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"Du Bouchage, you shall be happy, or I am no longer king of France!" cried Henri. "Happy! alas, sire, it is impossible," said the young man with a bitter smile. "And why so?" "Because my happiness is not of this world." "Henri, your brother, when he went, recommended you to my friendship.
Is not that enough for you, or must you also enjoy the weakness of your friends?" "If you will remain, Joyeuse, you will see that it is interesting." "I do not doubt it, sire; I only think that the interest will be carried to a point that I cannot bear;" and he turned toward the door. "Go, then," said Henri, sighing; "my destiny is to live alone." "Quick! Du Bouchage," said Anne to his brother.
"Do you still keep to that idea, Du Bouchage?" said the cardinal, allowing a slight exclamation to escape him, which was indicative that Joyeuse would have a struggle to encounter. "I do." "But it is impossible, Henri," returned the cardinal; "have you not been told so already?"
He was astonished that a man of the rank of Du Bouchage had consented to take the command of this handful of men, and of such a perilous expedition. The duke was always suspicious, and asked, therefore, and learned that the admiral had only yielded to his brother's earnest request.
He said nothing of this, however, but when the messenger asked if he had had such a boy for colour-grinder, he eagerly answered: "Yes, and there lives no manlier and sweeter-spirited lad in all France!" "Is it true," continued the messenger, "that Count Pierre de Bouchage hath imprisoned his father for failure to pay a tax, and that the family are now in sore distress?"
"Very numerous, monseigneur." "Well, comte, no false bravery: you will do well to return. Awake the gendarmes and let us decamp; it will be the most prudent plan." "Doubtless, monseigneur; but it will be urgent, I think, to warn my brother." "Two men will do." "Then I will go with a gendarme." "No, no, Du Bouchage; you must come with us.
How did he represent himself to you, Remy?" "As the steward of M. du Bouchage, madame." "You see he lies; therefore, he has some reason for lying. Let us find out his intentions, and conceal our own." "I will act as you wish, madame." "What does he ask now?" "To accompany us." "In what character?" "As the count's steward." "Tell him I accept." "Oh! madame."
Count Pierre began to see this, too; and, moreover, he knew that, notwithstanding the politeness of his letter, the king had plenty of soldiers, and that he would not hesitate to send them to the Castle de Bouchage, if necessary, to bring its lord to terms.
They did not seem surprised at seeing the strangers; and as they imitated the report of muskets, it was inferred that they were not ignorant of the use of these arms, and that consequently, they had had previous intercourse with Europeans, in proof of their willingness to please their visitors, it is mentioned, that they immediately set about picking plants, and carrying them to some of the officers who had commenced searching for them; and it is noted, as an evidence of their having some notions of the use of medicines, that one of them afflicted with a sore eye, applied by signs to Chevalier du Bouchage, one of the gentlemen so engaged, to point out a remedy for it.
"Reassure yourself, madame, had he been really the Comte du Bouchage, he would have spoken to us; you know how persevering he was." "I know also that he was respectful, Remy, or I should never have troubled myself about him, but simply told you to get rid of him." "Well, madame, if he be so respectful, you would have no more to fear from him on this road than in the Rue de Bussy."
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