It was I who brought her to the Little Sisters',that she might see you with Madame de Bruhl!It was I who did all,and destroyed her!Now you know!Do with me what you like!'
He opened his arms as though to receive a blow,while I stood before him astounded beyond measure by a disclosure so unexpected;full of righteous wrath and indignation,and yet uncertain what I ought to do.'Did you also let Bruhl into the room on purpose?'I cried at last.
'I?'he exclaimed,with a sudden flash of rage in his eyes.'Iwould have died first!'
I do not know how I might have taken this confession;but at the moment there was a trampling of horses outside,and before Icould answer him I heard M.de Rambouillet speaking in haughty tones,at the door below.The Provost-Marshal was with him,but his lower notes were lost in the ring of bridles and the stamping of impatient hoofs.I looked towards the door of my room,which stood ajar,and presently the two entered,the Marquis listening with an air of contemptuous indifference to the apologies which the other,who attended at his elbow,was pouring forth.M.de Rambouillet's face reflected none of the gloom and despondency which M.d'Agen's exhibited in so marked a degree.He seemed,on the contrary,full of gaiety and good-humour,and,coming forward and seeing me,embraced me with the utmost kindness and condescension.
'Ha!my friend,'he said cheerfully,'so I find you here after all!But never fear.I am this moment from the king with an order for your release.His Majesty has told me all,making me thereby your lasting friend and debtor.As for this gentleman,'
he continued,turning with a cold smile to the Provost-Marshal,who seemed to be trembling in his boots,'he may expect an immediate order also.M.de Villequier has wisely gone a-hunting,and will not be back for a day or two.'
Racked as I was by suspense and anxiety,I could not assail him with immediate petitions.It behoved me first to thank him for his prompt intervention,and this in terms as warm as I could invent.Nor could I in justice fail to commend the Provost;to him,representing the officer's conduct to me,and lauding his ability.All this,though my heart was sick with thought and fear and disappointment,and every minute seemed an age.
'Well,well,'the Marquis said with stately good-nature,'We will lay the blame on Villequier then.He is an old fox,however,and ten to one he will go scot-free.It is not the first time he has played this trick.But I have not yet come to the end of my commission,'he continued pleasantly.'His Majesty sends you this,M.de Marsac,and bade me say that he had loaded it for you.'
He drew from under his cloak as he spoke the pistol which I had left with the king,and which happened to be the same M.de Rosny had given me.I took it,marvelling impatiently at the careful manner in which he handled it;but in a moment I understood for Ifound it loaded to the muzzle with gold-pieces,of which two or three fell and rolled upon the floor.Much moved by this substantial mark of the king's gratitude,I was nevertheless for pocketing them in haste;but the Marquis,to satisfy a little curiosity on his part,would have me count them,and brought the tale to a little over two thousand livres,without counting a ring set with precious stones which I found among them.This handsome present diverted my thoughts from Simon Fleix,but could not relieve the anxiety I felt on mademoiselle's account.The thought of her position so tortured me that M.de Rambouillet began to perceive my state of mind,and hastened to assure me that before going to the Court he had already issued orders calculated to assist me.
'You desire to follow this lady,I understand?'he said.'What with the king who is enraged beyond the ordinary by this outrage,and Francois there,who seemed beside himself when be heard the news,I have not got any very clear idea of the position.'
'She was entrusted to me by--by one,sir,well known to you,'Ianswered hoarsely.'My honour is engaged to him and to her.If I follow on my feet and alone,I must follow.If I cannot save her,I can at least punish the villains who have wronged her.'
'But the man's wife is with them,'he said in some wonder.
'That goes for nothing,'I answered.
He saw the strong emotion under which I laboured,and which scarcely suffered me to answer him with patience;and he looked at me curiously,but not unkindly.'The sooner you are off,the better then,'he said,nodding.'I gathered as much.The man Maignan will have his fellows at the south gate an hour before noon,I understand.Francois has two lackeys,and he is wild to go.With yourself and the lad there you will muster nine swords.
I will lend you two.I can spare no more,for we may have an EMEUTE at any moment.You will take the road,therefore,eleven in all,and should overtake them some time to-night if your horses are in condition.'
I thanked him warmly,without regarding his kindly statement that my conduct on the previous day had laid him under lasting obligations to me.We went down together,and he transferred two of his fellows to me there and then,bidding them change their horses for fresh ones and meet me at the south gate.He sent also a man to my stable--Simon Fleix having disappeared in the confusion--for the Cid,and was in the act of inquiring whether Ineeded anything else,when a woman slipped through the knot of horsemen who surrounded us as we stood in the doorway of the house,and,throwing herself upon me,grasped me by the arm.It was Fanchette.Her harsh features were distorted with grief,her cheeks were mottled with the violent weeping in which such persons vent their sorrow.Her hair hung in long wisps on her neck.Her dress was torn and draggled,and there was a great bruise over her eye.She had the air of one frantic with despair and misery.
She caught me by the cloak,and shook me so that I staggered.'Ihave found you at last!'she cried joyfully.'You will take me with you!You will take me to her!'
