His Grace was preceded by a courier, who arrived here three days ago, and immediately retained all the houses fit for habitation the town possesses." "Come, come, Manicamp, let us understand each other." "Well, what I have told you is clear enough, it seems to me." "But surely Buckingham does not occupy the whole of Le Havre ?" "He certainly does not occupy it, since he has not yet arrived; but, once disembarked, he will occupy it." "Oh! oh!" "It is quite clear you are not acquainted with the English; they have a perfect rage for monopolizing everything." "That may be; but a man who has the whole of one house, is satisfied with it, and does not require two." "Yes, but two men ?" "Be it so; for two men, two houses, or four or six, or ten, if you like; but there are a hundred houses at Le Havre." "Yes, and all the hundred are let." "Impossible!" "What an obstinate fellow you are.

I tell you Buckingham has hired all the houses surrounding the one which the queen dowager of England and the princess her daughter will inhabit." "He is singular enough, indeed," said De Wardes, caressing his horse's neck.
"Such is the case, however, monsieur." "You are quite sure of it, Monsieur de Manicamp ?" and as he put this question, he looked slyly at De Guiche, as though to interrogate him upon the degree of confidence to be placed in his friend's state of mind.

During this discussion the night had closed in, and the torches, pages, attendants, squires, horses, and carriages, blocked up the gate and the open place; the torches were reflected in the channel, which the rising tide was gradually filling, while on the other side of the jetty might be noticed groups of curious lookers-on, consisting of sailors and townspeople, who seemed anxious to miss nothing of the spectacle.

Amidst all this hesitation of purpose, Bragelonne, as though a perfect stranger to the scene, remained on his horse somewhat in the rear of Guiche, and watched the rays of light reflected on the water, inhaling with rapture the sea breezes, and listening to the waves which noisily broke upon the shore and on the beach, tossing the spray into the air with a noise that echoed in the distance.

"But," exclaimed De Guiche, "what is Buckingham's motive for providing such a supply of lodgings ?" "Yes, yes," said De Wardes; "what reason has he ?" "A very excellent one," replied Manicamp.
"You know what it is, then ?" "I fancy I do." "Tell us, then." "Bend your head down towards me." "What! may it not be spoken except in private ?" "You shall judge of that yourself." "Very well." De Guiche bent down.
"Love," said Manicamp.
"I do not understand you at all." "Say rather, you cannot understand me yet." "Explain yourself." "Very well; it is quite certain, count, that his royal highness will be the most unfortunate of husbands." "What do you mean ?" "The Duke of Buckingham--" "It is a name of ill omen to the princes of the house of France." "And so the duke is madly in love with Madame, so the rumor runs, and will have no one approach her but himself." De Guiche colored.