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I caught sight of his face, and recognized Marshal Tavannes. Directly afterwards, a man chased by human bloodhounds from the shelter of a neighbouring house darted into the midst of the crowd. He twisted and doubled, running now this way, now that, like a hunted hare. The assassins struck at him fiercely as he ran, holding his hands above his head to protect himself.
And yet it is true, I might have gone home had I pleased with M. de Tavannes! Yes," she continued, in a tone of keen reproach, and with the blood mounting to her forehead, "it is to that, Monsieur, you expose me! To be pursued, molested, harassed by a man whose look terrifies me, and whose touch I I detest!
The situation in which Count Hannibal left Mademoiselle de Vrillac will be remembered. She had prevailed over him; but in return he had bowed her to the earth, partly by subtle threats, and partly by sheer savagery. He had left her weeping, with the words "Madame de Tavannes" ringing doom in her ears, and the dark phantom of his will pointing onward to an inevitable future.
As Tavannes moved that way, Nancay, in the act of passing out, booted and armed for the road, met him and almost jostled him. "Ah, well met, M. le Comte," he sneered, with as much hostility as he dared betray. "The King has asked for you twice." "I am going to him. And you? Whither in such a hurry, M. Nancay?" "To Chatillon." "On pleasant business?" "Enough that it is on the King's!"
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?"
He turned a face bleeding, lean, and relentless towards the window at which Tavannes stood. Solemnly, with the sign of the cross, and with uplifted hands, he cursed him in bed and at board, by day and by night, in walking, in riding, in standing, in the day of battle, and at the hour of death.
He was long in selecting; but no change of countenance led any of those at the table to suspect that inside the lid of the box was a message a scrap of paper informing him that Montsoreau had left fifty spears in the suburb without the Saumur gate, besides those whom he had brought openly into the town. Tavannes read the note slowly while he seemed to be choosing his fruit. And then
Count Hannibal was following also, as if nothing had occurred. As if he had seen nothing! The young man caught his breath. Was it possible that he had imagined the start of recognition, the steady scrutiny, the sinister smile? No; for as Tavannes followed the others, he hung an instant on his heel, their eyes met again, and once more he smiled.
In two hours her people were gathered, and she departed by the eastward road, three of Tavannes' riders reinforcing her servants for a part of the way. Count Hannibal stood to watch them start, and noticed Bigot riding by the side of Suzanne's mule. He smiled; and presently, as he turned away, he did a thing rare with him he laughed outright. A laugh which reflected a mood rare as itself.
Passing a mirror on her way, she glanced into it and made a sign with her eyes to the two Gondis, which escaped the king's notice, for he was at the moment exchanging looks of intelligence with the Comte de Solern and Villeroy. Tavannes was thoughtful. "Sire," said the latter, coming out of his reverie, "I think you are royally ennuyed; don't you ever amuse yourself now?
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