diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413-8.txt | 7474 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 149514 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 153546 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413-h/39413-h.htm | 7596 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413.txt | 7474 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39413.zip | bin | 0 -> 149421 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 22560 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39413-8.txt b/39413-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..880400b --- /dev/null +++ b/39413-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7474 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) + or, The States of Blois + +Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +Release Date: April 9, 2012 [EBook #39413] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://archive.org/details/henryofguiseorst03jame + (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE; + + OR, + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + VOL. III. + + + + + + + London: + Printed by A. Spottiswoode, + New-Street-Square + + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE + + + + OR, + + + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + + + + BY + + + + G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "THE ROBBER," "THE GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL," + ETC. ETC. ETC. + + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + + + + + LONDON: + + PRINTED FOR + LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, + PATERNOSTER-ROW. + + 1839. + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE; + + OR, + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The convent of the Black Penitents was a very different building +indeed, and a very different establishment altogether from that which +the imagination of the reader may have raised up from the images +furnished by dark and mysterious tales of Italian superstition. It was +certainly intended to be, and was, in some degree, a place of +voluntary penitence for women who conceived that they had led a +peculiarly sinful life: but there were two classes of nuns confined +there by their own good will,--one of which consisted of persons who +had mingled long with the world, and really led an irregular life +therein; while the other comprised a number of young women of high +rank, who had never known any thing, either of the pleasures or the +vices which the others now fled from, but who, either by a natural +feeling of devotion, or the urgency of relations, had devoted +themselves at an early period to the cloister. + +In point of diet, fasts, prayers, and penances the order was certainly +very strict; but the building in itself was any thing but a gloomy +one, and a considerable portion of it, attached to the dwelling of the +superior, was set apart for the occasional boarders, who took up their +abode there, or for such ladies of high rank and station as might wish +to absent themselves for a time from the cares and vanities of the +world, and retire to a more intimate communion with God and their own +heart, than they could enjoy in such a capital as that of France. + +Such was the original intention of these apartments, and the +destination of the institution altogether; but we well know how every +thing entrusted to human management here is corrupted in process of +time. The rooms which at first had been furnished simply, were soon +decked with every sort of ornament; the visiter's table, as it was +called, was separated from the ordinary board of the refectory; cooks +and wine-growers did their best to gratify the palate; and, with the +exception of the vowed nuns, those who sought shelter in the convent +of the Black Penitents were condemned to but little abstinence, and +knew only this difference from the world in general, that they had an +opportunity of escaping obtrusive society when they thought fit. + +It was in one then of the handsomest apartments of the building--to +speak truth, one far handsomer than that occupied by the Queen-mother +herself--that Marie de Clairvaut made her abode during the time she +was confined in that building. No great restraint, indeed, was put +upon her; but the word confinement was justified by the measures taken +to prevent her quitting the convent, or holding communication with any +one but the nuns themselves. + +To this apartment the Prioress led her back again, after putting an +end to her interview with Charles of Montsoreau, and though the good +lady herself was by no means entirely weaned from the affections of +this world, she thought it but befitting to read Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut a brief lecture on the necessity of attaching herself to +higher objects, and an exhortation to abandon earthly attachments, and +dedicate herself to the service of Heaven. She hinted, indeed, that +there could not be an order more worthy of entering into than the one +of which she was an unworthy member; nor, indeed, one in which so many +of the little pleasures of life could be combined with deep devotion. + +Marie de Clairvaut was, at that moment, far more inclined to weep than +smile; but it was scarcely possible not to feel amused at the +exhortation of the Prioress; and certainly the greater degree of +knowledge which the young lady had lately acquired of conventual life +would have banished from her mind all desire to take those irrevocable +vows which she had once looked forward to with pleasure, even if love +had not long before driven all such purposes from her mind. + +Glad to be freed from importunity, and left to her own thoughts, she +replied nothing to the good mother's words; and, as soon as she was +gone, gave up her whole mind to the recollection of the interview +which she had just had with him she loved. To her, too, that interview +was a source of deep gratification; every memory of it was dear to +her; every word that Charles of Montsoreau had spoken came back to her +heart like the voice of hope, and giving way to the suggestions of +that bright enchantress, she flattered herself with