Madame Desroches, terrified, let her hands fall by her side, powerless.
"You shall not go, mademoiselle, even if I am forced to use violence."
"Try, madame," said Helene, in the queenly tone which seemed natural to her.
"Hola, Picard, Coutourier, Blanchet."
The servants appeared.
"The first who stops me I kill," said Gaston quietly, as he drew his sword.
"What a will," cried Madame Desroches; "ah, Mesdemoiselles de Chartres and de Valois, I recognize you there."
The two young people heard this exclamation, but did not understand it.
"We are going, madame," said Helene; "do not forget to repeat, word by word, what I told you."
And, hanging on Gaston"s arm, flushed with pleasure and pride, brave as an ancient Amazon, the young girl ordered that the door should be opened for her; the Swiss did not dare to resist. Gaston took Helene by the hand, summoned the carriage in which he had come, and seeing that he was to be followed, he stepped toward the a.s.sailants, and said in a loud voice:
"Two steps further, and I tell this history aloud, and place myself and mademoiselle under the safeguard of the public honor."
Madame Desroches believed that Gaston knew the mystery, and would declare it: she therefore thought best to retire quickly, followed by the servants.
The intelligent driver started at a gallop.
CHAPTER XXI.
WHAT Pa.s.sED IN THE RUE DU BAC WHILE WAITING FOR GASTON.
"What, monseigneur, you here!" cried Dubois, entering the room of the house in the Rue du Bac, and finding the regent seated in the same place as on the previous day.
"Yes; is there anything wonderful in that? Have I not an appointment at noon with the chevalier?"
"But I thought the order you signed would have put an end to these conferences."
"You were mistaken, Dubois; I wish to have another interview with this young man. I shall make one more effort to induce him to renounce his plans."
"And if he should do so?"
"Then all will be at an end--there will be no conspiracy--there will have been no conspirators. I cannot punish intentions."
"With any other I should not allow this; but with him I say, as you please."
"You think he will remain firm?"
"Oh! I am quite easy. But when he has decidedly refused, when you are quite convinced that he persists in his intention of a.s.sa.s.sinating you, then you will give him over to me, will you not?"
"Yes, but not here."
"Why not here?""
"Better to arrest him at his hotel."
"There, at the Muids d"Amour, with Tapin and D"Argenson"s people--impossible, monsieur. Bourguignon"s affair is still in everybody"s mouth in that quarter. I am not sure that they even quite believe in the attack of apoplexy, since Tapin now gives strict measure.
It will be much better to arrest him as he leaves here, monseigneur; the house is quiet; four men could easily do it, and they are already here.
I will move them, as you insist on seeing him; and, instead of arresting him as he enters, it must be done as he leaves. At the door a carriage shall be ready to take him to the Bastille; so that even the coachman who brings him here shall not know what has become of him. No one but Monsieur de Launay shall know; and I will answer for his discretion."
"Do as you please."
"That is my usual custom."
"Rascal that you are!"
"But I think monseigneur reaps the benefit of the rascality."
"Oh, I know you are always right."
"But the others?"
"What others?"
"The Bretons, Pontcalec, Du Couedic, Talhouet, and Montlouis?"
"Oh, the unfortunates; you know their names."
"And how do you think I have pa.s.sed my time at the hotel Muids d"Amour?"
"They will know of their accomplice"s arrest."
"How?"
"Having no letter from Paris, they will fear that something is wrong."
"Bah! Is not Captain la Jonquiere there to rea.s.sure them?"
"True; but they must know the writing?"
"Not bad, monseigneur, you are improving; but you take useless precautions, as Racine says. At this moment, probably, they are arrested."
"And who dispatched the order?"
"I. Pardieu! I am not your minister for nothing. Besides, you signed it."
"I! Are you mad?"