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021 - The King's Closet · Huguenot- A Tale of the French Protestants

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty one of The Huguenot by George Payne Rainsford James.
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Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter twenty
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Speaker 1: one the King's Closet. During the time that the young
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Speaker 1: Count was absent from Versailles and busied, as we have represented,
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Speaker 1: with those schemes on which his future woe or welfare
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Speaker 1: seemed beyond all doubt to depend, a scene was taking
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Speaker 1: place in the palace of the King, in which the
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Speaker 1: Count was more interested than he could have supposed possible,
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Speaker 1: and which, as will be seen at the close of
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Speaker 1: this history, was destined to affect him as much as
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Speaker 1: any of his own proceedings. The scene then was in
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Speaker 1: the King's cabinet of Versailles. A clock of a rich
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Speaker 1: and singular construction stood exactly before the Monarch, marking out
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Speaker 1: to him the portions of time which he could bestow
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Speaker 1: upon each separate affair as it was brought before him.
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Speaker 1: A large inkstand containing innumerable pens, and a portfolio half
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Speaker 1: filled with writing in the King's own hand, lay upon
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Speaker 1: the table. Wax of four different colors, blue, red, white,
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Speaker 1: and yellow were also placed before him in a small
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Speaker 1: case of market try which contained likewise, several seals, and
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Speaker 1: an instrument of a peculiar form for spreading the wax.
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Speaker 1: The walls were ornamented with a few very choice small pictures.
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Speaker 1: A number of maps were there also, and a few
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Speaker 1: but very few books. The monarch was seated in a
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Speaker 1: large armchair, his right foot supported by a footstool, and
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Speaker 1: his hand holding a pen as it rested on the table.
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Speaker 1: The expression on his countenance was mild but intelligent, and
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Speaker 1: before him stood a little pale indeed, and affecting certainly
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Speaker 1: greater awe and terror than he really did feel. A
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Speaker 1: man whom, as we described him before, may be passed
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Speaker 1: over in silence as far as his personal appearance is concerned.
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Speaker 1: This was no other than Jerome Riquet, the valet of
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Speaker 1: the Count of Morseiues. And behind him appeared the figure
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Speaker 1: of Bonton Louis, confidential attendant, who instantly retreated in silence
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Speaker 1: from the chamber on a slow nod of the head
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Speaker 1: from the king. Your name, said the monarch, fixing his
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Speaker 1: eyes full upon Riquet. Is I understand, Jerome Riquay, and
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Speaker 1: you are valet to the young Count of Morseiues. I
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Speaker 1: have been his faithful valet in the field, and the camp,
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Speaker 1: and the court and the castle for these many years, sire,
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Speaker 1: replied the man, And I hear, continued the King, that
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Speaker 1: you are a member of the Holy Catholic Church, while
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Speaker 1: your lord is of their religion, which is Professor's carp reformed.
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Speaker 1: Now answer me, truly, how have you contrived during the
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Speaker 1: long period of service, surrounded as you were by Huguenot
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Speaker 1: fellow's servants, and under Huguenot Lord, how have you contrived
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Speaker 1: to fulfill the duties of your religion? I say, under
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Speaker 1: such circumstances, Oh, sire, nothing so easy, replied the man.
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Speaker 1: May it please your majesty, I was much better off
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Speaker 1: in most respects than my brother Catholics. For on a
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Speaker 1: fast day, Sire, by my Lord's order, on my account,
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Speaker 1: there was either fish or some other meager dish prepared,
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Speaker 1: so that I had my choice. I could fast and
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Speaker 1: grow thin, or sin and grow fat, as I thought fit.
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Speaker 1: The King's countenance fell a little at an uncalled for
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Speaker 1: joke in his presence, especially on a subject which in
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Speaker 1: his eyes was of serious importance. Lewis, however, was very
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Speaker 1: rarely disposed to say a harsh word unless it was
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Speaker 1: impossible to help it, and he therefore passed over the
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Speaker 1: valet's levity with merely the reproof of that displeased look,
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Speaker 1: and then again demanded, So then, your Lord gave you
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Speaker 1: every facility of fulfilling the duties of your religion, the
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Speaker 1: greatest Sire, replied the man, except when we were in Holland,
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Speaker 1: where there was no Catholic church to be found, he
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Speaker 1: has always driven me to Mass, as if with a scourge.
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Speaker 1: Even at Morseux, scarcely a sunday passed without his telling
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Speaker 1: me to go to Mass and asking me if I
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Speaker 1: have been. This looks well for the young gentleman, said
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Speaker 1: the King, seemingly well pleased with the account. The man afforded,
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Speaker 1: we have had different stories at court that he was
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Speaker 1: rank and bigoted and furious against the Catholic religion. Lord,
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Speaker 1: bless your majesty, exclaimed the man. He is more than
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Speaker 1: three quarters of a Catholic himself, and if the devil
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Speaker 1: gets the other quarter, it will only be because the
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Speaker 1: Count is driven to him. Speak not profanely, Sir, of
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Speaker 1: things that are serious, said the King, nor presume in
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Speaker 1: my presence to venture upon such jests. As he spoke.
