The two friends laughed; then, as the duke had sent to inquire for Bussy, they separated with renewed promises of friendship, and charmed with each other. Bussy went to the ducal palace, where already all the nobility of the provinces were arriving. He hastened to arrange an official reception, a repast and speeches, and having thus cut out some hours’ occupation for the prince, mounted his other horse, and galloped to Méridor. The duke made some good speeches, and produced a great effect, giving himself out for a prince persecuted by the king on account of the love of the Parisians for him. When Bussy returned, it was four in the afternoon; he dismounted, and presented himself to the duke all covered with dust. “Ah! my brave Bussy, you have been at work?” “You see, monseigneur.” “You are very hot.” “I have ridden fast.” “Take care not to get ill again.” “There is no danger.” “Whence do you come?” “From the environs. Is your highness content? have you had a numerous assemblage?” “Yes, I am pretty well satisfied, but I missed some one.” “Who?” “Your protege, the Baron de Méridor.” Bussy changed color. “And yet we must not neglect him,” continued the duke, “he is influential here.” “You think so?” “I am sure of it. He was the correspondent of the League at Angers, chosen by M. de Guise, and the Guises choose their men well. He must come, Bussy.” “But if he does not come?” “I will go to him.” “To Méridor?” “Why not?” “Oh, why not, certainly,” cried Bussy, with flashing eyes, “a prince may do anything.” “Then you think he is still angry with me?” “How should I know?” “You have not seen him?” “No.” “As one of the great men of the province, I thought----” “I was not sufficiently fortunate in the former promises I made him to be in a hurry to present myself to him.” “Has he not attained his object?” “How so?” “He wanted his daughter to marry the count, and she has done so.” Bussy turned his back on the duke, who, at the same moment, moved towards another gentleman who entered the room. Bussy began to reflect on what the duke’s projects were with regard to the baron--whether they were purely political, or whether he was still seeking to approach Diana; but he imagined that, embroiled with his brother, banished from the Louvre, and the chief of provincial insurrection, he had sufficiently grave interests at stake to outweigh his love fancies. He passed the night banqueting with the duke and the Angevin gentlemen, then in dancing with the Angevin ladies. It is needless to say that he was the admiration of the latter, and the hatred of the husbands, several of whom looked at him in a way which did not please him, so that, curling his mustachios, he invited three or four of them to take a walk with him by moonlight; but his reputation had preceded him, and they all declined. At the door Bussy found a laughing face waiting for him, which he believed to be eighty leagues off. “Ah,” cried he joyfully, “it is you, Rémy.”