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"I must tell you, mother, that yesterday I went to Vincennes." "I knew it." "Oh! you knew it; well, my people told me, before my return, of an enemy's army whose muskets shone on the road." "An enemy's army on the road to Vincennes?" "Yes, mother." "And where?" "In front of the Jacobins, near the house of our good cousin." "Near Madame de Montpensier's?" "Precisely so, near Bel-Esbat.
You go 500 leagues without accident, while I go only to Vincennes, three-fourths of a league, and narrowly escape assassination by the way." "Oh! bah!" "I will tell you about it, my friend; I am having it written. Without my Forty-five guardsmen I should have been a dead man." "Truly! where did it take place?" "You mean, where was it to have taken place?" "Yes." "At Bel-Esbat."
The duchess grew pale and sank down almost fainting. Mayneville, somber, but resolute, drew his sword, not knowing but what the house was to be attacked. The cortege advanced, and had reached Bel-Esbat. Borromée came a little forward, and as De Loignac rode straight up to him, he immediately saw that all was lost, and determined on his part. "Room for the king!" cried De Loignac.
He found Bel-Esbat easily, and without more inquiries, rang, and the door opened. "Enter," said a man, who then seemed to wait for some password, but as Ernanton did not give any, he asked him what he wanted. "I wish to speak to Madame la Duchesse de Montpensier." "And why do you come here for her?" "Because the porter at the Hotel Guise sent me here." "Madame la Duchesse is not here."
"It appears you are credulous." "Alas! madame, I am in love." "And you are convinced that I reciprocate this love?" Ernanton rose piqued. "No, madame," replied he. "Then what do you believe?" "I believe that you have something important to say to me, and that, not wishing to receive me at your hotel, or at Bel-Esbat, you preferred this isolated spot." "You thought that?" "Yes."
He had neither betrayed the king, M. de Mayenne, nor himself. Therefore he was content, but he still wished for many things, and, among others, a quick return to Vincennes, where the king expected him; then to go to bed and dream. He set off at full gallop as soon as he left Bel-Esbat, but he had scarcely gone a hundred yards when he came on a body of cavaliers who stretched right across the road.
But a hundred steps further on, an attentive observer would have seen him throw a more curious glance on a fine-looking house on his left, which, built in the midst of a charming garden, opened on the road. This house was called Bel-Esbat, and, unlike the convent, had every window open with the exception of one, before which hung a blind.
"Thanks, reverend father, thanks," cried Henri; and then he passed the convent, where his course was to have terminated, like a whirlwind of fire, noise, and glory, leaving behind him Bel-Esbat in obscurity. From her balcony, hidden by the golden scutcheon, behind which she was kneeling, the duchess saw and examined each face on which the light of the torches fell.
Antoine, called Bel-Esbat, which belongs to the duchesse; it is the first on the left hand going to Vincennes, after the convent of the Jacobins. You will be sure to find some one there in the service of the duchesse sufficiently in her confidence to be able to tell you where Madame la Duchesse is just now." "Thank you," said Ernanton, who saw that the man either could or would say no more.
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