While the boat was advancing towards the shore, the duke kept his eyes immovably fixed upon the admiral's ship, like a miser torn away from his coffers, or a mother separated from her child, about to be led away to death.No one, however, acknowledged his signals, his frowns, or his pitiful gestures.In very anguish of mind, he sank down in the boat, burying his hands in his hair, whilst the boat, impelled by the exertions of the merry sailors, flew over the waves.On his arrival he was in such a state of apathy, that, had he not been received at the harbor by the messenger whom he had directed to precede him, he would hardly have had strength to ask his way.Having once, however, reached the house which had been set apart for him, he shut himself up, like Achilles in his tent.The barge bearing the princesses quitted the admiral's vessel at the very moment Buckingham landed.It was followed by another boat filled with officers, courtiers, and zealous friends.
Great numbers of the inhabitants of Havre, having embarked in fishing-cobles and boats of every description, set off to meet the royal barge.The cannon from the forts fired salutes, which were returned by the flagship and the two other vessels, and the flashes from the open mouths of the cannon floated in white fumes over the waves, and disappeared in the clear blue sky.
The princess landed at the decorated quay.Bands of gay music greeted her arrival, and accompanied her every step she took.During the time she was passing through the center of the town, and treading beneath her delicate feet the richest carpets and the gayest flowers, which had been strewn upon the ground, De Guiche and Raoul, escaping from their English friends, hurried through the town and hastened rapidly towards the place intended for the residence of Madame.
"Let us hurry forward," said Raoul to De Guiche, "for if Iread Buckingham's character aright, he will create some disturbance, when he learns the result of our deliberations of yesterday.""Never fear," said De Guiche, "De Wardes is there, who is determination itself, while Manicamp is the very personification of artless gentleness."De Guiche was not, however, the less diligent on that account, and five minutes afterwards they were within sight of the Hotel de Ville.The first thing which struck them was the number of people assembled in the square."Excellent,"said De Guiche; "our apartments, I see, are prepared."In fact, in front of the Hotel de Ville, upon the wide open space before it, eight tents had been raised, surmounted by the flags of France and England united.The hotel was surrounded by tents, as by a girdle of variegated colors;ten pages and a dozen mounted troopers, who had been given to the ambassadors, for an escort, mounted guard before the tents.It had a singularly curious effect, almost fairy-like in its appearance.These tents had been constructed during the night-time.Fitted up, within and without, with the richest materials that De Guiche had been able to procure in Havre, they completely encircled the Hotel de Ville.The only passage which led to the steps of the hotel, and which was not inclosed by the silken barricade, was guarded by two tents, resembling two pavilions, the doorways of both of which opened towards the entrance.These two tents were destined for De Guiche and Raoul; in whose absence they were intended to be occupied, that of De Guiche by De Wardes, and that of Raoul by Manicamp.Surrounding these two tents, and the six others, a hundred officers, gentlemen, and pages, dazzling in their display of silk and gold, thronged like bees buzzing about a hive.Every one of them, their swords by their sides, was ready to obey the slightest sign either of De Guiche or Bragelonne, the leaders of the embassy.
At the very moment the two young men appeared at the end of one of the streets leading to the square, they perceived, crossing the square at full gallop, a young man on horseback, whose costume was of surprising richness.He pushed hastily through the crowd of curious lookers-on, and, at the sight of these unexpected erections, uttered a cry of anger and dismay.It was Buckingham, who had awakened from his stupor, in order to adorn himself with a costume perfectly dazzling from its beauty, and to await the arrival of the princess and the queen-mother at the Hotel de Ville.
At the entrance to the tents, the soldiers barred his passage, and his further progress was arrested.Buckingham, hopelessly infuriated, raised his whip; but his arm was seized by a couple of officers.Of the two guardians of the tent, only one was there.De Wardes was in the interior of the Hotel de Ville, engaged in attending to the execution of some orders given by De Guiche.At the noise made by Buckingham Manicamp, who was indolently reclining upon the cushions at the doorway of one of the tents, rose with his usual indifference, and, perceiving that the disturbance continued, made his appearance from underneath the curtains.