Upon the green waters of the canal bordered with marble,upon which time had already scattered black spots and tuftsof mossy grass, there glided majestically a long, flat barkadorned with the arms of England, surmounted by a dais, andcarpeted with long damasked stuffs, which trailed theirfringes in the water. Eight rowers, leaning lazily to theiroars, made it move upon the canal with the graceful slownessof the swans, which, disturbed in their ancient possessionsby the approach of the bark, looked from a distance at thissplendid and noisy pageant. We say noisy - for the barkcontained four guitar and lute players, two singers, andseveral courtiers, all sparkling with gold and preciousstones, and showing their white teeth in emulation of eachother, to please the Lady Henrietta Stuart, grand-daughterof Henry IV., daughter of Charles I., and sister of CharlesII., who occupied the seat of honor under the dais of thebark. We know this young princess, we have seen her at theLouvre with her mother, wanting wood, wanting bread, and fedby the coadjuteur and the parliament. She had, therefore,like her brothers, passed through an uneasy youth; then, allat once, she had just awakened from a long and horribledream, seated on the steps of a throne, surrounded bycourtiers and flatterers. Like Mary Stuart on leavingprison, she aspired not only to life and liberty, but topower and wealth.

The Lady Henrietta, in growing, had attained remarkablebeauty, which the recent restoration had renderedcelebrated. Misfortune had taken from her the luster ofpride, but prosperity had restored it to her. She wasresplendent, then, in her joy and her happiness, - likethose hot-house flowers which, forgotten during a frostyautumn night, have hung their heads, but which on themorrow, warmed once more by the atmosphere in which theywere born, rise again with greater splendor than ever.Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, son of him who played soconspicuous a part in the early chapters of this history, - Villiers of Buckingham, a handsome cavalier, melancholy withwomen, a jester with men, - and Wilmot, Lord Rochester, ajester with both sexes, were standing at this moment beforethe Lady Henrietta, disputing the privilege of making hersmile. As to that young and beautiful princess, recliningupon a cushion of velvet bordered with gold, her handshanging listlessly so as to dip in the water, she listenedcarelessly to the musicians without hearing them, and heardthe two courtiers without appearing to listen to them.

This Lady Henrietta - this charming creature - this womanwho joined the graces of France to the beauties of England,not having yet loved, was cruel in her coquetry. The smile,then, - that innocent favor of young girls, - did not evenlighten her countenance; and if, at times, she did raise hereyes, it was to fasten them upon one or other of thecavaliers with such a fixity, that their gallantry, bold asit generally was, took the alarm, and became timid.

In the meanwhile the boat continued its course, themusicians made a great noise, and the courtiers began, likethem, to be out of breath. Besides, the excursion becamedoubtless monotonous to the princess, for all at once,shaking her head with an air of impatience, - "Come,gentlemen, - enough of this; - let us land."

"Ah, madam," said Buckingham, "we are very unfortunate! Wehave not succeeded in making the excursion agreeable to yourroyal highness."

"My mother expects me," replied the princess; "and I mustfrankly admit, gentlemen, I am bored." And whilst utteringthis cruel word, Henrietta endeavored to console by a lookeach of the two young men, who appeared terrified at suchfrankness. The look produced its effect - the two facesbrightened; but immediately, as if the royal coquettethought she had done too much for simple mortals, she made amovement, turned her back on both her adorers, and appearedplunged in a reverie in which it was evident they had nopart.

Buckingham bit his lips with anger, for he was truly in lovewith Lady Henrietta, and, in that case, took everything in aserious light. Rochester bit his lips likewise; but his witalways dominated over his heart, it was purely and simply torepress a malicious smile. The princess was then allowingthe eyes she turned from the young nobles to wander over thegreen and flowery turf of the park, when she perceived Parryand D'Artagnan at a distance.

"Who is coming yonder?" said she.

The two young men turned round with the rapidity oflightning.

"Parry," replied Buckingham, "nobody but Parry."

"I beg your pardon," said Rochester, "but I think he has acompanion."

"Yes," said the princess, at first with languor, but then,- "What mean those words, `Nobody but Parry;' say, mylord?"

"Because, madam," replied Buckingham, piqued, "because thefaithful Parry, the wandering Parry, the eternal Parry, isnot, I believe, of much consequence."

"You are mistaken, duke. Parry - the wandering Parry, asyou call him - has always wandered in the service of myfamily, and the sight of that old man always gives mesatisfaction."

The Lady Henrietta followed the usual progress of prettywomen, particularly coquettish women; she passed fromcaprice to contradiction; - the gallant had undergone thecaprice, the courtier must bend beneath the contradictoryhumor. Buckingham bowed, but made no reply.

"It is true, madam," said Rochester, bowing in his turn,"that Parry is the model of servants; but, madam, he is nolonger young, and we laugh only when we see cheerfulobjects. Is an old man a gay object?"

