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Ernanton, however, soon forgot his present situation, and became abstracted in thinking who the woman could be who had entered Paris as his page, and whom he had since seen in such a splendid litter; and with a heart more disposed to love adventure than to make ambitious calculations, he forgot why he was sitting there, till, suddenly raising his head, he saw that St. Maline was no longer there.
"Well! all the more reason to present our compliments to them," cried Perducas de Pincornay, in a tipsy voice. "And what friends are they? We will see!" cried St. Maline. The good hostess, hoping to prevent a collision, glided among them, and whispered Ernanton's name in St. Maline's ear. "Ernanton!" cried St.
"But," continued Ernanton, as he gradually closed the door, "that does not interfere with my congratulating myself upon the chance which has brought me again into personal communication with you." "You would like to see me at the devil, I believe," murmured Chicot, as he returned bow for bow.
"A letter." "From where?" "From the Louvre." "Sealed with what seal?" "The royal seal." Ernanton put his hand into the breast of his doublet and drew out a letter. "That is it," said Chicot, "and for greater certainty, I was to give you something in exchange, was I not?" "A receipt." "Yes." "Monsieur," continued Ernanton, "I was told to carry it, but this gentleman was to deliver it."
"His face pleases me, and he has white hands and a well-kept beard." "It is Ernanton de Carmainges, a fine fellow, who is capable of much." "He has left behind him some love, I suppose, poor fellow. But what a queer figure his next neighbor is." "Ah! that is M. de Chalabre. If he ruins your majesty, it will not be without enriching himself, I answer for it."
"Well," said Chicot, "I was right in remaining, after all; my presentiments, which told me that something was going to take place, have not deceived me. Here is the husband, poor Ernanton; we shall presently be witness of something serious. "If, however, it be the husband he is very kind to announce his return in so riotous a manner."
A veiled lady alighted from it, and disappeared within the door which Ernanton held half open. "Poor fellow!" murmured Chicot, "I was not mistaken; and it was indeed a lady he was waiting for, and so now I shall go to bed." Whereupon Chicot rose, but remained motionless, although standing up.
"Listen, monsieur!" cried mademoiselle. "If you die, I shall die with you!" And she ran from behind me to the centre of the chamber, where I could see her. "And if I live?" I shouted, narrowly stopping a terrible thrust, and stepping back between the table and the bed. "If we live, I am yours forever! Ernanton, I love you!" At last she had confessed it with her lips!
"Gentlemen!" said Ernanton, "I know that you are half drunk, and I forgive you; but there is a limit even to the patience that one owes to men beside themselves; your joke is over, do me the favor to retire." "Oh! oh! retire! how you speak!" said St. Maline. "I speak so as you may not be deceived in my wishes, and I repeat, gentlemen, retire, I beg."
He instructed the soldier to take them from his pocket, opened them by a spring, wrote some lines in pencil, and shut them again. It was impossible for any one who did not know the secret to open them without breaking them. "Monsieur," said Ernanton, "in three days these tablets shall be delivered." "Into her own hands?" "Yes, monsieur."
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