As soon as the obsequious seneschal beheld the consort of Navarre, he left the silent company of the sentinels for the more genial presence of Margaret; and soon reached the terrace, approaching her with his usual bows and affected steps. "We have disturbed your contemplation, Monsieur Pomini," said the Queen of Navarre; "your brow was as thoughtful as though you had been governor of the fortress. Care will soon cover your forehead with wrinkles-I thought you had been wiser." "Yet I do assure your majesty," said the pleased functionary, "that I am not in the same awful dilemma as our governor." "And whence originates his trouble?" asked the queen; "has he repented of pardoning your error ?" 66 Why," replied Pomini, smiling, "I do not know how he should be troubled. It is his custom at this season of the year to visit his lands in the south, to look after his hay-harvest. He goes there twice. a-year-the second journey to garner up his corn, or remove it to D'Usson, as may happen to be most prudent; but at present he does not know whether to go or stay." "Does he fear Navarre?" cried De Nevailles. "O! no!" replied the seneschal; "the King of Navarre being in the province would not hinder his journey. The cause of the dilemma is nearer home; he does not like to leave his guests." "Then propose to him that you go instead," said the baron, who was disposed to fathom still deeper the character and motives of both governor and seneschal. "Ma foi !" cried Pomini, in a natural tone, and laughing the while, "that would never suit monseigneur : he would fret himself to death with the apprehension of being cheated of part of his harvest." “Then persuade him to travel thither without delay," said Margaret, "and threaten, if he waver, that you will start by yourself; it will alarm his avarice :-does he put confidence in you?" "More than in others, though less than honesty deserves," replied Pomini. "It is a pity he should suffer through us," cried the queen; "and if he have such a dislike to being absent from D'Usson, let him take as many of his garrison as he can spare. Soldiers are mowers by profession, and would work as quick as magic." "That has been his custom," observed the seneschal; "but the Huguenots are in Auvergne." "They would not attack the residence of their chief's consort," said Margaret; "neither would the gallant chief himself annoy his fugitive wife, who has been forced by the enemies of her house to fly here for safety. His nature is too noble to behave so unkindly." "Bravo!" thought De Nevailles to himself, "she now equals her mother." "D'Usson," continued the royal diplomatist, "would laugh to scorn the artillery of all France. It is impregnable, save to the ingress of the birds of the air.” "Your majesty speaks most wisely," said Pomini; “ I will persuade monseigneur the governor to go to his estate. "It would please me to observe your own skill and conduct in command of the fortress," observed the Queen of Navarre, with a most gracious look :-"I have conceived great hopes of you." "I should hold my power during his absence," said Pomini, bowing and blushing at the compliment, "at your majesty's will to do as you pleased with me.' "We must take care," said De Nevailles to himself, "that fate obliges you to hold this promise good—it shall soon be put to the test." "Your name is new to me," said Margaret, speaking to the seneschal in her most winning tones; "but though unknown at court, your manners, I am sure, would have sway, were you once placed there." This was spoken carelessly, and without any premeditation, as the queen had not, in truth, discovered the main-spring of Pomini's moral being. But the light which flashed from his eyes at these words was not unnoticed by the sagacious woman. She continued to ply him in the same strain, while De Nevailles, who had been watching intently to catch a glimpse of the master-thought which guided the conduct of the seneschal, seconded the policy of the princess with a series of questions and remarks which cut across and laid bare the inner machinery of his mind, with its secret motives, its impulses, and aspirations. He was in the hands of skilful operators, who left him no chance but in a free and candid confession, to which point he was brought and cajoled by the flattering promises of the artful queen. But the citadel of his fidelity, whether weak or strong, was wisely left for another coup d'état et d'armes. CHAPTER XXVII. Charmante Gabrielle, Malheureux jour! Partagez ma couronne, Malheureux jour! Que ne suis-je sans vie, Ou sans amour! HENRI QUATRE. THE Marquis de Cœuvres was indeed smitten with the charms of his royal guest; the old courtier, who had figured at the Louvre in the reign of the first Francis-who had subsequently retired from a life of gayety to devote his time to the education of an only daughter-and who had since been called from retirement to take charge of a fortress of the highest importance as a retreat and place of refuge, had not acquired wisdom sufficient to guard him against a superannuated passion. Had he brought to mind ever so slightly the experience acquired during three reigns, that old men in love are only countenanced by the objects of their devotion to make use of them either to their destruction or loss of honour, he would have suspected the favours of Margaret, who smiled upon his airs of gallantry, and concealed her contempt of his folly. Until the arrival of the Queen of Navarre his mind had been gradually becoming uneasy at the change in the conduct of Gabrielle, who, as he imagined, and it remains to be seen with what truth, was neglecting her filial attentions to nourish a secret feeling to which he was a stranger. But when the Queen of Hearts and Navarre became a denizen of the aerial D'Usson, the marquis forgot his daughter in watching the footsteps of his royal visiter, VOL. II.