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Speaker 1: The whole aspect of his countenance change. His brow grew dark,
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Speaker 1: his lip curled, his voice became deeper, his head more erect,
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Speaker 1: and that indescribable majesty for which he was famous took
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Speaker 1: possession of his person, making the unfortunate Jerome Riquet ready
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Speaker 1: to sink into the earth. Now, sir, continued the King,
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Speaker 1: be not frightened, but give me clear and straightforward answers
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Speaker 1: in a serious tone. What you have told me of
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Speaker 1: your young lord is satisfactory to me. I'm most anxious
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Speaker 1: to do him good and to show him favor. I
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Speaker 1: have marked his gallant conduct as a soldier, and his
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Speaker 1: upright and noble demeanor as a French gentleman, and I
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Speaker 1: would fain save him from the destruction to which obstinacy
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Speaker 1: may lead him. You say that he is three parts
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Speaker 1: of Catholic already, and would be one altogether if it
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Speaker 1: were not at least so I understand you that some
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Speaker 1: one drove him to the country conduct. Now who is
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Speaker 1: it drives him? Sir? Speak to me plainly and explicitly,
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Speaker 1: and no harm shall come to you. Have you lost
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Speaker 1: your tongue, sir? Or are you struck dumb? The King continued,
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Speaker 1: seeing that Riquet remain silent while his whole frame seemed
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Speaker 1: to work with terror and agitation. Perhaps had his Lord
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Speaker 1: been there, he might have discovered at once that Riquet
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Speaker 1: was working himself up to assume an immense deal more
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Speaker 1: of terror than he really felt. But the King, conscious
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Speaker 1: of having assumed an overawing look which he had so
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Speaker 1: often seen produce effects somewhat similar, believed the fear of
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Speaker 1: the Valet to be entirely real, and was not at
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Speaker 1: all surprised to see Riquet suddenly cast himself at his
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Speaker 1: feet and burst into an amazing flood of tears. I
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Speaker 1: have offended your majesty, cried the man, with a species
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Speaker 1: of orientalism, which was not at all displeasing to the
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Speaker 1: ears of the despotic monarch of the French. If I
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Speaker 1: have offended your Majesty, take my head. But you are
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Speaker 1: now proceeding to question me upon matters in which what
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Speaker 1: I have to tell and speak of may produce the
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Speaker 1: most terrible results. I know not every word I utter
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Speaker 1: that I may not be doing wrong. I know not
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Speaker 1: that every word may not cost my life. And unless
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Speaker 1: your Majesty will deign to want me in writing your
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Speaker 1: full and free pardon for all that I have done,
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Speaker 1: and I dare not, indeed, I dare not go on,
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Speaker 1: or if I do, terror will make me prevaricate and
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Speaker 1: attempt to conceal facts that the wisdom of your Majesty
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Speaker 1: will soon discover. Nay, nay, exclaimed the King. Before I
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Speaker 1: give you such pardon, my good friend, I must know
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Speaker 1: to what it extends. You may have committed twenty crimes
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Speaker 1: for aught I know, and may be a relapsed heretic
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Speaker 1: for aught I know. So help me, God, sire, no,
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Speaker 1: exclaimed the man vehemently. I am a sincere, devout and
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Speaker 1: zealous Catholic, and have been so all my life. He
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Speaker 1: is a certificate of the parish priest in partout, sire,
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Speaker 1: in order that I might have the benefit of the indulgence.
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Speaker 1: And he drew forth from his pocket a small piece
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Speaker 1: of written paper, which Louis read attentively, and which bestowed
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Speaker 1: upon him so high a character for devotion to the
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Speaker 1: Catholic faith and for various other extraordinary virtues that Louis
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Speaker 1: thought he could not be far wrong in assuring him
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Speaker 1: of the pardon he wanted, especially as Riquet, while he
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Speaker 1: read had relapsed into a passion of tears, and the
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Speaker 1: moments allotted to the task of examining him, or fleeting
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Speaker 1: rapidly away well, he said, to make you at ease,
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Speaker 1: I will grant you the pardon under some conditions, and
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Speaker 1: pray put in, Sire, cried Riquet, with real joy sparkling
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Speaker 1: in his eyes. Pray put in that you take me
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Speaker 1: under your royal protection, for fear the Count should be
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Speaker 1: angry or any of the heretics should attempt to take
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Speaker 1: vengeance upon me. That I will do, also replied Louis,
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Speaker 1: and taking the pen, he wrote rapidly a paper which,
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Speaker 1: according to the old English form, would have been somewhat
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Speaker 1: to the following effect, though the beginning of it, as
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Speaker 1: to Sir et cetera, may be somewhat freely translated. Know
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Speaker 1: all men, by these presents, that we, for especial reasons
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Speaker 1: thereunto us moving have granted our full and free pardon
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Speaker 1: unto the person called Jerome ardoin Riquet for all crimes
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Speaker 1: or offenses that he may have committed up to the
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Speaker 1: date of these presents, always accepted any crime which he
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Speaker 1: may have committed against the Holy Church or our sovereign
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Speaker 1: state of which he is not at this time charged,
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Speaker 1: and which may be hereafter proved against him, And that
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Speaker 1: we do also take the said Jerome ardoin Riquet under
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Speaker 1: our especial protection, warning all men to have regard unto
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Speaker 1: the same, for such is our will. Louis the King
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Speaker 1: read the paper over, paused for a moment as if
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Speaker 1: he yet hesitated whether he should give it or not,
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Speaker 1: and then, with a sort of half smile and a
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Speaker 1: look expressive of something between carelessness and magnanimity, he held
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Speaker 1: it out to the valet, who seized it and kissed
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Speaker 1: it repeatedly. Then, standing up before the monarch, he said, now, Sire,
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Speaker 1: safe in your Majesty's protection, I am ready and caper
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Speaker 1: of answering distinctly and clearly anything that you may ask me.
