Latest / Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants / 036 - The End

Transcript

036 - The End · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty six of the Huguenot by George Payne Rainsford James.
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: This librivoxi coording is in the public domain, Chapter thirty
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: six the end. It was in the Great reception Room
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: at Versailles, an hour after the King had held the council,
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: which failed not to meet every day. His mood was
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: neither more nor less severe than ordinary. For if, on
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: the one hand, events had taken place which had given
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: him pleasure, other events had reached his ears from the
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: south of France which showed him, notwithstanding all Louvois's efforts
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: to conceal the extent of the evil, that serious disturbances
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: in the convent in a Cevennes and other parts of
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: France near the mouth of the Rhone were likely to
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: follow the measures which had been adopted against the Protestants.
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: Louvois himself was present and in no very placable mood,
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: the King, having replied to him more than once during
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: the morning, haughtily and angrily, and repressed the insolence by
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: which his demeanor was sometimes cancharacterized with that severe dignity
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: which the Minister was very willing to see exercise towards
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: anyone but himself. Lewis, who was dressed in the most
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: sumptuous manner, held in his hand a roll of papers
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: which had been given him just before his entrance into
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: the chamber, But he did not read them, and merely
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: turned them round and round from time to time, as
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: if he were handling a chuncheon. Many eyes were fixed
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: upon him, and various were the hopes and fears which
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: the aspect of that one man created in the breaths
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: of those who surrounded him. All, however, was silent at
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: that moment, for an event was about to take place
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: highly flattering to the pride of the ostentatious King of France,
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: and the eyes of all were fixed upon the doors
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: at the end of the hall. At length they opened,
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: and a fine looking middle aged man dressed in a
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: robe of red velvet, followed by four others in black velvet,
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: was led into the apartment and approached the King. He
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: bowed low and reverently, and then addressed the French sovereign
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: without embarras harassment, and with apparent kees, assuring the monarch
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: in vague but still flattering terms, that the Republic of
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: Genoa of which he was doge, had entertained nothing throughout
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: the course of events lately passed, but profound respect for
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: the Crown of France. Somewhat to the left of the King,
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: amongst the multitude of French princes and officers appeared one
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: or two groups consisting of the ambassadors from different barbaric nations.
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: And while the Doge of Genoa spoke offering excuses for
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: the conduct of the state he ruled, the eye of
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: Lewis glanced from time to time to the Indian envoys
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: in their gorgeous apparel, as they eagerly asked questions of
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: their interpreter and were told that it was the prince
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: of an independent state come to humble himself before the
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: mighty monarch that he had offended. When the audience of
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: the Doge of Genoa was over and he withdrew, a
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: multitude of the courtiers followed, so that the audience hall
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: was nearly clear, and the King paused for a moment,
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: talking over the Doge's demeanor to those who surrounded him,
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: and apparently about to retire immediately, he had taken a
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: step forward, indeed to do so, when the Prince de Marsiak,
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: who certainly dared to press the King upon disagreeable subjects,
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: when no one else would run the risk. Advanced and,
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: bowing low, pointed to the papers in the King's hands,
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: I ventured, sire, he said, before your majesty came here
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: to present to you those papers which you promised to
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: look at. The King's brow instantly darkened, I see at once, Prince,
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: He said that they refer to the Count of Mouseaux,
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: a rebel, as I am informed, taken with arms in
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: his hand, in regard to whom the laws of the
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: land must have their course. The Prince was somewhat abashed
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: and hesitated. But another gentleman stepped forward, with stern and
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: somewhat harsh features, but with a noble air, and look
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: that bespoke fearless sincerity. What is it, Montosier, said the King, sharply,
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: addressing that celebrated nobleman, who is supposed to have been
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: represented by Moliere under the character of the misanthrope. Merely
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: to say, sire, replied the Duke, in a firm, strong
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: tone of voice, that some one has falsified the truth
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: to your majesty, my nephew in command of the troops
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: to whom the Count surrendered informs me that he was
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: not taken with arms in his hand, as you have said,
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: but on the contrary, and here lies a great difference,
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: surrendered voluntarily when, according to the truce of five hours
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: granted to the Huguenots by the Chevalier de Vron, he
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: had every opportunity of escaping to England, had he so pleased,
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: as all the rest of the leaders on that occasion did.
