An Enemy to the King | Page 8

as can be had. Even a Huguenot
may be useful in these days."
Then, when so many leaders contended, every man was desirous of
gaining partisans. At court, wise people were scrupulous to repay
obligations, in the hope of securing future benefit. I divined De
Quelus's motives, but was none the less willing to profit by them as to
the possible vacant captaincy.
"Then I thank you, monsieur, and will keep the appointment," I said.
"You are alone," said De Quelus. "One does not know when one may
have one's throat cut for a sou, after dark in the streets of Paris. Will
you accept the escort of two of my servants? They are waiting for me in
the next street. One does not, you know, let one's servants wait too near
windows out of which one expects to drop," he added with a smile.
"I thank you, monsieur, but I have already fared so well alone to-night,
that I should fear to change my fortune by taking attendants."
"Then good night, monsieur. No, thank you. I can sheathe my own
sword. My arm has lost its numbness. Parbleu, I should like to meet
Bussy d'Amboise now."
And he strode away, leaving me standing by the cross.
I hesitated between returning to the inn, and resuming my exploration
of the streets. I decided to go back, lest I be shut out for the night.
I had made my way some distance, in the labyrinth of streets, when, on
reaching another junction of ways, I heard steps at some distance to the
left. Looking in that direction, I saw approaching a little procession
headed by two men servants, one of whom carried a lantern. I stepped
back into the street from which I had just emerged, that I might remain
unseen, until it should pass. Peering around the street corner, I saw that
behind the two servants came a lady, whose form indicated youth and
elegance, and who leaned on the arm of a stout woman, doubtless a
servant. Behind these two came another pair of lackeys.

The lady wore a mask, and although heavily cloaked, shivered in the
January wind, and walked as rapidly as she could. The four men had
swords and pistols, and were sturdy fellows, able to afford her good
protection.
The two men in advance passed without seeing me, stepping easily
over a pool of muddy water that had collected in a depression in the
street, and had not yet had time to freeze.
When the lady reached this pool, she stopped at its brink and looked
down at it, with a little motion of consternation.
"I cannot step across this lake," she said, in a voice that was
low-pitched, rich, and full of charm to the ear. "We must skirt its
borders."
And she turned to walk a short distance up the street in which I stood.
"Not so, madame," I said, stepping forth and bowing. "The lake is a
long one, and you would have to go far out of your way. I will convey
you across in a moment, if you will allow me." And I held out my arms,
indicating my willingness to lift her across the pool.
The two servants in the rear now hastened up, ready to attack me, and
those ahead turned and came back, their hands on their weapons.
The lady looked at me through the eye-holes of her mask. Her lips and
chin being visible, she could not conceal a quizzical smile that came at
my offer.
"Why not?" she said, motioning her servants back.
I caught her up in my arms and lifted her over the puddle. She slid from
my grasp with a slight laugh.
I sought some pretext to prolong this meeting. "When I came out
to-night," I said, "I dared not hope for such happiness as this."
"Nor did the astrologer predict anything of the kind to me," she replied.

From this I knew the cause of her being in the street so late,--a secret
visit to some fortune-teller. Then she called to the stout woman, who
was looking for a place to step over the pool. "Come, Isa, in the name
of Heaven. You know that if the guard is changed--"
She stopped, but she had already betrayed herself. She meant the guard
of the palace, doubtless; and that her secret entrance, so long after the
closing of the gates, depended for its ease on the presence of some
officer with whom she had an understanding. She must be one of the
ladies attached to the royal household, and her nocturnal excursion,
from the Louvre, was evidently clandestine.
Isa now joined her mistress, and the latter, with a mere, "I thank you,
monsieur," turned and hastened on her way. Soon the footsteps of her