“Oh, I believe so!” cried Richelieu.
“Well, trust me, M. le Duc, you shall offer her that opportunity to-night. But we have no time to lose and there is much to do. Leave the details of the plan to me.”
“I do not understand, but I trust you fully, my friend,” said Richelieu, and asked no further questions.
A relay of horses was started to St. Quentin and a second to Compeigne, to await the arrival of the carriage containing the duke and his companion. The lightest and most comfortable carriage in his stables was brought out and thoroughly overhauled. I myself saw that it was piled with cushions and equipped with everything that could add to the comfort or convenience of the travellers. I provided for every possible contingency of which I could think, and personally interviewed the man whom Richelieu had selected to drive until I was satisfied that he was thoroughly acquainted with the road and that he was no coward. The tumult caused by the discovery of the plot had quieted down, and on inquiry I found that the gates of the city were again open day and night, so that Richelieu would have no difficulty in passing the barrier. We decided that the carriage should take the most direct route and trust to speed, as it was important above everything that it should reach the frontier ahead of any of the regent’s emissaries. Richelieu collected together all the money he had and stored it in the coach. I added a sword, a brace of pistols, and a musket, and a similar equipment to the top of the coach for the use of the driver. To the rear was strapped a case containing changes of clothing. At last I could think of nothing more.
All this had taken time, and evening had come before the final arrangements were completed. Then Jacques lighted the candles and summoned us to dinner, a summons which I was not sorry to obey, for the day’s work had wearied me greatly. He had provided a feast of great elaborateness as a farewell to his master, but Richelieu seemed too nervous to enjoy it. As for me, I was so certain of success that I felt no great anxiety.
“Come, this will not do,” I remonstrated, seeing that he was merely playing with the food. “You must eat, my friend. You will have need of courage before you reach Mons, and I know of nothing which so tends to make a coward of a man as an empty stomach.”
“You are right,” he answered, “but if you knew the anxiety I am suffering at this moment you would not expect me to eat. Do you really believe we shall succeed?”
“M. le Duc,” I said, earnestly, “success will depend largely upon yourself. I agree to bring you into the presence of Mlle. de Valois. If you can persuade her to flee with you, well and good, we succeed; but if you cannot do this, we must retire defeated. Come, I drink to your success.”
“And I to yours,” he answered. “Forgive me, de Brancas, for again thinking only of myself. I hope with all my heart that you will be successful.”
I bowed with brimming eyes, for he had touched me closely.