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: How is this, Sir, demanded the King, turning to Louvois.
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: I speak from your statements, and I hope you have
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: not made me speak falsely. Sire replied Louvois, with a
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: look of effrontery. I have just heard that what the
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: Duke says is the case, but I judged that all
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: such points could naturally be investigated at the camp. The
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: King seemed struck with this observation, but Montosier instantly replied,
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: Monsieur de Louvois, if his majesty will permit me to
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: tell you so, you have been, for the first time
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: in your life, sadly tardy in receiving information for my nephew.
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: Informs me that he gave you intelligence of this fact
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: no less than three days ago, and in the next place.
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: You are very well aware of what you have not
• 5:25
  Speaker 1: thought fit to say that by investigating such things at trial,
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: you would directly frustrate the express object for which the
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: Count de Monieux surrendered himself when he might have escaped,
• 5:36
  Speaker 1: which was to cast himself at the King's feet and
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: explain to him the strange and extraordinary misconception by which
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: he was cast into rebellion, and to prove that as
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: soon as ever he discovered the mistake which he had committed,
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: he had expressed himself ready to surrender and trust to
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: the King's clemency, which is as great a quality as
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: his justice. Louvoi's face had grown and fiery read expressed
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: his readiness to surrender, cried he with a scoff. Did
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: he not fight two battles after that? How sir, exclaimed
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: the King, I had understood from you that no battles
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: have been fought at all, meres skirmishes. You said affairs
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: of posts, that the insurrection was nothing but the revolt
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: of a few peasants. Louvois stammered forth some excuse about
• 6:23
  Speaker 1: the numbers being insignificant, and the whole business crushed. Within
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: nine days after the Chevalier Devron took the command, but
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: the king turned away angrily, saying, Monsieur de Louvois, no
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: more interruption. I find in my middle age as I
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: found in my youth, that a king must see with
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: his own eyes. Now, Marciac, what is it you wish?
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: What is it you desire of me Montosier? For my part, sire,
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: replied the Prince de Marsiac, I only desire that your
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: Majesty should run your eyes over those papers. They are
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: very brief and to the point, and every fact that
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: is therein stated I can assure you can be proved
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: on indisputable authority. And I said, the Duke of Montosier,
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: have only to beg that your Majesty would see and
• 7:08
  Speaker 1: hear the Count of morsees from him, as every man
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: here present knows, you will hear the pure and simple truth,
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: which is a thing that happens to your majesty perhaps
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: once in five or six years, and will do you good.
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: The king smiled and turned his eyes upon the papers,
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: and when he had read them nearly through, he smiled again,
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: even more gaily than before. It turns out, gentlemen, he
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: said that an affair has happened to me, which I
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: fancy happens to us all more than once in our lives.
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: I have been completely cheated by a valet. I remember
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: giving the villain the paper well out of which it
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: seems he manufactured a free pardon for his master. At
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: all events, this frees the Count from the charge of
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: base ingratitude, which has been heavily urged against him. Your
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: statement of his willing surrender Montosier greatly diminishes his actual
• 7:58
  Speaker 1: and undoubted cry. And as I have complied with the
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: request of the Prince de Marsayak and looked at the papers,
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: I must not refuse you yours, either to day, if
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: the count have arrived, or to morrow. I will hear
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: his story from his own lips. Sire replied the Duke
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: of Montosier. I have been daring enough to receive him
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: in my apartments. The cloud came slightly again over louis countenance,
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: But though he replied with dignified gravity, yet it was
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: not with anger. You have done wrong, he said. But
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: since it is so, call him to my presence. All
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: you ladies and gentlemen around shall judge, should ideal harshly
• 8:37
  Speaker 1: with him. There was a pretty girl, standing not far
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: from the king and close between her own mother and
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: the interpreter of the ambassadors from Siam. We have spoken
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: of her before under the name of Annette de Marville,
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: and while she had remained in that spot, her eyes
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: had more than once involuntarily filled with tears. She was
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: timid and retiring in her nature, and as the Duke
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: of Montosier away to obey the king, every one was
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: surprised to hear her voice raise sufficiently loud to reach
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: even the ear of Louis himself, saying to the interpreter,
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: tell them that they are now going to see how
• 9:12
  Speaker 1: magnanimously the King will pardon one who has offended him.
