The crowd was caused, not by the expectation of a man to behanged, but by the contemplation of a man who was hanged.

The carriage, which had been stopped for a minute, resumed itsway, passed through the crowd, threaded the Rue St. Honore,turned into the Rue des Bons Enfants, and stopped before a lowdoor.

The door opened; two guards received Bonacieux in their arms fromthe officer who supported him. They carried him through analley, up a flight of stairs, and deposited him in anantechamber.

All these movements had been effected mechanically, as far as hewas concerned. He had walked as one walks in a dream; he had aglimpse of objects as through a fog. His ears had perceivedsounds without comprehending them; he might have been executed atthat moment without his making a single gesture in his owndefense or uttering a cry to implore mercy.

He remained on the bench, with his back leaning against the walland his hands hanging down, exactly on the spot where the guardsplaced him.

On looking around him, however, as he could perceive nothreatening object, as nothing indicated that he ran any realdanger, as the bench was comfortably covered with a well-stuffedcushion, as the wall was ornamented with a beautiful Cordovaleather, and as large red damask curtains, fastened back by goldclasps, floated before the window, he perceived by degrees thathis fear was exaggerated, and he began to turn his head to theright and the left, upward and downward.

At this movement, which nobody opposed, he resumed a littlecourage, and ventured to draw up one leg and then the other. Atlength, with the help of his two hands he lifted himself from thebench, and found himself on his feet.

At this moment an officer with a pleasant face opened a door,continued to exchange some words with a person in the nextchamber and then came up to the prisoner. "Is your nameBonacieux?" said he.

"Yes, Monsieur Officer," stammered the mercer, more dead thanalive, "at your service."

"Come in," said the officer.

And he moved out of the way to let the mercer pass. The latterobeyed without reply, and entered the chamber, where he appearedto be expected.

It was a large cabinet, close and stifling, with the wallsfurnished with arms offensive and defensive, and in which therewas already a fire, although it was scarcely the end of the monthof September. A square table, covered with books and papers,upon which was unrolled an immense plan of the city of LaRochelle, occupied the center of the room.

Standing before the chimney was a man of middle height, of ahaughty, proud mien; with piercing eyes, a large brow, and a thinface, which was made still longer by a ROYAL (or IMPERIAL, as itis now called), surmounted by a pair of mustaches. Although thisman was scarcely thirty-six or thirty-seven years of age, hair,mustaches, and royal, all began to be gray. This man, except asword, had all the appearance of a soldier; and his buff bootsstill slightly covered with dust, indicated that he had been onhorseback in the course of the day.

This man was Armand Jean Duplessis, Cardinal de Richelieu; notsuch as he is now represented - broken down like an old man,suffering like a martyr, his body bent, his voice failing, buriedin a large armchair as in an anticipated tomb; no longer livingbut by the strength of his genius, and no longer maintaining thestruggle with Europe but by the eternal application of histhoughts - but such as he really was at this period; that is tosay, an active and gallant cavalier, already weak of body, butsustained by that moral power which made of him one of the mostextraordinary men that ever lived, preparing, after havingsupported the Duc de Nevers in his duchy of Mantua, after havingtaken Nimes, Castres, and Uzes, to drive the English from theIsle of Re and lay siege to La Rochelle.

At first sight, nothing denoted the cardinal; and it wasimpossible for those who did not know his face to guess in whosepresence they were.

The poor mercer remained standing at the door, while the eyes ofthe personage we have just described were fixed upon him, andappeared to wish to penetrate even into the depths of the past.

"Is this that Bonacieux?" asked he, after a moment of silence.

"Yes, monseigneur," replied the officer.

"That's well. Give me those papers, and leave us."

The officer took from the table the papers pointed out, gave themto him who asked for them, bowed to the ground, and retired.

Bonacieux recognized in these papers his interrogatories of theBastille. From time to time the man by the chimney raised hiseyes from the writings, and plunged them like poniards into theheart of the poor mercer.

At the end of ten minutes of reading and ten seconds ofexamination, the cardinal was satisfied.

"That head has never conspired," murmured he, "but it mattersnot; we will see."

