This brilliant and animated company, the members of whichwere inspired by various feelings, arrived at Havre fourdays after their departure from Paris. It was about fiveo'clock in the afternoon, and no intelligence had yet beenreceived of Madame. They were soon engaged in quest ofapartments; but the greatest confusion immediately ensuedamong the masters, and violent quarrels among theirattendants. In the midst of this disorder, the Comte deGuiche fancied he recognized Manicamp. It was, indeed,Manicamp himself; but as Malicorne had taken possession ofhis very best costume, he had not been able to get any otherthan a suit of violet velvet trimmed with silver. Guicherecognized him as much by his dress as by his features, forhe had very frequently seen Manicamp in his violet suit,which was his last resource. Manicamp presented himself tothe count under an arch of torches, which set in a blaze,rather than illuminated, the gate by which Havre is entered,and which is situated close to the tower of Francis I. Thecount, remarking the woe-begone expression of Manicamp'sface, could not resist laughing. "Well, my poor Manicamp,"he exclaimed, "how violet you look; are you in mourning?"

"Yes," replied Manicamp; "I am in mourning."

"For whom, or for what?"

"For my blue-and-gold suit, which has disappeared, and inthe place of which I could find nothing but this; and I waseven obliged to economize from compulsion, in order to getpossession of it."

"Indeed?"

"It is singular you should be astonished at that, since youleave me without any money."

"At all events, here you are, and that is the principalthing."

"By the most horrible roads."

"Where are you lodging?"

"Lodging?"

"Yes!"

"I am not lodging anywhere."

De Guiche began to laugh. "Well," said he, "where do youintend to lodge?"

"In the same place you do."

"But I don't know, myself."

"What do you mean by saying you don't know?"

"Certainly, how is it likely I should know where I shouldstay?"

"Have you not retained an hotel?"

"I?"

"Yes, you or the prince."

"Neither of us has thought of it. Havre is of considerablesize, I suppose; and provided I can get a stable for a dozenhorses, and a suitable house in a good quarter - - "

"Certainly, there are some very excellent houses."

"Well then - - "

"But not for us."

"What do you mean by saying not for us? - for whom, then?"

"For the English, of course."

"For the English?"

"Yes; the houses are all taken."

"By whom?"

"By the Duke of Buckingham."

"I beg your pardon?" said Guiche, whose attention this namehad awakened.

"Yes, by the Duke of Buckingham. His Grace was preceded by acourier, who arrived here three days ago, and immediatelyretained all the houses fit for habitation the townpossesses."

"Come, come, Manicamp, let us understand each other."

"Well, what I have told you is clear enough, it seems tome."

"But surely Buckingham does not occupy the whole of Havre?"

"He certainly does not occupy it, since he has not yetarrived; but, once disembarked, he will occupy it."

"Oh! oh!"

"It is quite clear you are not acquainted with the English;they have a perfect rage for monopolizing everything."

"That may be; but a man who has the whole of one house, issatisfied with it, and does not require two."

"Yes, but two men?"

"Be it so; for two men, two houses, or four or six, or ten,if you like; but there are a hundred houses at Havre."

"Yes, and all the hundred are let."

"Impossible!"

"What an obstinate fellow you are. I tell you Buckingham hashired all the houses surrounding the one which the queendowager of England and the princess her daughter willinhabit."

"He is singular enough, indeed," said De Wardes, caressinghis horse's neck.

"Such is the case, however, monsieur."

"You are quite sure of it, Monsieur de Manicamp?" and as heput this question, he looked slyly at De Guiche, as thoughto interrogate him upon the degree of confidence to beplaced in his friend's state of mind. During this discussionthe night had closed in, and the torches, pages, attendants,squires, horses, and carriages, blocked up the gate and theopen place; the torches were reflected in the channel, whichthe rising tide was gradually filling, while on the otherside of the jetty might be noticed groups of curiouslookers-on, consisting of sailors and townspeople, whoseemed anxious to miss nothing of the spectacle. Amidst allthis hesitation of purpose, Bragelonne, as though a perfectstranger to the scene, remained on his horse somewhat in therear of Guiche, and watched the rays of light reflected onthe water, inhaling with rapture the sea breezes, andlistening to the waves which noisily broke upon the shoreand on the beach, tossing the spray into the air with anoise that echoed in the distance. "But," exclaimed DeGuiche, "what is Buckingham's motive for providing such asupply of lodgings?"

"Yes, yes," said De Wardes; "what reason has he?"

"A very excellent one," replied Manicamp.

