist grew darker anddarker, and I fell asleep. My sleep could not have lasted much morethan an hour; but so profound was it that ages seemed to have passedwhen I awoke with a start, and the consciousness of movement aroundme. The moon was on the wane; but I saw that the camp was astir, andthat the men were being mustered as silently as possible.

  'So things are about to happen,' I said to myself, recalling de Rone'swords, and hastily saddling my horse, sprang on his back, and movedtowards the General's tent. All around me was the muffled tramp offeet, the jingle of chain-bits and steel scabbards, the plunging ofimpatient horses, and a subdued hum of voices, above which rose nowand again a hoarse word of command, as regiment after regiment wheeledinto position on the level stretch before us. Three long black lineswere moving noiselessly and rapidly towards the Oise. I knew they werede Leyva's brigade of Spanish infantry, veterans of the war ofFlanders. To my right the occasional flash of a lance-head through thethick haze that was coming up, but which the morning sun woulddissipate, showed me where the cuirassiers of Aumale were, and Ithought of de Gomeron with regret that I had not finished him beforede Rone's inopportune arrival. I had to die, and it might have beensome consolation, in such mood was I, to have sent Adam de Gomeron onthe dark way before me.

  When I reached the General's pavilion de Rone was just mounting hishorse, a lackey standing near with a sputtering torch, and his staffin a little clump, a few yards away. I saluted, and he gave me a keenlook, saying:

  'So you have come, M. d'Auriac--take your place with the staff. I willgive you your work later on--and remember.'

  'I am not likely to forget, M. le Marquis,' and I moved off in thedirection indicated.

  'Is that you, d'Auriac?' 'Why have you left the outposts?''_Sangdieu!_ but why did you not come to us last night?' 'How is M. deRethelois, and have you seen the abbess of Ste. Genevieve?'

  These and suchlike greetings met me as I was recognised and welcomedby de Belin, the young Tavannes, de Cosse-Brissac, and others of myacquaintance. I replied as best I might, but there was no time formuch talk, as the General was moving onwards at a rapid pace, and wewere compelled to follow at once. I dropped a little to the rear, tohusband the strength of my horse as far as possible, and was joined byanother rider.

  ^Is that you, Belin?'

  '_Ma foi!_ Yes. It is the devil being hustled up so early in themorning--I am yet but half awake.'

  'I was surprised to find you here. I thought you were with theArchduke and de Mayenne.'

  'What! have you not heard?'

  'What in the devil's name could I hear on those cursed outposts?'

  'Then in your ear--the Remois have gone from us, and de Mayenne andthe Guisard have passed over to the King. My news is certain, and theArchduke has sent a cypher to de Rone bidding him retreat at once onAmiens.'

  'But this does not look like a retreat.'

  'No; de Rone has lost the key of the cypher.'

  We both laughed, and Belin went on: 'It was droll. I saw him receivethe message, which the old fox must have read at a glance. But heturned it this way and that, and looking at Egmont, said as calmly aspossible, "Ride back to Amiens and fetch me the key. I have lost mineand cannot follow the cypher"--but hark!' and Belin interruptedhimself, 'there is de Rethelois' good morning.'

  Even as he spoke three bright flashes came from the citadel of LaFere, and the big guns from the bastion of Ste. Genevieve boomedsullenly into the morning. Then a long streak of fire ran across thegrey mist, followed by the angry crackle of the petronels, above whichthe reports of the bombards of the trench-masters, as they replied tode Rethelois' artillery, sounded like strokes on a war drum.

  '_Ventre St. Gris!_ The Spaniards have drawn first blood, Belin.'

  'M. d'Auriac!'

  De Rone's voice stopped any further talk, and I spurred to his side.

  'My compliments to the Conde de Leyva and ask him not to waste timespitting at de Rethelois--tell him to leave a sufficient force tohold the garrison in check, and move across the river towards St.Gobains--report yourself to me at the ford.'

  I galloped off, and when I reached the Spaniard, whom I found withsome difficulty, I discovered that he had already anticipated deRone's orders, and had besides almost cut off a sortie from the city.There was nothing for it, therefore, but to wish de Leyva a
pleasantday and to go on to the ford.

  And now a pale band of orange stretched across the east, and daylightrapidly came. A fair breeze sprang up with the sun, blowing the vapourinto long feathery clouds that rolled slowly to the west. So heavy wasthe fire de Rethelois kept up from the citadel that its square keepwas entirely hidden by the smoke; but as I rode towards the ford downthe long slope that ended in the Red Mill, I saw on my right the wholeof de Rone's army, advancing to the river in long even columns, and onmy left, where they appeared to have sprung up by magic, two strongbodies of cavalry, whilst behind them, marching as rapidly as our owntroops, and in as perfect order, came the men of Arques and Ivry, ofFontaine Francaise, and all the hundred fights of Henry of Navarre.