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: The King looked another way, but it was evident to
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: those who were accustomed to watch his countenance that he
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: connected the words he had just heard with the humiliation
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: he had inflicted on the Doge of Genoa, and that
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: the contrast struck and pleased him not a little. In
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: a very short time, before this impression had at all
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: faded away, the door again opened, and the Duke of
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: Montosie re entered with the Count of Morseilles. The latter
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: was pale but perfectly firm and composed. He did not
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: wear his sword, but he carried it sheathed in his hand,
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: and advancing directly towards Louis, he bent one knee before
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: the king, at the same time laying down the weapon
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: at the monarch's feet. Sire, he said, without rising, I
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: have brought you a which, for more than ten years
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: was drawn in every campaign in your Majesty's service. It
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: has unfortunately been drawn against you. And that it has
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: been so, and at the very moment when your Majesty
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: had a right to expect gratitude at my hands, is
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: the bitterest recollection of my life, so bitter, indeed, so horrible,
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: so painful, that the moment I discovered the terrible error
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: into which I had been hurried, the moment that I
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: discovered that I owed my liberation to your Majesty, I
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: instantly determined, whatever might be the result of the events
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: that were then taking place, to surrender myself unconditionally to
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: your Majesty's pleasure, to embrace no means of escape, to
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: reject every opportunity of flight, and if your indignation so
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: far overcame your mercy as to do me to death,
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: to submit to it not alone with courage, which every
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: man in your Majesty's service possesses, but with perfect resignation
• 10:54
  Speaker 1: to your royal will. The words, the manner, the action
• 10:58
  Speaker 1: all please the King, and the countenance with which he
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: looked upon the young nobleman was by no means severe.
• 11:05
  Speaker 1: You have, I fear greatly, erred, Monsieur de Morselles, he replied,
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: But still I believe you have been much misled. Is
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: there any favor that you have to ask of me?
• 11:15
  Speaker 1: The count gazed up in the King's face, still kneeling,
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: and every head was bent forward. Every ear listened eagerly.
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: A momentary pause followed, as if there was a great
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: struggle within him, and then he answered, Sir, I will
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: not ask my life of your Majesty, not from any
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: false pride, for I feel and acknowledge that it is
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: yours to give or to take, but because my conduct,
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: however much it might originate in mistake, must appear so
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: ungrateful to you that you cannot, at this moment feel
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: I deserve your mercy. The only favor I will ask, then,
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: is this, that should I be brought to a trial,
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: which must end, as I know, inevitably, in my fall,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: you will read every word of my deposition, and I
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: therein promise to give you your majesty a full and
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: true account, without the falsification of a single word, of
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: all that has taken place in this last lamentable business.
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: Louvois took half a step forward as if to speak,
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: and not a little anxiety was upon his countenance. But
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: contrary to the general impression of those present, all that
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: the count had said had pleased the King, though his
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: latter words had not a little alarmed the minister, who
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: knew what truths might be displayed which he was most
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: anxious to conceal. Monsieur de Morseur replied the King, I
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: will promise what you ask at all events. But what
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: you have said has pleased me, for it shows that
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: you understand my spirit towards my subjects, and that I
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: can grant without being asked. Your life, Sir, is given
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: to you. What punishment we shall inflict may perhaps depend
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: upon the sentence of a judicial court or of our council.
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: May it please your majesty, said Louvois, stepping forward to
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: hear me. One moment you have perhaps thought me inimical
• 13:00
  Speaker 1: to Monsieur de mersey. But such, indeed is not the case.
