Page:Ten Years Later 2.djvu/66

56 TEN TEARS LATER. him at one and the same time, than he was, for a moment, so overcome that, had it not been for Raoul, on whose arm he leaned, he would have fallen. His friend's amazed look, and the encouraging gesture of the queen, restored Guiche to his self-possession. In a few words he explained his mis- sion, explained in what way he had become the envoy of his royal highness; and saluted, according to their rank and the reception they gave him, the admiral and several of the English noblemen who were grouped around the princesses. Eaoul was then presented, and was most graciously re- ceived; the share that the Comte de la Fere had had in the restoration of Charles II. was known to all; and, more than that, it was the comte who had been charged with the nego- tiation of the marriage, by means of which the granddaugh- ter of Henry IV. was now returning to France. Raoul spoke English perfectly, and constituted himself his friend's interpreter with the young English noblemen, who were indifferently acquainted with the French language. At this moment a young man came forward, of extremely handsome features, and whose dress and arms were remark- able for their extravagance of material. He approached the princesses, who were engaged in conversation with the Duke of Norfolk, and, in a voice which ill concealed his impa- tience, said: "It is time now to disembark, your royal highness." The younger of the princesses rose from her seat at this remark, and was about to take the hand which the young nobleman had extended to her, with an eagerness which arose from a variety of motives, when the admiral advanced between them, observing: "A moment, if you please, my lord; it is not possible for ladies to disembark Just now, the sea is too rough; it is probable the wind may abate toward four o'clock, and the lauding will not be effected, therefore, until this evening." "Allow me to observe, my lord," said Buckingham, with an irritation of manner which he did not seek to disguise, "you detain these ladies, and you have no right to do so. One of them, unhappily, now belongs to France, and you perceive that France claims them by the voice of her em- bassadors;" and at the same moment he indicated Eaoul and Guiche, whom he saluted. "I cannot suppose that these gentlemen intend to expose the lives of their royal highnesses," replied the admiral. "These gentlemen," retorted Buckingham, "arrived here safely, notwithstanding the wind; allow me to believe that