The admiral, as we have seen, was determined to pay nofurther attention to Buckingham's threatening glances andfits of passion. In fact, from the moment they quittedEngland, he had gradually accustomed himself to hisbehavior. De Guiche had not yet in any way remarked theanimosity which appeared to influence that young noblemanagainst him, but he felt, instinctively, that there could beno sympathy between himself and the favorite of Charles II.The queen-mother, with greater experience and calmerjudgment, perceived the exact position of affairs, and, asshe discerned its danger, was prepared to meet it, wheneverthe proper moment should arrive. Quiet had been everywhererestored, except in Buckingham's heart; he, in hisimpatience, addressed himself to the princess, in a low toneof voice: "For Heaven's sake, madame, I implore you tohasten your disembarkation. Do you not perceive how thatinsolent Duke of Norfolk is killing me with his attentionsand devotions to you?"

Henrietta heard this remark; she smiled, and without turningher head towards him, but giving only to the tone of hervoice that inflection of gentle reproach, and languidimpertinence, which women and princesses so well know how toassume, she murmured, "I have already hinted, my lord, thatyou must have taken leave of your senses."

Not a single detail escaped Raoul's attention; he heard bothBuckingham's entreaty and the princess's reply; he remarkedBuckingham retire, heard his deep sigh, and saw him pass hishand across his face. He understood everything, and trembledas he reflected on the position of affairs, and the state ofthe minds of those about him. At last the admiral, withstudied delay, gave the last orders for the departure of theboats.

Buckingham heard the directions given with such anexhibition of delight that a stranger would really imaginethe young man's reason was affected. As the Duke of Norfolkgave his commands, a large boat or barge, decked with flags,and capable of holding about twenty rowers and fifteenpassengers, was slowly lowered from the side of theadmiral's vessel. The barge was carpeted with velvet anddecorated with coverings embroidered with the arms ofEngland, and with garlands of flowers; for, at that time,ornamentation was by no means forgotten in these politicalpageants. No sooner was this really royal boat afloat andthe rowers with oars uplifted, awaiting, like soldierspresenting arms, the embarkation of the princess, thanBuckingham ran forward to the ladder in order to take hisplace. His progress was, however, arrested by the queen. "Mylord," she said, "it is hardly becoming that you shouldallow my daughter and myself to land without havingpreviously ascertained that our apartments are properlyprepared. I beg your lordship to be good enough to precedeus ashore, and to give directions that everything be inproper order on our arrival."

This was a fresh disappointment for the duke, and, stillmore so, since it was so unexpected. He hesitated, coloredviolently, but could not reply. He had thought he might beable to keep near Madame during the passage to the shore,and, by this means, to enjoy to the very last moment thebrief period fortune still reserved for him. The order,however, was explicit; and the admiral, who heard it given,immediately called out, "Launch the ship's gig." Hisdirections were executed with that celerity whichdistinguishes every maneuver on board a man-of-war.

Buckingham, in utter hopelessness, cast a look of despair atthe princess, of supplication towards the queen, anddirected a glance full of anger towards the admiral. Theprincess pretended not to notice him, while the queen turnedaside her head, and the admiral laughed outright, at thesound of which Buckingham seemed ready to spring upon him.The queen-mother rose, and with a tone of authority said,"Pray set off, sir."

The young duke hesitated, looked around him, and with a lasteffort, half-choked by contending emotions, said, "And you,gentlemen, M. de Guiche and M. de Bragelonne, do not youaccompany me?"

De Guiche bowed and said, "Both M. de Bragelonne and myselfawait her majesty's orders; whatever the commands sheimposes on us, we shall obey them." Saying this, he lookedtowards the princess, who cast down her eyes.

"Your grace will remember," said the queen, "that M. deGuiche is here to represent Monsieur; it is he who will dothe honors of France, as you have done those of England; hispresence cannot be dispensed with; besides, we owe him thisslight favor for the courage he displayed in venturing toseek us in such a terrible stress of weather."

Buckingham opened his lips, as if he were about to speak,but, whether thoughts or expressions failed him, not asyllable escaped them, and turning away, as though out ofhis mind, he leapt from the vessel into the boat. Thesailors were just in time to catch hold of him to steadythemselves; for his weight and the rebound had almost upsetthe boat.

"His grace cannot be in his senses," said the admiral aloudto Raoul.

"I am uneasy on the Duke's account," replied Bragelonne.

