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025 - A Woman's Judgment · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

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  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five of The Huguenot by George Payne Rinsford James.
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  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Chapter twenty five,
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  Speaker 1: The Woman's Judgment. We must now, for a little change
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  Speaker 1: the scene entirely, and, as we find often done most naturally,
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  Speaker 1: both in reality and poetry, bring the prison and the
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  Speaker 1: palace side by side. It was in one of the
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  Speaker 1: smaller chambers then of the Palace of Versailles, exquisitely fitted
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  Speaker 1: up with furniture of the most costly, if not of
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  Speaker 1: the most splendid materials, with very great taste shown in everything,
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  Speaker 1: grace in all the ornaments, harmony in all the colours,
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  Speaker 1: and a certain degree of justness and appropriateness in every object.
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  Speaker 1: Around that there sat a lady, late on the evening
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  Speaker 1: of an autumnal day, busily reading from a book illustrated
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  Speaker 1: with some of the richest and most beautiful miniatures that
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  Speaker 1: the artists of the French capital could then produce. She was,
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  Speaker 1: at the time we speak of, somewhat past the middle age.
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  Speaker 1: That is to say, she was nearly approaching to the
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  Speaker 1: age of fifty. But she looked considerably younger than she
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  Speaker 1: really was, and forty was the very extreme at which anyone,
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  Speaker 1: by the mere look would have ventured to place the
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  Speaker 1: number of her years. The rich worked candelabra of gold
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  Speaker 1: under which she was reading cast its light upon not
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  Speaker 1: a single gray hair. The form was full and rounded,
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  Speaker 1: the arms white and delicate. The hand, which in general
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  Speaker 1: loses its symmetry sooner than a hotels except perhaps the lips,
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  Speaker 1: was as tapering, as soft, and as beautiful in contral
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  Speaker 1: as ever. The eyes were large and expressive, and there
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  Speaker 1: was a thoughtfulness about the whole countenance, which had nothing
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  Speaker 1: of melancholy in its character. Perhaps a little of worldliness,
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  Speaker 1: but more of mind and intellect than either. After she
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  Speaker 1: had been read reading for some time, the door was
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  Speaker 1: quietly opened, and the King himself entered with a soft
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  Speaker 1: and almost noiseless step. The lady immediately laid down her
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  Speaker 1: book and rose, but the King took her by the hand,
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  Speaker 1: led her back to her chair, and seated himself beside her,
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  Speaker 1: Still busy reading, He said, I am anxious to do so,
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  Speaker 1: your majesty. She answered at every moment that I can
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  Speaker 1: possibly command, in the sort of life which I am
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  Speaker 1: destined to lead, and in your Majesty's splendid court temptations
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  Speaker 1: to forget what is right and to think of nothing
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  Speaker 1: but pleasures and enjoyments are so manifold that one has
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  Speaker 1: need to have recourse to such calmer counselors as these.
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  Speaker 1: And she laid her hand upon the book counselors who
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  Speaker 1: are not disturbed by such seductions, and whose words have
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  Speaker 1: with them a portion of the tranquility of the dead.
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  Speaker 1: The words were of a soberer character than Louis had
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  Speaker 1: been accustomed to hear from the lips of woman during
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  Speaker 1: the greater part of his life, but still they did
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  Speaker 1: not displease him, and he replied only by saying, but
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  Speaker 1: we must have a few more living counsels at present, Madame,
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  Speaker 1: for the fate of Louis, which is the fate of France.
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  Speaker 1: She said, in so low a voice that it could
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  Speaker 1: scarcely be termed an interruption for the fate of Louis
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  Speaker 1: and of his domestic happiness. A word alas, which is
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  Speaker 1: so little known to kings, is even now in the balance, Madame.