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Speaker 1: The King took the paper up again into which he
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Speaker 1: had looked to ascertain the various denominations of metaler Riquet,
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Speaker 1: and then recommenced his questions as followed, returning in the
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Speaker 1: first place to the one which Riuquet had left unanswered.
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Speaker 1: Who and what are the people who are driving or
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Speaker 1: are likely to drive your master to remain obstinate in heresy, Please,
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Speaker 1: your Majesty replied Riquet. The principal persons are a very
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Speaker 1: reverend and respectable gentleman called the Abbe de Sainte l
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Speaker 1: also the intendant of the province of Poitou, our reverend father,
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Speaker 1: the Bishop of Poitier, Monsieur de Louvois. And I am
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Speaker 1: not very sure that good Monsieur de Rouvreet himself has
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Speaker 1: not a part. The king gazed at the bold speaker
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Speaker 1: for a moment or two, as if doubtful of his
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Speaker 1: real intention, asking of himself whether the man spoke sincerely
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Speaker 1: and simply, or whether a daring jest or a still
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Speaker 1: more impudent sarcasm lays concealed in the words he used.
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Speaker 1: The man's previous terror, however, and the air of perfect
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Speaker 1: unconsciousness of offense with which he spoke did much to
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Speaker 1: convince Louis that he had no double meaning. His tone, however,
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Speaker 1: was sharp and angry, as he asked, how now, sir,
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Speaker 1: how can some of the best and wisest, and most
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Speaker 1: prudent and the most zealous men in the realm drive
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Speaker 1: any heretic to refuse obstinately the cup of salvation offered
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Speaker 1: to him? I trust you mean no offense cerrh Cheronrique's
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Speaker 1: countenance instantly fell, and with a thousand lamentations and professions
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Speaker 1: of profound respect for Louvois and Sainte l and everyone
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Speaker 1: whom the King might trust and favor, he declared that
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Speaker 1: his only meaning was that he believed his master and
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Speaker 1: a great many other Protestants would have been converted long
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Speaker 1: ago if they had been led rather than driven. He
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Speaker 1: added that he had heard the young Count and the
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Speaker 1: old one too say a thousand times that some of
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Speaker 1: the gentlemen he mentioned had done as much to prevent
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Speaker 1: Protestants from returning to the Mother Church as Monsieur beau
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Speaker 1: sUAS had done to bring them back to it. Louis
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Speaker 1: paused and thought, and had not his prepossessions been so
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Speaker 1: complete as they were, the plain truth which the valet
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Speaker 1: told him might not have been unproductive of fruit. As
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Speaker 1: it was, it went in some degree to effect the
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Speaker 1: real object which lu Queyt had in view, namely, to
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Speaker 1: impress the king with a notion that there was a
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Speaker 1: great probability of the young Count being recalled to the
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Speaker 1: bosom of the Catholic Church, provided the means employed for
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Speaker 1: gentleness and persuasion. It is very seldom, indeed in this
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Speaker 1: life that we meet with anything like pure and unmixed motives,
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Speaker 1: and such were certainly not to be expected in the
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Speaker 1: bosom of jeromely Quay. His first object and design was
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Speaker 1: certainly to serve his master, but in so serving him
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Speaker 1: he had an eye to gratifications of his own. Also,
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Speaker 1: for to his feelings and disposition, Versailles was a much
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Speaker 1: pleasanter place than messe Paris, a more agreeable land than Poitou.
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Speaker 1: He used to declare that he was fond of the country,
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Speaker 1: but liked it, paved that his avenue should always be houses,
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Speaker 1: and his flocks and herds wear coats and petticoats. He
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Speaker 1: naturally calculated then, that if the King undertook the task
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Speaker 1: of converting the young count by gentle and quiet means,
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Speaker 1: he would not fail to keep him in the delightful
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Speaker 1: surgeon in place of Versailles, while he Jerome Rouquet, amongst
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Speaker 1: all the gods and goddesses of brass and marble, which
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Speaker 1: were gathered together in the gardens, might play the part
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Speaker 1: of proteus and take a thousand shapes as might suit
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Speaker 1: his versatile genius. The king thought over the reply of
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Speaker 1: Riquet for some moments somewhat struck by hearing the arguments
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Speaker 1: which the Protestants held amongst themselves were exactly similar to
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Speaker 1: those which they had often put forth in addressing him.
