For The Admiral Part 45

"She is a generous soul!" exclaimed Felix, as we left the room. "She has many strange whims, but no one could be more loyal to a friend, and she has grown to love Jeanne very dearly."

"She is exceedingly kind," I said, "and the more so since we have no claims on her generosity."

By the time Jacques arrived everything was ready, and we had only to bid my sister good-bye. She bore up bravely, but the parting was a painful one, for in our hearts both Felix and I had an uneasy feeling that we were saying farewell to her for ever. Of this, fortunately, she had no suspicion, and she promised the countess to return directly the business with the commandant was finished.

"Remember," I whispered to Jacques, as the coachman gathered up the reins, "there must be no delay. Reach Roch.e.l.le as quickly as possible, and keep your mistress there until I send to you. The commandant, who will understand the real purpose of the journey, will help you."

Jacques drew up beside the carriage; Jeanne, leaning out, fluttered her dainty handkerchief; we waved our hands in response, and she was gone.

"Jeanne is a brave girl and a good girl," said the countess. "I wish she were my daughter. And now, you two villains, who have deprived an old woman of her only pleasure in life, leave me. I am going to my room, where I can cry comfortably. I am not so young that tears will spoil my eyes."

On our way back to the _Hotel Coligny_ we encountered Monseigneur, with a body of his gentlemen, riding through the city. Numerous persons were in the streets, and as he pa.s.sed by, bowing and smiling graciously, they greeted him with cheers.

"Anjou has some purpose in doing that," remarked Felix; but I made no answer, being occupied in watching L'Estang, who rode in the very rear of the cavalcade. He had caught sight of me, and while still looking straight before him he raised his hand, pointing significantly to the west. I nodded my head, and with a smile of satisfaction he rode on.

"Did you notice that?" I asked.

"Yes," replied Felix, "but without understanding."

"The meaning was plain enough. He was asking if Jeanne had gone, and I answered 'Yes.'"

"He takes a great interest in your sister," said Felix a trifle discontentedly.

"Because she is my sister," I replied. "Listen, the worthy citizens are cheering for Guise now."

"I suppose he is parading the streets as well. What a pack of fools these Parisians are!"

"If they cheered for Coligny," I laughed, "you would credit them with all the wisdom under the sun. So much depends on one's point of view!"

"Edmond! Felix! Why do you look so astonished? Do you fancy I am a spirit? Feel my hand; that is substantial enough, is it not?" and Roger Braund laughed heartily as he crossed the lobby of the Admiral's house toward us.

"You in Paris!" I exclaimed, after we had exchanged greetings, "when did you arrive? How long have you been here?"

"An hour," he replied cheerfully. "Is your sister well, Edmond?"

"Quite well, thank you. She is on the way to Roch.e.l.le; but come to our room, where we can talk more privately."

He accompanied us to our room, and I told him the story as it has been set down here.

"You did right," said he thoughtfully! "Paris just now is no place for her. But this journey to Roch.e.l.le is a hazardous venture with only Jacques to protect her!"

"Jacques is a man of courage and discretion!" exclaimed Felix, with rather more heat than was necessary.

"Jacques is a brave fellow," agreed Roger, "but he is only one man.

Edmond, with your leave, I will set out after the travellers, and a.s.sist Jacques in guarding your sister."

"You will have but a short stay in Paris," remarked Felix.

"I shall return quickly to offer my sword to your chief. From Edmond's story, I fancy he will have need of all his friends. I left my horse at an inn; it is a fine beast, and is thoroughly rested now. I will start immediately. No, I am not hungry; I have made a substantial meal. I shall come straight here on my return. Good-bye to you both. Directly I have placed Mademoiselle Jeanne in safety you will see me again?"

We had scarcely time to answer before he had gone, and from the window I saw him speeding along the street as if he feared the loss of a single second would overthrow all his plans.