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  Speaker 1: He continued, taking that fair hand in his Madame, it
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  Speaker 1: is scarcely necessary at this hour to tell you that
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  Speaker 1: I love you. It is scarcely necessary to speak what
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  Speaker 1: are the wishes and the hopes of the king? Scarcely
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  Speaker 1: necessary to say what would be his conduct? Were not
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  Speaker 1: motives strong and almost overpowering, opposed to all that he
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  Speaker 1: most desires. Madame de Maintenon, for she, it was, had
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  Speaker 1: risen from her seat, had withdrawn her hand from that
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  Speaker 1: of the king, and for a moment pressed both her
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  Speaker 1: hands tightly upon her heart, while her countenance, which had
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  Speaker 1: become as pale as death, spoke that the emotion which
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  Speaker 1: she felt was real. Cease, sire, Oh ceise, she exclaimed,
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  Speaker 1: if you would not have me drop at your feet, Indeed,
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  Speaker 1: she continued, more vehemently, that is my proper place, and
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  Speaker 1: she cast herself at once upon her knees before the King,
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  Speaker 1: taking the hand from which she had just disengaged her own,
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  Speaker 1: to bent her lips over it with a look of
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  Speaker 1: reverence and affection. Hear me, sire, hear me, she said,
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  Speaker 1: as the King endeavored to raise her. Hear me even
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  Speaker 1: as I am, for notwithstanding the deep and sincere love
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  Speaker 1: and veneration which are in my heart, I must yet
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  Speaker 1: offend in one person the monarch whom every voice in
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  Speaker 1: Europe proclaims the greatest in the earth, the man whom
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  Speaker 1: my own heart tells me is the most worthy to
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  Speaker 1: be loved. There is one, however, Sire, who must be
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  Speaker 1: loved and venerated first and beyond all I mean, the Almighty,
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  Speaker 1: And from his law and from his commands. Nothing on
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  Speaker 1: earth shall ever induce me to swerve. Now for more
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  Speaker 1: than a year, such as be my constant reply to
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  Speaker 1: your Majesty on these occasions I have besought you. I
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  Speaker 1: have entreated you never to speak on such subjects again,
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  Speaker 1: unless that were possible, which I know to be impossible. Nay,
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  Speaker 1: replied the monarch, interrupting her and raising her with a
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  Speaker 1: little gentle force. Nay, nothing is impossible, but for me
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  Speaker 1: to see you kneeling there. Oh, yes, indeed, indeed it
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  Speaker 1: is your Majesty, she said. I have long known it.
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  Speaker 1: I have long been sure of it. You once condescended
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  Speaker 1: to dream of it yourself, you mention it to me,
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  Speaker 1: and I, for a single instant was deceived by hope.
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  Speaker 1: But as soon as I came to examine it, I
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  Speaker 1: became convinced, fully convinced that such a thing was utterly
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  Speaker 1: and entirely impossible, that your Majesty should descend from your
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  Speaker 1: high station, and that you should oppose and overuw the
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  Speaker 1: advice and opinions of courtiers and ministers, who, though perhaps
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  Speaker 1: a little touched with jealousy, can easily find sound and
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  Speaker 1: rational reasons enough to oppose your will. Inness instance. Oh no, no, sire,
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  Speaker 1: I know it is impossible. For Heaven's sake, do not
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  Speaker 1: agitate me by a dream of happiness that can never
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  Speaker 1: be realized. So little is it impossible, dear friend, replied
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  Speaker 1: the King, that it is scarcely half an hour ago
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  Speaker 1: since I spoke with Louvois upon the subject. And what
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  Speaker 1: did he say? Exclaimed Madame de Mantonon, with an eagerness
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  Speaker 1: that she could not master. He opposed it, of course,
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  Speaker 1: and doubtless wisely. But oh sire, you must grant me
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  Speaker 1: a favor, the last of many, but still a very
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  Speaker 1: great one. You must let me retire from your court,
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  Speaker 1: from this place of cruel and terrible temptation where they
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  Speaker 1: look upon me, from the favor which your Majesty has
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  Speaker 1: been pleased to show me in a light which I
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  Speaker 1: dare not name. No, sire, no, I will never have
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  Speaker 1: it said that I lived on at your court knowing
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  Speaker 1: that I bore the name of your concubine. However false,
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  Speaker 1: the imputation is too terrible to be undergone, I, who
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  Speaker 1: have never raised my voice against such acts, I who
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  Speaker 1: have risked offending your Majesty by remonstrances and exhortations. No, sire, no,
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  Speaker 1: I cannot. Indeed, I cannot undergo it any longer. It
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  Speaker 1: is terrible to me. It is injurious to your Majesty,
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  Speaker 1: who has so nobly triumphed over yourself. In another instance,
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  Speaker 1: it matters not what Monsieur de Louvois has said, though
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  Speaker 1: I trust he said nothing on earth to lead you
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  Speaker 1: to believe that I am capable of yielding to unlawful love.
