ill of someone or something,” replied Raoul with undisturbed
composure.
“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 you
will not be able to do much.”
“Come,” said De Guiche, “forward, gentlemen!” and breaking
through the horses and attendants, he cleared the way for
himself towards the center of the square, through the crowd,
followed by the whole cavalcade. A large gateway looking out
upon a courtyard was open; Guiche entered the courtyard, and
Bragelonne, De Wardes, Manicamp, and three or four other
gentlemen, followed him. A sort of council of war was held,
and the means to be employed for saving the dignity of the
embassy were deliberated upon. Bragelonne was of opinion
that the right of priority should be respected, while De
Wardes suggested that the town should be sacked. This latter
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proposition appearing to Manicamp rather premature, he
proposed instead that they should first rest themselves.
This was the wisest thing to do, but, unhappily, to follow
his advice, two things were wanting; namely, a house and
beds. De Guiche reflected for awhile, and then said aloud,
“Let him who loves me, follow me!”
“The attendants also?” inquired a page who had approached
the group.
“Every one,” exclaimed the impetuous young man. “Manicamp,
show us the way to the house. destined for her Royal
Highness’s residence.”
Without in any way divining the count’s project, his friends
followed him, accompanied by a crowd of people whose
acclamations and delight seemed a happy omen for the success
of that project with which they were yet unacquainted. The
wind was blowing strongly from the harbor, and moaning in
fitful gusts.
CHAPTER 84
At Sea
The following day was somewhat calmer, although the gale
still continued. The sun had, however, risen through a bank
of orange clouds, tingeing with its cheerful rays the crests
of the black waves. Watch was impatiently kept from the
different look-outs. Towards eleven o’clock in the morning a
ship, with sails full set, was signalled as in view; two
others followed at the distance of about half a knot. They
approached like arrows shot from the bow of a skillful
archer; and yet the sea ran so high that their speed was as
nothing compared to the rolling of the billows in which the
vessels were plunging first in one direction and then in
another. The English fleet was soon recognized by the line
of the ships, and by the color of their pennants; the one
which had the princess on board and carried the admiral’s
flag preceded the others.
The rumor now spread that the princess was arriving. The
whole French court ran to the harbor, while the quays and
jetties were soon covered by crowds of people. Two hours
afterwards, the other vessels had overtaken the flagship,
and the three, not venturing perhaps to enter the narrow
entrance of the harbor, cast anchor between Havre and La
Heve. When the maneuver had been completed, the vessel which
bore the admiral saluted France by twelve discharges of
cannon, which were returned, discharge for discharge, from
Fort Francis I. Immediately afterwards a hundred boats were
launched; they were covered with the richest stuffs, and
destined for the conveyance of the different members of the
French nobility towards the vessels at anchor. But when it
was observed that even inside the harbor the boats were
tossed to and fro, and that beyond the jetty the waves rose
mountains high, dashing upon the shore with a terrible
uproar, it will readily be believed that not one of those
frail boats would be able with safety to reach a fourth part
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of 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 of
placing itself at the admiral’s disposal.
De Guiche, who had been looking among the different boats
for one stronger than the others, which might offer a chance
of reaching the English vessels, perceiving the pilot-boat