Historical Romances: Under the Red Robe, Count Hannibal, A Gentleman of France

by Stanley John Weyman

  CHAPTER II.

  HANNIBAL DE SAULX, COMTE DE TAVANNES.

  "Tavannes!"

  "Sire."

  Tavannes, we know, had been slow to obey the summons. Emerging fromthe crowd he found that the King, with Retz and Rambouillet, hisMarshal des Logis, had retired to the farther end of the Chamber;apparently Charles had forgotten that he had called. His head a littlebent--he was tall and had a natural stoop--the King seemed to belistening to a low but continuous murmur of voices which proceededfrom the door of his closet. One voice frequently raised was beyonddoubt a woman's; a foreign accent, smooth and silky, marked another; athird, that from time to time broke in, wilful and impetuous, was thevoice of Monsieur, the King's brother, Catherine de Medicis' favouriteson. Tavannes, waiting respectfully two paces behind the King, couldcatch little that was said; but Charles, something more, it seemed,for on a sudden he laughed, a violent, mirthless laugh. And he clappedRambouillet on the shoulder.

  "There!" he said, with one of his horrible oaths, "'tis settled! 'Tissettled! Go, man, and take your orders! And you, M. de Retz," hecontinued, in a tone of savage mockery, "go, my lord, and give them!"

  "I, sire?" the Italian Marshal answered in accents of deprecation.There were times when the young King would show his impatience of theItalian ring, the Retzs and Biragues, the Strozzis and Gondys, withwhom his mother surrounded him.

  "Yes, you!" Charles answered. "You and my lady mother! And in God'sname answer for it at the day!" he continued vehemently. "You willhave it! You will not let me rest till you have it! Then have it, onlysee to it, it be done thoroughly! There shall not be one left to castit in the King's teeth and cry, 'Et tu, Carole!' Swim, swim in bloodif you will," he continued with growing wildness. "Oh, 'twill be amerry night! And it's true so far, you may kill fleas all day, butburn the coat, and there's an end. So burn it, burn it, and----" Hebroke off with a start as he discovered Tavannes at his elbow. "God'sdeath, man!" he cried roughly, "who sent for you?"

  "Your Majesty called me," Tavannes answered; while, partly urged bythe King's hand, and partly anxious to escape, the others slipped intothe closet and left them together.

  "I sent for you? I called your brother, the Marshal!"

  "He is within, sire," Tavannes answered, indicating the closet. "Amoment ago I heard his voice."

  Charles passed his shaking hand across his eyes. "Is he?" he muttered."So he is! I heard it too. And--and a man cannot be in two places atonce!" Then while his haggard gaze, passing by Tavannes, roved roundthe Chamber, he laid his hand on Count Hannibal's breast. "They giveme no peace, Madame and the Guises," he whispered, his face hecticwith excitement. "They will have it. They say that Coligny--they saythat he beards me in my own palace. And--and, _mordieu_," with suddenviolence, "it's true! It's true enough! It was but to-day he was formaking terms with me! With me, the King! Making terms! So it shall be,by God and Devil, it shall! But not six or seven! No, no. All! All!There shall not be one left to say to me, 'You did it!'"

  "Softly, sire," Tavannes answered; for Charles had gradually raisedhis voice. "You will be observed."

  For the first time the young King--he was but twenty-two years old,God pity him!--looked at his companion. "To be sure," he whispered;and his eyes grew cunning. "Besides, and after all, there's anotherway, if I choose. Oh, I've thought and thought, I'd have you know."And shrugging his shoulders, almost to his ears, he raised and loweredhis open hands alternately, while his back hid the movement from theChamber. "See-saw! See-saw!" he muttered. "And the King between thetwo, you see. That's Madame's king-craft. She's shown me that ahundred times. But look you, it is as easy to lower the one as theother," with a cunning glance at Tavannes' face, "or to cut off theright as the left. And--and the Admiral's an old man and will pass;and for the matter of that I like to hear him talk. He talks well.While the others, Guise and his kind, are young, and I've thought,oh, yes, I've thought--but there," with a sudden harsh laugh, "my ladymother will have it her own way. And for this time she shall, but,All! All! Even Foucauld, there! Do you mark him? He's sorting thecards. Do you see him--as he will be to-morrow, with the slit in histhroat and his teeth showing? Why, God!" his voice rising almost to ascream, "the candles by him are burning blue!" And with a shakinghand, his face convulsed, the young King clutched his companion's arm,and pinched it.

  Count Hannibal shrugged his shoulders, but answered nothing.

  "D'you think we shall see them afterwards?" Charles resumed, in asharp, eager whisper. "In our dreams, man? Or when the watchman cries,and we awake, and the monks are singing lauds at St. Germain, and--andthe taper is low?"