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  Speaker 1: Oh no, replied the king. His opposition was but to
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  Speaker 1: the marriage, and that, as usual, was rude, gross and
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  Speaker 1: insulting to his king. I wonder that I have patience
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  Speaker 1: with him, but it will some day soon give way.
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  Speaker 1: I hope and trust, sire, cried Madame de Maintenon, clasping
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  Speaker 1: her hands earnestly. I hope and trust that your Majesty
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  Speaker 1: has not suffered insult on my account. Then indeed it
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  Speaker 1: were high time that I should go. No, replied Louis
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  Speaker 1: not absolute insult. Louvois means, but to act well. He
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  Speaker 1: said everything in opposition I acknowledge, coarsely and rudely, And
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  Speaker 1: in the end he cast himself upon his knees before me,
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  Speaker 1: and sheathed his sword, and, offering the hilt, besought me
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  Speaker 1: to take his life rather than do what I contemplated.
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  Speaker 1: He did, cried Madame d' mantenon, with a bright red
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  Speaker 1: spot in either cheek. He did. The famous minister of
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  Speaker 1: Louis the fourteenth has been studying at the theater lately,
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  Speaker 1: I know, but still sire, though doubtless he was right
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  Speaker 1: in some part of his view. Francois Daubignier is not
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  Speaker 1: quite so lowly as to be an object of scorn
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  Speaker 1: to the son of Michael l'etellier, whose answer, as I believe,
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  Speaker 1: sold drugs at dreams. While my grandfather supported the throne
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  Speaker 1: of yours with his sword, his blood, and his wisdom,
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  Speaker 1: he might have spared his scorn methings and saved his
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  Speaker 1: wit for argument. But I must not speak so freely
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  Speaker 1: in my own cause, For that it is my own
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  Speaker 1: I acknowledge. And she wiped away some tears from her
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  Speaker 1: fine eyes. It is my own, For when I beseech
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  Speaker 1: your Majesty to let me leave you, I tear my
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  Speaker 1: own heart, I trample upon all my own feelings. But
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  Speaker 1: I'll believe me, sire, she continued ardently. Believe me when
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  Speaker 1: I say that I would rather that heart were broken,
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  Speaker 1: as it soon will be, than that your Majesty should
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  Speaker 1: do anything derogatory to your crown and dignity, or I
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  Speaker 1: must add, then I would do myself anything in violation
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  Speaker 1: of the precepts of virtue and religion. She wept a
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  Speaker 1: good deal, but she wept gracefully, and hers was one
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  Speaker 1: of those faces which looked none the worse for tears.
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  Speaker 1: The King gently drew her to her seat, for she
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  Speaker 1: had still been standing, saying, nay, nay, be comforted you
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  Speaker 1: have yet the king you think not really? Then, he said, really,
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  Speaker 1: and sincerely you think not that there is any true
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  Speaker 1: degradation in a monarch wedding A subject. I ask you yourself.
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  Speaker 1: I ask you to speak candidly. Nay, sire, cried Madame
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  Speaker 1: de Mantinon. How can you ask me deeply interested as
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  Speaker 1: I am? How can you ask any woman? For we
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  Speaker 1: all feel alike in such things and differently from you men.
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  Speaker 1: There is not one woman proud or humble in your
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  Speaker 1: Majesty's court that would not give you the same answer
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  Speaker 1: if she spoke sincerely, indeed, exclaimed the King, then we
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  Speaker 1: men must be certainly in the wrong. But what think you,
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  Speaker 1: he continued, What think you? As a proof? What would
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  Speaker 1: yon fair girl claim, mons de Marlise say, were we
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  Speaker 1: to ask her? I saw her, But now as I
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  Speaker 1: passed reading with the Dauphine in somewhat melancholy eyes, Well
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  Speaker 1: may she be melancholy, sire, replied the lady, somewhat sadly
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  Speaker 1: when the King hears not her prayers. But methinks it
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  Speaker 1: would be hardly fair to make her a judge. Why why,
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  Speaker 1: demanded Louis quickly, Because she is so proud and haughty,
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  Speaker 1: Remember you said, the proudest in our court? So I
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  Speaker 1: say still, sire, replied Madame de Mantona in a gentle tone.
