Original subtitles

...Return at once, understood?

I will do everything as instructed!

Then this is all. Go!

Oh Lord...

Finally!

"The one you expect will not come, as the one who had not been expected arrived."

"He is even more dangerous than ever, for he still loves."

"Feel with the soul and the heart all that this letter could not convey."

Based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas (père)

La Dame de Monsoreau

Episode 16

Well, Your Highness... I will openly admit that our armoury made a dreary impression!

Those muskets have been stored in the damp for far too long and will never shoot again.

-What should we do? -Order a new consignment at once, of course.

You are right, as always.

Monsieur, prepare a decree template for a new tax.

Will be done, Monseigneur!

The money will be used to improve our defense.

Wait, Monseigneur - I think something interesting is happening there!

I cannot say I have seen anything like it before!

Who is that man?

I will find out, Monseigneur.

-Stop. -My respects, monsieur.

-Who are you? -One of monsieur de Monsoreau´s people.

Tell me your name.

I don`t know it, monsieur - don`t remember my parents.

But people call me Demon.

Demon?

You are an excellent warrior!

Worth ten good fighters.

Take this, Little Demon!

Thank you, monsieur!

Come, Bussy, we must go.

-So, what now? -Our new troops, Your Highness!

Unfortunately, this is all that could be found in the environs...

Well, well...

This is hardly a cause for celebration.

Come, let us see if my people are any good with a rapier!

Well, do you approve?

Yes, Monseigneur, I certainly approve!

I approve to such an extent that I would like to show you something as well.

Messieurs, your attention, please!

You.

Monsieur, I will attack now.

It can happen like this, Monseigneur.

Or like this.

This happens too, but rarely. You and you!

All three!

You are dead, monsieur!

Leave the battlefield!

Little Demon, come here!

As you wish, monsieur.

-Can you use this weapon? -Yes. monsieur.

Well, monsieur, you won this time.

Yes, now I understand what Spaniards must have felt seeing you in battle!

Are you too warm? Take care not to fall ill!

I suspect you have not fully recovered from the last time.

Nothing of the sort will happen, Monseigneur.

-Monsieur le Comte... -What do you want?

Forgive me, Monseigneur, it will be just a minute.

What did you see? Or hear? Tell me!

I did everything as instructed...

I heard steps and... I think a woman`s voice?

Voice?

-You heard a voice? -Yes!

So she was there.

She was waiting for me!

I must go see her at once.

-Have you understood everything? -Forgive me, Monseigneur.

-Yes? -You were right.

I should not have ignored my wound from that fight with the accursed Mignons...

I must ask Remy to examine it.

How careless you are with your health! To bed with you - it is an order!

-Last thing we need is you falling ill now! -Yes.

Right when I have such need of your martial expertise.

I will have someone from my retinue accompany you.

Do not worry, Monseigneur! I just do not wish for your people...

...to witness my weakness.

I have my page here - he will take good care of me.

I read your message! But I have been waiting anyway...

I have not left my place by the window - and I saw you there, in the open!

My dearest, I just wanted to say... Believe me, no matter what happens, I will protect our love.

...Or I will die trying!

Yes, indeed - it is monsieur de Bussy!

-Our worry was for naught! -Forgive me, did we interrupt..?

I saw Diana dash towards the park and was worried something might have happened!

I received your letter, Bussy, and intended to visit you in Angers today...

...but as you are already here, maybe we could talk right now?

-Yes, with pleasure. -Forgive us, it will not be long.

I am glad to have this opportunity...

My dear Bussy, I am very happy to see you again!

But first I must confess that there are no secrets between my wife and myself...

Jeanne told me everything.

Congratulations! And allow me to give you some advice...

Yes?

Get rid of that repulsive Monsoreau!

Nobody at court knows of your relationship with his wife...

So, when you marry Diana - later, of course - no one will suspect...

...that you made a widow of her in order to marry her!

Unfortunately, there is a little flaw in your lovely plan, dear St. Luc.

Which flaw?

I swore to Diana to spare her husband`s life.

Unless he attacks me himself, of course.

Oh... You made a mistake.

A great mistake, Bussy - should Monsoreau discover your secret, he will kill you!

I place myself in our Lord`s hands.

But I cannot break my vow to Diana.

Besides, you know the court well, St. Luc -

I will be stoned to death! The one everyone considers a monster...

...upon dying, will be an angel I killed.

This is why I do not advise you to kill him with your own hands...

By all saints! Are you suggesting I hire assassins?