  Tavannes' lip curled. "I don't dream, sire," he answered coldly, "andI seldom wake. For the rest, I fear my enemies neither alive nordead."

  "Don't you? By G--d, I wish I didn't," the young man exclaimed. Hisbrow was wet with sweat. "I wish I didn't. But there, it's settled.They've settled it, and I would it were done! What do you think of--ofit, man? What do you think of it, yourself?"

  Count Hannibal's face was inscrutable. "I think nothing, sire," hesaid drily. "It is for your Majesty and your council to think. It isenough for me that it is the King's will."

  "But you'll not flinch?" Charles muttered, with a quick look ofsuspicion. "But there," with a monstrous oath, "I know you'll not! Ibelieve you'd as soon kill a monk--though, thank God," and he crossedhimself devoutly, "there is no question of that--as a man. And soonerthan a maiden."

  "Much sooner, sire," Tavannes answered grimly. "If you have any ordersin the monkish direction--no? Then your Majesty must not talk to melonger. M. de Rochefoucauld is beginning to wonder what is keepingyour Majesty from your game. And others are marking you, sire."

  "By the Lord!" Charles exclaimed, a ring of wonder mingled with horrorin his tone, "if they knew what was in our minds they'd mark us more!Yet, see Nancay there beside the door? He is unmoved. He looks to-dayas he looked yesterday. Yet he has charge of the work in thepalace----"

  For the first time Tavannes allowed a movement of surprise to escapehim. "In the palace?" he muttered. "Is it to be done here, too, sire?"

  "Would you let some escape, to return by-and-by and cut our throats?"the King retorted with a strange spirt of fury; an incapacity tomaintain the same attitude of mind for two minutes together was themost fatal weakness of his ill-balanced nature. "No. All! All!" herepeated with vehemence. "Didn't Noah people the earth with eight? ButI'll not leave eight! My cousins, for they are blood-royal, shall liveif they will recant. And my old nurse whether or no. And Pare, for noone else understands my complexion. And----"

  "And Rochefoucauld, doubtless, sire?"

  The King, whose eye had sought his favourite companion, withdrew it.He darted a glance at Tavannes. "Foucauld? Who said so?" he mutteredjealously. "Not I! But we shall see. We shall see! And do you see thatyou spare no one, M. le Comte, without an order. That is yourbusiness."

  "I understand, sire," Tavannes answered coolly. And after a moment'ssilence, seeing that the King had done with him, he bowed low andwithdrew; watched by the circle, as all about a King were watched inthe days when a King's breath meant life or death, and his smile madethe fortunes of men. As he passed Rochefoucauld, the latter looked upand nodded.

  "What keeps brother Charles?" he muttered. "He's madder than everto-night. Is it a masque or a murder he is planning?"

  "The vapours," Tavannes answered with a sneer. "Old tales his oldnurse has stuffed him withal. He'll come by-and-by, and 'twill be wellif you can divert him."

  "I will if he come," Rochefoucauld answered, shuffling the cards. "Ifnot 'tis Chicot's business and he should attend to it. I'm tired andshall to bed."

  "He will come," Tavannes answered, and moved, as if to go on. Then hepaused for a last word. "He will come," he muttered, stooping andspeaking under his breath, his eyes on the other's face. "But play himlightly. He is in an ugly mood. Please him, if you can, and it mayserve."

  The eyes of the two met an instant,
and those of Foucauld--so the Kingcalled his Huguenot favourite--betrayed some surprise; for CountHannibal and he were not intimate. But seeing that the other was inearnest, he raised his brows in acknowledgment. Tavannes noddedcarelessly in return, looked an instant at the cards on the table, andpassed on, pushed his way through the circle, and reached the door. Hewas lifting the curtain to go out, when Naucay, the Captain of theGuard, plucked his sleeve.

  "What have you been saying to Foucauld, M. de Tavannes?" he muttered.

  "I?"

  "Yes," with a jealous glance, "you, M. le Comte." Count Hanniballooked at him with the sudden ferocity that made the man a proverb atCourt. "What I chose, M. le Capitaine des Suisses!" he hissed. And hishand closed like a vice on the other's wrist. "What I chose, look you!And remember, another time, that I am not a Huguenot, and say what Iplease."

  "But there is great need of care," Nancay protested, stammering andflinching. "And--and I have orders, M. le Comte."

  "Your orders are not for me," Tavannes answered, releasing his armwith a contemptuous gesture. "And look you, man, do not cross my pathto-night. You know our motto? Who touches my brother, touchesTavannes! Be warned by it."

  Nancay scowled. "But the priests say, 'If your hand offend you, cut itoff!'" he muttered.

  Tavannes laughed, a sinister laugh. "If you offend me I'll cut yourthroat," he said; and with no ceremony he went out, and dropped thecurtain behind him.