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  Speaker 1: But I do not think her proud. She would be
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  Speaker 1: too favorable a judge. That was my sole objection. Her
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  Speaker 1: own station in the court is doubtful. And besides, Sire,
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  Speaker 1: you could not think of submitting that on which none, no,
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  Speaker 1: not the wisest minister you have can judge so well
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  Speaker 1: as yourself to the decision of a girl. Fear not,
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  Speaker 1: replied the King. I will but take her voice on
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  Speaker 1: the matter, without her knowing aught of that on which
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  Speaker 1: her opinion is called for, I would fain hear what
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  Speaker 1: a young and unpracticed tongue would say. Let her be
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  Speaker 1: called in. Madame de Mantonu hesitated for a moment. The
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  Speaker 1: risk seemed great. The object of long years was at stake,
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  Speaker 1: and her own fate and that of France might depend
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  Speaker 1: upon the words of a wild, proud girl. But she
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  Speaker 1: saw no means of avoiding the trial, and she rang
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  Speaker 1: the bell, even in the very act of doing so,
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  Speaker 1: remembering many a trait of Clement's, both in childhood and youth,
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  Speaker 1: which gave her some assurance. A page appeared instantly and
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  Speaker 1: was despatched to the apartments of the Dauphine to call
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  Speaker 1: Mademoiselle de Marlis to the presence of the King. The
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  Speaker 1: feet of Clement's bore her thither like light, though her
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  Speaker 1: heart beat wildly with fear and agitation, and the hue
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  Speaker 1: of her cheek, once so bright and glowing, was now
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  Speaker 1: as pale as death. She was glad, however, to find
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  Speaker 1: the King and Madame de Mantonon alone, for she had
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  Speaker 1: succeeded in interesting the latter in the fate of the
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  Speaker 1: Count de Moniseur, and she doubted not that she would
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  Speaker 1: exert herself as much as she dared to do for
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  Speaker 1: any one to persuade the King to deal with him gently.
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  Speaker 1: So many long and weary days had passed, however, but
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  Speaker 1: with little progress that she had well nigh sunk into despair,
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  Speaker 1: when the summons of this night made her suppose that
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  Speaker 1: her fate and that of her lover was upon the
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  Speaker 1: eve of being decided. The page who conducted her close
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  Speaker 1: the door as soon as she had entered, and Claiman
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  Speaker 1: stood before the King with feelings of awe and agitation
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  Speaker 1: such as in former days. She knew not that she
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  Speaker 1: could feel towards the greatest potentate on earth, But Clament's
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  Speaker 1: de Marlie loved, and her whole feelings had been changed.
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  Speaker 1: Not a little was her surprise, however, when the King
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  Speaker 1: addressed her in a tone half playful, half serious, Come hither,
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  Speaker 1: spoiled beauty. He said, come hither and sit down upon
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  Speaker 1: that stall, or in truth I should give you up
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  Speaker 1: the chair, for you are going to act a part
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  Speaker 1: that you never performed before, that of judge, and in
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  Speaker 1: a matter of taste, too clament put her hand to
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  Speaker 1: her brow, as if to clear away the thoughts with
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  Speaker 1: which she had come thither. But after gazing in the
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  Speaker 1: King's face for a moment with a bewildered look, she
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  Speaker 1: recovered herself and replied, Indeed, Sire, I am of all
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  Speaker 1: people the most unfit, but I will do my best
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  Speaker 1: to please your majesty. What may be the question why,
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  Speaker 1: answered the King, smiling at her evident surprise and embarrassment,
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  Speaker 1: the real cause of which he had quite forgotten in
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  Speaker 1: his own thoughts and feelings. Why the matter is this?
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  Speaker 1: A new play has been submitted to us for approval
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  Speaker 1: by one of our best poets. It turns upon an
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  Speaker 1: ancient king becoming in love with one of his own
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  Speaker 1: subjects and marrying her, while his ministers wish him to
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  Speaker 1: marry a neighbor and queen. The question of the policy, however,
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  Speaker 1: is not the thing. We have settled all that. But
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  Speaker 1: the point in dispute between me and this fair lady
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  Speaker 1: is whether the poet would have done better to have
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  Speaker 1: made the heroine turn out after all to be some
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  Speaker 1: princess unknown. I say not, but our sweet friend, whose
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  Speaker 1: opinion perhaps is better than my own, contends that it
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  Speaker 1: would have been better in order to preserve the king's dignity.