the expectation of +seeing him again and again, even if the presence of the Duke of Guise +in Paris failed to restore them both to liberty. + +Previously to that period, she had been accustomed to see the Queen +almost every day, and indeed more than once during the day; but, +during the whole of that evening she saw her not again, and though she +eagerly asked the next morning to be admitted to the presence of +Catherine de Medici, the only answer that she obtained was, that +though the Princess was expected again in the evening, she had not yet +returned from the palace. + +The second day passed as the first had done, but during the morning of +the third the excitement of the city had communicated itself even to +the inmates of the convent. The portress, the lay sisters, the +visiters, obtained the news of the hour from those without, and +communicated it to the nuns within. Nor did two of those nuns, who had +entered into some degree of intimacy with the fair prisoner, fail to +bring her, every half-hour, intelligence of what was passing without. + +The first news brought was that the guards in the streets of Paris had +been all changed and doubled during the preceding night, and that the +Holy League and the Court were in continual agitation, watching each +other's movements. One of the nuns whispered that people said, it had +been proposed by the Duke of Epernon, to murder the Duke of Guise at +the very door of that convent, as he came to visit the Queen-mother; +and others declared, she added, that the Duke had vowed he would not +rest till he had taken the crown off Henry's head, and put it on that +of the Cardinal de Bourbon. + +Then came intelligence that a large body of the Swiss guards had just +entered Paris, and were seen marching rapidly down the Rue St. Honoré, +with their fifes silent, and their drums still. Hourly after that came +the news of fresh troops entering the city, and fresh rumours of +manifold designs and purposes against the life of the Duke of Guise. +His house was to be attacked by the French and Swiss guards, and his +head to be struck off in the Place de Grève: he was to be shot by an +assassin, placed at one of the windows of an opposite house, the first +time he came out; and some said that Villequier had found means to +bribe Lanecque, his cook, to poison him that night at supper, as well +as all who were with him. + +The various scenes, and the dangers and difficulties which she had +lately encountered, had given Marie de Clairvaut a far greater +knowledge of the world, and of how the important events of the world +take place, than was possessed by any of her companions; and she +assuredly did not believe a thousandth part of all the different +rumours that reached her. The reiteration of those rumours, however, +gave her some apprehensions for her great relation; and when towards +the evening she was visited by the Prioress, and found that, beyond +all doubt, every gate of the city, except the porte St. Honoré, was +closed, her fears became much greater, seeing plainly that it was the +design of the Court to hem the Duke in, within the walls of Paris, +deprived, as they believed him to be, of all assistance from his +friends without. + +The night passed over, however, in tranquillity; and when, at an early +hour, the young lady rose, she was informed, as she had expected, that +a great part of the rumours of the preceding day were false or +exaggerated. No Swiss, it was now said, had arrived, except a very +small body; the Duke of Guise had been seen on horseback with the +King; and the mind of Marie de Clairvaut became reassured in regard to +her uncle. The Prioress herself--though somewhat given to fear, and +like many other persons, absolutely enjoying a little apprehension in +default of other excitement--acknowledged that all seemed likely to go +well. + +But this state of security was soon changed. The report regarding the +arrival of the Swiss had only forerun the event by a few hours, for +the sound of drums and trumpets heard from the side of the Cemetery of +the Innocents towards seven o'clock in the morning, announced to the +Parisians that a large body of troops had been introduced in the +night, without the city in general knowing it; and in a few minutes +after the movements of these forces evidently showed that some grand +stroke was to be struck by the Court against its enemies. The Place de +Grève was next occupied by a considerable force of mixed Swiss and +French guards, favoured in their entrance by the Prevôt des Marchands, +and led by the notorious Marquis d'O. Various other points, such as +bridges and market-places, were seized upon by the troops; and the +greatest activity seemed to reign in the royal party, while that of +the Duke of Guise and the League, remained perfectly still and +inactive, as if thunderstruck at this sudden display of energy. + +News of all these proceedings reached Marie de Clairvaut in the +convent, accompanied with such circumstances of confirmation, that she +could not doubt that the intelligence was partly true. But for a short +time after the troops were posted, every thing seemed to relapse into +tranquillity, except that from time to time reports were brought to +the convent parlour, of citizens, and especially women, being treated +with great insolence and grossness by the soldiery. Crillon himself +was heard to swear that any citizen who came abroad with a sword +should be hung to his door-post, while worse was threatened to the +wives and daughters of the burghers, if the slightest resistance was +made to the troops. The portress brought news that all the houses and +shops in the Rue St. Denis and the Rue St. Honoré were closed; and the +Prioress herself thought it was high time to cause the convent gates +to be shut and barred, and even that door which led into what was +called the rector's court, and which usually stood open, to be closed +and fastened with large chains. + +At length tidings were brought that the first open resistance of the +people had commenced; that blood had been shed; and it was rumoured +that Crillon himself, attempting to take possession of the Place +Maubert with two companies of Swiss