Ernanton went away with a full heart but a quiet conscience; he had had the singular good fortune to declare his love to a princess, and to get over the awkwardness which might have resulted from it by the important conversation which followed.  He had neither betrayed the king, M. de Mayenne, nor himself.  Therefore he was content, but he still wished for many things, and, among others, a quick return to Vincennes, where 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 understood it, but he saw without understanding.