Before these messengers could return, Warthy made his appearance at Changy, and, being informed of the Constables increased illness, to which he attached little credence, sought an interview with him, This was granted without difficulty, and the spy found the duke in bed, with his physicians in attendance upon him.
You see, sir, he remarked to Warthy, I have made every effort to comply with his majestys commands, but my strength has entirely failed me. However, I feel somewhat better to-day, and to-morrow I hope to reach Roanne. I pray you return to the king, and tell him how you have found me.
My orders are not to quit your highness, rejoined Warthy; and if I return without you, I am persuaded his majesty will put his threats into execution, and order your immediate arrest.
His majesty will act as he deems best. I must decline further discourse with you, said Bourbon, turning from him.
Warthy felt almost certain he was duped by the Constable and his physicians, but as some doubts still lingered in his mind, he determined to return to Lyons, where he arrived early next morning. From the report given him by the spy, François felt convinced of the Constables duplicity.
He is playing me false, he said. But I will baffle his schemes. Return to him at once, and do not leave him again. If any further difficulties arise, despatch messengers to me, and I will send the Grand-Marshal and the Marshal de Chabannes to seize him.
IX. CHANTELLE
The indefatigable Warthy departed on his mission. On arriving at Changy his worst suspicions were verified. The sick man and his attendants were no longer there. But instead of pursuing his route towards Lyons, as he had promised, the Constable had turned back towards Moulins.
Despatching a messenger to the king with this information, Warthy rode on to La Palisse, and thence to Varennes, where, it appeared, the Constable had laid aside all disguise, and, abandoning his litter, had mounted a charger, and ridden off with his suite to the Château de la Chantelle, in Auvergne. Disregarding the risk he might incur in following him, Warthy despatched a second messenger to the king, and started in pursuit. He was only a few hours behind the Constable, and being well mounted, hoped to overtake him before he arrived at Chantelle.
Speeding across the wide plain of the Allier, skirted on the east by the mountains of Forez, he soon reached the small town of Saint-Pourçain, where he obtained a fresh horse, and ascertained, at the same time, that the Constable and his attendants were only two or three leagues in advance of him. From Saint-Pourçain he entered the vale of the Sioule, and, pursuing his course by the side of the river, soon found himself among the mountains of Auvergne.
The region he had now gained was highly picturesque, but Warthy noted little of its beauties, being engrossed by the thought of the dangerous errand on which he was bent. But, though fully aware of the risk he incurred, Warthy did not shrink from it.
After tracking the sinuous course of the river through the mountains, whose funnel-shaped cones and rifted sides proclaimed them to be extinct volcanoes, and remarking several ancient strongholds, perched on commanding points, he emerged into a broad plain watered by the Sioule, whose course he had hitherto followed. He now plainly descried the lordly château of Chantelle, about two leagues off situated on a rocky eminence, the base of which was washed by the river. It was a vast and strongly-built fortress, and from its position seemed well capable of standing a siege.
As Warthys eye ranged over the intervening district he caught sight of a troop of horsemen, whose arms were glittering in the sunbeams, and entertaining no doubt that the cavalcade consisted of Bourbon and his attendants, he set spurs to his charger and galloped on. But swiftly as he speeded, to overtake the Constable was now impossible, and he was still half a league off, when he beheld the train pass through the outer gates of the castle.
As he approached yet nearer to the fortress, he plainly perceived that it had been put into a state of defence, the ramparts and bastions being armed with ordnance of large size, and the towers with culverins and falconets. Sentinels were pacing to and fro on the battlements, and a guard was stationed on the outer gate. From the summit of the donjon floated Bourbons haughty standard, which had been unfurled immediately after his arrival. The din of martial instruments resounded from the outer court of the castle, and when Warthy, after some little delay, obtained admittance, he found the enclosure full of armed men.
Bourbon had not thrown off his riding-cloak, and was Conversing with Tansannes, Saint-Saphorin, and others, in a great hall with a roof supported by rafters of chesnut, and walls adorned with trophies of the chase huge antlers, skins of bears, wolves, foxes, wild cats, and marmots, with which the adjacent mountains abounded when the arrival of the kings messenger was announced.
The Constable ordered him to be at once admitted, and on his appearance, said to him, in a jocular tone, What! here already, Messire de Warthy! You spur me hard, my friend.