CHAPTER XXV

A Dastardly Deed

In the evening of that same day, the Admiral in pa.s.sing to his room inquired kindly if I had executed his commission, and appeared pleased to learn that my sister had already started on her journey.

"I do not think it was necessary," he remarked, "but at least no harm can come from it, and you will feel easier in your mind. Good-night, gentlemen; our plans are progressing favourably, and I hope soon to have good news for you all."

I went to bed early that night, for Felix, unlike his usual bright self, was very gloomy and morose. I fancy he was not well pleased with the coming of Roger Braund, and still less so with his ready offer to escort Jeanne to Roch.e.l.le.

"What is the fellow doing here at all?" he asked. "Why can he not stay in his own country?"

I ventured to suggest that no one put the question at Jarnac, or at Montcontour, and that we of the Religion at least owed a great debt of grat.i.tude to Roger and his brave comrades. Felix seemed rather to resent this remark, so I said no more, trusting that by another day he would have recovered his good humour and pleasant manners.

I remember well how that memorable day began. It was Friday, August 22, and as I wakened from a long sleep the cheery rays of the morning sun flooded the room. How little any of us in the _Hotel Coligny_ dreamed of what was to happen before that same sun sank to rest!

After breakfast, Des Pruneaux drew me on one side. "The Admiral proceeds to the Louvre this morning," he said. "De Guerchy and I attend him; you and Bellievre will walk a little distance behind us. Be more vigilant even than usual, for there are strange rumours abroad."

Each trifling incident comes back to me now as vividly as if it happened yesterday. We went to the Louvre, waited while our chief transacted his business, and started on the journey home. Presently we met Charles, who greeted the Admiral affectionately, and the two walked together in the direction of the tennis-court. Des Pruneaux and De Guerchy joined the king's attendants; Felix and I followed a few paces in the rear.

At the court Charles and the Duke of Guise made up a match against our patron's son-in-law, Teligny, and a gentleman whose name I did not know.

The Admiral stood watching the game for some time, but between ten and eleven o'clock he bade the king adieu and once more started for home. He walked between Des Pruneaux and De Guerchy, talking cheerfully about the game, and praising the skill of the king, for Charles was certainly an accomplished player, superior in my opinion even to Guise.

"Yes," exclaimed Felix, to whom I pa.s.sed some such remark, and who had not altogether thrown off his bitterness of the previous day, "if he were as good a ruler as tennis-player France might have some chance of happiness."

"Well, he is making good progress even in that!" I replied cheerfully.

I have said that the _hotel_ was in the Rue de l'Arbre Sec, at the corner of the Rue de Bethisy, and we were pa.s.sing along the Rue des Fosses de St. Germain, when a man approached the Admiral with what looked like a pet.i.tion. We quickened our pace, but the citizen was an inoffensive person, and the Admiral, taking the paper, began to read, walking on slowly the while.

He turned the corner in front of us, and was hidden for an instant from our view, when we heard a loud report.

"Treachery!" cried my comrade, drawing his sword, and with a rush we sped round the corner. My heart leaped into my mouth as I realized what had happened. There was our n.o.ble chief, the truest, bravest, most chivalrous man in France, supported in De Guerchy's arms.

Des Pruneaux, who was stanching the blood with a handkerchief, pointed to the latticed windows of the _Hotel de Retz_ on our right, and, understanding it was from there the a.s.sa.s.sin had fired, we ran across, my comrade's cries of "For the Admiral!" bringing out a number of Huguenot gentlemen who lodged in the neighbourhood.

"This way!" I cried excitedly, "the a.s.sa.s.sin is in this house!" and the next minute, having burst open the doors, we were swarming into the building. Save for a deaf old woman and a horse-boy the place was empty, and a howl of rage rose from the searchers.

Nothing could be got from the old woman, but Felix, clutching the boy by the throat, demanded sternly "Where is the a.s.sa.s.sin? Speak, or I will kill you!"

"The man who was upstairs has got away through the cloisters, monsieur.

I do not know him. I was only told to bring a swift horse from my master's stables."