-Such rotten advice from you! -Who said anything of assassins?

What do you mean then?

I have an idea, but it has not yet matured enough to share with you.

To tell the truth, I dislike Monsoreau as well, although I do not have your reasons for hating him.

Let us talk about something more pleasant!

Do you have any news from Paris?

I do.

-A very exciting piece of news indeed! -Do tell!

The duke of Anjou is in Angers.

-How?! The duke is in Angers?! -He arrived yesterday evening.

-Rumour has it he has been imprisoned in the Louvre! -He was imprisoned there.

But he is in Angers now.

He managed to escape and came here searching for safety.

-What will happen now?! -You will have a great opportunity...

...to take revenge on the king for everything he did to offend you.

The duke already has allies and will have an army soon -

We will unleash a small but fine civil war here, St. Luc!

-Damn it! -I expect...

...that I will have your sword on my side?

Raise it against the king?

Why, why "against the king"?

We will fight those who draw their swords against us!

You know, my dear Bussy... I came to Anjou for fresh air.

And not in order to go to war against the king!

So you do not even wish to be introduced to the duke?

I do not see the need. I do not like Angers at all!

It is a gloomy and boring town.

I must confess I do not like it here that much... And I plan to depart for Paris soon.

Why?

Listen, Bussy... In this life, I cherish only my wife.

As you cherish your beloved, I think.

So let us make a pact - no matter what happens, I will protect Diana...

...while you protect madame de St. Luc. I am all for agreements in matters of love.

But I beg you - no political pacts!

I think I understood you well enough, monsieur de St. Luc.

You may count on my friendship.

My friendship has three things to offer:

My purse, my rapier and my life.

I most gratefully accept them.

But on one condition - you may avail yourself of the same!

Stop, monsieur! Wait!

This is an order! Password! Where..?! How dare you!

Password! Stop!

Have you all lost your marbles here?

-Password, name the password! -To hell with you and your password!

I am Antraguet - the duke`s friend!

Arrest him at once!

Arrest me? This pathetic riffraff is no match for Charles d`Antraguet!

Kill him then! Shoot! Shoot at him!

I bet... you haven`t dealt... with Parisians yet!

-Stop, monsieur, stop! Password! -Go to hell!

Beware, I have been only hitting halberds - now I will cut hands!

Antraguet! What are you doing in the company of these country bumpkins?

Livarot! Right on time! They are trying to arrest me!

Ah, I see what your friends in Angers are like!

-They are many! -We will manage!

-A fight, what luck! -Riberac is here too!

-Told you we would manage! Bonjour, Antraguet!

-Riberac, help us! -With pleasure!

Enemies! Their advance guard! We are done for...

-What is happening here? -Your Highness, we are surrounded by enemies!

I suspect it was a false alarm, Your Highness!

Away with the arms!

Put them away, you fools!

Forgive us, Monseigneur, but this was hardly a warm welcome!

Forgive me, I thought enemies had broken through our defense lines...

Livarot, Antraguet, Riberac - will you finally deign to formally greet His Highness?

I am glad to see you, messieurs!

At your service, Monseigneur!

Messieurs, we must conduct a reconnaissance mission in half an hour.

Your Highness, please be so kind as to count your new soldiers.

-Why? -Please do - at least an estimation!

Well, at least 20 men!

-Yes, Monseigneur, at least. -So what?

Capable fighters - beaten by three men!

You are right. And what now?

And now try leaving the city with these mighty warriors.

What for? I will ride out with the three who defeated them!

Quite logical, Your Highness!

Messieurs, we will depart in 30 minutes.

Monseigneur, unfortunately, I cannot accompany you.

-Why not? -I have another bout of fever...

Then to bed with you! At once, Bussy!

These three should be enough for me.

Here, Monseigneur. Please go on.

I failed to think of that...

Long live cowards! They are capable of logical thinking.

Imagine, this morning supplies arrived for His Highness!

22 horses, carts, 40 mules and a wagon with chests...

-Chests? -It is said the prince carries 2 million in those!

-Two million?! Oh Lord! -Messieurs...

The prince must be rich enough to go to war against the whole of Europe!

Against the whole of Europe?

They are ridiculous, darn it! They think the prince brought 2 million into the city...

...while he intends to move those out of the city! This is why he needs empty chests.

The duke knows how to fake wealth. And those who loan money to the wealthy never think twice!

Angers, finally! Home at last for the Huntsman...

-Is His Highness in? -The duke is on a reconnaissance...