  Nancay looked after him, his face pale with rage. "Curse him!" hewhispered, rubbing his wrist. "If he were anyone else I would teachhim! But he would as soon run you through in the presence as in thePre aux Clercs! And his brother, the Marshal, has the King's ear! AndMadame Catherine's too, which is worse!"

  He was still fuming when an officer in the colours of Monsieur, theKing's brother, entered hurriedly, and keeping his hand on thecurtain, looked anxiously round the Chamber. As soon as his eye foundNancay, his face cleared. "Have you the reckoning?" he muttered.

  "There are seventeen Huguenots in the palace besides theirHighnesses," Nancay replied, in the same cautious tone. "Not countingtwo or three who are neither the one thing nor the other. In addition,there are the two Montmorencies; but they are to go safe for fear oftheir brother, who is not in the trap. He is too like his father, theold Bench-burner, to be lightly wronged! And besides, there is Pare,who is to go to his Majesty's closet as soon as the gates are shut. Ifthe King decides to save anyone else, he will send him to his closet.So 'tis all clear and arranged here. If you are as forward outside, itwill be well! Who deals with the gentleman with the toothpick?"

  "The Admiral? Monsieur, Guise, and the Grand Prior; Cosseins and Besmehave charge. 'Tis to be done first. Then the Provost will raise thetown. He will have a body of stout fellows ready at three or fourrendezvous, so that the fire may blaze up everywhere at once. Marcel,the ex-provost, has the same commission south of the river. Orders tolight the town as for a frolic have been given, and the Halles will beready."

  Nancay nodded, reflected a moment, and then with an involuntaryshudder, "God!" he exclaimed, "it will shake the world!"

  "You think so?"

  "Ay, will it not!" His next words showed that he bore Tavannes'warning in mind. "For me, my friend, I go in mail to-night," he said."There will be many a score paid before morning, besides hisMajesty's. And many a left-handed blow will be struck in the _melee!_"

  The other crossed himself. "Grant none light here!" he said devoutly.And with a last look he nodded and went out.

  In the doorway he jostled a person who was in the act of entering. Itwas M. de Tignonville, who, seeing Nancay at his elbow, saluted him,and stood looking round. The young man's face was flushed, his eyeswere bright with unwonted excitement. "M. de Rochefoucauld?" he askedeagerly. "He has not left yet?"

  Nancay caught the thrill in his voice, and marked the young man'sflushed face, and altered bearing. He noted, too, the crumpled paperhe carried half-hidden in his hand; and the Captain's countenance grewdark. He drew a step nearer and his hand reached softly for hisdagger. But his voice when he spoke was smooth as the surface of thepleasure-loving Court, smooth as the externals of all things in Paristhat summer evening. "He is here still," he said. "Have you news, M.de Tignonville?"

  "News?"

  "For M. de Rochefoucauld?"

  Tignonville laughed. "No," he said. "I am here to see him to hislodging, that is all. News, Captain? What made you think so?"

  "That which you have in your hand," Nancay answered, his fearsrelieved.

  The young man blushed to the roots of his hail "It is not for him," hesaid.

  "I can see that, Monsieur," Nancay answered politely. "He has hissuccesses, but all the billets-doux do not go one way."

  The young man laughed, a conscious, flattered laugh. He was handsome,with such a face as women love, but there was a lack of ease in theway he wore his Court suit. It was a trifle finer, too, than accordedwith Huguenot taste; or it looked the finer for the way he wore it,even as Teliguy's and Foucauld's velvet capes and stiff brocades losttheir richness and became but the adjuncts, fitting and graceful, ofthe men. Odder still, as Tignonville laughed, half hiding and halfrevealing the dainty, scented paper in his hand, his clothes seemedsmarter and he more awkward than usual. "It is from a lady," headmitted. "But a bit of badinage, I assure you, nothing more."

  "Understood!" M. de Nancay murmured politely. "I congratulate you."

  "But----"

  "I say I congratulate you!"

  "But it is nothing."

  "Oh, I understand. And see, the King is about to rise. Go forward,Monsieur," he continued benevolently. "A young man should showhimself. Besides his Majesty likes you well," he added with a leer. Hehad an unpleasant sense of humour, had his Majesty's Captain of theGuard; and this evening somewhat more than ordinary on which toexercise it.

