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Maline felt the iron on his flesh, and drew back furious, but Ernanton followed him, keeping the sword against his breast. St. Maline grew pale; if Ernanton had wished it, he could have pinned him to the wall, but he slowly withdrew his sword. "You merit two deaths for your insolence," said he, "but the oath of which you spoke restrains me, and I will touch you no more; let me pass.
But, poor woman, she was in great trouble, and the fear of being compromised is, particularly with princesses, the strongest of all sentiments." Ernanton, however, could not forget the insult he had received, and he returned straight to the hotel. He was naturally decided to infringe all orders and oaths, and to finish with St. Maline; he felt in the humor to fight ten men, if necessary.
"Then you will not tell me?" "No." "Nor where you were going?" Ernanton did not answer. "Then, monsieur, since you do not explain, I must treat you like any other man." "Do what you please, monsieur; only I warn you, you will have to answer for it." "To M. de Loignac?" "Higher than that." "M. d'Epernon?" "Higher still." "Well, I have my orders, and I shall send you to Vincennes."
Do you not see that it is me they want?" "But who are you, then?" "A woman. Oh, save me! protect me!" Ernanton turned pale; but generosity triumphed over fear. He placed his protégée before him, opened a path with blows, and pushed her toward the corner of the Rue du Mouton, toward an open door. Into this door she entered; and she seemed to have been expected, for it closed behind her.
He then saw the litter return, saw Mayneville leave, and, lastly, he saw the duchess enter the room in which Ernanton, palpitating, and throbbing rather than breathing, impatiently awaited her return. Ernanton kneeled before the duchess, who gave him her white hand to kiss. She then raised the young man from the ground, and made him sit down before her at a table which was most elegantly served.
"Yes, monsieur," said Ernanton, bowing; "it seems to me that you have forgotten to point out to us our duties. To be in the king's service has a glorious sound, doubtless, but I should wish to know in what this service consists?" "That, monsieur, is a question to which I cannot reply." "May I ask why, monsieur?"
"Our task is accomplished; we have now to converse, and this place appears excellent for an explanation of this sort." "As you please, monsieur;" and they got off their horses. Then Ernanton said, "You know, monsieur, that without any cause on my part, you have during the whole journey insulted me grievously.
"Supper!" cried M. de Loignac; "and from this moment let all be friends, and love each other like brothers." "Hum!" said St. Maline. "That would be difficult," added Ernanton. "See," cried Pincornay, "they laugh at me because I have no hat, and they say nothing to M. Montcrabeau, who is going to supper in a cuirass of the time of the Emperor Pertinax, from whom it probably came.
They rode on silently till about half-past two, when they saw a man walking with a dog by his side. Ernanton passed him; but St. Maline, hoping to be more clever, rode up to him and said, "Traveler, do you expect something?" The man looked at him. Certainly his aspect was not agreeable.
"And M. d'Epernon?" "He reads the signature of his majesty, and consoles himself as I do." "You are right, monsieur, and I am your humble servant;" and Ernanton was about to retire, when De Loignac stopped him. "I will say to you," said he, "what I have not said to the others, for no one else has had the courage to speak to me thus." Ernanton bowed.
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