While the boat was advancing towards the shore, the dukekept his eyes immovably fixed upon the admiral's ship, likea miser torn away from his coffers, or a mother separatedfrom her child, about to be led away to death. No one,however, acknowledged his signals, his frowns, or hispitiful gestures. In very anguish of mind, he sank down inthe boat, burying his hands in his hair, whilst the boat,impelled by the exertions of the merry sailors, flew overthe waves. On his arrival he was in such a state of apathy,that, had he not been received at the harbor by themessenger whom he had directed to precede him, he wouldhardly have had strength to ask his way. Having once,however, reached the house which had been set apart for him,he shut himself up, like Achilles in his tent. The bargebearing the princesses quitted the admiral's vessel at thevery moment Buckingham landed. It was followed by anotherboat filled with officers, courtiers, and zealous friends.Great numbers of the inhabitants of Havre, having embarkedin fishing-cobles and boats of every description, set off tomeet the royal barge. The cannon from the forts firedsalutes, which were returned by the flagship and the twoother vessels, and the flashes from the open mouths of thecannon floated in white fumes over the waves, anddisappeared in the clear blue sky.

The princess landed at the decorated quay. Bands of gaymusic greeted her arrival, and accompanied her every stepshe took. During the time she was passing through the centerof the town, and treading beneath her delicate feet therichest carpets and the gayest flowers, which had beenstrewn upon the ground, De Guiche and Raoul, escaping fromtheir English friends, hurried through the town and hastenedrapidly towards the place intended for the residence ofMadame.

"Let us hurry forward," said Raoul to De Guiche, "for if Iread Buckingham's character aright, he will create somedisturbance, when he learns the result of our deliberationsof yesterday."

"Never fear," said De Guiche, "De Wardes is there, who isdetermination itself, while Manicamp is the verypersonification of artless gentleness."

De Guiche was not, however, the less diligent on thataccount, and five minutes afterwards they were within sightof the Hotel de Ville. The first thing which struck them wasthe number of people assembled in the square. "Excellent,"said De Guiche; "our apartments, I see, are prepared."

In fact, in front of the Hotel de Ville, upon the wide openspace before it, eight tents had been raised, surmounted bythe flags of France and England united. The hotel wassurrounded by tents, as by a girdle of variegated colors;ten pages and a dozen mounted troopers, who had been givento the ambassadors, for an escort, mounted guard before thetents. It had a singularly curious effect, almost fairy-likein its appearance. These tents had been constructed duringthe night-time. Fitted up, within and without, with therichest materials that De Guiche had been able to procure inHavre, they completely encircled the Hotel de Ville. Theonly passage which led to the steps of the hotel, and whichwas not inclosed by the silken barricade, was guarded by twotents, resembling two pavilions, the doorways of both ofwhich opened towards the entrance. These two tents weredestined for De Guiche and Raoul; in whose absence they wereintended to be occupied, that of De Guiche by De Wardes, andthat of Raoul by Manicamp. Surrounding these two tents, andthe six others, a hundred officers, gentlemen, and pages,dazzling in their display of silk and gold, thronged likebees buzzing about a hive. Every one of them, their swordsby their sides, was ready to obey the slightest sign eitherof De Guiche or Bragelonne, the leaders of the embassy.

At the very moment the two young men appeared at the end ofone of the streets leading to the square, they perceived,crossing the square at full gallop, a young man onhorseback, whose costume was of surprising richness. Hepushed hastily through the crowd of curious lookers-on, and,at the sight of these unexpected erections, uttered a cry ofanger and dismay. It was Buckingham, who had awakened fromhis stupor, in order to adorn himself with a costumeperfectly dazzling from its beauty, and to await the arrivalof the princess and the queen-mother at the Hotel de Ville.At the entrance to the tents, the soldiers barred hispassage, and his further progress was arrested. Buckingham,hopelessly infuriated, raised his whip; but his arm wasseized by a couple of officers. Of the two guardians of thetent, only one was there. De Wardes was in the interior ofthe Hotel de Ville, engaged in attending to the execution ofsome orders given by De Guiche. At the noise made byBuckingham Manicamp, who was indolently reclining upon thecushions at the doorway of one of the tents, rose with hisusual indifference, and, perceiving that the disturbancecontinued, made his appearance from underneath the curtains."What is the matter?" he said, in a gentle tone of voice,"and who is it making this disturbance?"

It so happened, that, at the moment he began to speak,silence had just been restored, and, although his voice wasvery soft and gentle in its tone, every one heard hisquestion. Buckingham turned round; and looked at the tall,thin figure, and the listless expression of countenance ofhis questioner. Probably the personal appearance ofManicamp, who was dressed very plainly, did not inspire himwith much respect, for he replied disdainfully, "Who may yoube, monsieur?"

Manicamp, leaning on the arm of a gigantic trooper, as firmas the pillar of a cathedral, replied in his usual tranquiltone of voice, - "And you, monsieur?"