"You know what it is, then?"

"I fancy I do."

"Tell us then."

"Bend your head down towards me."

"What! may it not be spoken except in private?"

"You shall judge of that yourself."

"Very well." De Guiche bent down.

"Love," said Manicamp.

"I do not understand you at all."

"Say rather, you cannot understand me yet."

"Explain yourself."

"Very well; it is quite certain, count, that his royalhighness will be the most unfortunate of husbands."

"What do you mean?"

"The Duke of Buckingham - - "

"It is a name of ill omen to the princes of the house ofFrance."

"And so the duke is madly in love with Madame, so the rumorruns, and will have no one approach her but himself."

De Guiche colored. "Thank you, thank you," said he toManicamp, grasping his hand. Then, recovering himself,added, "Whatever you do, Manicamp, be careful that thisproject of Buckingham's is not made known to any Frenchmanhere; for, if so, many a sword would be unsheathed in thiscountry that does not fear English steel."

"But after all," said Manicamp, "I have had no satisfactoryproof given me of the love in question, and it may be nomore than an idle tale."

"No, no," said De Guiche, "it must be the truth;" anddespite his command over himself, he clenched his teeth.

"Well," said Manicamp, "after all, what does it matter toyou? What does it matter to me whether the prince is to bewhat the late king was? Buckingham the father for the queen,Buckingham the son for the princess."

"Manicamp! Manicamp!

"It is a fact, or at least, everybody says so."

"Silence!" cried the count.

"But why, silence?" said De Wardes, "it is a highlycreditable circumstance for the French nation. Are not youof my opinion, Monsieur de Bragelonne?"

"To what circumstance do you allude?" inquired De Bragelonnewith an abstracted air.

"That the English should render homage to the beauty of ourqueens and our princesses."

"Forgive me, but I have not been paying attention to whathas passed; will you oblige me by explaining,

"There is no doubt it was necessary that Buckingham thefather should come to Paris in order that his majesty, KingLouis XIII., should perceive that his wife was one of themost beautiful women of the French court; and it seemsnecessary, at the present time, that Buckingham the sonshould consecrate, by the devotion of his worship, thebeauty of a princess who has French blood in her veins. Thefact of having inspired a passion on the other side of theChannel will henceforth confer a title to beauty on this."

"Sir," replied De Bragelonne, "I do not like to hear suchmatters treated so lightly. Gentlemen like ourselves shouldbe careful guardians of the honor of our queens and ourprincesses. If we jest at them, what will our servants do?"

"How am I to understand that?" said De Wardes, whose earstingled at the remark.

"In any way you choose, monsieur," replied De Bragelonne,coldly.

"Bragelonne, Bragelonne," murmured De Guiche.

"M. de Wardes," exclaimed Manicamp, noticing that the youngman had spurred his horse close to the side of Raoul.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," said De Guiche, "do not set such anexample in public, in the street too. De Wardes, you arewrong."

"Wrong; in what way, may I ask?"

"You are wrong, monsieur, because you are always speakingill of someone or something," replied Raoul with undisturbedcomposure.

"Be indulgent, Raoul," said De Guiche, in an undertone.

"Pray do not think of fighting, gentlemen!" said Manicamp,"before you have rested yourselves; for in that case youwill not be able to do much."

"Come," said De Guiche, "forward, gentlemen!" and breakingthrough the horses and attendants, he cleared the way forhimself towards the center of the square, through the crowd,followed by the whole cavalcade. A large gateway looking outupon a courtyard was open; Guiche entered the courtyard, andBragelonne, De Wardes, Manicamp, and three or four othergentlemen, followed him. A sort of council of war was held,and the means to be employed for saving the dignity of theembassy were deliberated upon. Bragelonne was of opinionthat the right of priority should be respected, while DeWardes suggested that the town should be sacked. This latterproposition appearing to Manicamp rather premature, heproposed instead that they should first rest themselves.This was the wisest thing to do, but, unhappily, to followhis advice, two things were wanting; namely, a house andbeds. De Guiche reflected for awhile, and then said aloud,"Let him who loves me, follow me!"

"The attendants also?" inquired a page who had approachedthe group.

"Every one," exclaimed the impetuous young man. "Manicamp,show us the way to the house. destined for her RoyalHighness's residence."

Without in any way divining the count's project, his friendsfollowed him, accompanied by a crowd of people whoseacclamations and delight seemed a happy omen for the successof that project with which they were yet unacquainted. Thewind was blowing strongly from the harbor, and moaning infitful gusts.