“And M. d’Epernon?”

“He reads the signature of his majesty, and consoles himself as I do.”

“You are right, monsieur, and I am your humble servant;” and Ernanton was about to retire, when De Loignac stopped him.

“I will say to you,” said he, “what I have not said to the others, for no one else has had the courage to speak to me thus.”

Ernanton bowed.

“Perhaps,” continued De Loignac, “a great personage will come to the Louvre this evening; if so, do not lose sight of him, and follow him when he leaves.”

“Pardon me, monsieur; but that seems the work of a spy.”

“Do you think so?  It is possible; but look here”—­and he drew out a paper which he presented to Ernanton, who read—­

“’Have M. de Mayenne followed this evening, if he presents himself at the Louvre.—­D’EPERNON.’”

“Well, monsieur?”

“I will follow M. de Mayenne,” said Ernanton, bowing.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The bourgeois of Paris.

M. de Mayenne, with whom they were so much occupied at the Louvre, set out from the Hotel Guise, booted and on horseback, as though he had just arrived.  He was received by the king affectionately.

“Well, cousin,” said he, “you have, then, come to visit Paris?”

“Yes, sire; I come in my brother’s name and my own, to recall to your majesty that you have no more faithful subjects than ourselves.”

“Mordieu!” said the king, “that is so well known that you might have spared yourself this trouble.  You must have had some other motive.”

“Sire, I feared that your regard for us might be shaken by the reports which our enemies circulate about us.”

“What reports?” asked Henri.

“What!” cried Mayenne, rather disconcerted; “has not your majesty heard any reports unfavorable to us?”

“My cousin, know once for all that I allow no one to speak ill in my presence of the Guises.”

“Well, sire, I do not regret my visit, since I have had the pleasure of finding my king so well disposed toward us; but I will allow that it was needless.”

“Oh! there is always something to do in Paris.”

“Yes, sire; but we have our business at Soissons.”

“What business, duke?”

“Your majesty’s, sire.”

“Ah! true; continue, Mayenne, to do as you have done; I know how to appreciate the conduct of my subjects.”

The duke retired, smiling.  The king rubbed his hands, and De Loignac made a sign to Ernanton, who spoke to his valet, and then followed M. de Mayenne.  There was no fear of missing him, for the news of his arrival had spread, and some hundred leaguers had assembled to greet him.

As the duke reached his hotel, Ernanton saw a litter pierce through the crowd.  De Mayenne approached it, and the curtains were opened, and Ernanton thought he recognized his former page.  The litter disappeared under the gateway, and Mayenne followed; an instant after, M. de Mayneville appeared on the balcony, and thanked the Parisians in the duke’s name, but begged them to disperse and go home.