Part 139 (1/2)
”No, monseigneur, if you will excuse me.”
”Will you not rejoin me at St. Genevieve?”
”Monseigneur, I wish to have the whole day to myself.”
”But if anything should occur when I have need of my friends?”
”As monseigneur would only want me to draw my sword against my king, it is a double reason for excusing myself,” replied Bussy; ”my sword is engaged against M. d'Epernon.”
Monsoreau had told the duke the night before that he might reckon on Bussy; this change, therefore, must have been occasioned by Diana's note.
”Then,” said the duke, ”you abandon your chief and master?”
”Monseigneur, he who is about to risk his life in a b.l.o.o.d.y duel, as ours will be, has but one master, and it is to Him my last devotions will be paid.”
”You know that I am playing for a throne, and you leave me.”
”Monseigneur, I have worked enough for you; I will work again to-morrow, do not ask me for more than my life.”
”It is well!” said the duke, in a hollow voice, ”you are free; go, M. de Bussy.”
Bussy, without caring for the prince's evident anger, ran down the staircase of the Louvre, and went rapidly to his own house.
The duke called Aurilly. ”Well! he has condemned himself,” said he.
”Does he not follow you?”
”No.”
”He goes to the rendezvous?”
”Yes.”
”Then it is for this evening?”
”It is.”
”Is M. de Monsoreau warned?”
”Of the rendezvous--yes; but not yet of the man.”
”Then you have decided to sacrifice the count?”
”I have determined to revenge myself; I fear now but one thing.”
”What is that?”
”That Monsoreau will trust to his strength, and that Bussy will escape him.”
”Rea.s.sure yourself, monseigneur.”