Meanwhile the Duc and the Comte were approaching Champigny, but
in very differing frames of mind. The Duc was full of joy and all
the happiness of expectation. The Comte was in a mood of despair
and anger, which tempted him at times to run his sword through
his rival. They at last reached the park, where they left their
horses in the care of the Duc's squire, and passing through a gap
in the wall they came to the flower garden. The Comte had always
retained some hope that the Princess would come to her senses and
resolve not to see the Duc, but when he saw that the drawbridge
was lowered he realised that his hope was in vain. He was tempted
to take some desperate measure, but he was aware that any noise
would be heard by the Prince de Montpensier whose rooms looked
out onto the same flower-garden, and that all the subsequent
disorder would fall on the head of the one he loved most. He
calmed himself and led the Duc to the presence of the Princess.
Although the Princess signaled that she would like him to stay in
the room during the interview, he was unwilling to do so, and
retired to a little passage which ran alongside the Princess's
apartment, a prey to the saddest thoughts which could afflict a
disappointed lover.

Now, although they had made very little noise while crossing the
bridge, the Prince de Montpensier was awake and heard it. He made
one of his servants get up and go to see what it was. The servant
put his head out of the window and in the darkness he could make
out that the drawbridge was lowered. He told his master who then
ordered him to go into the park and find out what was going on. A
moment later he got up himself, being disturbed by what he
thought he had heard, that is footsteps on the bridge leading to
his wife's quarters.