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My brother's amiable qualities excited the jealousy of Maugiron and the rest of his cabal about the King's person, and their dislike for Bussi was not so much on his own account as because he was strongly attached to my brother.
Then he gave D'O, D'Epernon and Schomberg an order to retire into the provinces, threatened Quelus and Maugiron to punish them if they quarreled anymore with Bussy, to whom he gave his hand to kiss, and then embraced his brother Francois. As for the queen, he was prodigal in politeness to her. When the usual time for retiring approached, the king seemed trying to retard it.
At the instance of Maugiron and Saint-Luc, the King was induced to solicit the cause in favour of Madame de Senetaire, their friend. M. de la Chastre, being greatly injured by it, complained to my brother of the injustice done him, with all the concern such a proceeding may be supposed to have occasioned. About this time Saint-Luc's marriage was celebrated.
The steps of his horse resounded on the frozen ground, and they went slowly and with precaution, for it was slippery. "This time," said Quelus, "it is he." "Impossible," said Maugiron. "Why?" "Because he is alone, and we left him with Livarot, Antragues, and Ribeirac, who would not have let him run such a risk." "It is he, however; do you not recognize his insolent way of carrying his head?"
"You know I fear nothing but phantoms that is an affair of the nerves." "The last phantom was," said Quelus, "that all those whom he had killed in duels appeared to him one night." "However," said Maugiron, "I have read of wonderful escapes; with sheets, for instance." "Ah! that is more sensible. I saw myself, at Bordeaux, a prisoner who escaped by the aid of his sheets." "You see, then?"
And Quelus irreverently turned his back to the king. "Hear, Maugiron," said the king, "with what nonsense he tries to put me off." "Well, sire, look at Narcissus; he is a good dog, but when you pull his ears, he growls, and when you tread on his toes he bites." "Here is the other comparing me to my dog!"
"That would be my advice, certainly; it is better in family affairs." Aurilly glanced at the prince. "Ma foi," said Maugiron, "I know one thing; that in the king's place I would not spare the high heads, which are always the most guilty. I would make an example of one or two one, at all events." "I think it would be well to revive the famous invention of sacks." "What was that?"
Although he took luncheon and dinner with the family in the old building near to the gate-house, and spent his evenings in Juliette's drawing-room, the Marquis or Madame Maugiron was always present, and as often as not, they played a game of chess together.
"Judge of it!" cried Bussy. And with the hilt of his sword he struck him on the temple. Quelus fell under the blow. Then furious wild, he rushed forward, uttering a terrible cry. D'O and D'Epernon drew back, Maugiron was raising Quelus, when Bussy broke his sword with his foot, and wounded the right arm of D'Epernon.
Once he slipped for an instant. That instant sufficed for Quelus to give him a wound in the side. "Touched," cried Quelus. "Yes, in the doublet," said Bussy, who would not even acknowledge his hurt. And rushing on Quelus, with a vigorous effort, he made his sword fly from his hand. But he could not pursue his advantage, for D'O, D'Epernon, and Maugiron attacked him, with fresh fury.
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