"I, monsieur, am the Duke of Buckingham; I have hired allthe houses which surround the Hotel de Ville, where I havebusiness to transact; and as these houses are let, theybelong to me, and, as I hired them in order to preserve theright of free access to the Hotel de Ville, you are notjustified in preventing me passing to it."

"But who prevents you passing, monsieur?" inquired Manicamp.

"Your sentinels."

"Because you wish to pass on horseback, and orders have beengiven to let only persons on foot pass."

"No one has any right to give orders here, except myself,"said Buckingham.

"On what grounds?" inquired Manicamp, with his soft tone."Will you do me the favor to explain this enigma to me?"

"Because, as I have already told you, I have hired all thehouses looking on the square."

"We are very well aware of that, since nothing but thesquare itself has been left for us."

"You are mistaken, monsieur; the square belongs to me, aswell as the houses in it."

"Forgive me, monsieur, but you are mistaken there. In ourcountry, we say, the highway belongs to the king, thereforethis square is his majesty's; and, consequently, as we arethe king's ambassadors, the square belongs to us."

"I have already asked you who you are, monsieur," exclaimedBuckingham, exasperated at the coolness of his interlocutor.

"My name is Manicamp," replied the young man, in a voicewhose tones were as harmonious and sweet as the notes of anAEolian harp.

Buckingham shrugged his shoulders contemptuously, and said,"When I hired these houses which surround the Hotel deVille, the square was unoccupied; these barracks obstruct mysight; I hereby order them to be removed."

A hoarse and angry murmur ran through the crowd of listenersat these words. De Guiche arrived at this moment; he pushedthrough the crowd which separated him from Buckingham, and,followed by Raoul, arrived on the scene of action from oneside, just as De Wardes came up from the other. "Pardon me,my lord; but if you have any complaint to make, have thegoodness to address it to me, inasmuch as it was I whosupplied the plans for the construction of these tents."

"Moreover, I would beg you to observe, monsieur, that theterm `barrack' is a highly objectionable one!" addedManicamp, graciously.

"You were saying, monsieur - " continued De Guiche.

"I was saying, monsieur le comte," resumed Buckingham, in atone of anger more marked than ever, although in somemeasure moderated by the presence of an equal, "I was sayingthat it is impossible these tents can remain where theyare."

"Impossible!" exclaimed De Guiche, "and why?"

"Because I object to them."

A movement of impatience escaped De Guiche, but a warningglance from Raoul restrained him.

"You should the less object to them, monsieur, on account ofthe abuse of priority you have permitted yourself toexercise."

"Abuse!"

"Most assuredly. You commission a messenger, who hires inyour name the whole of the town of Havre, withoutconsidering the members of the French court, who would besure to arrive here to meet Madame. Your Grace will admitthat this is hardly friendly conduct in the representativeof a friendly nation."

"The right of possession belongs to him who is first on theground."

"Not in France, monsieur."

"Why not in France?"

"Because France is a country where politeness is observed."

"Which means!" exclaimed Buckingham, in so violent a mannerthat those who were present drew back, expecting animmediate collision.

"Which means, monsieur," replied De Guiche, now rather pale,"that I caused these tents to be raised as habitations formyself and my friends, as a shelter for the ambassadors ofFrance, as the only place of refuge which your exactionshave left us in the town; and that I and those who are withme, shall remain in them, at least, until an authority morepowerful, and more supreme, than your own shall dismiss mefrom them."

"In other words, until we are ejected, as the lawyers say,"observed Manicamp, blandly.

"I know an authority, monsieur, which I trust is such as youwill respect," said Buckingham, placing his hand on hissword.

At this moment, and as the goddess of Discord, inflaming allminds, was about to direct their swords against each other,Raoul gently placed his hand on Buckingham's shoulder. "Oneword, my lord," he said.

"My right, my right, first of all," exclaimed the fieryyoung man.

"It is precisely upon that point I wish to have the honor ofaddressing a word to you."

"Very well, monsieur, but let your remarks be brief."

"One question is all I ask; you can hardly expect me to bebriefer."

"Speak, monsieur, I am listening."

"Are you, or is the Duke of Orleans, going to marry thegranddaughter of Henry IV.?"

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Buckingham, retreating a fewsteps, bewildered.

"Have the goodness to answer me," persisted Raoul,tranquilly.

"Do you mean to ridicule me, monsieur?" inquired Buckingham.

"Your question is a sufficient answer for me. You admit,then, that it is not you who are going to marry theprincess?"

"Thou know it perfectly well, monsieur, I should imagine."

