Chicot the Jester | Page 7

introduced a key into the lock; the door had
yielded and was about to open, when the noise of their assailants made
them turn.
"What is this? Can it be against us, Aurilly?" said one.
"Ah, monseigneur," said the other, who had opened the door, "it looks
like it. Will you name yourself, or keep incognito?"
"Armed men--an ambush!"
"Some jealous lover; I said the lady was too beautiful not to be
watched."
"Let us enter quickly, Aurilly; we are safer within doors."
"Yes, monseigneur, if there are not enemies within; but how do you

know----"
He had not time to finish. The young men rushed up; Quelus and
Maugiron made for the door to prevent their entering, while Schomberg,
D'O, and D'Epernon prepared to attack in front. But he who had been
called monseigneur turned towards Quelus, who was in front, and
crossing his arms proudly, said:
"You attack a son of France, M. Quelus!"
Quelus drew back, trembling, and thunderstruck.
"Monseigneur le Duc d'Anjou!" he cried.
"The Duc d'Anjou!" repeated the others.
"Well, gentlemen," cried the duke.
"Monseigneur," stammered D'Epernon, "it was a joke; forgive us."
"Monseigneur," said D'O, "we did not dream of meeting your highness
here!"
"A joke!" said the duke; "you have an odd manner of joking, M.
d'Epernon. Since it was not intended for me, whom did your jest
menace?"
"Monseigneur," said Schomberg; "we saw St. Luc quit the Hôtel
Montmorency and come this way; it seemed strange to us, and we
wished to see what took him out on his wedding night."
"M. de St. Luc--you took me for him?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
"M. de St. Luc is a head taller then I am."
"It is true, monseigneur; but he is just the height of M. Aurilly."

"And seeing a man put a key in a lock, we took him for the principal,"
added D'O.
"Monseigneur cannot suppose that we had the shadow of an ill-will
towards him, even to disturb his pleasures?"
As he listened, the duke, by a skilful movement, had, little by little,
quitted the door, followed by Aurilly, and was now at some distance
off.
"My pleasures!" said he, angrily; "what makes you think I was seeking
pleasure?"
"Ah, monseigneur, in any case pardon us, and let us retire," said
Quelus.
"It is well; adieu, gentlemen; but first listen. I was going to consult the
Jew Manasses, who reads the future; he lives, as you know, in Rue de
la Tournelle. In passing, Aurilly saw you and took you for the watch,
and we, therefore, tried to hide ourselves in a doorway. And now you
know what to believe and say; it is needless to add, that I do not wish to
be followed," and he turned away.
"Monseigneur," said Aurilly, "I am sure these men have bad intentions;
it is near midnight, and this is a lonely quarter; let us return home, I
beg."
"No, no; let us profit by their departure."
"Your highness is deceived; they have not gone, but have returned to
their retreat: look in the angle of the Hôtel des Tournelles."
François looked, and saw that Aurilly was right; it was evident that
they waited for something, perhaps to see if the duke were really going
to the Jew.
"Well, Monseigneur," continued Aurilly, "do you not think it will be
more prudent to go home?"

"Mordieu! yet it is annoying to give up."
"Yes; but it can be put off. I told your highness that the house is taken
for a year; we know the lady lodges on the first story. We have gained
her maid, and have a key which opens the door: you may wait safely."
"You are sure that the door yielded?"
"Yes, at the third key I tried."
"Are you sure you shut it again?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
Aurilly did not feel sure, as he said, but he did not choose to admit it.
"Well, I will go; I shall return some other time." And the duke went
away, promising to payoff the gentlemen for their interruption.
They had hardly disappeared, when the five companions saw approach
a cavalier wrapped in a large cloak. The steps of his horse resounded on
the frozen ground, and they went slowly and with precaution, for it was
slippery.
"This time," said Quelus, "it is he."
"Impossible," said Maugiron.
"Why?"
"Because he is alone, and we left him with Livarot, Antragues, and
Ribeirac, who would not have let him run such a risk."
"It is he, however; do you not recognize his insolent way of carrying
his head?"
"Then," said D'O, "it is a snare."
"In any case, it is he; and so to arms!"

It was, indeed, Bussy, who came carelessly down the Rue St. Antoine,
and followed the route given him by Quelus; he had, as we have