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Speaker 1: So much skill, however, had been employed by his counsel
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Speaker 1: and advisers to open wide before him the path of
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Speaker 1: error and to close up the narrow footway of truth,
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Speaker 1: that even when anyone pulled away the brambles and briers
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Speaker 1: with which the latter had been blocked up, and showed
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Speaker 1: him that there was really another path, he refused to
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Speaker 1: follow it and chose the wider and more traveled road.
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Speaker 1: Thus his conclusion was, after those few minutes, thought, this
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Speaker 1: is all very well and very specious. But as we
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Speaker 1: do not trust to a sick man to point out
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Speaker 1: the remedies that will cure him, so must we not
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Speaker 1: trust to these Huguenots to point out what would be
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Speaker 1: the best means of converting them. However, Master Jeromerique, it
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Speaker 1: is not in regard to opinions that I sent for
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Speaker 1: you to hear facts. If you please now tell me,
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Speaker 1: do you remember, upon a certain occasion a proclamation having
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Speaker 1: been sent down to be read in the town of mercees,
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Speaker 1: the King's officers having been insulted, and I believe pelted
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Speaker 1: with stones and the proclamation torn down. No sire, replied
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Speaker 1: Riquet boldly, for he was telling a lie, and therefore
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Speaker 1: spoke confidently. I remember my master going out in haste
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Speaker 1: one day to prevent, he said, any bad conduct on
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Speaker 1: the part of the people, And I remember hearing that
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Speaker 1: he had caused the proclamation to be made himself in
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Speaker 1: the market place in spite of some riotous folk who
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Speaker 1: would willingly have opposed. It. High time that such folk
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Speaker 1: should be put down, said the King. These are the
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Speaker 1: peaceable and obedient subjects which the advocates of the Huguenots
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Speaker 1: would fain persuade me that they are. But one question
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Speaker 1: more on this head. Did you see the young Count
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Speaker 1: of Morseux caused the gates of the town to be
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Speaker 1: shut in the face of my officers, or did you
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Speaker 1: hear that he had done so upon good authority? No sire,
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Speaker 1: I neither heard nor saw it, replied Riquet, And for myself,
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Speaker 1: I was safely in the castle during the whole day.
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Speaker 1: Do you remember, continued the King, looking at the paper,
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Speaker 1: having carried notes or letters from your master to different
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Speaker 1: Protestant gentleman in the neighborhood of Poitier, calling upon them
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Speaker 1: to assemble and meet at the house of another Huguenot
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Speaker 1: named Monsieur de COUVOI no, sire, oh no, replied the man.
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Speaker 1: While we were at Poitier, I only carried one note,
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Speaker 1: and that was to the saddle maker, who, in repadding
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Speaker 1: one of my Lord's saddles, had done so as to
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Speaker 1: gaul the horse's back. Sir, you are lying, said the King. Sternly.
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Speaker 1: Riquet once more cast himself upon his knees before the monarch,
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Speaker 1: clasping his hands and exclaiming, May I lose your Majesty's
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Speaker 1: favor for ever if I am not telling you the
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Speaker 1: exact truth. Let any one who dares to say that
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Speaker 1: I carried any other note than that which I have
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Speaker 1: mentioned be confronted with me this moment, and I will
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Speaker 1: prove that he is shamefully deceiving your Majesty. For no
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Speaker 1: other note did I carry, No, not even a love letter.
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Speaker 1: Otherwise I could and would not only tell your Majesty
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Speaker 1: the fact, but every word that the notes contained. This
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Speaker 1: is very extraordinary, said the King, and I shall take
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Speaker 1: care to inquire into it. I trust your majesty will,
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Speaker 1: replied the man boldly, for it may be recollected that
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Speaker 1: he had not carried any note, but had been merely
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Speaker 1: charged with a message to Monsieur de courvoir. I trust
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Speaker 1: that your majesty will, for I assure you on the
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Speaker 1: faith of a valet de chambre, that no such transaction
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Speaker 1: ever occurred. Did not they want to charge me, the
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Speaker 1: very men whom I dare say have brought this accusation?
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Speaker 1: Did they not want to try charged me with having
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Speaker 1: abstracted your Majesty's commission to Messius saintels and Pelisson, and
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Speaker 1: with having placed a pack of cards in its stead?
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Speaker 1: And were they not brought to shame by its being
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Speaker 1: found out that they themselves had done it? By fragments
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Speaker 1: of the commission being found in one of their valises,
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Speaker 1: wrapped like a dirty rag about an old tobacco box.