  Tignonville held too good an opinion of himself to suspect the otherof badinage; and thus encouraged he pushed his way to the front of thecircle. During his absence with his betrothed, the crowd in theChamber had grown thin, the candles had burned an inch shorter in thesconces. But though many who had been there, had left, the more selectremained, and the King's return to his seat had given the company afillip. An air of feverish gaiety, common in the unhealthy life of theCourt, prevailed. At a table abreast of the King, Montpensier andMarshal Cosse were dicing and disputing, with now a yell of glee,and now an oath, that betrayed which way fortune inclined. At theback of the King's chair, Chicot, his gentleman-jester, hung overCharles's shoulder, now scanning his cards, and now making hideousfaces that threw the onlookers into fits of laughter. Farther up theChamber, at the end of the alcove, Marshal Tavannes--our Hannibal'sbrother--occupied a low stool, which was set opposite the open door ofthe closet. Through this doorway a slender foot, silk-clad, shot nowand again into sight; it came, it vanished, it came again, the gallantMarshal striving at each appearance to rob it of its slipper, a daintyjewelled thing of crimson velvet. He failed thrice, a peal of laughtergreeting each failure. At the fourth essay, he upset his stool andfell to the floor, but held the slipper. And not the slipper only, butthe foot. Amid a flutter of silken skirts and dainty laces--while thehidden beauty shrilly protested--he dragged first the ankle, and thena shapely leg into sight. The circle applauded; the lady, feelingherself still drawn on, screamed loudly and more loudly. All save theKing and his opponent turned to look. And then the sport came to asudden end. A sinewy hand appeared, interposed, released; for aninstant the dark, handsome face of Guise looked through the doorway.It was gone as soon as seen; it was there a second only. But more thanone recognised it, and wondered. For was not the young Duke in evilodour with the King by reason of the attack on the Admiral? And had henot been chased from Paris only that morning and forbidden to return?

  They were still wondering, still gazing, when abruptly--as he did allthings--Charles thrust back his chair. "Foucauld, you owe me tenpieces!" he cried with glee, and he slapped the table. "Pay, myfriend; pay!"

  "To-m
orrow, little master; to-morrow!" Rochefoucauld answered in thesame tone. And he rose to his feet.

  "To-morrow!" Charles repeated. "To-morrow?" And on the word his jawfell. He looked wildly round. His face was ghastly.

  "Well, sire, and why not?" Rochefoucauld answered in astonishment. Andin his turn he looked round, wondering; and a chill fell on him. "Whynot?" he repeated.

  For a moment no one answered him: the silence in the Chamber wasintense. Where he looked, wherever he looked, he met solemn, wonderingeyes, such eyes as gaze on men in their coffins. "What has come to youall?" he cried with an effort. "What is the jest, for faith, sire, Idon't see it?"

  The King seemed incapable of speech, and it was Chicot who filled thegap. "It is pretty apparent," he said with a rude laugh. "The cockwill lay and Foucauld will pay--to-morrow!"

  The young nobleman's colour rose; between him and the Gascon gentlemanwas no love lost. "There are some debts I pay to-day," he criedhaughtily. "For the rest, farewell my little master! When one does notunderstand the jest it is time to be gone."

  He was half-way to the door, watched by all, when the King spoke."Foucauld!" he cried in an odd, strangled voice. "Foucauld!" And theHuguenot favourite turned back, wondering.

  "One minute!" the King continued in the same forced voice. "Stay tillmorning--in my closet. It is late now. We'll play away the rest of thenight!"

  "Your Majesty must excuse me," Rochefoucauld answered frankly. "I amdead asleep."

  "You can sleep in the Garde-Robe," the King persisted.

  "Thank you for nothing, sire!" was the gay answer. "I know that bed! Ishall sleep longer and better in my own."

  The King shuddered, but strove to hide the movement under a shrug ofhis shoulders. He turned away. "It is God's will!" he muttered. He waswhite to the lips.

  Rochefoucauld did not catch the words. "Good night, sire," he cried."Farewell, little master." And with a nod here and there, he passed tothe door, followed by Mergey and Chamont, two gentlemen of his suite.

  Nancay raised the curtain with an obsequious gesture. "Pardon me, M.le Comte," he said, "do you go to his Highness's?"

  "For a few minutes, Nancay."

  "Permit me to go with you. The guards may be set."

  "Do so, my friend," Rochefoucauld answered. "Ah, Tignonville, is ityou!"

  "I am come to attend you to your lodging," the young man said. And heranged up beside the other, as, the curtain fallen behind them, theywalked along the gallery.

  Rochefoucauld stopped and laid his hand on Tignonville's sleeve."Thanks, dear lad," he said, "but I am going to the PrincessDowager's. Afterwards to his Highness's. I may be detained an hour ormore. You will not like to wait so long."

  M. de Tignonville's face fell ludicrously. "Well, no," he said. "I--Idon't think I could wait so long--to-night."

  "Then come to-morrow night," Rochefoucauld answered with good nature.

  "With pleasure," the other cried heartily, his relief evident."Certainly. With pleasure." And, nodding good-night, they parted.While Rochefoucauld, with Nancay at his side and his gentlemenattending him, passed along the echoing and now empty gallery, theyounger man bounded down the stairs to the great hall of theCaryatides, his face radiant. He for one was not sleepy.