"Is there one which goes by the name of Les Hospitalieres, sire?"
"It is a very small, highly distinguished, excessively strict, and severe order, composed of twenty ladies, canonesses of Saint Joseph."
"Do they take the vows there?"
"Yes, as a matter of favor, and upon a presentation from the queen."
"Should I be indiscreet if I were to ask your majesty where this order is situated?"
"Not at all; it is situated in the Rue de Chevet Saint-Laudry, in the Cite, behind Le Cloitre Notre-Dame."
"At Paris?"--"Yes."
"Thank you, sire."
"But what the devil do you ask me that for? Has your brother changed his mind, and, instead of turning a Capuchin friar, does he now wish to become one of the Hospitalieres?"
"No, sire, I should not think he would be so mad, after what your majesty has done me the honor to tell me; but I suspect he has had his head turned by some one belonging to that order, and I should consequently like to discover who this person is, and speak to her."
"Par la mordieu!" said the king, with a self-satisfied expression, "some seven years ago I knew the superior of that convent, who was an exceedingly beautiful woman."
"Well, sire, it may perhaps be the very one."
"I cannot say; since that time, I too, Joyeuse, have a.s.sumed religious vows myself, or nearly so, indeed."
"Sire," said Joyeuse, "I entreat you to give me, at any rate, a letter to this lady, and my leave of absence for a couple of days."
"You are going to leave me!" exclaimed the king; "to leave me all alone here?"--"Oh! ungrateful king," said Chicot, shrugging his shoulders, "am I not here?"
"My letter, if you please, sire," said Joyeuse. The king sighed, but wrote it notwithstanding.
"But you cannot have anything to do at Paris?" said Henri, handing the note to Joyeuse.
"I beg your pardon, sire, I ought to escort, or at least, to watch over, my brothers."
"You are right; away with you, but return as quickly as you can."
Joyeuse did not wait for this permission to be repeated; he quietly ordered his horses, and having satisfied himself that Henri had already set off, galloped all the way until he reached his destination.
Without even changing his dress, the young man went straight to the Rue de Chevet Saint-Laudry. At the end of this street was the Rue d"Enfer, and parallel with it the Rue des Marmouzets.
A dark and venerable-looking house, behind whose walls the lofty summits of a few trees could be distinguished, the windows of which were few, bad, barred, and a wicket at the side, completed the exterior appearance of the Convent des Hospitalieres.
Upon the keystone of the arch of the porch an artisan had rudely engraved these Latin words with a chisel:--
MATRONae HOSPITES.
Time had partially destroyed both the inscription and the stone.
Joyeuse knocked at the wicket, and had his horses led away to the Rue des Marmouzets, fearing that their presence in the street might attract too much attention.
Then, knocking at the entrance gate, he said, "Will you be good enough to go and inform Madame la Superieure that Monsieur le Duc de Joyeuse, Grand Amiral de France, is desirous of speaking to her on behalf of the king."
The face of the nun who had made her appearance behind the gate blushed beneath her veil, and she shut the gate.
Five minutes afterward a door was opened, and Joyeuse entered a room, set apart for the reception of visitors. A beautiful woman, of lofty stature, made Joyeuse a profound reverence, which the admiral returned gracefully and respectfully.
"Madame," said he, "the king is aware that you are about to admit, or that you have already admitted, among the number of the inmates here, a person with whom I require to speak. Will you be good enough to place me in communication with that person?"
"Will you tell me the name of the lady you wish to see, monsieur?"
"I am not aware of it."
"In that case, then, how can I possibly accede to your request?"
"Nothing is easier. Whom have you admitted during the last month?"
"You either tell me too precisely, or with not sufficient precision, who this person is," said the superior, "and I am unable to comply with your wish."
"Why so?"
"Because, during the last month I have received no one here until this morning."
"This morning?"
"Yes, Monsieur le Duc, and you can understand that your own arrival, two hours after hers, has too much the appearance of a pursuit to enable me to grant you permission to speak to her."
"I implore you, madame."
"Impossible, monsieur."
"Will you merely let me see this lady?"
"Impossible, I repeat. Although your name was sufficient for the doors of this house to be thrown open before you, yet in order to speak to any one here, except indeed to myself, a written order from the king is necessary."
"Here is the order you require, madame," replied Joyeuse, producing the letter that Henri had signed.
The superior read it and bowed.
"His majesty"s will shall be obeyed," she said, "even when it is contrary to the will of Heaven."
And she advanced toward the courtyard of the convent.
"You now perceive, madame," said Joyeuse, courteously stopping her, "that I have right on my side; but I fear I may be under a mistake, and therefore may be abusing the permission I have received from the king.
Perhaps the lady may not be the one I am in search of; will you be kind enough to tell me how she came here, why she came, and by whom she was accompanied?"
"All that is useless, Monsieur le Duc," replied the superior, "you are under no misapprehension for the lady, who arrived only this morning, after having been expected for the last fifteen days; this lady, I say, who was recommended by one who possesses the greatest authority over me, is indeed the very person with whom Monsieur le Duc de Joyeuse must wish to speak."