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  Speaker 1: Madame de Maintenon panted for breath and grasped the book
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  Speaker 1: that lay on the table to prevent herself from betraying
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  Speaker 1: her agitation. But she dared not say a word, nor
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  Speaker 1: even look up. She was almost instantly relieved, however, for
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  Speaker 1: Clement's exclaimed, almost before the king had done speaking. Oh no, oh, no,
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  Speaker 1: dear lady, you are wrong. Believe me. Kings lose their
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  Speaker 1: dignity only by evil acts. They rise in transcendent majesty
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  Speaker 1: when they tread upon base prejudices. I know nothing of
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  Speaker 1: the policy you tell me. That is a part, And
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  Speaker 1: the only question is whether she was worthy that he chose?
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  Speaker 1: Was she sire? Was she noble and good? Most noble
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  Speaker 1: and most excellent? Said the king? Was she religious? Wise,
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  Speaker 1: well educated? Continued Clement's eagerly. She was all, answered lewis
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  Speaker 1: all in a most eminent degree? Was she in knowledge, demeanor,
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  Speaker 1: character worthy of his love and of himself? Asked the
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  Speaker 1: enthusiastic girl with her whole face glowing in demeanor, not
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  Speaker 1: inferior in character, equal in knowledge, superior in all respects worthy,
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  Speaker 1: replied the monarch, catching her enthusiasm, but he was stopped
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  Speaker 1: by the agitated sobs of Madame de Manteneau, who, sinking
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  Speaker 1: from her chair at his feet, clasped his knees, exclaiming,
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  Speaker 1: spare me, sire, Spare me, or I shall die. The
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  Speaker 1: King gazed at her tenderly for a moment, then bent
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  Speaker 1: down his head, kissed her cheek, and, whispering a few
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  Speaker 1: brief words, placed her in the chair where he himself
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  Speaker 1: had been sitting. He then turned to claim mons de Marlis,
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  Speaker 1: who stood by, astonished at the agitation at her words
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  Speaker 1: have produced, and fearful that the consequences might be the
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  Speaker 1: destruction of all her own hopes. The countenance of Lewis
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  Speaker 1: as he turned towards her, somewhat reassured her, but still
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  Speaker 1: she could not help exclaiming, with nose like anxiety, I hope, sir,
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  Speaker 1: I have not offended. I fear I have done so unintentionally,
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  Speaker 1: if you have, said the King, smiling upon her, graciously,
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  Speaker 1: we will find a punishment for you, and as we
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  Speaker 1: have made you act as a judge where you little
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  Speaker 1: perhaps expected it. We will now make you a witness
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  Speaker 1: of things that you expected still less, but which your
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  Speaker 1: lips must never divulge till you are authorized to do so.
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  Speaker 1: Go as fast as possible to my oratory, close by
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  Speaker 1: the little cabinet of audience. There you will find good
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  Speaker 1: Monsieur la Chaise. Direct him to ring the bell, And,
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  Speaker 1: after having told Bonton to summon Monsieur de Monchevroi and
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  Speaker 1: the Archbishop, who is here, I think to come hither
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  Speaker 1: himself as speedily as possible, you will accompany him. What
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  Speaker 1: were the king's intentions, claimants de Marlis scarcely could divine,
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  Speaker 1: But seeing that her words had evidently given happiness both
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  Speaker 1: to the King and to Madame de Maintenon, and judging
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  Speaker 1: from that fact that her own best hopes for the
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  Speaker 1: deliverance of him she loved might be on the eve
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  Speaker 1: of accomplishment, she flew rather than ran to obey the
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  Speaker 1: King's directions. She found the king's confessor la Chise, waiting,
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  Speaker 1: evidently for the return of the King with some impatience.
