The following day was somewhat calmer, although the galestill continued. The sun had, however, risen through a bankof orange clouds, tingeing with its cheerful rays the crestsof the black waves. Watch was impatiently kept from thedifferent look-outs. Towards eleven o'clock in the morning aship, with sails full set, was signalled as in view; twoothers followed at the distance of about half a knot. Theyapproached like arrows shot from the bow of a skillfularcher; and yet the sea ran so high that their speed was asnothing compared to the rolling of the billows in which thevessels were plunging first in one direction and then inanother. The English fleet was soon recognized by the lineof the ships, and by the color of their pennants; the onewhich had the princess on board and carried the admiral'sflag preceded the others.

The rumor now spread that the princess was arriving. Thewhole French court ran to the harbor, while the quays andjetties were soon covered by crowds of people. Two hoursafterwards, the other vessels had overtaken the flagship,and the three, not venturing perhaps to enter the narrowentrance of the harbor, cast anchor between Havre and LaHeve. When the maneuver had been completed, the vessel whichbore the admiral saluted France by twelve discharges ofcannon, which were returned, discharge for discharge, fromFort Francis I. Immediately afterwards a hundred boats werelaunched; they were covered with the richest stuffs, anddestined for the conveyance of the different members of theFrench nobility towards the vessels at anchor. But when itwas observed that even inside the harbor the boats weretossed to and fro, and that beyond the jetty the waves rosemountains high, dashing upon the shore with a terribleuproar, it will readily be believed that not one of thosefrail boats would be able with safety to reach a fourth partof the distance between the shore and the vessels at anchor.A pilot-boat, however, notwithstanding the wind and the sea,was getting ready to leave the harbor, for the purpose ofplacing itself at the admiral's disposal.

De Guiche, who had been looking among the different boatsfor one stronger than the others, which might offer a chanceof reaching the English vessels, perceiving the pilot-boatgetting ready to start, said to Raoul: "Do you not think,Raoul, that intelligent and vigorous men, as we are, oughtto be ashamed to retreat before the brute strength of windand waves?"

"That is precisely the very reflection I was silently makingto myself," replied Bragelonne.

"Shall we get into that boat, then, and push off? Will youcome, De Wardes?"

"Take care, or you will get drowned," said Manicamp.

"And for no purpose," said De Wardes, "for with the wind inyour teeth, as it will be, you will never reach thevessels."

"You refuse, then?"

"Assuredly I do; I would willingly risk and lose my life inan encounter against men," he said, glancing at Bragelonne,"but as to fighting with oars against waves, I have no tastefor that."

"And for myself," said Manicamp, "even were I to succeed inreaching the ships, I should not be indifferent to the lossof the only good dress which I have left, - salt waterwould spoil it."

"You, then, refuse also?" exclaimed De Guiche.

"Decidedly I do; I beg you to understand that mostdistinctly."

"But," exclaimed De Guiche, "look, De Wardes - look,Manicamp - look yonder, the princesses are looking at usfrom the poop of the admiral's vessel."

"An additional reason, my dear fellow, why we should notmake ourselves ridiculous by being drowned while they arelooking on."

"Is that your last word, Manicamp?"

"Yes."

"And then yours, De Wardes?"

"Yes."

"Then I go alone."

"Not so," said Raoul, "for I shall accompany you; I thoughtit was understood I should do so."

The fact is, that Raoul, uninfluenced by devotion, measuringthe risk they run, saw how imminent the danger was, but hewillingly allowed himself to accept a peril which De Wardeshad declined.

The boat was about to set off when De Guiche called to thepilot. "Stay," said he: "we want two places in your boat;"and wrapping five or six pistoles in paper, he threw themfrom the quay into the boat.

"It seems you are not afraid of salt water, younggentlemen."

"We are afraid of nothing," replied De Guiche.

"Come along, then."

