the
king expected him; then to go to bed and dream. He set off at full
gallop as soon as he left Bel-Esbat, but he had scarcely gone a hundred
yards when he came on a body of cavaliers who stretched right across the
road. He was surrounded in a minute, and half a dozen swords and pistols
presented at him.

"Oh!" said Ernanton, "robbers on the road, a league from Paris--"

"Silence, if you please," said a voice that Ernanton thought he
recognized. "Your sword, your arms; quick."

And one man seized the bridle of the horse, while another stripped him
of his arms.

"Peste! what clever thieves!" said Ernanton. "At least, gentlemen, do me
the favor to tell me--"

"Why it is M. de Carmainges!" said the man who had seized his sword.

"M. de Pincornay!" cried Ernanton. "Oh, fie; what a bad trade you have
taken up."

"I said silence," cried the voice of the chief; "and take this man to
the depot."

"But, M. de St. Maline, it is our companion, Ernanton de Carmainges."

"Ernanton here!" cried St. Maline, angrily; "what is he doing here?"

"Good-evening, gentlemen," said Carmainges; "I did not, I confess,
expect to find so much good company."

"Diable!" growled St. Maline; "this is unforeseen."

"By me also, I assure you," said Ernanton, laughing.

"It is embarrassing; what were you doing here?"

"If I asked you that question, would you answer?"

"No."

"Then let me act as you would."

"Then you will not tell me?"

"No."

"Nor where you were going?"

Ernanton did not answer.

"Then, monsieur, since you do not explain, I must treat you like any
other man."

"Do what you please, monsieur; only I warn you, you will have to answer
for it."

"To M. de Loignac?"

"Higher than that."

"M. d'Epernon?"

"Higher still."

"Well, I have my orders, and I shall send you to Vincennes."

"That is capital; it is just where I was going."

"It is lucky that this little journey pleases you so much."

Ernanton was then conducted by his companions to the courtyard of
Vincennes. Here he found fifty disarmed cavaliers, who, looking pale and
dispirited, and surrounded by fifty light horse, were deploring their
bad fortune, and anticipating a disastrous ending to an enterprise so
well planned. The Forty-five had taken all these men, either by force or
cunning, as they had, for precaution, come to the rendezvous either
singly, or two or three together at most. Now all this would have
rejoiced Ernanton had he underst