第55章 M.DE RAMBOUILLET.(2)

It happened in this way.We had reached the outskirts of Blois,and were just approaching the gate,hoping to pass through it without attracting attention,when two travellers rode slowly out of a lane,the mouth of which we were passing.They eyed us closely as they reined in to let us go by;and M.de Rosny,who was riding with his horse's head at my stirrup,whispered me to press on.Before I could comply,however,the strangers cantered by us,and turning in the saddle when abreast of us looked us in the face.A moment later one of them cried loudly,'It is he!'

and both pulled their horses across the road,and waited for us to come up.

Aware that if M.de Rosny were discovered he would be happy if he escaped with imprisonment,the king being too jealous of his Catholic reputation to venture to protect a Huguenot,however illustrious,I saw that the situation was desperate;for,though we were five to two,the neighbourhood of the city--the gate being scarcely a bow-shot off--rendered flight or resistance equally hopeless.I could think of nothing for it save to put a bold face on the matter,and,M.de Rosny doing the same,we advanced in the most innocent way possible.

'Halt,there!'cried one of the strangers sharply.'And let me tell you,sir,you are known.'

'What if I am?'I answered impatiently,still pressing on.'Are you highwaymen,that you stop the way?'

The speaker on the other side looked at me keenly,but in a moment retorted,'Enough trifling,sir!Who YOU are I do not know.But the person riding at your rein is M.de Rosny.Him Ido know,and I warn him to stop.'

I thought the game was lost,but to my surprise my companion answered at once and almost in the same words I had used.'Well,sir,and what of that?'he said.

'What of that?'the stranger exclaimed,spurring his horse so as still to bar the way.'Why,only this,that you must be a madman to show yourself on this side of the Loire.'

'It is long since I have seen the other,'was my companion's unmoved answer.

'You are M.de Rosny?You do not deny it?'the man cried in astonishment.

'Certainly I do not deny it,'M.de Rosny answered bluntly.'And more,the day has been,sir,'he continued with sudden fire,'when few at his Majesty's Court would have dared to chop words with Solomon de Bethune,much less to stop him on the highway within a mile of the palace.But times are changed with me,sir,and it would seem with others also,if true men rallying to his Majesty in his need are to be challenged by every passer on the road.'

'What!Are you Solomon de Bethune?'the man cried incredulously.Incredulously,but his countenance fell,and his voice was full of chagrin and disappointment,'Who else,sir?'M.de Rosny replied haughtily.'I am,and,as far as I know,I have as much right on this side of the Loire as any other man.'

'A thousand pardons.'

'If you are not satisfied--'

'Nay,M.de Rosny,I am perfectly satisfied.'

The stranger repented this with a very crestfallen air,adding,'A thousand pardons';and fell to making other apologies,doffing his hat with great respect.'I took you,if you will pardon me saying so,for your Huguenot brother,M.Maximilian,'he explained.'The saying goes that he is at Rosny.'

'I can answer for that being false,'M.de Rosny answered peremptorily,'for I have just come from there,and I will answer for it he is not within ten leagues of the place.And now,sir,as we desire to enter before the gates shut,perhaps you will excuse us.'With which he bowed,and I bowed,and they bowed,and we separated.They gave us the road,which M.de Rosny took with a great air,and we trotted to the gate,and passed through it without misadventure.

The first street we entered was a wide one,and my companion took advantage of this to ride up abreast of me.'That is the kind of adventure our little prince is fond of,'he muttered.'But for my part,M.de Marsac,the sweat is running down my forehead.Ihave played the trick more than once before,for my brother and Iare as like as two peas.And yet it would have gone ill with us if the fool had been one of his friends.'

'All's well that ends well,'I answered in a low voice,thinking it an ill time for compliments.As it was,the remark was unfortunate,for M.de Rosny was still in the act of reining back when Maignan called out to us to say we were being followed.

I looked behind,but could see nothing except gloom and rain and overhanging eaves and a few figures cowering in doorways.The servants,however,continued to maintain that it was so,and we held,without actually stopping,a council of war.If detected,we were caught in a trap,without hope of escape;and for the moment I am sure M.do Rosny regretted that he had chosen this route by Blois--that he had thrust himself,in his haste and his desire to take with him the latest news,into a snare so patent.

The castle--huge,dark,and grim--loomed before us at the end of the street in which we were,and,chilled as I was myself by the sight,I could imagine how much more appalling it must appear to him,the chosen counsellor of his master,and the steadfast opponent of all which it represented.

Our consultation came to nothing,for no better course suggested itself than to go as we had intended to the lodging commonly used by my companion.We did so,looking behind us often,and saying more than once that Maignan must be mistaken.As soon as we had dismounted,however,and gone in,he showed us from the window a man loitering near;and this confirmation of our alarm sending us to our expedients again,while Maignan remained watching in a room without a light,I suggested that I might pass myself off,though ten years older,for my companion.

'Alas!'he said,drumming with his fingers on the table 'there are too many here who know me to make that possible.I thank you all the same.'

'Could you escape on foot?Or pass the wall anywhere,or slip through the gates early?'I suggested.