The pilot approached the side of the boat, and the two youngmen, one after the other, with equal vivacity, jumped intothe boat. "Courage, my men," said De Guiche; "I have twentypistoles left in this purse, and as soon as we reach theadmiral's vessel they shall be yours." The sailors bentthemselves to their oars, and the boat bounded over thecrest of the waves. The interest taken in this hazardousexpedition was universal; the whole population of Havrehurried towards the jetties and every look was directedtowards the little bark; at one moment it flew suspended onthe crest of the foaming waves, then suddenly glideddownwards towards the bottom of a raging abyss, where itseemed utterly lost. At the expiration of an hour'sstruggling with the waves, it reached the spot where theadmiral's vessel was anchored, and from the side of whichtwo boats had already been dispatched towards their aid.Upon the quarter-deck of the flagship, sheltered by a canopyof velvet and ermine, which was suspended by stout supports,Henrietta, the queen dowager, and the young princess - withthe admiral, the Duke of Norfolk - standing beside them - watched with alarm this slender bark, at one moment tossedto the heavens, and the next buried beneath the waves, andagainst whose dark sail the noble figures of the two Frenchgentlemen stood forth in relief like two luminousapparitions. The crew, leaning against the bulwarks andclinging to the shrouds, cheered the courage of the twodaring young men, the skill of the pilot, and the strengthof the sailors. They were received at the side of the vesselby a shout of triumph. The Duke of Norfolk, a handsome youngman, from twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age, advancedto meet them. De Guiche and Bragelonne lightly mounted theladder on the starboard side, and conducted by the Duke ofNorfolk, who resumed his place near them, they approached tooffer their homage to the princesses. Respect, and yet more,a certain apprehension, for which he could not account, hadhitherto restrained the Comte de Guiche from looking atMadame attentively, who, however, had observed himimmediately, and had asked her mother, "Is not that Monsieurin the boat yonder?" Madame Henrietta who knew Monsieurbetter than her daughter did, smiled at the mistake hervanity had led her into, and had answered, "No; it is onlyM. de Guiche, his favorite." The princess, at this reply,was constrained to check an instinctive tenderness offeeling which the courage displayed by the count hadawakened. At the very moment the princess had put thisquestion to her mother, De Guiche had, at last, summonedcourage to raise his eyes towards her and could compare theoriginal with the portrait he had so lately seen. No soonerhad he remarked her pale face, her eyes so full ofanimation, her beautiful nut-brown hair, her expressivelips, and her every gesture, which, while betokening royaldescent, seemed to thank and to encourage him at one and thesame time, than he was, for a moment, so overcome, that, hadit not been for Raoul, on whose arm he leant, he would havefallen. His friend's amazed look, and the encouraginggesture of the queen, restored Guiche to hisself-possession. In a few words he explained his mission,explained in what way he had become the envoy of his royalhighness; and saluted, according to their rank and thereception they gave him, the admiral and several of theEnglish noblemen who were grouped around the princesses.

Raoul was then presented, and was most graciously received;the share that the Comte de la Fere had had in therestoration of Charles II. was known to all; and, more thanthat, it was the comte who had been charged with thenegotiation of the marriage, by means of which thegranddaughter of Henry IV. was now returning to France.Raoul spoke English perfectly, and constituted himself hisfriend's interpreter with the young English noblemen, whowere indifferently acquainted with the French language. Atthis moment a young man came forward, of extremely handsomefeatures, and whose dress and arms were remarkable for theirextravagance of material. He approached the princesses, whowere engaged in conversation with the Duke of Norfolk, and,in a voice which ill concealed his impatience, said, "It istime now to disembark, your royal highness. "The younger ofthe princesses rose from her seat at this remark, and wasabout to take the hand which the young nobleman extended toher, with an eagerness which arose from a variety ofmotives, when the admiral intervened between them,observing; "A moment, if you please, my lord; it is notpossible for ladies to disembark just now, the sea is toorough; it is probable the wind may abate before sunset, andthe landing will not be effected, therefore, until thisevening."

"Allow me to observe, my lord," said Buckingham, with anirritation of manner which he did not seek to disguise, "youdetain these ladies, and you have no right to do so. One ofthem, unhappily, now belongs to France, and you perceivethat France claims them by the voice of her ambassadors;"and at the same moment he indicated Raoul and Guiche, whomhe saluted.

"I cannot suppose that these gentlemen intend to expose thelives of their royal highnesses," replied the admiral.

"These gentlemen," retorted Buckingham, "arrived heresafely, notwithstanding the wind; allow me to believe thatthe danger will not be greater for their royal highnesseswhen the wind will be in their favor."

