On the following day,accordingly,we started.But the news of the two kings'successes,and particularly the certainty which these had bred in many minds that nothing short of a miracle could save Paris,had moved so many gentlemen to take the road that we found the inns crowded beyond example,and were frequently forced into meetings which made the task of concealing our identity more difficult and hazardous than I had expected.
Sometimes shelter was not to be obtained on any terms,and then we had to lie in the fields or in any convenient shed.Moreover,the passage of the army had swept the country so bare both of food and forage,that these commanded astonishing prices;and a long day's ride more than once brought us to our destination without securing for us the ample meal we had earned,and required.
Under these circumstances,it was with joy little short of transport that I recognised the marvellous change which had come over my mistress.Bearing all without a murmur,or a frown,or so much as one complaining word,she acted on numberless occasions so as to convince me that she spoke truly--albeit Iscarcely dared to believe it--when she said that she had but one trouble in the world,and that was the prospect of our coming separation.
For my part,and despite some gloomy moments,when fear of the future overcame me,I rode in Paradise riding by my mistress.It was her presence which glorified alike the first freshness of the morning,when we started with all the day before us,and the coolness of the late evening,when we rode hand-in-hand.Nor could I believe without an effort that I was the same Gaston de Marsac who she had once spurned and disdained.God knows I was thankful for her love.A thousand times,thinking of my grey hairs,I asked her if she did not repent;and a thousand times she answered No,with so much happiness in her eyes that I was fain to thank God again and believe her.
Notwithstanding the inconvenience of the practice,we made it a rule to wear our masks whenever we appeared in public;and this rule me kept more strictly as we approached Paris.It exposed us to some comment and more curiosity,but led to no serious trouble until we reached Etampes,twelve leagues from the capital;where we found the principal inn so noisy and crowded,and so much disturbed by the constant coming and going of couriers,that it required no experience to predicate the neighbourhood of the army.The great courtyard seemed to be choked with a confused mass of men and horses,through which we made our way with difficulty.The windows of the house were all open,and offered us a view of tables surrounded by men eating and drinking hastily,as the manner of travellers is.The gateway and the steps of the house were lined with troopers and servants and sturdy rogues;who scanned all who passed in or out,and not unfrequently followed them with ribald jests and nicknames.
Songs and oaths,brawling and laughter,with the neighing of horses and the huzzas of the beggars,who shouted whenever a fresh party arrived,rose above all,and increased the reluctance with which I assisted madame and mademoiselle to dismount.
Simon was no match for such an occasion as this;but the stalwart aspect of the three men whom Maignan had left with me commanded respect,and attended by two of these I made a way for the ladies--not without some opposition and a few oaths--to enter the house.The landlord,whom we found crushed into a corner inside,and entirely overborne by the crowd which had invaded his dwelling,assured me that he had not the smallest garret he could place at my disposal;but I presently succeeded in finding a small room at the top,which I purchased from the four men who had taken possession of it.As it was impossible to get anything to eat there,I left a man on guard,and myself descended with madame and mademoiselle to the eating-room,a large chamber set with long boards,and filled with a rough and noisy crew.Under a running fire of observations we entered,and found with difficulty three seats in an inner corner of the room.
I ran my eye over the company,and noticed among them,besides a dozen travelling parties like our own,specimens of all those classes which are to be found in the rear of an army.There were some officers and more horse-dealers;half a dozen forage-agents and a few priests;with a large sprinkling of adventurers,braves,and led-captains,and here and there two or three whose dress and the deference paid to them by their neighbours seemed to indicate a higher rank.Conspicuous among these last were a party of four who occupied a small table by the door.An attempt had been made to secure some degree of privacy for them by interposing a settle between them and the room;and their attendants,who seemed to be numerous,did what they could to add to this by filling the gap with their persons.One of the four,a man of handsome dress and bearing,who sat in the place of honour,was masked,as we were.The gentleman at his right hand I could not see.The others,whom I could see,were strangers to me.
Some time elapsed before our people succeeded in procuring us any food,and during the interval we were exposed to an amount of comment on the part of those round us which I found very little to my liking.There were not half a dozen women present,and this and our masks rendered my companions unpleasantly conspicuous.Aware,however,of the importance of avoiding an altercation which might possibly detain us,and would be certain to add to our notoriety,I remained quiet;and presently the entrance of a tall,dark-complexioned man,who carried himself with a peculiar swagger,and seemed to be famous for something or other,diverted the attention of the company from us.