-Who are you, monsieur? -Where are your stables?

Over there...

You there!

I am the count de Monsoreau.

-I have an urgent message for the duke. -His Highness is not in...

I know! Saddle another horse for me.

The faster he receives the message, the better.

Pick any of them.

I will stable yours properly, or he will fall over without a wall!

Saddle this one!

Oh monsieur, you have a good eye for them! You chose the best.

One can see you have knowledge of horses!

I was told that this horse was a gift to the duke of Anjou from monsieur de Bussy!

His name is Roland.

He is the duke`s favourite!

He rides out on this one every day...

And, most importantly, this is one clever beast - you will find the duke easily with him!

Monsieur, I am count de Monsoreau, Chief Huntsman of France...

I have an urgent message for the duke- which direction did he chose?

Nobody knows, monsieur... The duke is inspecting the environs.

Could you maybe give me a guide in order to find the duke faster?

No no... I cannot weaken the city`s guard!

His Highness expressly forbade me to do it!

Did he now? So it must be unsafe here.

Yes, it is, monsieur.

You will find Monseigneur by asking on the way, same as any other!

Thank you for the useful advice!

Good day!

By all hells, you are carrying me straight to the Meridor Castle!

Did the duke perchance ride there?!

I see the praise for you was justified - carry on if you know the way! Go!

Someone was here first!

Anjou´s coat of arms...

Oh Lord, Diana!

I am always afraid when you leave.

Every time, I fear that I am losing you forever.

Let us trust in our Lord`s mercy...

...and my skill!

No!

-It is him, let us run! -I will kill him!

You promised! Run, let us run!

-Damn that promise! -Stop!

I hate you! I hate your entire vile kin!

I swear by all of hell`s devils I will kill you, Monseigneur!

Damn it! The duke escaped! Could have left me the horse, that coward!

Roland!

Curse you!

His Royal Highness, the duke of Anjou!

Greetings, messieurs and mesdames.

I would like to introduce to you a lady who is certain to become the jewel of this gathering!

She has just arrived from Paris...

As you can see, not only best knights in France, but also her most beautiful ladies...

...have forsaken the Louvre!

As my brother, the tyrant king, turned it into a nest of debauchery and boredom.

I drink to the health... To the health of the lovely Gabrielle!

Monseigneur, the best and brightest of the French nobility are all here, at this table!

Yes! Along with the best your cellar has to offer.

-Long live the duke of Anjou! -Long live our duke!

Bussy! Finally!

You look as if you have been hunting the devil himself, killing multiple horses in the process!

-Monseigneur, you exaggerate! -You think?

Here, in front of you, is the most seductive and mysterious lady in Paris!

We are already acquainted, Monseigneur.

I am glad to see you again, count!

And I you, madame.

You did not keep your promise!

The only thing that can absolve a nobleman who did not keep the promise given to a lady...

...is the wound he received in an unequal fight.

Madame, believe me, none of those who prevented me from keeping my promise got away unscathed!

Your health, Bussy!

I will drink to your lucky sword, count de Bussy!

I thank you.

Oh Lord, if only you knew how I regret that we did not have that rendezvous...

But nothing could have been done, my lady, it was the Lord`s will!

I do not doubt, count, that you punished every rascal who had prevented you from visiting...

...but there was no rendezvous in the end!

But... you may try again.

Forgive me, madame, I can scarcely believe my luck...

But soldier`s duties demand my full dedication and...

...I gave an oath to remain chaste until our victory over Paris!

What a mistake...

Paris might remain unconquered for a while yet!

-Who is there? -Open!

Off with you, we are not allowed to let anyone in at night!

I am the count de Monsoreau, Chief Huntsman of France!

-You do not look like the count... -Why?

He had a horse, and you are on foot...

The horse unseated me.

-Fair enough, the horse returned alone! -What is the matter here?

Oh Lord, monsieur le Comte?! Come in!

Fools!

What happened to you?!

Monsieur, is it true that my horse returned on his own?

Yes... We were extremely worried, seeing him riderless and all!

Especially worried was Monseigneur, whom I informed about your arrival.

And what did he say?

He told us to lead you to him at once as soon as you return!

I prefer the game I kill myself!

Words of a true man, Riberac! We will flush all the boars in the Meridor forest tomorrow!

But we need the Chief Huntsman for that!

Even if he is Monsoreau, damn it!

Chief Huntsman of France, count de Monsoreau!

Here is our Chief Huntsman! Heaven supports us.

You had made a wish and it was fulfilled at once!