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  Speaker 1: The message which she brought him seemed to excite his
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  Speaker 1: astonishment greatly, But after pausing for a moment to consider
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  Speaker 1: what kind of event that message might indicate. The old
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  Speaker 1: man clasped his hands, exclaiming, this is God's work. The
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  Speaker 1: King's salvation is now secure. He then did as he
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  Speaker 1: had been directed, rang the bell for Bonton, gave the
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  Speaker 1: order as he had received it, and harried after Claimont's
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  Speaker 1: along the corridor of the palace. At the door of
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  Speaker 1: Madame de Mantenu's apartment, the young lady paused, for there
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  Speaker 1: were voices speaking eagerly within, and she feared to intrude
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  Speaker 1: upon the monarch. His commands to return, however, had been distinct,
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  Speaker 1: and she consequently opened the door and entered. Madame de
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  Speaker 1: Mantenon was standing by the table, with her eyes bent
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: down and her color much heightened. The King was also standing,
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: and with a slight frown upon his countenance, was regarding
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: a person who had been added to the party since
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: Claymont's had left it. This was no other than the
• 19:32
  Speaker 1: Minister Louvois, whose coarse, harsh features seemed filled with sullen mortification,
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: which even the presence of the King could scarcely restrain
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: from breaking forth in angry words. His eyes were bent down,
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: not in humility, but in stubbornness. His shoulders a little raised,
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: and he was muttering rather than speaking when Claymon centered.
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: The only words, however, that were audible, were, your Majesty's
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: will must be a law to yourself as well as
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: your people. I have ventured in all sincerity to express
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: my opinion, and have nothing more to say. The opening
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: of the door caused Madame de Maintenon to raise her eyes,
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: and when she saw Claymen and a confessor, a glad
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: and relieved smile played over her countenance, which was greatly
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: increased by the words which the confessor addressed to the
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: king immediately on his entrance, Sire, he said, without waiting
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: for Louis to speak, from what I have heard and
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: from what I see, I believe nay, I am sure
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: that your Majesty is about to take a step which will,
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: more than any I know of, tend to ensure your
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: eternal salvation. Am I not right? And he extended his
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: hand towards Madame de mantineal as if that gesture were
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: quite sufficient to indicate his full meaning. You are my
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: good father, replied the king, and I am happy to
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: find that so wise and so good a man as
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: yourself approves of what I am doing. Monsieur Louvois, here
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: still seems discontented, though I have conceded so much to
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: his views of policy as to promise that this marriage
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: shall remain forever private. What are views of policy? Cried
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: Pere Lachez, to your Majesty's eternal salvation. There are greater
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: there are higher considerations and worldly policy, sire. But even
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: were worldly policy, or I should differ with Monsieur Louvois
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: and say that you are acting as wisely in the
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: things of this world as in reference to another. God knows,
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: and this lady knows, said Louvois, that my only opposition
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: proceeds from views of policy for herself personally, He added,
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: feeling that he might have offended one who was more
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: powerful than even himself. For herself personally, she knows well
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: that I have the most deep and profound respect, and
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: since it is to be, I trust that his Majesty
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: will allow me to be one of the witnesses, replied
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: the King. I had so determined in my own mind,
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: Monsieur de Louvois, and as we need not have more
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: than three, we will dispense with this young lady's presence. Oh,
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: here comes the Archbishop and Monchevroix, My good father la chaise.
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: Let me beg you to prepare an altar. Even here
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: I have determined that all doubt and discussion upon this
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: subject shall be over to night. Explain, I beg you
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: to Monsieur de Alais, what are my views and intentions?
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: One word Belle Clement's, he added, advancing to Clament's and
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: speaking to her with a gracious smile. We shall need
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: your presence, fair lady, but you shall not want the
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: bridesmaids present. Come hither to morrow, half an hour before
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: I go to the council. And as you have judged
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: well and wisely in this course to night, we will
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: endeavor to judge leniently on any cause that you may
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: bring before us to morrow. Although the King spoke low,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: his words did not escape the keen ear of Louvois,
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: and when Cleament raised her eyes to reply, they met
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: those of the Minister, gazing upon her with a look
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: of fiendlike anger, which seemed to imply you have triumphed
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: over me for the time, and have thwarted me in
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: a matter of deep moment. You think at the same time,
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: you have gained your own private end, but I will
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: disappoint you. Such at least was the interpretation that Clement's
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: put upon that angry glance. For an instant it made
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: her heart sink, But recollecting her former courage the next instant,
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: she replied boldly to the King, my trust is always
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: in your majesty alone. I have ever had that trust,
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: and what I have seen to night would show me
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: clearly that let us expect what we may of your
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: Majesty's magnanimity and generosity, no disappointment will await us. That's
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: saying she retired, and what father passed in the chamber
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: that she quitted, though it affected the destinies of Lewis
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: and of France and of Europe more than any event
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: which had taken place for years, remains in the records
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: of history at those things which are known, though not proved,
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: and are never doubted, even though no evidence of their
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: reality exists. End of Chapter twenty five