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Updated: June 9, 2025
The large arm of Cocardasse was interposed between Chavernay and Gabrielle, and the large voice of Cocardasse counselled Chavernay: "Stand aside, little man." Quite indifferent to the counsels of the mighty mask, Chavernay persisted: "Fair lady, dismiss this monster and accept my arm." This time it was Passepoil's turn to intervene. "Out of the way!" he commanded, and gave Chavernay a little push.
While the angry gentlemen stood together, with the hunchback apart eying them derisively, and Chavernay standing between the belligerents as peace-maker, Taranne hurriedly joined the group. He was evidently choking with news and eager to distribute it. "Friends, friends," he cried, "there is something extraordinary going on here to-night!" "What is it?" asked Chavernay.
But Chavernay was not easily to be dashed from his habitual manner of genial insolence, and he answered, as mockingly as Lagardere: "Then I tell you what I told her: that I adore her." Lagardere eyed him whimsically, grimly. He felt disagreeably conscious of the contrast between himself in his shabby habit and the gilded frippery of this brilliant young insolence.
The fellow was at once so fantastic and so ridiculous that Chavernay, whose sense of humor was always lively, regarded him with much curiosity and at the same time with affected dismay.
"Well," said Navailles, eagerly, to Chavernay "well, who was the lady?" Chavernay answered, coolly: "I do not know." At this moment the lean form and yellow face of Monsieur de Peyrolles intruded itself into the group of Gonzague's friends. "Monsieur de Chavernay," he said, "my illustrious master is looking for you. He is with his majesty." "I will join him," Chavernay answered, readily.
Flora laughed, and pointed to the Inn into which Gabrielle had retreated. "You have not far to seek to oblige your friend," she said. "There it stands behind you." Chavernay swung round on his heels, and surveyed the modest little hostelry with amusement. "The shelter of the fugitive nymph. Oh, now I understand my friend's anxiety!
In a frightful silence Chavernay crossed the room, entered the alcove, and came forth holding the sword of Louis de Nevers in his hand the sword that Louis de Nevers had used so valiantly on the night of Caylus. Silently he offered it to Lagardere, and silently Lagardere, giving the weapon he held to Cocardasse, took the sword of Nevers from the hands of Chavernay.
He gave a start of surprise. Was fortune playing into his hands, after all? Chavernay bowed. "Your pardon, lady; your path is free," he said, and stood aside while Gabrielle moved slowly forward with her escort on a second tour of the fountain. Navailles and the others had seen, indeed, the lady unmask, but were not near enough to descry her features.
"If it eases your mind in any way," he said, quietly, "I can assure you that I am a gentleman, although a poor one, and have as good right to trail a sword as any kinsman of the Prince de Gonzague." He paused, and then added, not unpityingly: "I would rather beat you than kill you." Chavernay was scarcely to be appeased in this fashion.
"A wonderful wedding. The bride is a beauty, and the bridegroom is Æsop." Navailles looked round over his companions and sighed for the absence of a choice spirit. "How Chavernay would have laughed!" he said. "I wish he were here." "I did not invite Chavernay," Gonzague replied, coldly.
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