CHAPTER XIII:  THE BATTLES OF FREIBURG

The cardinal did not address Hector until he had entered his private room, when he turned and said sharply, “What means this, colonel?  When I saw you and your officers on the road I felt sure that you were not there for nothing, and still more sure when on alighting I found you so closely following me.”

“I was convinced, cardinal, that there was a plot against your life, and I believe that it was only because the Duke of Orleans returned with you that it was not carried into effect.”

“And possibly because they saw your troop behind the carriage.  Now tell me your reason for supposing that I was in danger.”

Hector related the various steps that he had taken.

“Your spies worked better for you than mine did for me,” the cardinal said.  “That a dozen or so of Beaufort’s friends were for some reason or other spending their time at the Angel Inn and other cabarets I was aware, but I have had no word of their proceedings today.  You have been better served, doubtless, because your plans were better laid.  I hardly think that they would have attacked me when Orleans was with me, but there is no saying; for if Beaufort has daring and insolence enough to attempt to slay the queen’s minister within a quarter of a mile of the Louvre, he would not trouble greatly whether princes of the blood were in the carriage or not, especially if he had some reason for believing that Orleans would not regard the deed with very great disapproval.

“However, whatever his intentions might be, it is clear that the appearance of your party of twelve armed men decided the question.  We may regard it as certain that the news that I had such an escort was carried to them by the man who galloped on ahead.  I thank you, sir, I thank you very heartily, not only for my sake, but for that of France.  I will ask you to go across to the Louvre; I will take half a dozen armed servants with me, but there is little fear that the attempt will be renewed today.  They must be too much disconcerted by the failure of their plot to make fresh arrangements so speedily.  I shall go first to the Louvre and inform her majesty of what has taken place.  You will remain here for half an hour, and will then leave by the gate at the back of the house and make a circuit, and enter the palace by the river gate.  The musketeers on guard will stop you, but I will give you a pass.”  And he wrote a few lines on paper.  “The queen’s confidential servant, Laporte, will be at the door to meet you, and will have instructions to escort you by corridors where you will be unobserved, and so to her majesty’s private closet.  Were you to accompany me, Beaufort would soon hear of it, and would be shrewd enough to perceive that your meeting with me was by no means a matter of chance.”

Hector followed out his instructions, and on presenting himself at the palace was at once taken up to the queen’s closet.  Laporte went in, and returning immediately requested him to enter.  The queen was walking up and down the room, her face flushed with indignation.