And it was done. I know not what I had expected,—a bolt from heaven, perhaps—some warning of divine displeasure,—but in my heart I had not until this moment believed that this marriage was to be. What followed I do not know. I heard a confused sound of chanting far in the distance; the odor of incense was in my nostrils. A movement in the crowd jostled me rudely, and as the people fell back to right and left I saw again the victim of this sacrifice, her eyes more luminous, her face more livid, but her head no less erect, her step no less firm. At her side was a dark and swarthy man whom I had never seen before, but whom I knew to be the representative of the Duc de Modena, for the marriage had been by proxy. They passed down the aisle and out of sight.
I stood as a man dazed. I could not believe that what I had witnessed had really happened. It seemed that I must be dreaming. A touch on the arm aroused me, and I turned to find Richelieu at my side.
“Come, my friend,” he said, smiling sadly, “I, too, have just received an order from the regent. It is to join my regiment at Bayonne without delay. A guard of horse awaits me at the door.”
“And you will go?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered, “I shall be glad to get away from Paris for a time. There is nothing but sad memories here for me. You are to make my house your home,” he continued, earnestly. “Perhaps, some time, you may even care to join me at Bayonne. Good-by, my friend,” and as though unable to say more, he pressed my hand and hurried towards the door.
I gazed after him until he had disappeared in the crowd, and I wondered sadly what I should do alone in Paris. Without Richelieu and without Louise my life would indeed be aimless and void of interest. I watched the crowd as it gradually dispersed. More than one curious glance was shot in my direction, but no one spoke to me, and the chapel soon became deserted.
A voice at my side startled me.
“Monsieur has an appointment with the regent, has he not?” asked the voice, and I turned and saw one of the ushers of the palace.
“Yes; I had forgot it,” I answered, remembering in a moment the order I had received ere I was out of bed.
“I will conduct monsieur to the audience-chamber,” he said, and at a gesture of assent he led the way.