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She graciously held out her hand, which de Penthiere and his companions, dropping upon one knee, raised to their lips, one after the other. "You are aware of the contents of the despatches, cardinal," the queen said when they were alone. "Of their general scope, madam. The Prince of Conde did me the honour to call upon me at eight this morning.
At six o'clock he sat down to the evening meal at Conde's, after which, having attired himself in his new suit, he repaired with de Penthiere and de Caussac to the Louvre.
"We arrived from Paris at two o'clock this morning, but did not venture to disturb your majesty at that hour." "You did rightly," the queen said graciously. "We already knew that a great victory had been gained, and could afford to wait for the particulars. Do you each bear a despatch?" "We do, your majesty," de Penthiere said, producing that which he bore.
The queen, who was still a beautiful woman, was standing talking to a gentleman, in whose attire there were but few symbols that would betray to a stranger that he was an ecclesiastic of high rank. "You are the bearers of despatches from the army, messieurs?" "We have that honour, your majesty," de Penthiere, who was the senior of the party, said.
"Now, gentlemen," de Penthiere said, "it seems to me that it would be a pity to founder fifteen good horses in order to gain an hour on this journey. The queen has already received news of the victory, or at least she will receive it some time today, therefore the details we bring are not of particular importance. It is now eight o'clock.
They contain the despatches and reports of myself and General Gassion. Your packet, colonel," he added to Hector, "is General Gassion's report; it goes more fully into military details than mine. You, Monsieur de Penthiere, carry my despatches in reference to the battle of yesterday. You, Monsieur de Caussac, are the bearer of my plans for our future operations.
As it is, it seems to me that if we present ourselves with our papers at seven in the morning we shall have done that which is necessary. What do you both say?" "I agree with you, de Penthiere. It would be a sore pity to injure good horses by galloping them at the top of their speed, to say nothing of knocking ourselves up.
Hector had dismounted without assistance, but the other two officers had to be lifted from their saddles. "Are you bearers of any special news, de Penthiere?" the prince asked; for the two young nobles were well known to him. "No, monseigneur, save that our despatches give full details of the battle." "What is our loss?" "It is very heavy," de Penthiere said.
"If you are another Turenne," Madame de Chevreuse laughed, "I give you up. He is the most insensible of men. His head contains but one idea, and that is duty; and as to us poor creatures, he is as insensible as was St. Anthony." At this moment the door that separated the salon from that of the queen opened, and the names of Monsieur de Penthiere and Monsieur de Caussac were called.
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