第136章 AT MEUDON.(4)

The king,gazing at me with gloomy eyes,tugged at his moustaches.Someone had motioned the common herd to stand back out of hearing;at the same time the suite had moved up out of curiosity and formed a half-circle;in the midst of which I stood fronting the king,who had La Noue and the last speaker on either hand.Perplexity and annoyance struggled for the mastery in his face as he looked darkly down at me,his teeth showing through his beard.Profoundly angered by my appearance,which he had taken at first to be the prelude to disclosures which must detach Turenne at a time when union was all-important,he had now ceased to fear for himself;and perhaps saw something in the attitude Iadopted which appealed to his nature and sympathies.

'If the girl is really back,'he said at last,'M.d'Aremburg,Ido-not see any reason why I should interfere.At present,at any rate.'

'I think,sire,M.de Turenne will see reason,'the gentleman answered drily.

The king coloured.'M.de Turenne,'he began,'Has made many sacrifices at your request,sire,'the other said with meaning.'And buried some wrongs,or fancied wrongs,in connection with this very matter.This person has outraged him in the grossest manner,and in M.le Vicomte's name I ask,nay Ipress upon you,that he be instantly arrested,and held to answer for it.'

'I am ready to answer for it now!'I retorted,looking from face to face for sympathy,and finding none save in M.de la Noue's,who appeared to regard me with grave approbation.'To the Vicomte de Turenne,or the person he may appoint to represent him.'

'Enough!'Henry said,raising his hand and speaking in the tone of authority he knew so well how to adopt.'For you,M.

d'Aremburg,I thank you.Turenne is happy in his friend.But;this gentleman came to me of his own free will and I do not think it consistent with my honour to detain him without warning given.

I grant him an hour to remove himself from my neighbourhood.If he be found after that time has elapsed,'he continued solemnly,'his fate be on his own head.Gentlemen,we are late already.

Let us on.'

I looked at him as he pronounced this sentence,and strove to find words in which to make a final appeal to him.But no words came;and when he bade me stand aside,I did so mechanically,remaining with my head bared to the sunshine while the troop rode by.Some looked back at me with curiosity,as at a man of whom they had heard a tale,and some with a jeer on their lips;a few with dark looks of menace.When they were all gone,and the servants who followed them had disappeared also,and I was left to the inquisitive glances of the rabble who stood gaping after the sight,I turned and went to the Cid,and loosed the horse with a feeling of bitter disappointment.

The plan which mademoiselle had proposed and I had adopted in the forest by St.Gaultier--when it seemed to us that our long absence and the great events of which we heard must have changed the world and opened a path for our return--had failed utterly.

Things were as they had been;the strong were still strong,and friendship under bond to fear.Plainly we should have shewn ourselves wiser had we taken the lowlier course,and,obeying the warnings given us,waited the King of Navarre's pleasure or the tardy recollection of Rosny.I had not then stood,as I now stood,in instant jeopardy,nor felt the keen pangs of a separation which bade fair to be lasting.She was safe,and that was much;but I,after long service and brief happiness,must go out again alone,with only memories to comfort me.

It was Simon Fleix's voice which awakened me from this unworthy lethargy--as selfish as it was useless--and,recalling me to myself,reminded me that precious time was passing while I stood inactive.To get at me he had forced his way through the curious crowd,and his face was flushed.He plucked me by the sleeve,regarding the varlets round him with a mixture of anger and fear.

'Nom de Dieu!do they take you for a rope-dancer?'he muttered in my ear.'Mount,sir,and come.There is not a moment to be lost.'

'You left her at Madame Catherine's?'I said.

'To be sure,'he answered impatiently.'Trouble not about her.

Save yourself,M.de Marsac.That is the thing to be done now.'

I mounted mechanically,and felt my courage return as the horse moved under me.I trotted through the crowd,and without thought took the road by which we had come.When we had ridden a hundred yards,however,I pulled up 'An hour is a short start,'I said sullenly.'Whither?'

'To St.Cloud,'he answered promptly.'The protection of the King of France may avail for a day or two.After that,there will still be the League,if Paris have not fallen.'

I saw there was nothing else for it,and assented,and we set off.The distance which separates Meudon from St.Cloud we might have ridden under the hour,but the direct road runs across the Scholars'Meadow,a wide plain north of Meudon.This lay exposed to the enemy's fire,and was,besides,the scene of hourly conflicts between the horse of both parties,so that to cross it without an adequate force was impossible.Driven to make a circuit,we took longer to reach our destination,yet did so without mishap;finding the little town,when we came in sight of it,given up to all the bustle and commotion which properly belong to the Court and camp.

It was,indeed,as full as it could be,for the surrender of Paris being momentarily expected,St.Cloud had become the rendezvous as well of the few who had long followed a principle as of the many who wait upon success.The streets,crowded in,every part,shone with glancing colours,with steel and velvet,the garb of fashion and the plumes of war.Long lines of flags obscured the eaves and broke the sunshine,while,above all,the bells of half a dozen churches rang merry answer to the distant crash of guns.Everywhere on flag and arch and streamer I read the motto,'Vive le Roi!'--words written,God knew then,and we know now,in what a mockery of doom!