-L It had been, as Pomini explained to the guests, his custom to visit his estates twice every year, and on these occasions the greater portion of the garrison accompanied him to gather in the hay or corn harvest, according to the season of the journey. But he was now in a dilemma. On one hand was the captivating Navarrese queen, with her ready smiles and unseen treachery; on the other his harvest, the accounts of the steward of the estate, and not least, his invariable custom,-the latter an influence all-powerful with an old man. But there was still a wavering of resolution; a fear of offending the queen-of leaving D'Usson under the care of an arrogant underling like Pomini, who he doubted not would give himself the airs of royalty itself during his absence. The alternative of sending the seneschal to clear accounts with the steward was equally horrifying; Pomini was not dishonest, he would have spurned such a paltry crime as a sure blot in his anticipated escutcheon; but of this feeling the marquis was ignorant, and saw only the meeting of two rogues and its probable consequences. He was in this state of mind when the vain chamberlain, instructed by Margaret, endeavoured to conquer his irresolution, by offering his own services in lieu. This tender, which was made more earnestly than characterized the usual deportment of the seneschal, roused the suspicions of the old man, and determined him that Pomini should stay at home. His choice decided on, Jean la Roche, with three-fourths of the slender garrison, was ordered to prepare for marching by night-fall, as it was the intention of the governor to conceal his departure from D'Usson, lest intelligence might be conveyed to the Huguenots, who, it was reported, were still in the northern part of the province. 66 Pomini," said the marquis, after he had reiterated his instructions to the seneschal; "let me not have to reproach you on my return for your neglect of my authority. Do not fancy yourself governor here, and dance her majesty over the castle, as though you were a grand seigneur. I have told the Queen of Navarre, in the hearing of her jesting secretary, who I see is much amused with your absurdities, to consider herself as mistress of D'Usson, and to treat you according to your proper station." Pomini, who longed to see his master, as the neighbouring valleys were called, sous D'Usson, promised compliance. "Now, Jean la Roche," cried the marquis, mounting an idle and well-fed steed, after waving his hand to Gabrielle and the visiters, who stood on the balcony over the door of the inner court, "you are ever grumbling at your confinement. Let your comrades have a specimen of your energies. Our road is free from the enemy, but I know not but that they may have left spies abroad; to-morrow's sun must see us safe beyond pursuit !" "Ah!" said La Roche, whispering to Robert the recruit; "that is not the way Marshal de Biron used to talk to usbut it matters not how a commander speaks to soldiers going to make hay for an avaricious old man !" The marquis and his troops were certainly favoured by the night, which was as gloomy as they could have wished; and they left the castle to the care of the exulting Pomini, who joyfully shut the gates upon the old governor and his suspicions. Margaret was too much agitated to retire to rest; her mind was busy with its long prepared scheme; the moment seemed at hand for its execution, and she summoned De Nevailles to her council. "Baron!" exclaimed she, on his approach, "we have rid ourselves of De Cœuvres ! Shall we not open our views to Pomini? He is half prepared, by his own hopes and our promises, to join us—a word more, and he is our own!" "But how shall we behave to the Lady Gabrielle ;-how broach our intention to her?" asked De Nevailles. Margaret had never suspected the attentions of the baron to the fair daughter of the governor, or this sympathy at an untimely hour would have called forth all her anger. "What! you do not like to face her in my cause," cried the Queen of Navarre, laughing; “but remember, my fate is linked with the fate of Emilie-her fortunes are my fortunes-her destiny is my destiny. At the Louvre you professed yourself desirous of passing through fiery ordeals in her service ;—your friendship has been accepted, monseigneur !-you are, indeed, our friend. When Pomini, with the assistance of our servants, shall place the keys of this fortress in my hands, will you not oblige me by telling mademoiselle that for the future the Marquis de Cœuvres may be hay-making all his life?" 66 "I will summon Pomini instantly!" said the baron, leaving the saloon for that purpose. "What rare creatures women are to make us ashamed of our weaknesses," muttered De Nevailles, as he passed along the corridor:-" No flinchingno delay-no absurd kindness or courtesy to which we fools are subject! I hope the gentle Emilie will prove of this spirit, or the chances will be against me with a meek partner. I am |