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Speaker 1: How is this? How is this? Exclaimed the king. I
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Speaker 1: heard that the commission had been abstracted, but I heard
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Speaker 1: not this result fragments of the commission wrapping a tobacco
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Speaker 1: box found in their own releases. Lie Sir, replied the man,
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Speaker 1: tis all too true, for the examination was conducted in
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Speaker 1: presence of Monsieur de Roufrey, and with earnest volubility. Metre
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Speaker 1: Gerome set to work, and in his own particular manner,
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Speaker 1: gave the monarch a long and detailed but rapid account
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Speaker 1: of what had taken place on the return of the
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Speaker 1: Count de Messeur de poitierding cunning commentaries in words, gesticulations
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Speaker 1: and grimaces, which scarcely left the king the power of
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Speaker 1: retaining his due gravity, especially when Riquet personated to the
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Speaker 1: life the worthy curee of Guadroux in the discovery of
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Speaker 1: the paper in his valise. While he was in the
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Speaker 1: very act of making this detail, however, the door of
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Speaker 1: the royal cabinet was opened, and a man of a
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Speaker 1: harsh and disagreeable countenance, with a face somewhat red and blotched,
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Speaker 1: but with great fire and intelligence in his eyes, entered
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Speaker 1: the room, pausing for a single moment at the door,
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Speaker 1: as if for permission. Come in, Monsieur de Lauvois, Come in,
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Speaker 1: said the king. This is jer Roamee Leuque, the valet
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Speaker 1: of the Count de Morseux, whom I told you I
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Speaker 1: intended to examine. He puts a very different face upon
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Speaker 1: several matters, however, from that which we expected to find,
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Speaker 1: and the King briefly recapitulated to his famous minister the
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Speaker 1: information he had received from Riquet, leaving out, however, the
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Speaker 1: first part of the conversation between them, which contained matter
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Speaker 1: that could not be very agreeable to the minister. A
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Speaker 1: somewhat sneering smile came upon Louvois's countenance as he listened,
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Speaker 1: and he replied, I am very happy to hear CYH
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Speaker 1: that the Count de Mostseay is so good and faithful
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Speaker 1: a servant to your Majesty. May I be permitted to
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Speaker 1: ask this worthy person a question or two in your presence?
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Speaker 1: The King bowed his head, and the minister, turning to Rouquet,
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Speaker 1: went on, Although we have much more reason to think
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Speaker 1: favorably of your master, he said, than we had at first.
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Speaker 1: Yet there is one point in regard to which, though
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Speaker 1: he did not actually commit a fault, he greatly neglected
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Speaker 1: his duty. At least so we are led to believe.
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Speaker 1: We are assured that shortly before he came up to
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Speaker 1: their ci, a great meeting of Huguenots in the open
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Speaker 1: air took place upon a wild moor within the limits
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Speaker 1: of the young Count's lands, which meeting, though held for
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Speaker 1: the peaceful purpose, we are told of merely preaching in
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Speaker 1: the open air, terminated in bloodshed and an attack upon
21:19
Speaker 1: a small body of the King's dragoons who were watching
21:23
Speaker 1: the proceedings. Louvoi's eye was fixed upon the valet all
21:29
Speaker 1: the time he spoke, and Jeromary Quay was making up
21:32
Speaker 1: his mind to deny steadily any knowledge of the transaction.
21:36
Speaker 1: But suddenly his whole views upon the subject were changed
21:39
Speaker 1: by the Minister coming to the head and front of
21:42
Speaker 1: the Count's offence. Now continued Louvois. Although there was certainly
21:50
Speaker 1: no law to compel the Count to be present on
21:53
Speaker 1: such an occasion, Yet when he knew that a meeting
21:58
Speaker 1: of this kind was about to take place on his
22:00
Speaker 1: own estates, and that dangerous consequences might ensue, he would
22:08
Speaker 1: but have shown his zeal and duty in the service
22:11
Speaker 1: of the King by going to the spot and doing
22:16
Speaker 1: all that he could to make the proceedings tranquil and inoffensive.
22:22
Speaker 1: But the Count did go, Sir, exclaimed Riquet. The Count
22:26
Speaker 1: did go, and I remember the fact of his going
22:29
Speaker 1: particularly he ready to swear that he was there demanded Louvois.
22:36
Speaker 1: All I can say, replied the Valet, is that he
22:40
Speaker 1: left home for the purpose of going there. I was
22:43
Speaker 1: not present myself, but I heard from every one else
22:46
Speaker 1: that he was. And pray at what hour did he
22:51
Speaker 1: return that night? Demanded Louvois. For the events that I
22:55
Speaker 1: speak of did not take place till near nightfall, and
23:00
Speaker 1: if the count had been there till the whole assemblage
23:03
Speaker 1: had dispersed a thousand to one, no harm would have ensued.
23:10
Speaker 1: I cannot exactly tell what hour he returned, said the Valet,
23:14
Speaker 1: who was beginning to fancy that he was not exactly
23:16
Speaker 1: in the right road. It was after nightfall, however, recollect yourself,
23:23
Speaker 1: said Louvois. Was it nine ten o'clock? It might be
23:29
Speaker 1: nearly ten, said the man. And I think, said Louvois,
23:33
Speaker 1: his lip curling with a smile, bitter and fiendlike. I
23:37
Speaker 1: think you were one of those, were you not who
23:40
Speaker 1: went down on the following morning to the spot where
23:43
Speaker 1: the young Marquis de Ericors had been murdered. Your name
23:48
Speaker 1: is amongst those who were seen there. So say no more,
23:52
Speaker 1: But now tell me where is your master at this moment?
