"Well, Tavannes," the Grand Master called out as he ran after the King's companion, who was making his way back to the Louvre, "what adventures have you had?"
"We dropped on a full council of wizards, and arrested two who are friends of yours, and who will explain for the benefit of French noblemen by what means you, who are not Frenchmen, have contrived to clutch two Crown offices," said Tavannes, half in jest.
"And the King?" asked the Grand Master, who was not much disturbed by Tavannes' hostility.
"He is staying with his mistress."
"We have risen to where we stand by the most absolute devotion to our masters, a brilliant and noble career which you too have adopted, my dear Duke," replied the Maréchal de Retz.
The three courtiers walked on in silence. As they bid each other good-night, rejoining their retainers, who escorted them home, two men lightly glided along the Rue de l'Autruche in the shadow of the wall. These were the King and the Comte de Solern, who soon reached the river-bank at a spot where a boat and rowers, engaged by the German Count, were awaiting them. In a few minutes they had reached the opposite shore.
"My mother is not in bed," cried the King, "she will see us; we have not made a good choice of our meeting-place."
"She will think some duel is in the wind," said Solern. "And how is she to distinguish who we are at this distance?"
"Well! Even if she sees me!" cried Charles IX. "I have made up my mind now."