"You are accused of high treason," said the cardinal, slowly.

"So I have been told already, monseigneur," cried Bonacieux,giving his interrogator the title he had heard the officer givehim, "but I swear to you that I know nothing about it."

The cardinal repressed a smile.

"You have conspired with your wife, with Madame de Chevreuse, andwith my Lord Duke of Buckingham."

"Indeed, monseigneur," responded the mercer, "I have heard herpronounce all those names."

"And on what occasion?"

"She said that the Cardinal de Richelieu had drawn the Duke ofBuckingham to Paris to ruin him and to ruin the queen."

"She said that?" cried the cardinal, with violence.

"Yes, monseigneur, but I told her she was wrong to talk aboutsuch things; and that his Eminence was incapable - "

"Hold your tongue! You are stupid," replied the cardinal.

"That's exactly what my wife said, monseigneur."

"Do you know who carried off your wife?"

"No, monsigneur."

"You have suspicions, nevertheless?"

"Yes, monsigneur; but these suspicions appeared to bedisagreeable to Monsieur the Commissary, and I no longer havethem."

"Your wife has escaped. Did you know that?"

"No, monseigneur. I learned it since I have been in prison, andthat from the conversation of Monsieur the Commissary - an amiableman."

The cardinal repressed another smile.

"Then you are ignorant of what has become of your wife since herflight."

"Absolutely, monseigneur; but she has most likely returned to theLouvre."

"At one o'clock this morning she had not returned."

"My God! What can have become of her, then?"

"We shall know, be assured. Nothing is concealed from thecardinal; the cardinal knows everything."

"In that case, monseigneur, do you believe the cardinal will beso kind as to tell me what has become of my wife?"

"Perhaps he may; but you must, in the first place, reveal to thecardinal all you know of your wife's relations with Madame deChevreuse."

"But, monseigneur, I know nothing about them; I have never seenher."

"When you went to fetch your wife from the Louvre, did you alwaysreturn directly home?"

"Scarcely ever; she had business to transact with linen drapers,to whose houses I conducted her."

"And how many were there of these linen drapers?"

"Two, monseigneur."

"And where did they live?"

"One in Rue de Vaugirard, the other Rue de la Harpe."

"Did you go into these houses with her?"

"Never, monseigneur; I waited at the door."

"And what excuse did she give you for entering all alone?"

"She gave me none; she told me to wait, and I waited."

"You are a very complacent husband, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux," said the cardinal.

"He calls me his dear Monsieur," said the mercer to himself."PESTE! Matters are going all right."

"Should you know those doors again?"

"Yes."

"Do you know the numbers?"

"Yes."

"What are they?"

"No. 25 in the Rue de Vaugirard; 75 in the Rue de la Harpe."

"That's well," said the cardinal.

At these words he took up a silver bell, and rang it; the officerentered.

"Go," said he, in a subdued voice, "and find Rochefort. Tell himto come to me immediately, if he has returned."

"The count is here," said the officer, "and requests to speakwith your Eminence instantly."

"Let him come in, then!" said the cardinal, quickly.

The officer sprang out of the apartment with that alacrity whichall the servants of the cardinal displayed in obeying him.

"To your Eminence!" murmured Bonacieux, rolling his eyes round inastonishment.

Five seconds has scarcely elapsed after the disappearance of theofficer, when the door opened, and a new personage entered.

"It is he!" cried Bonacieux.

"He! What he?" asked the cardinal.

"The man who abducted my wife."

The cardinal rang a second time. The officer reappeared.

"Place this man in the care of his guards again, and let him waittill I send for him."

"No, monseigneur, no, it is not he!" cried Bonacieux; "no, I wasdeceived. This is quite another man, and does not resemble himat all. Monsieur is, I am sure, an honest man."

"Take away that fool!" said the cardinal.

The officer took Bonacieux by the arm, and led him into theantechamber, where he found his two guards.

The newly introduced personage followed Bonacieux impatientlywith his eyes till he had gone out; and the moment the doorclosed, "They have seen each other;" said he, approaching thecardinal eagerly.

