[Illustration: Murder of the Duke of Orleans----38]
The duke was quite dead. One of his squires, returning to the spot,
found his body stretched on the road, and mutilated all over. He was
carried to the neighboring church of Blancs-Manteaux, whither all the
royal family came to render the last sad offices. The Duke of Burgundy
appeared no less afflicted than the rest. "Never," said he, "was a more
wicked and traitorous murder committed in this realm." The provost of
Paris, Sire de Tignouville, set on foot an active search after the
perpetrators. He was summoned before the council of princes, and the
Duke of Berry asked him if he had discovered anything. "I believe," said
the provost, "that if I had leave to enter all the hostels of the king's
servants, and even of the princes, I could get on the track of the
authors or accomplices of the crime." He was authorized to enter
wherever it seemed good to him. He went away to set himself to work.
The Duke of Burgundy, looking troubled and growing pale, "Cousin," said
the King of Naples, Louis d'Anjou, who was present at the council, "can
you know aught about it? You must tell us." The Duke of Burgundy took
him, together with his uncle, the Duke of Berry, aside, and told them
that it was he himself who, tempted of the devil, had given orders for
this murder. "O God!" cried the Duke of Berry, "then I lose both my
nephews!" The Duke of Burgundy went out in great confusion, and the
council separated. Research brought about the discovery that the crime
had been for a long while in preparation, and that a Norman nobleman,
Raoul d'Auquetonville, late receiver-general of finance, having been
deprived of his post by the Duke of Orleans for malversation, had been
the instrument. The council of princes met the next day at the Hotel de
Nesle. The Duke of Burgundy, who had recovered all his audacity, came to
take his seat there. Word was sent to him not to enter the room. Duke
John persisted; but the Duke of Berry went to the door and said to him,
"Nephew, give up the notion of entering the council; you would not be
seen there with pleasure." "I give up willingly," answered Duke John;
"and that none may be accused of putting to death the Duke of Orleans, I
declare that it was I, and none other, who caused the doing of what has
been done." Thereupon he turned his horse's head, returned forthwith to
the Hotel d'Artois, and, taking only six men with him, he galloped
without a halt, except to change horses, to the frontier of Flanders.
The Duke of Bourbon complained bitterly at the council that an immediate
arrest had not been ordered. The Admiral de Brabant, and a hundred of
the Duke of Orleans' knights, set out in pursuit, but were unable to come
up in time. Neither Raoul d'Anquetonville nor any other of the assassins
was caught. The magistrates, as well as the public, were seized with
stupor in view of so great a crime and so great a criminal.
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