"These envoys have shown how great their courage is," saidthe admiral. "You may have observed that there was a greatnumber of persons on shore who did not venture to accompanythem. Moreover, the desire which they had to show theirrespect with the least possible delay to Madame and herillustrious mother induced them to brave the sea, which isvery tempestuous to-day, even for sailors. These gentlemen,however, whom I recommend as an example for my officers tofollow, can hardly be so for these ladies."

Madame glanced at the Comte de Guiche, and perceived thathis face was burning with confusion. This look had escapedBuckingham, who had eyes for nothing but Norfolk, of whom hewas evidently very jealous; he seemed anxious to remove theprincesses from the deck of a vessel where the admiralreigned supreme. "In that case," returned Buckingham, "Iappeal to Madame herself."

"And I, my lord," retorted the admiral, "I appeal to my ownconscience, and to my own sense of responsibility. I haveundertaken to convey Madame safe and sound to France, and Ishall keep my promise."

"But sir - - " continued Buckingham.

"My lord, permit me to remind you that I command here."

"Are you aware what you are saying, my lord?" repliedBuckingham, haughtily.

"Perfectly so; I therefore repeat it: I alone command here,all yield obedience to me; the sea and the winds, the shipsand men too." This remark was made in a dignified andauthoritative manner. Raoul observed its effect uponBuckingham, who trembled with anger from head to foot, andleaned against one of the poles of the tent to preventhimself falling; his eyes became suffused with blood, andthe hand which he did not need for his support wanderedtowards the hilt of his sword.

"My lord," said the queen, "permit me to observe that Iagree in every particular with the Duke of Norfolk; if theheavens, instead of being clouded as they are at the presentmoment, were perfectly serene and propitious, we can stillafford to bestow a few hours upon the officer who hasconducted us so successfully, and with such extremeattention, to the French coast, where he is to take leave ofus."

Buckingham, instead of replying, seemed to seek counsel fromthe expression of Madame's face. She, however,half-concealed beneath the thick curtains of the velvet andgold which sheltered her, had not listened to thediscussion, having been occupied in watching the Comte deGuiche, who was conversing with Raoul. This was a freshmisfortune for Buckingham, who fancied he perceived inMadame Henrietta's look a deeper feeling than that ofcuriosity. He withdrew, almost tottering in his gait, andnearly stumbled against the mainmast of the ship.

"The duke has not acquired a steady footing yet," said thequeen-mother, in French, "and that may possibly be hisreason for wishing to find himself on firm land again."

The young man overheard this remark, turned suddenly pale,and, letting his hands fall in great discouragement by hisside, drew aside, mingling in one sigh his old affection andhis new hatreds. The admiral, however, without taking anyfurther notice of the duke's ill-humor, led the princessesinto the quarter-deck cabin, where dinner had been servedwith a magnificence worthy in every respect of his guests.The admiral seated himself at the right hand of theprincess, and placed the Comte de Guiche on her left. Thiswas the place Buckingham usually occupied; and when heentered the cabin, how profound was his unhappiness to seehimself banished by etiquette from the presence of hissovereign, to a position inferior to that which, by rank, hewas entitled to. De Guiche, on the other hand, paler stillperhaps from happiness, than his rival was from anger,seated himself tremblingly next the princess, whose silkenrobe, as it lightly touched him, caused a tremor of mingledregret and happiness to pass through his whole frame. Therepast finished, Buckingham darted forward to hand MadameHenrietta from the table; but this time it was De Guiche'sturn to give the duke a lesson. "Have the goodness, my lord,from this moment," said he, "not to interpose between herroyal highness and myself. From this moment, indeed, herroyal highness belongs to France, and when she deigns tohonor me by touching my hand it is the hand of Monsieur, thebrother of the king of France, she touches."

And saying this, he presented his hand to Madame Henriettawith such marked deference, and at the same time with anobleness of mien so intrepid, that a murmur of admirationrose from the English, whilst a groan of despair escapedfrom Buckingham's lips. Raoul, who loved, comprehended itall. He fixed upon his friend one of those profound lookswhich a bosom friend or mother can alone extend, either asprotector or guardian, over the one who is about to strayfrom the right path. Towards two o'clock in the afternoonthe sun shone forth anew, the wind subsided, the sea becamesmooth as a crystal mirror, and the fog, which had shroudedthe coast, disappeared like a veil withdrawn from before it.The smiling hills of France appeared in full view with theirnumerous white houses rendered more conspicuous by thebright green of the trees or the clear blue sky.