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Updated: May 10, 2025
"Will be my soldiers to-morrow." "But I thought that M. d'Epernon " "Hush! do not pronounce that name here." Then rising, M. de Loignac said, "Gentlemen, since chance unites here forty-five compatriots, let us empty a glass of wine to the prosperity of all." This proposal gave rise to frantic applause.
Ernanton took it and read these words: "Order to M. de Loignac to take the command of the forty-five gentlemen whom I have sent for to Paris with the consent of his majesty. "Duc d'Epernon." They all bowed at this.
"I desire the command of these forty-five gentlemen." "What! you wish to march at their head?" "No; I should have a deputy; only I desire that they should know me as their head." "Well, you shall have it. But who is to be your deputy?" "M. de Loignac, sire." "Ah! that is well." "He pleases your majesty?" "Perfectly." "Then it is decided?" "Yes; let it be as you wish."
"But it cannot be wrong oh, no, cap de Bious! Is it to M. de Loignac that I have the honor of speaking?" "It is possible," said the officer coldly, and evidently not much charmed at the recognition. "M. de Loignac, my compatriot?" "I do not say no." "My cousin!" "Good! Your card?" "Here it is;" and the Gascon drew out the half of a card, carefully cut.
"Perfectly, monsieur." "Fourteen in the first troop, fifteen in the second, and fifteen in the third; it is evident they do not count Ernanton, and that he no longer forms part of the Forty-five," said St. Maline to himself when De Loignac was gone. He fulfilled all his directions punctually. When he arrived among the Forty-five, the greater number of them were already preparing for their supper.
"Two of you, gentlemen," continued De Loignac, "have been heard in the open street chattering like a couple of old women, and that about grave things." St. Maline advanced. "Monsieur," said he, "pray explain at once, that suspicion may not rest on us all." "That is easy.
Pertinax de Montcrabeau and Perducas de Pincornay turned deadly pale, and Montcrabeau tried to stammer out some excuses. All eyes were turned toward them. "Nothing can excuse you," said De Loignac; "even if you were drunk you should be punished for that; and you shall be punished." A terrible silence ensued.
Maline sat down in a chimney corner to warm himself, and was nearly falling asleep, when De Loignac put his hand on his shoulder. "You must work to-day," said he; "you shall sleep some other day; so get up, M. de St. Maline." "I will not sleep for a fortnight, if necessary, monsieur." "Oh! we shall not be so exacting as that." "What must I do, monsieur?" "Get on your horse and return to Paris."
"Perducas de Pincornay, 26 October, 1585, at noon precisely. Porte St. Antoine." "Very good; it is all right," said he, "enter. Now for you," said he to the second. The man with the cuirass advanced. "Your card?" said De Loignac. "What! M. de Loignac, do you not know the son of your old friend, whom you have danced twenty times on your knee?" "No."
"Ah! true; continue, Mayenne, to do as you have done; I know how to appreciate the conduct of my subjects." The duke retired, smiling. The king rubbed his hands, and De Loignac made a sign to Ernanton, who spoke to his valet, and then followed M. de Mayenne. There was no fear of missing him, for the news of his arrival had spread, and some hundred leaguers had assembled to greet him.
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