"I declare – "
"Oh! how fortunate I am to be able to enlighten you. Only imagine, M. Poulain; you had for admirers Madame de Montpensier and M. de Mayneville. Do not go away. If a still more illustrious person – the king – saw you – "
"Ah! M. Briquet – "
"Never mind; I am only anxious for your good."
"But what harm have I done to the king, or to you, or anybody?"
"Dear M. Poulain, my ideas may be wrong, but it seems to me that the king would not approve of his lieutenant of the Provostry acting as surveyor for M. de Mayneville; and that he might also take it ill that you should omit in your daily report the entrance of Madame de Montpensier and M. de Mayneville, yesterday, into his good city of Paris."
"M. Briquet, an omission is not an offense, and his majesty is too good – "
"M. Poulain, I see clearer than you, and I see – "
"What?"
"A gallows."
"M. Briquet!"
"And more – a new cord, four soldiers at the four cardinal points, a number of Parisians around, and a certain lieutenant of my acquaintance at the end of the cord."
Nicholas Poulain trembled so that he shook the hedge. "Monsieur!" cried he, clasping his hands.
"But I am your friend, dear M. Poulain, and I will give you a counsel."
"A counsel?"
"Yes; and very easy to follow. Go at once, you understand, to – "
"Whom?"
"Let me think. To M. d'Epernon."
"M. d'Epernon, the king's friend?"
"Take him aside, and tell him all about this."
"This is folly."
"No, it is wisdom. It is clear that if I denounce you as the man of the cuirasses and measures, they will hang you; but if, on the contrary, you disclose all, with a good grace, they will reward you. You do not appear convinced, however. Well! that will give me the trouble of returning to the Louvre, but I do not mind doing that for you," and he began to rise.
"No, no; stay here, I will go."
"Good! But you understand, no subterfuges, or to-morrow I shall send a little note to the king, whose intimate friend I have the honor to be, so that if you are not hanged till the day after to-morrow, you will only be hanged the higher."
"I will go; but you abuse your position."
"Oh! M. Poulain, you were a traitor five minutes ago, and I make you the savior of your country. Now, go quickly, for I am in a hurry. The Hotel d'Epernon – do not forget."
Nicholas Poulain ran off, with a despairing look.
"Ah! it was time," said Chicot, "for some one is leaving the priory. But it is not Jacques; that fellow is half as tall again."
Chicot then hastened to the Croix Faubin, where he had given the rendezvous. The monk, who was there to meet him, was a giant in height; his monk's robe, hastily thrown on, did not hide his muscular limbs, and his face bore anything but a religious expression. His arms were as long as Chicot's own, and he had a knife in his belt.
As Chicot approached, he turned and said, "Are you M. Robert Briquet?"
"I am."
"Then I have a letter for you from the reverend prior."
Chicot took the letter, and read as follows:
"My dear friend, I have reflected since we parted; it is impossible for me to let the lamb confided to me go among the wolves of the world. I mean, you understand, our little Jacques, who has fulfilled your message to the king. Instead of him, who is too young, I send you a good and worthy brother of our order; his manners are good, and his humor innocent, and I am sure you will like him. I send you my benediction. Adieu, dear friend."
"What fine writing," said Chicot; "I will wager it is the treasurer's."
"It was Brother Borromée who wrote it," said the Goliath.
"In that case you will return to the priory, my friend." – "I?"
"Yes; and tell his reverence that I have changed my mind, and intend to travel alone."
"What! you will not take me, monsieur?" said the man, with astonishment, mixed with menace.
"No, my friend."
"And why, if you please?"
"Because I must be economical, and you would eat too much."
"Jacques eats as much as I do."
"Yes, but Jacques was a monk."
"And what am I?"
"You, my friend, are a gendarme, or a foot soldier."
"What do you mean? Do you not see my monk's robe?"
"The dress does not make the monk, my friend; tell Brother Borromée that, if you please."
The giant disappeared, grumbling, like a beaten hound.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE GUISES
On the evening of the same day on which Chicot set off for Navarre, we shall find again, in a large room at the Hotel Guise, the person who, disguised as a page, had entered Paris behind Carmainges, and who was also, as we know, the penitent of Gorenflot. On this occasion her sex was disclosed, and, elegantly dressed, with her hair glittering with precious stones, she was waiting impatiently for some one.
At last a horse's step was heard, and the usher almost immediately announced M. le Duc de Mayenne. Madame de Montpensier ran to her brother so hastily that she forgot to proceed on the point of the right foot, as was her habit, in order to conceal her lameness.
"Are you alone, brother?" asked she.
"Yes, my sister."
"But Henri; where is Henri? Do you know that every one expects him here?"
"Henri has nothing to do here, and plenty to do in Flanders and Picardy. We have work to do there, and why should we leave it to come here, where our work is done?"
"But where it will be quickly undone, if you do not hasten."
"Bah!"
"Bah! if you like. I tell you the citizens will be put off no longer; they insist upon seeing their Duke Henri."
"They shall see him at the right time. And Salcede – ?"
"Is dead."
"Without speaking?"
"Without uttering a word."
"Good! and the arming?"
"Finished."
"And Paris?"
"Is divided into sixteen quarters."
"And each quarter has the chief pointed out?"
"Yes."
"Then let us live in peace, and so I shall say to our good bourgeoisie."
"They will not listen to you."
"Bah!"
"I tell you they are furious."
"My sister, you judge others by your own impatience. What Henri says must be done; and he says we are to remain quiet."
"What is to be done, then?" asked the duchess impatiently.
"What do you wish to do?"
"Firstly, to take the king."
"That is your fixed idea; I do not say it is bad, if it could be done, but think how often we have failed already."
"Times are changed, the king has no longer defenders."
"No; except the Swiss, Scotch, and French guards."
"My brother, when you wish it, I will show you the king on the road with