"I beg your pardon, but your conduct has been such as toleave it not altogether certain."

"Proceed, monsieur, what do you mean to convey?"

Raoul approached the duke. "Are you aware, my lord," hesaid, lowering his voice, "that your extravagances very muchresemble the excesses of jealousy? These jealous fits, withrespect to any woman, are not becoming in one who is neitherher lover nor her husband; and I am sure you will admit thatmy remark applies with still greater force, when the lady inquestion is a princess of the blood royal!"

"Monsieur," exclaimed Buckingham, "do you mean to insultMadame Henrietta?"

"Be careful, my lord," replied Bragelonne, coldly, "for itis you who insult her. A little while since, when on boardthe admiral's ship, you wearied the queen, and exhausted theadmiral's patience. I was observing, my lord; and, at first,I concluded you were not in possession of your senses, but Ihave since surmised the real significance of your madness."

"Monsieur!" exclaimed Buckingham.

"One moment more, for I have yet another word to add. Itrust I am the only one of my companions who has guessedit."

"Are you aware, monsieur," said Buckingham, trembling withmingled feelings of anger and uneasiness, "are you awarethat you are holding language towards me which requires tobe checked?"

"Weigh your words well, my lord," said Raoul, haughtily: "mynature is not such that its vivacities need checking; whilstyou, on the contrary, are descended from a race whosepassions are suspected by all true Frenchmen; I repeat,therefore, for the second time, be careful!"

"Careful of what, may I ask? Do you presume to threaten me?"

"I am the son of the Comte de la Fere, my lord, and I neverthreaten, because I strike first. Therefore, understand mewell, the threat that I hold out to you is this - - "

Buckingham clenched his hands, but Raoul continued, asthough he had not observed the gesture. "At the very firstword, beyond the respect and deference due to her royalhighness, which you permit yourself to use towards her, - be patient, my lord, for I am perfectly so."

"You?"

"Undoubtedly. So long as Madame remained on Englishterritory, I held my peace; but from the very moment shestepped on French ground, and now that we have received herin the name of the prince, I warn you, that at the firstmark of disrespect which you, in your insane attachment,exhibit towards the royal house of France, I shall have oneof two courses to follow; - either I declare, in thepresence of every one, the madness with which you are nowaffected, and I get you ignominiously ordered back toEngland; or if you prefer it, I will run my dagger throughyour throat in the presence of all here. This secondalternative seems to me the least disagreeable, and I thinkI shall hold to it."

Buckingham had become paler than the lace collar around hisneck. "M. de Bragelonne," he said, "is it, indeed, agentleman who is speaking to me?"

"Yes; only the gentleman is speaking to a madman. Get cured,my lord, and he will hold quite another language to you."

"But, M. de Bragelonne," murmured the duke, in a voice,half-choked, and putting his hand to his neck, - "Do younot see I am choking?"

"If your death were to take place at this moment, my lord,"replied Raoul, with unruffled composure, "I should, indeed,regard it as a great happiness, for this circumstance wouldprevent all kinds of evil remarks; not alone about yourself,but also about those illustrious persons whom your devotionis compromising in so absurd a manner."

"You are right, you are right," said the young man, almostbeside himself. "Yes, yes; better to die, than to suffer asI do at this moment." And he grasped a beautiful dagger, thehandle of which was inlaid with precious stones; and whichhe half drew from his breast.

Raoul thrust his hand aside. "Be careful what you do," hesaid; "if you do not kill yourself, you commit a ridiculousaction; and if you were to kill yourself, you sprinkle bloodupon the nuptial robe of the princess of England."

Buckingham remained a minute gasping for breath; during thisinterval, his lips quivered, his fingers workedconvulsively, and his eyes wandered as though in delirium.Then suddenly, he said, "M. de Bragelonne, I know nowhere anobler mind than yours; you are, indeed, a worthy son of themost perfect gentleman that ever lived. Keep your tents."And he threw his arms round Raoul's neck. All who werepresent, astounded at this conduct, which was the veryreverse of what was expected, considering the violence ofthe one adversary and the determination of the other, beganimmediately to clap their hands, and a thousand cheers andjoyful shouts arose from all sides. De Guiche, in his turn,embraced Buckingham somewhat against his inclination; but,at all events, he did embrace him. This was the signal forFrench and English to do the same; and they who, until thatmoment, had looked at each other with restless uncertainty,fraternized on the spot. In the meantime, the procession ofthe princess arrived, and had it not been for Bragelonne,two armies would have been engaged together in conflict, andblood have been shed upon the flowers with which the groundwas covered. At the appearance, however, of the bannersborne at the head of the procession, complete order wasrestored.