oignac to the courtyard of the Louvre. All was
preparing for the king's going out, and M. d'Epernon was seeing two new
horses tried, which had been sent from England, as a present from
Elizabeth to Henri, and which were that day to be harnessed to the
king's carriage for the first time.

De Loignac approached D'Epernon.

"Great news, M. le Duc," said he.

"What is it?" said D'Epernon, drawing to one side.

"M. de Carmainges has seen M. de Mayenne lying wounded in a village
beyond Orleans."

"Wounded!"

"Yes, and more, he has written a letter to Madame de Montpensier, which
M. de Carmainges has in his pocket."

"Oh! oh! send M. de Carmainges to me."

"Here he is," said De Loignac, signing to Ernanton to advance.

"Well, monsieur, it seems you have a letter from M. de Mayenne."

"Yes, monsieur."

"Addressed to Madame de Montpensier?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"Give it to me," and the duke extended his hand.

"Pardon, monsieur, but did you ask me for the duke's letter?"

"Certainly."

"You do not know that this letter was confided to me."

"What matters that?"

"It matters much, monsieur; I passed my word to the duke to give it to
Madame la Duchesse herself."

"Do you belong to the king, or M. de Mayenne?"

"To the king."

"Well! the king wishes to see the letter."

"Monsieur, you are not the king."

"I think you forget to whom you speak, M. de Carmainges."

"I remember perfectly, monsieur, and that is why I refuse."

"You refuse?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"M. de Carmainges, you forget your oath of fidelity."

"Monsieur, I have sworn fidelity only to one person, and that is the
king; if he asks me for the letter, he must have it, but he is not
here."

"M. de Carmainges," said the duke, growing very angry, "you are like the
rest of the Gascons; blind in prosperity, your good fortune dazzles you,
and the possession of a state secret is a weight too heavy for you to
carry."

"The only thing I find heavy, monsieur, is the disgrace into which I
seem likely to fall; not my fortune, which my refusal to obey you
renders, I know, very precarious; but, no matter; I do what I ought to
do, and no one, excepting the king, shall see this letter, but the
person to whom it is addressed."

"De Loignac," cried D'Epernon, "place M. de Carmainges in arrest at
once."

"It is certain that will prevent me from delivering the letter for a
time, but once I come out--"

"If you never do come out?"

"I shall come