Take a seat, count.

Monseigneur, I cannot sit before I deliver a message of utmost importance to you.

I am listening.

Her Majesty, the Queen Mother is on her way to Angers.

She barely rests on the journey.

Thank you, count, for your faithful service.

Take a seat.

-But... -Sit.

Messieurs and mesdames, let us continue our dinner.

Sit with us, count.

Monsieur Chief Huntsman...

...it seems you are about to collapse from exhaustion.

You should go to bed.

A sound piece of advice, monsieur - if you do not follow it, you risk falling asleep over your plate...

Forgive me, Monseigneur, it is true that I can barely keep myself awake.

Get drunk, count! Wine will restore your strength.

Wine can only provide oblivion.

-And yet, I drink to your health, count! -Your health!

To tomorrow`s hunt!

You will set up a fine hunt for us, will you not?

-You know the area, have hunting teams and forests here... -And even a wife!

Yes, true... teams and forests... and madame de Monsoreau.

Yes, count - set up a hunt for us - a boar hunt!

Tomorrow, If you do not mind, Monsoreau?

I am always at your disposal, my prince.

But I am far too exhausted to conduct a hunt tomorrow.

I would also like to take stock of the area and the forest, to see how suitable they are.

And you would like to see your wife, would you not?

But maybe not today... as it is quite late.

And the roads are unsafe these days, as you know.

You will remain here.

I thank you, my prince.

My lady... I must confess... The more time I spend with you, the more I regret my vow!

Will you then break your promise to the Lord the same way you broke the promise to a lady?

Please do not reproach me, Gabrielle...

You cannot know how desirable you are...

Is it so?

Count, for a man who gave a vow of abstention you show little restraint...

Madame, I am in danger of losing my senses...

I beg you...

Forgive me!

I desire you, this longing will kill me!

-Fine, count, I will believe you once again. -Believe me!

I will leave the room now, will you accompany me?

Of course!

Your Highness, I must leave for a minute. The count will accompany me.

Of course, Bussy will be most accommodating!

You are too tired, count. You have my permission to go to bed.

-Go with him. -Thank you.

Damn it!

What I wanted to say... Forgive me, I must pass through here.

-Dearest Bussy... -Wait!

What is it, Bussy?

Forgive me, madame.

But I suddenly felt that I cannot ignore the vow given to our Lord.

Breaking it might lead to the defeat of our army...

...in the upcoming war.

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

I do not know why you had to fake passion, Bussy.

But you will pay dearly for this farce!

-Oh Lord, why did you come? -I had to!

-How careless of you! -Do not worry, my love, all is well.

I put on such an act in front of Monsoreau at the duke`s reception!

I am certain he did not recognize me in the park.

What of me? Do you honestly think he did not recognize me?

I hope he did not.

-Hey, you! -Monsieur le Comte!

Saddle Roland for me.

I will take care of it.

-You want Roland, monsieur? -Did the prince order not to give him to me?

No, no, it is the opposite - the stablemaster told us to give you any horse from the stable!

-I just thought that after what he did yesterday... -Fool!

What are you talking about? There is no horse in this stable that could unseat me!

Yesterday I entered a house after tying him to a tree... But when I left...

He was not there! I thought someone must have stolen him or taken him as a prank on me...

So you said Monseigneur rides this horse quite often?

Until his troops and cavalry arrived, he did it almost every day.

And yesterday?

Yes, yesterday too.

Oh Lord... Monsieur de Bussy?

Good morning, monsieur de Monsoreau!

Good morning, count.

I am glad to see you.

Has something happened?

You are in the stable so early!

And you were so early in the saddle!

Well, wartime duties, monsieur de Monsoreau...

As you know, we are preparing for a siege.

Certainly! I was not the only one who saw you besieging one of the loveliest fortresses yesterday!

-How did the siege end? -Oh, count...

Pray forgive me for prying. In view of yesterday`s exertion you must be truly well...

...but in Paris I was told you were barely alive!

It is true, monsieur.

I have not yet recovered from the wound I received while on our prince`s errand.

Is this so?

Darn it, are you truly preparing for a war?

You know, count, the prince is quite determined to see it through.

I must disappoint you - there will be no war!

The Queen is on her way here.

My respects, count - I must leave you now.

The prince wished to hunt a stag, I must flush the animal.

Where do you intend to do it?

Close to the Meridor Castle.

Do you wish to accompany me?

Thank you for the invitation, count, but I must refuse.

Oh... It seems I am in deep trouble!

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