"Now you may go, my friend; and, parfandious, let M. de Mayenne look to himself."
When D'Epernon returned to the king he found him playing at cup and ball. D'Epernon assumed a thoughtful air, but the king did not remark it. However, as the duke remained perfectly silent, the king raised his head and said, "Well, Lavalette, what is the matter, are you dead?"
"I wish I were," replied D'Epernon, "and I should not see what I do see."
"Sire, in a time of great peril the subject may be alarmed for the safety of his master."
"What! again perils; devil take you, duke."
"Then you are ignorant of what is passing?"
"Your most cruel enemies surround you at this moment."
"Yes, that is true; she came to see Salcede; but what is that to me?"
"What! this secret?" cried D'Epernon, with a disagreeable surprise.
"Are there, then, any secrets from the king? You are zealous, dear Lavalette, but you are slow. This news would have been good at four o'clock yesterday, but to-day--"
"Still too soon, sire, it seems, since you will not listen to me."
"I have been listening for half-an-hour."
"You are menaced--they lay ambushes for you."
"Well, yesterday you gave me a guard, and assured me that my immortality was secured. Are your Forty-five no longer worth anything?"
"I should not be sorry, duke; when shall I see?"
"You shall see, sire. Apropos, when do you go to Vincennes?"
"That is enough, sire." D'Epernon bowed and withdrew.
We will now follow the two young men sent by the king. Scarcely on horseback, Ernanton and St. Maline, determined that one should not get before the other, nearly crushed each other in the gateway. The face of St. Maline became purple, and that of Ernanton pale.
"You hurt me, monsieur," cried the former; "do you wish to crush me?"
"You also hurt me, only I did not complain."
"You wish to give me a lesson, I believe?"
"Ah!" cried St. Maline, "pray repeat that."
"You are seeking a quarrel, are you not?" replied Ernanton, quietly; "so much the worse for you."
"And why should I wish to quarrel? I do not know you," replied St. Maline, disdainfully.
"You know me perfectly, monsieur, because at home my house is but two leagues from yours, and I am well known there, being of an old family; but you are furious at seeing me in Paris, when you thought that you alone were sent for; also, because the king gave me the letter to carry."