"Who?" asked his Eminence.

"He and she."

"The queen and the duke?" cried Richelieu.

"Yes."

"Where?"

"At the Louvre."

"Are you sure of it?"

"Perfectly sure."

"Who told you of it?"

"Madame de Lannoy, who is devoted to your Eminence, as you know."

"Why did she not let me know sooner?"

"Whether by chance or mistrust, the queen made Madame de Surgissleep in her chamber, and detained her all day."

"Well, we are beaten! Now let us try to take our revenge."

"I will assist you with all my heart, monseigneur; be assured ofthat."

"How did it come about?"

"At half past twelve the queen was with her women - "

"Where?"

"In her bedchamber - "

"Go on."

"When someone came and brought her a handkerchief from herlaundress."

"And then?"

"The queen immediately exhibited strong emotion; and despite therouge with which her face was covered evidently turned pale - "

"And then, and then?"

"She then arose, and with altered voice, 'Ladies,' said she,'wait for me ten minutes, I shall soon return.' She then openedthe door of her alcove, and went out."

"Why did not Madame de Lannoy come and inform you instantly?"

"Nothing was certain; besides, her Majesty had said, 'Ladies,wait for me,' and she did not dare to disobey the queen."

"How long did the queen remain out of the chamber?"

"Three-quarters of an hour."

"None of her women accompanied her?"

"Only Donna Estafania."

"Did she afterward return?"

"Yes; but only to take a little rosewood casket, with her cipherupon it, and went out again immediately."

"And when she finally returned, did she bring that casket withher?"

"No."

"Does Madame de Lannoy know what was in that casket?"

"Yes; the diamond studs which his Majesty gave the queen."

"And she came back without this casket?"

"Yes."

"Madame de Lannoy, then, is of opinion that she gave them toBuckingham?"

"She is sure of it."

"How can she be so?"

"In the course of the day Madame de Lannoy, in her quality oftire-woman of the queen, looked for this casket, appeared uneasyat not finding it, and at length asked information of the queen."

"And then the queen?"

"The queen became exceedingly red, and replied that having in theevening broken one of those studs, she had sent it to hergoldsmith to be repaired."

"He must be called upon, and so ascertain if the thing be true ornot."

"I have just been with him."

"And the goldsmith?"

"The goldsmith has heard nothing of it."

"Well, well! Rochefort, all is not lost; and perhaps - perhapseverything is for the best."

"The fact is that I do not doubt your Eminence's genius - "

"Will repair the blunders of his agent - is that it?"

"That is exactly what I was going to say, if your Eminence hadlet me finish my sentence."

"Meanwhile, do you know where the Duchesse de Chevreuse and theDuke of Buckingham are now concealed?"

"No, monseigneur; my people could tell me nothing on that head."

"But I know."

"You, monseigneur?"

"Yes; or at least I guess. They were, one in the Rue deVaugirard, No. 25; the other in the Rue de la Harpe, No. 75."

"Does your Eminence command that they both be instantlyarrested?"

"It will be too late; they will be gone."

"But still, we can make sure that they are so."

"Take ten men of my Guardsmen, and search the two housesthoroughly."

"Instantly, monseigneur." And Rochefort went hastily out of theapartment.

The cardinal being left alone, reflected for an instant and thenrang the bell a third time. The same officer appeared.

"Bring the prisoner in again," said the cardinal.

M. Bonacieux was introduced afresh, and upon a sign from thecardinal, the officer retired.

"You have deceived me!" said the cardinal, sternly.

"I," cried Bonacieux, "I deceive your Eminence!"

"Your wife, in going to Rue de Vaugirard and Rue de la Harpe, didnot go to find linen drapers."

"Then why did she go, just God?"

"She went to meet the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham."

"Yes," cried Bonacieux, recalling all his remembrances of thecircumstances, "yes, that's it. Your Eminence is right. I toldmy wife several times that it was surprising that linen drapersshould live in such houses as those, in houses that had no signs;but she always laughed at me. Ah, monseigneur!" continuedBonacieux, throwing himself at his Eminence's feet, "ah, howtruly you are the cardinal, the great cardinal, the man of geniuswhom all the world reveres!"

