Yet had you thought fit," he continued, aloud, "I should have released you from these gentlemen in the wood here, which is so dense that their horses would not have been able to stir.

A peasant informed me of the insult passed upon us, more than upon you, by this violation of my father's house." "It is the King's order, my boy, and we must respect his will; reserve your ardor for his service, though I thank you with all my heart.

Now farewell, and let me proceed on my agreeable journey." De Launay interposed, "I may inform you, Monsieur de Cinq-Mars, that I have been desired by the King himself to assure Monsieur le Marechal, that he is deeply afflicted at the step he has found it necessary to take, and that it is solely from an apprehension that Monsieur le Marechal may be led into evil that his Majesty requests him to remain for a few days in the Bastille."-- [He remained there twelve years.] Bassompierre turned his head toward Cinq-Mars with a hearty laugh.

"You see, my friend, how we young men are placed under guardianship; so take care of yourself." "I will go, then," said Henri; "this is the last time I shall play the knight-errant for any one against his will;" and, reentering the wood as the carriage dashed off at full speed, he proceeded by narrow paths toward the castle, followed at a short distance by Grandchamp and his small escort.
On arriving at the foot of the western tower, he reined in his horse.

He did not alight, but, approaching so near the wall that he could rest his foot upon an abutment, he stood up, and raised the blind of a window on the ground-floor, made in the form of a portcullis, such as is still seen on some ancient buildings.
It was now past midnight, and the moon was hidden behind the clouds.