"Enough, my lord," said the princess, coolly; "the subjectof conversation is unpleasant to me."

Then, as if speaking to herself, "It is reallyunaccountable," said she, "how little regard my brother'sfriends have for his servants."

"Ah, madam," cried Buckingham, "your royal highness piercesmy heart with a dagger forged by your own hands."

"What is the meaning of that speech, which is turned so likea French madrigal, duke? I do not understand it."

"It means, madam, that you yourself, so good, so charming,so sensible, you have laughed sometimes - smiled, I shouldsay - at the idle prattle of that good Parry, for whom yourroyal highness to-day entertains such a marveloussusceptibility."

"Well, my lord, if I have forgotten myself so far," saidHenrietta, "you do wrong to remind me of it." And she made asign of impatience. "The good Parry wants to speak to me, Ibelieve: please order them to row to the shore, my LordRochester."

Rochester hastened to repeat the princess's command; and amoment later the boat touched the bank.

"Let us land, gentlemen," said Henrietta, taking the armwhich Rochester offered her, although Buckingham was nearerto her, and had presented his. Then Rochester, with anill-dissembled pride, which pierced the heart of the unhappyBuckingham through and through, led the princess across thelittle bridge which the rowers had cast from the royal boatto the shore.

"Which way will your royal highness go?" asked Rochester.

"You see, my lord, towards that good Parry, who iswandering, as my lord of Buckingham says, and seeking mewith eyes weakened by the tears he has shed over ourmisfortunes."

"Good heavens!" said Rochester, "how sad your royal highnessis to-day; in truth we seem ridiculous fools to you, madam."

"Speak for yourself, my lord," interrupted Buckingham withvexation; "for my part, I displease her royal highness tosuch a degree, that I appear absolutely nothing to her."

Neither Rochester nor the princess made any reply; Henriettaonly urged her companion more quickly on. Buckinghamremained behind, and took advantage of this isolation togive himself up to his anger; he bit his handkerchief sofuriously that it was soon in shreds.

"Parry my good Parry," said the princess, with her gentlevoice, "come hither. I see you are seeking me, and I amwaiting for you."

"Ah, madam," said Rochester, coming charitably to the helpof his companion, who had remained, as we have said, behind,"if Parry cannot see your royal highness, the man whofollows him is a sufficient guide, even for a blind man, forhe has eyes of flame. That man is a double-lamped lantern."

"Lighting a very handsome martial countenance," said theprincess, determined to be as ill-natured as possible.Rochester bowed. "One of those vigorous soldiers' heads seennowhere but in France," added the princess, with theperseverance of a woman sure of impunity.

Rochester and Buckingham looked at each other, as much as tosay, - "What can be the matter with her?"

"See, my lord of Buckingham, what Parry wants," saidHenrietta. "Go!"

The young man, who considered this order as a favor, resumedhis courage, and hastened to meet Parry, who, followed byD'Artagnan, advanced slowly on account of his age.D'Artagnan walked slowly but nobly, as D'Artagnan, doubledby the third of a million, ought to walk, that is to say,without conceit or swagger, but without timidity. WhenBuckingham, very eager to comply with the desire of theprincess, who had seated herself on a marble bench, as iffatigued with the few steps she had gone, - whenBuckingham, we say, was at a distance of only a few pacesfrom Parry, the latter recognized him.

"Ah I my lord!" cried he, quite out of breath, "will yourgrace obey the king?"

"In what, Mr. Parry?" said the young man, with a kind ofcoolness tempered by a desire to make himself agreeable tothe princess.

"Well, his majesty begs your grace to present this gentlemanto her royal highness the Princess Henrietta."

"In the first place, what is the gentleman's name?" said theduke, haughtily.

D'Artagnan, as we know, was easily affronted, and the Dukeof Buckingham's tone displeased him. He surveyed thecourtier from head to foot, and two flashes beamed frombeneath his bent brows. But, after a struggle, - "Monsieurle Chevalier d'Artagnan, my lord," replied he, quietly.

"Pardon me, sir, that name teaches me your name but nothingmore."

"You mean - - "

"I mean I do not know you."

"I am more fortunate than you, sir," replied D'Artagnan,"for I have had the honor of knowing your family, andparticularly my lord Duke of Buckingham, your illustriousfather."

"My father?" said Buckingham. "Well, I think I now remember.Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan, do you say?"

D'Artagnan bowed. "In person," said he.

"Pardon me, but are you one of those Frenchmen who hadsecret relations with my father?"

"Exactly, my lord duke, I am one of those Frenchmen."

"Then, sir, permit me to say that it was strange my fathernever heard of you during his lifetime."