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: And I would propose that, instead of subjecting him to
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: any child at all, you at once pronounced a sentence
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: of banishment upon him, which is all the mercy that
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: he can expect. His estates as ought to be. The case,
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: must be fortfitted to the crown. And he driven forth,
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: said the King to employ his military talents in the
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: service of our enemies. Never, never, never, sire, exclaimed the count,
• 13:27
  Speaker 1: clasping his hands eagerly. Never should my sword be drawn
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: against my native land. I would rather beg my bread
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: in misery from door to door. I would rather live
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: in want and die in sorrow than do so base
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: and act. There was truth and zeal upon his countenance,
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: and Louvois urged what he had proposed. But while he
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: was addressing the monarch in a lower tone, one of
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: the side doors of the hall opened, and a lady
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: came partly in, speaking to some one behind her, as
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: if she knew not that any one was in the hall.
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: The moment that she received her mistake, Madame de Mantanon
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: drew back, but the King advanced a step and besought
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: her to come in. We want your presents much, Madam,
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: he said, with a smile, for we cannot decide upon
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: what is to be done with this young culprit. But
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: you seem in haste. And who is this with you?
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: I have somewhere seen his face before. The King might
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: well fail to recognize the countenance of Cheramriquet, for it
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: was at that moment actually cadaverous in appearance, from the
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: various emotions that were going on in his heart. I
• 14:31
  Speaker 1: was at that moment seeking your Majesty, said Madame de Mantenon,
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: advancing with her usual calm grace, and was passing this
• 14:38
  Speaker 1: way to your cabinet to crave an audience at ere
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: you went out, But I thought the ceremony of the
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: day was over. What are your commands, madam, said the King.
• 14:47
  Speaker 1: Your wishes are to be attended to at all times.
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: You know, sir, She said that I am not fond
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: of ever asking one who is only over generous to
• 14:56
  Speaker 1: his servants for one thing. But I was eager at
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: that moment to beseech your Majesty to grant at once
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: your pardon for this unfortunate man, who some time ago
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: committed a great crime in misapplying your Majesty's handwriting, and
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: who has now just committed another for which I understand
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: the officers of justice are in pursuit of him, though
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: the swiftness of the horse which brought him here has
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: enabled him to escape. For the moment he found out
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: my apartments, I know not how, and I brought him
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: instantly to your Majesty as soon as I had heard
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: his story and read this paper. What is this paper?
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: Demanded the King, taking it, dick, did I see in
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: the hand of Monsieur de l'arni letter from the said
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: Erval to the Sieur de Atrement. How come you possessed
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: of this cyrh riquet? Advanced and knelt before the King,
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: while Louvois suddenly seemed to recollect some business and retired
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: from the circle. Sire, said the Valet in the briefest
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: possible terms, In serving my master, I was taken by
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: your Majesty's forces. Shut up in a barn with some
• 16:00
  Speaker 1: wounded prisoners, heard the well known leader er Val confess
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: to the Chevalier Devron that he had written a letter
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: to the traitor Atreemont regarding his having been prevented from
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: murdering your Majesty by the Count de Marseilles, in which
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: prevention I had some little share. The man died before
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: his words could be taken down. The Chevalier Devronz said,
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: it did not signify, for you would believe his evidence.
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: But the Chevalier Devronz was killed. My word I knew
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: would not be believed. But I heard that the papers of
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: Atremont were to be burnt this day by the common
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: hangman opposite the Bastille. I had a swift horse saddled.
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: I got close to the fire. I fixed my eyes
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: upon the papers, one by one as they were thrown in,
• 16:46
  Speaker 1: till seeing the writing of Erval, I seized the letter
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: and galloped hither as hard as I could. This is
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: my tale, sire, and on my word it is true.
• 16:56
  Speaker 1: The King hastily opened the paper and read the contents,
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: the expression of his countenance changing several times as he proceeded.
• 17:03
  Speaker 1: But when he had done, he turned towards the count, saying,
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: Monsieur de Morselles, I require no one now to advise
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: me how to act towards you. You are freely and
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: entirely pardoned. I have given up the hope again of
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: ever seeing you cast away the errors of your faith.