23:58
Speaker 1: Cheronriquet smartly under a strong perception of having been outwitted.
24:03
Speaker 1: And the consequence was that, knowing, or at least believing
24:06
Speaker 1: that when a man falls into one such piece of
24:09
Speaker 1: ill luck, it generally goes on with a sort of
24:12
Speaker 1: run against him, he made up his mind to know
24:15
Speaker 1: as little as possible about anything, for fear of falling
24:18
Speaker 1: into a new error, and replied to Louvoi's question that
24:22
Speaker 1: he could not tell. Is he in his hotel at
24:26
Speaker 1: Versailles or not? Sir, said the minister, sternly. Endeavor to
24:32
Speaker 1: forget for once that you are professionally a liar and
24:36
Speaker 1: give a straightforward answer, for on your telling truth depends
24:41
Speaker 1: your immediate transmission to the bastille or not. Was your
24:47
Speaker 1: master at home when you left the house? Or out?
24:52
Speaker 1: He was out? Then, Sir, certainly, replied lyque on horseback
24:58
Speaker 1: or on foot, demanded Louvois On horseback, replied the man.
25:04
Speaker 1: Now answer me one other question, continued the minister. Have
25:10
Speaker 1: you not been heard this very morning to tell the
25:14
Speaker 1: head groom to have horses ready to go to Paris? Sir,
25:20
Speaker 1: said Jerome, with a look of impudent raillery, that he
25:23
Speaker 1: dared not assume towards the king, but which nothing upon
25:26
Speaker 1: earth could have repressed. In addressing Louvois at that moment, Sir,
25:31
Speaker 1: I feel convinced that I must possess a valet de
25:34
Speaker 1: chambre without knowing it, for nobody on earth could repeat
25:38
Speaker 1: my words so accurately unless I had some scoundrel of
25:41
Speaker 1: a valet to betray them as soon as they were spoken. Sir,
25:46
Speaker 1: your impudence shall have its just punishment, said Louvois, taking
25:51
Speaker 1: up a pen and dipping it in the ink. But
25:54
Speaker 1: the King waved his hand, saying, put down the pen,
25:57
Speaker 1: Monsieur de Louvois. You forget that you are in the
26:00
Speaker 1: King's cabinet, and in his presence, Riquet, you may retire.
26:07
Speaker 1: Riquet did not need a second bidding, but, with a
26:10
Speaker 1: look of profound awe and reverence towards Louis, laid his
26:13
Speaker 1: hand upon his heart, lifted up his shoulders like the
26:16
Speaker 1: jaws of a crocodile ready to swallow up his head,
26:20
Speaker 1: and bowing almost to the ground, walked backward out of
26:23
Speaker 1: the room. Louvois stood before the king for an instant
26:27
Speaker 1: with a look of angry mortification, which he suppressed with difficulty.
26:32
Speaker 1: Louis suffered him to remain thus, and perhaps did not
26:35
Speaker 1: enjoy a little the humiliation he had inflicted upon a
26:38
Speaker 1: man whom he more than once in his life, declared
26:42
Speaker 1: to be perfectly insupportable, though he could not do without him.
26:47
Speaker 1: At length, however, he spoke in a grave, but not
26:49
Speaker 1: an angry tone, saying, from the questions that you asked
26:53
Speaker 1: that man just now, Monsieur de Louvois, I am led
26:56
Speaker 1: to believe that you have received some fresh information regarding this,
26:59
Speaker 1: young gentlemen, this count de Morseux. My determination up to
27:04
Speaker 1: this moment, strengthened by the advice of Monsieur de mort,
27:07
Speaker 1: Monsieur Pelisson, and others, is simply this to pursue to
27:12
Speaker 1: the utmost the means of persuasion and conciliation, in order
27:15
Speaker 1: to induce him, by fair means to return to the
27:18
Speaker 1: bosom of the Catholic Church. Better, Sire, replied Louvois, far
27:24
Speaker 1: better cut him off like a withered and corruptive branch,
27:28
Speaker 1: unfit to be grafted on that goodly tree. You know, Marquis,
27:33
Speaker 1: said the king that I am always amenable to reason.
27:37
Speaker 1: I have expressed the determination which I had taken under
27:40
Speaker 1: particular circumstances. If you have other circumstances to communicate to
27:45
Speaker 1: me which may make me alter that opinion, do so straightforwardly.
