With
fearful insistence she besought him to countermand the order, and
not to leave the palace.
"I will but go there and back," he said, laughing at her fears.
"I shall have returned before you realize that I have gone." And
so he went, never to return alive.
He sat at the back of the coach, and the weather being fine all
the curtains were drawn up so that he might view the decorations
of the city against the Queen's public entry on Sunday. The Duc
d'Epernon was on his right, the Duc de Montbazon and the Marquis
de la Force on his left. Lavordin and Roquelaure were in the
right boot, whilst near the left boot, opposite to Henry, sat
Mirebeau and du Plessis Liancourt. He was attended only by a
small number of gentlemen on horseback, and some footmen.
The coach turned from the Rue St. Honore into the narrow Rue de
la Ferronerie, and there was brought to a halt by a block
occasioned by the meeting of two carts, one laden with hay, the
other with wine. The footmen went ahead with the exception of
two. Of these, one advanced to clear a way for the royal vehicle,
whilst the other took the opportunity to fasten his garter.
At that moment, gliding like a shadow between the coach and the
shops, came that shabby, hideous fellow who had been sitting on
the stones outside the Louvre an hour ago.
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