  By this time I had come to the outpost, and found the thatched roof ofthe cottage in flames, the result of a stray shell that had droppedthrough it, and blown down half of the remaining walls. It was clearlyempty, but as I trotted past the thorn hedge I saw, about fifty pacesor so to my right, a single horseman under a tree. His hands were tiedbehind him, and a cord, which hung from a branch overhead, ended in anoose secured lightly but firmly round his neck. His position was suchthat if the horse moved away from beneath him he would hang, and thepoor wretch was absorbed in coaxing the animal to remain steady; butthe trooper he bestrode had already scented the coming battle. Hisears were cocked, his tail held out in an arch, and he was pawing atthe ground with his forefoot. I could not hear what the man wassaying, but his lips were moving, I doubt not with mingled prayers andcurses, and I could see that he was trying to restrain the animal bythe pressure of his knees. Another look showed me it was Nicholas, thesergeant, and knowing there was little leisure to lose if the knavewas to be saved, I put spurs to my beast and headed towards him. I wasjust in time, for as I started the old trooper gave a loud neigh,flourished his heels in the air, and galloped off towards the enemy,with his mane and tail streaming in the wind. A touch of my swordfreed Nicholas, but it was a narrow affair, and he lay gasping on theground, and as he lay there I noticed that his ears had been croppedclose to his head, and that the wounds were quite fresh. He recoveredhimself in about a minute, for the dog was tough as leather, and wasabout to pour forth his thanks and tell me how he came in such plight,but, sincerely sorry as I was, I had to cut him short.

  'Keep the story for another day, Nicholas,' I said, 'and follow theexample of your horse, who I see is a loyal subject, and has gonestraight back to the King.'

  With these words I spurred onwards, leaving Nicholas to follow myadvice or not, as he listed. I had gathered enough, however, to findout that he was a victim to M. de Gomeron's ingenious humour. Littledid I think, however, when I saved this poor fellow how amply I wouldbe re-quited hereafter.

  I reached the ford just before the General, and saw that our rightflank had already crossed the river in the far distance. Opposite usthe Royalists appeared to be in some confusion; but in a moment theywere restored to order, and moved steadily on.

  'The King is there,' burst out Belin, and a grim smile passed over deRone's features as he nodded his head slightly in token of assent. AsBelin spoke a group of about half a dozen riders galloped from theenemy's van, and, coming straight towards us, halted a bare hundredpaces or so from the river bank. The leading horseman was mounted on abay charger, and it needed not a second glance, nor a look at thewhite plumes in his helmet, to tell that it was Henry himself. Closebeside him was a short, dark, thick-set man, with the jewel of theOrder of France at his neck. He managed the grey he rode with infiniteskill, and with his drawn sword pointed towards us, seemed to beurging something on the King.

  'Who is that?' I asked.

  'The King's viper,' answered Belin, 'who will sting him some day: doyou not know Biron? _Mordieu!_' he added, turning to de Rone, 'shallwe end the war, General; we could do it with a bit of lead thatwouldn't cost the tenth part of a tester?'

  De Rone's brown cheek paled at the words, and for an instant he seemedto hesitate, and I could well understand his temptation.

  'No,' he replied--'_drop that_,' he thundered to a musketeer who waspoising his piece, and the man fell back with a disappointed air.

  '_Peste!_' grumbled Belin, 'we might have all been in Paris within theweek, whereas now it will take a fortnight at the least.'

  'Or a month, or a year, or never--eh, Belin,' gibed de Tavannes.

  'Do you think the fair Angelique will be constant?' asked another.

  Belin glanced at the laced favour in his hat with a smile, andanswered: 'God bless our ladies! They know how to be constant--seethere, messieurs,' and he pointed to a single figure, mounted on abarb, that rode out of the French lines and galloped forward, aloneand unattended, to the side of the King. We saw as the barb approachedthat the figure was that of a woman, and, moreover, that of a verybeautiful woman. She was dressed in a hunting habit of dark green,with a black hat and black feathers, under which we could see thelight of her fair hair. As she reined up beside the King, Henry turnedto her, as if expostulating, but she bent forward suddenly and kissedhis hand, and then with charming courtesy took out her kerchief andwaved it at us in dainty greeting.

  ''Tis Gabrielle, the Duchesse de Beaufort herself!' exclaimed deTavannes, and then gave tongue in a ringing cheer, which was taken upby us all, and rolled down the long line of battle, till its echoesreached us from even the furthest wings.

  De Rone lifted his plumed hat in response to Madame d'Estrees'greeting, and the King, bowing slightly to us from his saddle, put hishand on the barb's reins, and turning the horse's head, galloped hismistress to a place of safety. As they reached the mound whereon theroyal guidon was displayed, we heard the opening bars of the Pontd'Audemer march, and as they ceased a red tongue of flame licked outfrom behind a cornfield and a masked battery opened on us.