Your highness must have better spurs than mine, since you have got here first, replied Warthy, in the same tone. I am glad to find you can ride so well. You can now have no reasonable excuse for disobeying the kings injunctions. I hope you will accompany me to Lyons.
A truce to this, sir! cried Bourbon, changing his manner. I have come hither to be free from the persecution to which I have been subjected. Unless I have the kings written promise to restore me my possessions, I will not stir from this castle. If he refuses my just demand, there will be a war in France more dreadful than any the kingdom has yet endured.
I grieve to hear your highness threaten rebellion, for I can only so construe your words, replied Warthy, courageously. It is not for me to predict what his majestys reply will be to your demand, but I fancy it will be conveyed by the Grand-Master and the Marshal de Chabannes, at the head of an overwhelming force.
I am of opinion that the king will return a very different answer, sir, said Bourbon. He knows he has treated me unjustly, and when he finds I am in a position to obtain redress, he will offer it. But be his decision what it may, I am prepared.
I would fain remonstrate with your highness before you take this terrible step, said Warthy. Powerful as you are, you cannot resist the king.
That remains to be seen, sir. I am resolved to have justice, which has been so long denied me.
Then at the hazard of my life I must perform mv duty, rejoined Warthy, boldly. I now proclaim to all your followers that if they shall aid you in holding this castle against their sovereign lord and king, to whom, and not to you, they owe fealty and homage, they will be guilty of lèse-majesté, and will be treated as rebels and traitors.
Will your highness allow this insolent fellow to brave you thus? cried Pomperant, furiously. Order his instant execution.
Warthy did not blench, though he felt he was in a most critical position.
Remember, I am sent hither by the king, he said.
The king cannot save you! cried Tansannes.
No, but he can avenge me, replied Warthy, resolutely.
The audacious spy deserves a dogs death, cried François du Peloux. Let him be hanged at once.
Or flung from the battlements, said Saint-Saphorin.
No, said Bourbon; he has given his tongue unwarrantable license, but he has come hither as the kings messenger, and his person is safe. You must be content to remain here till to-morrow, Messire de Warthy, when you will take a letter from me to the king. The Bishop of Autun, who is here, shall accompany you, in order that he may explain my conduct to his majesty.
I must perforce remain as long as your highness chooses, replied Warthy.
You ought to thank me for detaining you, said Bourbon. You must want rest after your journey. See that all care be taken of him, he added to an attendant.
Upon this Warthy withdrew.
After inspecting the garrison, Bourbon proceeded to examine the defences of the fortress, to make sure of its capability of resisting a siege. The examination was very carefully conducted, and occupied several hours. At its conclusion, he held a private conference with all his chief adherents, at which it was unanimously agreed that the place was not strong enough to hold out against the powerful army which would infallibly be sent to besiege t by the king.
If it should fall before I can be reinforced, my cause will be ruined, said Bourbon; and the German lanz-knechts enrolled by the Archduke Ferdinand, though already assembled in the Franche-Comté, will not dare to enter France while the king remains at Lyons. For my own part, he continued, I am satisfied that his majesty is too much alarmed to quit the kingdom at present, and if he should decide on crossing the Alps, he will assuredly leave behind him an army of six or seven thousand men. The presence of such a force will prevent the contemplated rising, and the nobles of Auvergne, whom I had summoned by the arrière-ban to unite at Roanne, will disperse without striking a blow. What is to be done under these circumstances? Shall we retire to Carlat? Though more inaccessible, that castle is no better able to stand a siege than the fortress we now occupy.
To be shut up amid the mountains might be fatal, remarked Tansannes. Let us make the best of our way to the Franche-Comté, where your highness can put yourself at the head of the German lanz-knechts.
The lanz-knechts are already commanded by two able leaders, the Counts Wilhelm and Felix de Furstenberg, replied Bourbon. I will not become a fugitive from my own territories while there is a chance of holding them. A few days will now decide. My letter, which will be conveyed to the king by Warthy, will bring the matter to a crisis. If, as I fear, his majesty should abandon his expedition to Italy, nothing will be left for us but flight.
Next day, Warthy left the castle, accompanied by the Bishop of Autun. On the farther side of La Palisse they encountered the Marshal de Chabannes and the Grand Master, who were marching at the head of a large force, consisting of light horsemen and fantassins, to seize the Constable. On discovering this force, the bishop contrived to send off a messenger to warn Bourbon.