27:50
Speaker 1: Kings are as liable to error as other men, perhaps
27:53
Speaker 1: indeed more so, for they see truth at a distance
27:56
Speaker 1: and require prospective glasses to examine it well. Are not
28:00
Speaker 1: always at hand. If I am wrong, I am ready
28:03
Speaker 1: to change my resolution, though it is always a part
28:06
Speaker 1: of a king's duty to decide speedily when he can
28:09
Speaker 1: do it wisely. A simple fact, sire, replied Louvois, with
28:14
Speaker 1: a mortification under which he still smarted, affecting his tone
28:17
Speaker 1: of voice. The simple fact is, as your Majesty must
28:22
Speaker 1: have divined from the answers that man gave me, I
28:26
Speaker 1: have now clear and distinct proof that this Count de
28:29
Speaker 1: Morseilles has, throughout the insignificant but annoying troubles occasioned by
28:35
Speaker 1: the Huguenots in Poitou, been the great fomentor of all
28:39
Speaker 1: their discontent and their leader in actual insurrection. He was
28:44
Speaker 1: not only present at this preaching in the desert, as
28:47
Speaker 1: these fanatics call it, and led all the proceedings by
28:50
Speaker 1: a speech upon the occasion highly insulting to your Majesty's
28:53
Speaker 1: authority and dignity with all which your Majesty has already
28:58
Speaker 1: been made acquainted, but upon not very clear and conclusive evidence,
29:03
Speaker 1: said the King, Upon evidence Monsieur de Louvois, which should
29:07
Speaker 1: condemn none of my subjects before a court of law,
29:09
Speaker 1: and therefore not before his sovereign. That he made a
29:13
Speaker 1: speech is clear, but some of the witnesses deposed that
29:17
Speaker 1: it was only to recommend moderation and tranquility, and to
29:21
Speaker 1: beseech them on no account to appear on such occasions
29:24
Speaker 1: with arms. All hypocrisy, Sire, replied Louvois. I have had
29:31
Speaker 1: two of the dragoons with me this morning, who were
29:34
Speaker 1: present with my unfortunate cousin, young de Elichoors, and they
29:39
Speaker 1: are quite ready and willing to swear that he this
29:42
Speaker 1: Count de Monseaux, began the afray by striking that young
29:46
Speaker 1: officer from his horse without provocation, demanded the King, his
29:51
Speaker 1: brow growing somewhat cloudy. They saw none given, replied Louvois,
29:57
Speaker 1: and they were close to him. Not only this, but
30:02
Speaker 1: as it is shown that he did not himself return
30:05
Speaker 1: to his own house till late at night that de
30:08
Speaker 1: ericor never returned at all, and that the two were
30:12
Speaker 1: angry rivals. For the hand of this very Mademoiselle de Marlie.
30:18
Speaker 1: There is strong reason to believe that they met after
30:21
Speaker 1: the affair on the moor, and that the unhappy young
30:25
Speaker 1: man was slain by the hand of the Count of Morseille.
30:30
Speaker 1: This is something new, indeed, said the King, have you
30:33
Speaker 1: any further information, Monsieur de Luvois, merely the following sire
30:38
Speaker 1: replied the Minister that in the course of yesterday evening,
30:43
Speaker 1: the famous fanatic minister Claude de l'Estang, the great stay
30:48
Speaker 1: of the self styled Reformed Church, who on more than
30:52
Speaker 1: one occasion in his youth opposed your royal father in arms,
30:58
Speaker 1: and has through life been being a great friend and
31:01
Speaker 1: adviser of these Counts of Morseux, arrived in Paris last night,
31:08
Speaker 1: sent a bier down to the Count this morning, and
31:12
Speaker 1: further that the Count immediately went up to visit him. Unfortunately,
31:17
Speaker 1: the news was communicated to me too late to take
31:21
Speaker 1: measures for tracking the Count from Versailles to the hiding
31:24
Speaker 1: place of the minister, whom it is desirable to lay
31:28
Speaker 1: hands upon if possible. The Count was tracked indeed to
31:32
Speaker 1: his own hotel in Paris. But just before I came hither,
31:38
Speaker 1: the messenger returned to tell me that as soon as
31:42
Speaker 1: Monsieur de Morseur had arrived at his own house, he
31:45
Speaker 1: had gone out again on foot, and all further trace
31:49
Speaker 1: of him was lost. What I would urge upon your
31:53
Speaker 1: Majesty's attention, then, is this that if you suffer him
31:57
Speaker 1: to trifle away many days persuading you, and good Monsieur
32:03
Speaker 1: beausuays that he intends to yield and return to the church,
32:08
Speaker 1: you will suffer this affair of the preaching, the tumult,
32:12
Speaker 1: the murder of some of your most loyal subjects, and
32:16
Speaker 1: the previous factious conduct of this young man to drop
32:21
Speaker 1: and be forgotten. And you cannot well revive it after
32:25
Speaker 1: any length of time, as it is known already that
32:29
Speaker 1: full information has been laid before you on the subject.