The cardinal, however contemptible might be the triumph gainedover so vulgar a being as Bonacieux, did not the less enjoy itfor an instant; then, almost immediately, as if a fresh thoughthas occurred, a smile played upon his lips, and he said, offeringhis hand to the mercer, "Rise, my friend, you are a worthy man."

"The cardinal has touched me with his hand! I have touched thehand of the great man!" cried Bonacieux. "The great man hascalled me his friend!"

"Yes, my friend, yes," said the cardinal, with that paternal tonewhich he sometimes knew how to assume, but which deceived nonewho knew him; "and as you have been unjustly suspected, well, youmust be indemnified. Here, take this purse of a hundredpistoles, and pardon me."

"I pardon you, monseigneur!" said Bonacieux, hesitating to takethe purse, fearing, doubtless, that this pretended gift was but apleasantry. "But you are able to have me arrested, you are ableto have me tortured, you are able to have me hanged; you are themaster, and I could not have the least word to say. Pardon you,monseigneur! You cannot mean that!"

"Ah, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, you are generous in this matter.I see it and I thank you for it. Thus, then, you will take thisbag, and you will go away without being too malcontent."

"I go away enchanted."

"Farewell, then, or rather, AU REVOIR!"

And the cardinal made him a sign with his hand, to whichBonacieux replied by bowing to the ground. He then went outbackward, and when he was in the antechamber the cardinal heardhim, in his enthusiasm, crying aloud, "Long life to theMonseigneur! Long life to his Eminence! Long life to the greatcardinal!" The cardinal listened with a smile to this vociferousmanifestation of the feelings of M. Bonacieux; and then, whenBonacieux's cries were no longer audible, "Good!" said he, "thatman would henceforward lay down his life for me." And thecardinal began to examine with the greatest attention the map ofLa Rochelle, which, as we have said, lay open on the desk,tracing with a pencil the line in which the famous dyke was topass which, eighteen months later, shut up the port of thebesieged city. As he was in the deepest of his strategicmeditations, the door opened, and Rochefort returned.

"Well?" said the cardinal, eagerly, rising with a promptitudewhich proved the degree of importance he attached to thecommission with which he had charged the count.

"Well," said the latter, "a young woman of about twenty-six ortwenty-eight years of age, and a man of from thirty-five toforty, have indeed lodged at the two houses pointed out by yourEminence; but the woman left last night, and the man thismorning."

"It was they!" cried the cardinal, looking at the clock; "and nowit is too late to have them persued. The duchess is at Tours,and the duke at Boulogne. It is in London they must be found."

"What are your Eminence's orders?"

"Not a word of what has passed. Let the queen remain in perfectsecurity; let her be ignorant that we know her secret. Let herbelieve that we are in search of some conspiracy or other. Sendme the keeper of the seals, Seguier."

"And that man, what has your Eminence done with him?"

"What man?" asked the cardinal.

"That Bonacieux."

"I have done with him all that could be done. I have made him aspy upon his wife."

The Comte de Rochefort bowed like a man who acknowledges thesuperiority of the master as great, and retired.

Left alone, the cardinal seated himself again and wrote a letter,which he secured with his special seal. Then he rang. Theofficer entered for the fourth time.

"Tell Vitray to come to me," said he, "and tell him to get readyfor a journey."

An instant after, the man he asked for was before him, booted andspurred.

"Vitray," said he, "you will go with all speed to London. Youmust not stop an instant on the way. You will deliver thisletter to Milady. Here is an order for two hundred pistoles;call upon my treasurer and get the money. You shall have as muchagain if you are back within six days, and have executed yourcommission well."

The messenger, without replying a single word, bowed, took theletter, with the order for the two hundred pistoles, and retired.

Here is what the letter contained:

MILADY, Be at the first ball at which the Duke of Buckinghamshall be present. He will wear on his doublet twelve diamondstuds; get as near to him as you can, and cut off two.

As soon as these studs shall be in your possession, inform me.