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: But even that must not make me harsh towards the
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: man who has saved my life. I would only fain
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: know how it was that you did not inform me
• 17:26
  Speaker 1: of this at the time, Sire, replied the Count. I
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: came to your majesty for the purpose. Your majesty must
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: remember that I told you that I had matters of
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: deep importance to communicate. You referred me to Monsieur de Luvois,
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: and as I was proceeding to his house, I was
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: arrested in the bastille. I was allowed to communicate with
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: no one, and the rest. You know, we have all
• 17:51
  Speaker 1: been very unfortunate. Count replied the King. However, I trust
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: that these embarrassments are at an end. You have your
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: free pardon for the past and now for the future.
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: I cannot violate in your favor the laws that I
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: have laid down for the regulation of the land and
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: for the establishment of one general religion throughout the country.
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: If you say in France you with others lose the
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: means of exercising the ceremonies of your sect. But as
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: I said to the Count de Chamberg, I say to you,
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: in consideration of the great services that you have rendered.
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: I will allow you to sell all your possessions if
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: you choose to retire to another land. And this is
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: I fear all I can do. Your Majesty overwhelms me
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: with bounty, said the Count. But there are yet two
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: favors that I would ask, what more, said the king.
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: One request is, sire, said the Count, to be allowed
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: once in every year to present myself before your Majesty,
• 18:46
  Speaker 1: And the other that I may retain the chateau and
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: the immediate grounds around it belonging to my ancestors. Thus
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: every fond recollection that I have attached to France will
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: still be gratified. And though in exile, I shall live
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: a Frenchman to the law. Your request is granted, replied
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: the King with a smile. And now, gentlemen and ladies,
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: as by your faces round, I judge you are all
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: well satisfied. We will not detain you longer. Thus saying
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: Louis turned and withdrew ere, the Count of Monceau retired
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: from the room, and before any of his friends therein
• 19:19
  Speaker 1: could speak with him, Madame de Mantenau said a word
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: in his ear in a low voice, go to the
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: hotel of the British ambassador. She said, you will there
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: find those that you do not expect. The heart of
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: the Count of Monceau beat high. He had words of
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: gratitude to speak to many there present, but as soon
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: as that was done he hurried to Paris without a
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: moment's pause, and in a few minutes clasped Crement de
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: Marlis to a joyful heart. We need not tell here
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: the brief story she related of her flight from the
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: coast of France to London, and of her having found
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: an affectionate parent in one who, by the wiles of
• 19:57
  Speaker 1: an artful second wife and an intriguing priest, had been
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: persuaded to leave his children by a first marriage with
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: a Protestant lady to the charge of her Catholic relations
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: in France and to the care of the king of
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: that country. Lewis had become the godfather of the eldest,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: known to us as the Chevalier de Franz, while the
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: Earl himself was in exile during the troubles of the
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: Great Rebellion. A Catholic himself, the Earl had been easily
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: induced to believe that his children's salvation depended upon their
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: being educated in a Catholic country, even though concealed there
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: from Protestant relations by assumed names. But on the death
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: of his second wife all his feelings of natural affection returned,
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: and during an illness which made him believe that he
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: was on his deathbed, he sent his brother to seek
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: and bring back his children. We need not enter into
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: the detail any father, the reader, come well imagine it all.
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: All that remains to be said is that Claiment, in
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: her eagerness, had easily persuaded that parent, whose only child
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: she now for the three which had sprung from the
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: second marriage had not survived, to hasten over to Paris,
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: invested with every authority from the king, with whom his
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: religion rendered him a favorite, to solicit the pardon of
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: the Count of Moseux. In consequence of the considerable round
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: the Count was obliged to take in his journey to
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: the capital, and the difficulty of obtaining an audience of
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: the king, she had arrived the day before his fate
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: was finally decided. The only part of that fate which
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: could yet be doubtful, was now in her hands. And
• 21:32
  Speaker 1: if the King of France had shown himself merciful to
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: the Count de Morseilles. She showed herself devoted to him
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: through life, making him as happy as the combination of
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: the rarest qualities of mind and person with the noblest
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: and the deepest and the dearest qualities of the heart
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: could make such a man as we have endeavored to depict.
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: End of Chapter thirty six, end of the Huguenot, A
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: Tale of the French Protestants by George Payne, Rainsford, James