"No, monsieur, but he heard of me at the moment of hisdeath: it was I who sent to him, through the hands of thevalet de chambre of Anne of Austria, notice of the dangerswhich threatened him; unfortunately, it came too late."

"Never mind, monsieur," said Buckingham. "I understand now,that, having had the intention of rendering a service to thefather, you have come to claim the protection of the son."

"In the first place, my lord," replied D'Artagnan,phlegmatically, "I claim the protection of no man. Hismajesty Charles II., to whom I have had the honor ofrendering some services - I may tell you, my lord, my lifehas been passed in such occupations - King Charles II.,then, who wishes to honor me with some kindness, desires meto be presented to her royal highness the PrincessHenrietta, his sister, to whom I shall, perhaps, have thegood fortune to be of service hereafter. Now, the king knewthat you at this moment were with her royal highness, andsent me to you. There is no other mystery, I ask absolutelynothing of you; and if you will not present me to her royalhighness, I shall be compelled to do without you, andpresent myself."

"At least, sir," said Buckingham, determined to have thelast word, "you will not refuse me an explanation provokedby yourself."

"I never refuse, my lord," said D'Artagnan.

"As you have had relations with my father, you must beacquainted with some private details?"

"These relations are already far removed from us, my lord - for you were not then born - and for some unfortunatediamond studs, which I received from his hands and carriedback to France, it is really not worth while awakening somany remembrances."

"Ah! sir," said Buckingham, warmly, going up to D'Artagnan,and holding out his hand to him, "it is you, then - youwhom my father sought everywhere and who had a right toexpect so much from us."

"To expect, my lord, in truth, that is my forte; all my lifeI have expected."

At this moment, the princess, who was tired of not seeingthe stranger approach her, arose and came towards them.

"At least, sir," said Buckingham, "you shall not wait forthe presentation you claim of me."

Then turning toward the princess and bowing: "Madam," saidthe young man, "the king, your brother, desires me to havethe honor of presenting to your royal highness, Monsieur leChevalier d'Artagnan."

"In order that your royal highness may have, in case ofneed, a firm support and a sure friend," added Parry.D'Artagnan bowed.

"You have still something to say, Parry," replied Henrietta,smiling upon D'Artagnan, while addressing the old servant.

"Yes, madam, the king desires you to preserve religiously inyour memory the name and merit of M. d'Artagnan, to whom hismajesty owes, he says, the recovery of his kingdom."Buckingham, the princess, and Rochester looked at eachother.

"That," said D'Artagnan, "is another little secret, ofwhich, in all probability, I shall not boast to hismajesty's son, as I have done to you with respect to thediamond studs."

"Madam," said Buckingham, "monsieur has just, for the secondtime, recalled to my memory an event which excites mycuriosity to such a degree, that I shall venture to ask yourpermission to take him to one side for a moment, to conversein private."

"Do, my lord," said the princess, "but restore to thesister, as quickly as possible, this friend so devoted tothe brother." And she took the arm of Rochester whilstBuckingham took that of D'Artagnan.

"Oh! tell me, chevalier," said Buckingham, "all that affairof the diamonds, which nobody knows in England, not even theson of him who was the hero of it."

"My lord, one person alone had a right to relate all thataffair, as you call it, and that was your father; he thoughtproper to be silent. I must beg you to allow me to be solikewise." And D'Artagnan bowed like a man upon whom it wasevident no entreaties could prevail.

"Since it is so, sir," said Buckingham, "pardon myindiscretion, I beg you; and if, at any time, I should gointo France - - " and he turned round to take a last lookat the princess, who took but little notice of him, totallyoccupied as she was, or appeared to be, with Rochester.Buckingham sighed.

"Well?" said D'Artagnan.

"I was saying that if, any day, I were to go to France - - "

"You will go, my lord," said D'Artagnan. "I shall answer forthat."

"And how so?"

"Oh, I have strange powers of prediction; if I do predictanything I am seldom mistaken. If, then, you do come toFrance?"

"Well, then, monsieur, you, of whom kings ask that valuablefriendship which restores crowns to them, I will venture tobeg of you a little of that great interest you took in myfather."

"My lord," replied D'Artagnan, "believe me, I shall deemmyself highly honored if, in France, you remember havingseen me here. And now permit - - "

Then, turning towards the princess: "Madam," said he, "yourroyal highness is a daughter of France; and in that qualityI hope to see you again in Paris. One of my happy days willbe that on which your royal highness shall give me anycommand whatever, thus proving to me that you have notforgotten the recommendations of your august brother." Andhe bowed respectfully to the young princess, who gave himher hand to kiss with a right royal grace.

"Ah! madam," said Buckingham, in a subdued voice, "what cana man do to obtain a similar favor from your royalhighness?"

"Dame! my lord " replied Henrietta, "ask Monsieurd'Artagnan; he will tell you."