"Good! Then mount your horses, and take the road to Tours--do you know it?"
"And proceed till you overtake a man traveling alone."
"Will your majesty describe him?" said St. Maline.
"He has long arms and legs, and has a large sword by his side."
"May we know his name, sire?" asked Carmainges.
"We will ask the name of every traveler we see, sire."
"When you find him, give him this letter."
The king was embarrassed. "What is your name?" said he.
"M. de Carmainges, you shall carry the letter, and you, M. de St. Maline, shall deliver it."
Ernanton took the precious deposit, and was going to place it in his doublet, when St. Maline stopped him, kissed the letter, and then returned it to Ernanton.
This made Henri smile. "Come, gentlemen," said he, "I see I shall be well served."--"Is this all, sire?"
"Yes, gentlemen; only our last recommendation. This letter is more precious than the life of a man--for your heads, do not lose it; give it secretly to the Shade, who will give you a receipt for it, which you will bring back to me; and, above all, travel as though it were on your own affairs. Go."
The two young men went out--Ernanton full of joy, and St. Maline filled with jealousy. M. d'Epernon waited for them, and wished to question them, but Ernanton replied: "M. le Duc, the king did not authorize us to speak."
They went to the stables, when the king's huntsman gave them two strong horses. M. d'Epernon would have followed them, but at that moment he was told that a man much wished to speak to him at once. "Who is he?" he asked.
"The lieutenant of the provost of the Ile de France."
"No, monsieur; but you are a friend of the king, and, as such, I beg you to hear me," said a humble voice at his side.
The duke turned. Near him was a man, bowing perpetually.
"But this concerns the life of his majesty," said Poulain, in a low voice.
M. D'Epernon, in traversing the antechamber, addressed himself to one of the gentlemen who stood there.
"Well, M. de Montcrabeau, place yourself at that door, and let no one enter."
"Yes, M. le Duc;" and M. Pertinax, who was sumptuously dressed, with a blue satin doublet and orange stockings, obeyed. Nicholas Poulain followed the duke into his cabinet.
"Now let us hear your conspiracy," said the duke.