The bishop himself was arrested, and sent on to Lyons with a guard, under the charge of Warthy.
X. HOW THE BISHOP OF AUTUN AND THE COMTE DE SAINT-VALLIER WERE
ARRESTEDOn a plain, outside the fair city of Lyons, was encamped the army destined for the expedition to Italy. In the midst of the camp stood the royal tent. Thither the Bishop of Autun was taken by Warthy. François had just returned from inspecting his troops. His towering figure was sheathed in glittering steel, but he had taken off his plumed helm and given it to a page, at the moment when the bishop was brought in.
After glancing at the Constables letter, which was delivered to him by Warthy, François tore it in pieces, exclaiming furiously, Does the audacious traitor venture to treat me as an equal, and propose terms to me! Foi de gentilhomme! I will lower his pride. Hitherto I have acted too leniently towards him, but now he shall feel my power. I have striven to save him, but since he is insensible to my kindness, and will rush upon his ruin, een let him perish!
Your majesty forgets that you have driven the Constable to desperation, said the Bishop of Autun. Could he have placed faith in your promises, he would be with you now. I implore your majesty to make terms with him, and, by so doing, avoid a most disastrous war.
My lord bishop, said the king, sternly, I will not hear a word in the traitors behalf. He can expect no grace from me, and, by Saint Louis! he shall have none. He thinks himself safe in Chantelle, but I will take it in a week; and if he seeks refuge in the mountains of Auvergne, I will hunt him down like a wild beast. I will proclaim him as a rebel and traitor throughout the realm, and set a price of ten thousand golden crowns upon his head. All who shall harbour him, or assist him or any of His followers, shall be held guilty of treason. And now, my lord bishop, a word with you. You are concerned in this conspiracy, and, if you would obtain grace and restoration to my favour, you will not hesitate to reveal all you know respecting it.
I have nothing to reveal, sire, replied the bishop.
You are the depositary of the Constables secrets, my lord, remarked François, sternly.
Whatever his highness may have confided to me under the seal of confession, is sacred, sire, rejoined the bishop.
That excuse will not avail you, my lord. You are bound to disclose a conspiracy against your sovereign. By Saint Louis! I will have the truth. All those who are in any way implicated in the plot, or suspected, shall be immediately arrested. One of the chief conspirators is already in my power. I will interrogate him at once. Bring the Comte de Saint-Vallier before me, he added to Warthy. You will find him in the adjoining tent, with his daughter, the Comtesse de Maulévrier.
Am I to arrest him, sire? demanded Warthy.
The king replied in the affirmative, and Warthy departed on his errand, returning presently with Saint-Vallier, who was guarded by two halberdiers.
Just as François was about to interrogate the prisoner, Diane de Poitiers rushed into the tent, and threw herself at the kings feet, exclaiming:
My father has been unjustly accused, sire. He is no traitor.
I trust he may be able to clear himself, madame, rejoined the king, raising her gently. But as it will be painful to you to listen to his examination, I must pray you to retire.
You have disobeyed my injunctions in coming hither, Diane, said Saint-Vallier, reproachfully. Your presence adds to my trouble. Go, I implore you!
No, no, I will not leave you, she rejoined. I may be able to plead your cause. I can show his majesty that he has not a more loyal subject than yourself that you are incapable of the crime with which you are charged and that if there should be a conspiracy headed by the Duke de Bourbon, which I cannot will not believe, you have no part in it.
Can the Comte dc Saint-Vallier himself give me such assurance, madame? said the king.
Undoubtedly, sire, replied Diane. Speak, father! You have no share in any plot?
I know of no plot, rejoined Saint-Vallier. But I am well aware that I have many enemies, who would not hesitate to accuse me falsely. Who charges me with conspiracy against your majesty? he added to the king.
I do, replied Warthy. I charge you with leaguing with the kings enemies, and I will bring proof of what I assert.
I defy you to do so, replied Saint-Vallier; and if the combat be permitted me by his majesty, I will force you, at the point of the sword, to confess that you have accused me falsely.
You must establish your innocence by other means than the combat, rejoined the king. You have long been Bourbons confidential friend and adviser. You have been staying with him at the Château de Moulins. Is it not certain, then, that you must be privy to his designs?
Presumption is no proof, sire, said Saint-Vallier. If the Constable de Bourbon has any such designs as your majesty attributes to him, he has carefully concealed them from me.