32:34
Speaker 1: It does seem to me, Sire, continued the minister, seeing
32:38
Speaker 1: that Louis was much moved by his reasonings, it does
32:43
Speaker 1: seem to me that you have but one choice. You
32:48
Speaker 1: must either, believing as I do, that the Count de
32:53
Speaker 1: Morseux has not the slightest intention of ever becoming a
32:57
Speaker 1: convert from the heresy he now professes. Determine upon arresting
33:03
Speaker 1: him and punishing him for the cribs with which he
33:08
Speaker 1: is charged, should they be proved, or else, you must
33:12
Speaker 1: grant him your royal favor and pardon, put it out
33:16
Speaker 1: of your own power to investigate further the matter. Bestow
33:21
Speaker 1: upon him the hand of Mademoiselle de Marlee, and leave
33:25
Speaker 1: fate and his own inclinations to convert him to the
33:29
Speaker 1: Catholic faith or not, as may happen. I certainly shall
33:35
Speaker 1: not take the latter alternative, replied the King. The circumstances
33:39
Speaker 1: you have brought forward are extremely strong, especially this renewed
33:43
Speaker 1: visit to Claude de l'estan, and not one to show
33:47
Speaker 1: indecision where firmness is necessary, Louvois, In an hour or two,
33:51
Speaker 1: whenever I think it probable that he is returned to Versailles,
33:55
Speaker 1: I will send to require his presence. I will question
33:58
Speaker 1: him myself upon his belief, ascertain the probability of his conversion,
34:03
Speaker 1: and determine at once if I find your statement correct, Sire,
34:09
Speaker 1: replied Louvois, interrupting the King, as was too often his
34:12
Speaker 1: custom to do. There is little use of your asking
34:16
Speaker 1: him any questions, but one simple one, the answer to
34:20
Speaker 1: which must at once satisfy so great and magnanimous a
34:23
Speaker 1: mind as yours. And you will see that I entertain
34:27
Speaker 1: no feeling of personal enmity to the young man by
34:32
Speaker 1: the question that I am about to suggest. If he
34:36
Speaker 1: answer that question candidly, straightforwardly, and at once in the
34:42
Speaker 1: manner and sense which your majesty can approve, give him
34:46
Speaker 1: your favor, raise him high, distinguish him in every manner.
34:51
Speaker 1: But if he prevaricates, hesitates, or answers in a sense
34:56
Speaker 1: and manner which your Majesty cannot approve, send him to
34:59
Speaker 1: the bast steal. But what is the question? Demanded the
35:04
Speaker 1: king eagerly, What is the question, Monsieur de Louvois, This
35:08
Speaker 1: sire replied Louvois, Monsieur de Morsees, I beg and command
35:14
Speaker 1: of you, as your king and your benefactor, to tell
35:19
Speaker 1: me whether there is or is not really any chance
35:23
Speaker 1: of your ever becoming a convert to the true Catholic
35:27
Speaker 1: faith of this realm. Louvois, by putting such a question
35:33
Speaker 1: into the King's mouth, showed not only how intimately he
35:36
Speaker 1: was acquainted with louis weaknesses, but also how well he
35:40
Speaker 1: knew the firmness and candor of the young Count de Morseur.
35:45
Speaker 1: He knew, in short, that the latter would tell the truth,
35:48
Speaker 1: and that the former would condemn it. Nothing can be fairer,
35:53
Speaker 1: replied the King. Nothing can be fairer, Monsieur de Louvois.
35:57
Speaker 1: I will put that question to him exactly on his
36:00
Speaker 1: answer to it, he shall stand or fall. So thoroughly
36:05
Speaker 1: am I convinced, Sire, of what the result will be,
36:09
Speaker 1: continued Louvois, that I will beseech your majesty to give
36:12
Speaker 1: me authority to have him arrested immediately after he leaves you,
36:17
Speaker 1: in case you send me no order to the contrary. Certainly,
36:21
Speaker 1: replied the King. Certainly, I will sign the order immediately.
36:26
Speaker 1: Allow me to remind you, Sire, replied Louvois, that you
36:31
Speaker 1: signed one the other day, which is already in the
36:35
Speaker 1: hands of Contal. You ordered me to suspend the execution.
36:41
Speaker 1: That will do quite well, and Contal will be at
36:44
Speaker 1: hand to put it in force. Be it so, said
36:48
Speaker 1: the monarch. Be it so, but let Contal be in
36:52
Speaker 1: the way. At the time I sent for the young
36:54
Speaker 1: Count that I may signify to him that he is
36:57
Speaker 1: not to arrest the Count if the answer I received
36:59
Speaker 1: satisfies me. And now, Monsieur de Louvois, what news regarding
37:04
Speaker 1: this business of Dunkirk. The King and his minister then
37:09
Speaker 1: turned to other matters, and, having concluded the principal part
37:12
Speaker 1: of the affairs they had in hand, were talking somewhat
37:15
Speaker 1: lightly of other matters when one of the attendants, who
37:18
Speaker 1: knew that the hour of Louvois was over, opened the
37:22
Speaker 1: door and interrupted their further conversation by announcing, to the
37:26
Speaker 1: surprise of both that the Count de Monseur was in waiting,
37:30
Speaker 1: beseeching earnestly a moment's audience with the monarch. The King
37:35
Speaker 1: turned his eyes upon Louvois as if to inquire, what
37:38
Speaker 1: is the meaning of this? But a moment or two
37:41
Speaker 1: after he bade the attendant give the account admission. Then
37:45
Speaker 1: I had better take my leave, sire, said the minister,
37:50
Speaker 1: and give Gauntale a hint to be in readiness. And
37:54
Speaker 1: taking up the papers from which he had been reading
37:57
Speaker 1: some extracts to the monarch, Louvois bowed low and quitted
38:01
Speaker 1: the room. End of Chapter twenty one. End of the
38:08
Speaker 1: second volume