"Still pale and sad," said the king. "Come, friend, take a holiday air for a little while, and do not tell me good news with a doleful face: speak quickly, Du Bouchage, for I want to hear. You come from Flanders?"
"Yes, sire."
"And quickly?"
"As quickly, sire, as a man can ride."
"You are welcome. And now, what of Antwerp?"
"Antwerp belongs to the Prince of Orange."
"To the Prince of Orange!"
"Yes, to William."
"But did not my brother attack Antwerp?"
"Yes, sire; but now he is traveling to Chateau-Thierry."
"He has left the army?"
"Sire, there is no longer an army."
"Oh!" cried the king, sinking back in his armchair, "but Joyeuse--"
"Sire, my brother, after having done wonders with his sailors, after having conducted the whole of the retreat, rallied the few men who escaped the disaster, and sent me home with an escort for M. le Duc d"Anjou."
"A defeat!" murmured the king.
But all at once, with a strange look.
"Then Flanders is lost to my brother?"
"Absolutely, sire."
"Without hope?"
"I fear so, sire."
The clouds gradually cleared from the king"s brow.
"That poor Francois," said he, smiling; "he is unlucky in his search for a crown. He missed that of Navarre, he has stretched out his hand for that of England, and has touched that of Flanders; I would wager, Du Bouchage, that he will never reign, although he desires it so much. And how many prisoners were taken?"
"About two thousand."
"How many killed?"
"At least as many; and among them M. de St. Aignan."
"What! poor St. Aignan dead!"
"Drowned."
"Drowned! Did you throw yourselves into the Scheldt?"
"No, the Scheldt threw itself upon us."
The comte then gave the king a description of the battle, and of the inundations. Henri listened silently. When the recital was over, he rose, and kneeling down on his prie-Dieu, said some prayers, and then returned with a perfectly calm face.
"Well," said he, "I trust I bear things like a king; and you, comte, since your brother is saved, like mine, thank G.o.d, and smile a little."
"Sire, I am at your orders."
"What do you ask as payment for your services, Du Bouchage?"
"Sire, I have rendered no service."
"I dispute that; but at least your brother has."--"Immense, sire."
"He has saved the army, you say, or rather, its remnants?"
"There is not a man left who does not say that he owes his life to my brother."
"Well! Du Bouchage, my will is to extend my benefits to both, and I only imitate in that Him who made you both rich, brave, and handsome; besides, I should imitate those great politicians who always rewarded the bearers of bad news."
"Oh!" said Chicot, "I have known men hung for bringing bad news."
"That is possible," said the king; "but remember the senate that thanked Varron."
"You cite republicans, Valois; misfortune makes you humble."
"Come, Du Bouchage, what will you have--what would you like?"
"Since your majesty does me the honor to speak to me so kindly, I will dare to profit by your goodness. I am tired of life, sire, and yet have a repugnance to shortening it myself, for G.o.d forbids it, and all the subterfuges that a man of honor employs in such a case are mortal sins.
To get one"s self killed in battle or to let one"s self die of hunger are only different forms of suicide. I renounce the idea, therefore, of dying before the term which G.o.d has fixed for my life, and yet the world fatigues me, and I must leave it."
"My friend!" said the king.
Chicot looked with interest at the young man, so beautiful, so brave, so rich, and yet speaking in this desponding tone.
"Sire," continued the comte, "everything that has happened to me for some time has strengthened my resolution. I wish to throw myself into the arms of G.o.d, who is the sovereign consoler of the afflicted, as he is of the happy. Deign then, sire, to facilitate my entrance into a religious life, for my heart is sad unto death."
The king was moved at this doleful request.
"Ah! I understand," said he; "you wish to become a monk, but you fear the probation."
"I do not fear the austerities, sire, but the time they leave one in indecision. It is not to soften my life, nor to spare my body any physical suffering, or my mind any moral privation, but it is to pa.s.s at once from this world to the grating which separates me from it, and which one generally attains so slowly."