TEX TEARS LATER. 49 "I beg your pardon!" said Giiiche, whose attention this name had awakened. "Yes, by the Duke of Buckingham. His grace has been preceded by a courier, who arrived here three days ago, and immediately retained all the houses fit for habitation which 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 Havre?" "He certainly does not occupy it, since he has not yet arrived; but when once disembarked, he will occupy it." "Oh! oh!" "It is quite clear you are not acquainted with the Eng- lish; they have a perfect rage for monopolizing every- thing." "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 Havre." "Yes, and all the hundred are let." "Impossible!" "What an obstinate fellow you are! I tell you Bucking- ham 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, caress- ing 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 dis- cussion the night had closed in, and the torches, pages, at- tendants, 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. Amid all this hesitation of purpose, Bragelonne, as though a per- fect stranger to the scene, remained on his horse somewhat in the rear of Guiche, and watched the rays of light re- DuMAS— Vol. XY. 3
