Chapter fifty-three of the above book recounts the siege itself,--as we

know it in history,--but with all that added picturesqueness which Dumas commanded.

"'Henri will not pay me his sister's dowry, and Margot cries out for her dear Cahors. One must do what one's wife wants, for peace's sake; therefore I am going to try to take Cahors.'...

"Henri set off at full gallop, and Chicot followed him. On arriving in front of his little army, Henri raised his visor, and cried:

"'Out with the banner! out with the new banner!'

"They drew forth the banner, which had the double scutcheon of Navarre and Bourbon; it was white, and had chains of gold on one side, and _fleurs-de-lis_ on the other.

"Again the cannon from Cahors were fired, and the balls tore through a file of infantry near the king....

"'Oh!' cried M. de Turenne, 'the siege of the city is over, Vezin.' And as he spoke he fired at him and wounded him in the arm....

"'You are wrong, Turenne,' cried M. de Vezin; 'there are twenty sieges in Cahors; so, if one is over, there are nineteen to come.'

"M. de Vezin defended himself during five days and nights from street to street and from house to house. Luckily for the rising fortunes of Henri of Navarre, he had counted too much on the walls and garrison of Cahors, and had neglected to send to M. de Biron....

"During these five days and nights, Henri commanded like a captain and fought like a soldier, slept with his head on a stone, and awoke sword in hand. Each day they conquered a street or a square, which each night the garrison tried to retake. On the fourth night the enemy seemed willing to give some rest to the Protestant army. Then it was Henri who attacked in his turn. He forced an intrenched position, but it cost him seven hundred men. M. de Turenne and nearly all the officers were wounded, but the king remained untouched."

* * * * *

The Pyrenean city of Pau is more than once referred to by Dumas in the Valois romances, as was but natural, considering that its ancient chateau was the _berceau_ of that Prince of Bearn who later married the intriguing Marguerite, and became ultimately Henri IV.

This fine old structure--almost the only really splendid historical monument of the city--had for long been the residence of the Kings of Navarre; was rebuilt in the fourteenth century by the brilliant Gaston Phoebus; and enlarged and luxuriously embellished by the beautiful Marguerite herself in the sixteenth century, after she had become _la femme de Henri d'Albert_, as her spouse was then known.

As might be expected, Dumas was exceedingly familiar with the suburban topography of Paris, and made frequent use of it in his novels.

It is in "The Count of Monte Cristo," however, that this intimacy is best shown; possibly for the reason that therein he dealt with times less remote than those of the court romances of the "Valois" and the "Capets."

When Dantes comes to Paris,--as the newly made count,--he forthwith desires to be ensconced in an establishment of his own. Dumas recounts the incident thus:

"'And the cards I ordered to be engraved as soon as you knew the number of the house?'

"'M. le Comte, it is done already. I have been myself to the best engraver of the Palais Royal, who did the plate in my presence. The first card struck off was taken, according to your orders, to M. le Baron Danglars, Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, No. 7.'...

"As the steward had said, the notary awaited him in the small salon. He was a simple-looking lawyer's clerk, elevated to the extraordinary dignity of a provincial scrivener.

"'You are the notary empowered to sell the country-house that I wish to purchase, monsieur?' asked Monte Cristo.

"'Yes, M. le Comte,' returned the notary.

"'Is the deed of sale ready?'

"'Yes, M. le Comte.'

"'Have you brought it?'

"'Here it is.'

"'Very well; and where is this house that I purchase?' asked the count, carelessly, addressing himself half to Bertuccio, half to the notary. The steward made a gesture that signified, 'I do not know.' The notary looked at the count with astonishment.

"'What!' said he, 'does not M. le Comte know where the house he purchases is situated?'

"'No,' returned the count.

"'M. le Comte does not know it?'

"'How should I know it? I have arrived from Cadiz this morning. I have never before been at Paris: and it is the first time I have ever even set my foot in France!'

"'Ah, that is different; the house you purchase is situated at Auteuil, in the Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28.' At these words Bertuccio turned pale.

"'And where is Auteuil?' asked the count.

"'Close here, monsieur,' replied the notary; 'a little beyond Passy; a charming situation, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne.'

"'So near as that?' said the count. 'But that is not in the country. What made you choose a house at the gates of Paris, M. Bertuccio?'

"'I?' cried the steward, with a strange expression. 'M. le Comte did not charge me to purchase this house. If M. le Comte will recollect--if he will think--'

"'Ah, true,' observed Monte Cristo; 'I recollect now. I read the advertisement in one of the papers, and was tempted by the false title, "a country-house."'

"'It is not yet too late,' cried Bertuccio, eagerly; 'and if your Excellency will entrust me with the commission, I will find you a better at Enghien, at Fontenay-aux-Roses, or at Bellevue.'

"'Oh, no,' returned Monte Cristo, negligently; 'since I have this, I will keep it.'

"'And you are quite right,' said the notary, who feared to lose his fee. 'It is a charming place, well supplied with spring-water and fine trees; a comfortable habitation, although abandoned for a long time; without reckoning the furniture, which, although old, is yet valuable, now that old things are so much sought after. I suppose M. le Comte has the tastes of the day?'"

Whatever may have been Dumas' prodigality with regard to money matters in his personal affairs, he was evidently a good traveller, in the sense that he knew how to plan a journey with the greatest economy.

One sees evidences of this in the "Count of Monte Cristo," where he describes the journey of Madame de Morcerf from Paris to Marseilles.

"'I have made inquiries,' said Albert, 'respecting the diligences and steamboats, and my calculations are made. You will take your place in the coupe to Chalons. You see, mother, I treat you handsomely for thirty-five francs.'

"Albert then took a pen, and wrote:

_Frs._

Coupe to Chalons, thirty-five francs 35 From Chalons to Lyons you will go on by the steamboat--six francs 6 From Lyons to Avignon (still by steamboat), sixteen francs 16 From Avignon to Marseilles, seven francs 7 Expenses on the road, about fifty francs 50 ---- Total 114

"'Let us put down 120,' added Albert, smiling. 'You see I am generous; am I not, mother?'

"'But you, my poor child?'

"'I! do you not see I reserve eighty francs for myself? A young man does not require luxuries; besides, I know what travelling is.'

"'With a post-chaise and _valet de chambre_?'"

The route is practicable even to-day, though probably not at the prices given, and one does not go by steamboat from Chalons to Lyons, though he may from Lyons to Avignon.