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"M. de Rochefoucauld?" he asked eagerly. "He has not left yet?" Nancay caught the thrill in his voice, and marked the young man's flushed face and altered bearing. He noted, too, the crumpled paper he carried half-hidden in his hand; and the Captain's countenance grew dark. He drew a step nearer, and his hand reached softly for his dagger.
As he read it for the fourth time the light of the lamp fell athwart his face; and even as his fine clothes had never seemed to fit him worse than when he faintly denied the imputations of gallantry launched at him by Nancay, so his features had never looked less handsome than they did now.
And with a nod here and there, he passed to the door, followed by Mergey and Chamont, two gentlemen of his suite. Nancay raised the curtain with an obsequious gesture. "Pardon me, M. le Comte," he said, "do you go to his Highness's?" "For a few minutes, Nancay." "Permit me to go with you. The guards may be set." "Do so, my friend," Rochefoucauld answered. "Ah, Tignonville, is it you?"
Odder still, as Tignonville laughed, half hiding and half revealing the dainty scented paper in his hand, his clothes seemed smarter and he more awkward than usual. "It is from a lady," he admitted. "But a bit of badinage, I assure you, nothing more!" "Understood!" M. de Nancay murmured politely. "I congratulate you." "But " "I say I congratulate you!" "But it is nothing." "Oh, I understand.
"And and I have orders, M. le Comte." "Your orders are not for me," Tavannes answered, releasing his arm with a contemptuous gesture. "And look you, man, do not cross my path to-night. You know our motto? Who touches my brother, touches Tavannes! Be warned by it." Nancay scowled. "But the priests say, 'If your hand offend you, cut it off!" he muttered. Tavannes laughed, a sinister laugh.
Nancay nodded, reflected a moment, and then with an involuntary shudder "God!" he exclaimed, "it will shake the world!" "You think so?" "Ay, will it not!" His next words showed that he bore Tavannes' warning in mind. "For me, my friend, I go in mail to-night," he said. "There will be many a score paid before morning, besides his Majesty's. And many a left-handed blow will be struck in the melee!"
Nancay replied, with unexpected temper. "I hope that you may find yours as pleasant!" he added with a grin. And he went on. The gleam of malice in the man's eye warned Tavannes to pause. He looked round for some one who might be in the secret, saw the Provost of the Merchants, and approached him. "What's amiss, M. le Charron?" he asked. "Is not the affair going as it should?"
While Rochefoucauld, with Nancay at his side and his gentlemen attending him, passed along the echoing and now empty gallery, the younger man bounded down the stairs to the great hall of the Caryatides, his face radiant. He for one was not sleepy.
M. de Rochefoucauld is beginning to wonder what is keeping your Majesty from your game. And others are marking you, sire." "By the Lord!" Charles exclaimed, a ring of wonder mingled with horror in his tone, "if they knew what was in our minds they'd mark us more! Yet, see Nancay there beside the door? He is unmoved. He looks to-day as he looked yesterday.
When Captain de Nançay arrived so opportunely, he was leaving the King's chamber, whither he had conducted Henry of Navarre and the Prince of Condé. The tumult and excitement had worked Charles up to such a pitch of fury that the lives of the princes were hardly safe. But they were gentlemen, and their first words were to reproach the King for his breach of faith.
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