and one of French guards, had been +opposed by the scholars of the University and the citizen guard, and +forced to retreat without effecting his object. + +The terror of the Prioress was now extreme; the sound of horses +galloping here and there with the most vehement speed, could be heard +even in the parlour of the convent, and towards nine o'clock the roll +of distant musketry borne by the wind completed the terror of the poor +nuns. + +It was evident now to Marie de Clairvaut that a struggle had commenced +between the Monarch and the people of the capital, on which depended +the safety, perhaps the life, of the Duke of Guise, and, in a great +degree, her own fate and happiness. In that struggle she could take no +part; and, situated as she was, she could gain no relief even from +hearing any exact account of how it proceeded from time to time. + +The fears of the good superior of the convent had driven her by this +time to the resource of prayer. All the nuns were ordered to assemble +in the chapel; and Marie de Clairvaut, feeling that none at that +moment had greater need of heavenly protection than herself, prepared +to follow, after listening for a few minutes, alone in her chamber, to +the distant roll of musketry which still went on; when suddenly the +Prioress returned in great haste with a paper in her hand, and +apparently in much agitation and alarm. + +"There, there," she said, thrusting the paper into Marie de +Clairvaut's hands, "that is from the Queen! Do what you like! Act as +you like! I would not go out for the whole world, for just through the +grating I have seen a Swiss officer carried by, all dropping with +blood as they bore him along the streets. I will go to prayers; I will +go to prayers!" + +The note from the Queen-mother was very brief. + +"You know, mademoiselle," it said, "that you have not been kept where +you are by my orders. I would fain have set you free two nights ago by +any means in my power, if meddling fools on the one side, and cowardly +fools on the other, had not frustrated my plan. I have now taken the +responsibility upon myself of ordering the gates to be opened to you. +The man who brings you this is brave and to be trusted; and what I +have to entreat of you is, if I have shown you any kindness, to go +with all speed to the hotel of my good cousin of Guise, and beseech +him to do his best to allay the tumult, so far, at least, that I +myself may come to him with safety. The scenes that you will meet with +may be terrible, but you have that blood in your veins which does not +easily shrink from the aspect of danger." + +Marie de Clairvaut might be more timid than Catherine de Medici +believed; but, when she thought of freedom, and of being delivered +from the power of those whom she detested, to dwell once more with +those she loved, she felt that scarcely any scene would be so terrible +as to deter her from seeking such a result. She remarked, however, +that the Queen did not once mention the name of Charles of Montsoreau, +or allude to his fate. "What," she asked herself, "is he still to be +kept a prisoner, while I am set at liberty? If so, liberty is scarcely +worth having." + +She paused, and thought for a moment, and then the hope crossed her +mind of setting him at liberty herself. + +"Surely," she said, "I could trace my way back to his apartments. I +remember every turning well; and then, by bringing him through here, +in the confusion and terror that now reign in the convent, I could +easily give him his liberty too." + +The more she thought of it, the more feasible the scheme seemed to be; +and catching up an ordinary veil to throw over her head, she ran down +into the apartments of the Queen, which she found, as she expected, +quite vacant. She had no difficulty in discovering the corridor that +led towards the rector's court. At the end there was a door which was +locked, but the key was in it, and she passed through. Another short +passage led her to the room where she had waited for the Queen, and +where she had listened to Charles of Montsoreau singing; and then with +a beating and an anxious heart she hurried on rapidly to the chamber +where she had seen him last. + +All the bolts were shot, showing her that he was still there; but +exactly opposite was an open door at the top of a small staircase, +which seemed to lead to a waiting-room below, for she could distinctly +hear the tones and words of two men of the lower class talking over +the events that were taking place without. + +Gently closing the door at the top of the stairs, Marie de Clairvaut +locked and bolted it as quietly and noiselessly as possible. Her heart +beat so violently, however, with agitation, that she could scarcely +hear any thing but its pulsation, though she listened breathlessly to +ascertain if the slight noise of the lock had not attracted attention. +All was still, however, and she gently undid the fastenings of the +opposite door. + +Charles of Montsoreau was seated at the table, and lifted his eyes as +she entered with a sad and despairing look, expecting to see no one +but the attendant. Marie was in his arms in a moment, however, and +holding up her finger to enjoin silence, she whispered, "Not a word, +Charles; but come with me, and we shall be safe! Every one is in the +chapel at prayers; orders are given for my liberation; and in five +minutes we may be at the Hôtel de Guise." + +"What are all those sounds," demanded her lover in the same tone, +"those sounds which I have heard in the streets? I thought I heard the +discharge of firearms." + +"I fear," she answered, "that it is my uncle's party at blows with +that of the King. I know but little myself, however; only that we may +make our escape if we will. I will lead you, Charles; I will lead you +this time." + +"Alas!" said Charles of Montsoreau as he followed her rapidly, "they +have taken my sword from me;" but Marie ran on with a step of light, +taking care however to lock the doors behind them as she passed to +prevent pursuit. + +As she had never been in the courtyard since the day of her first +arrival, she met with some difficulty in finding her way thither from +the Queen's apartments: haste and agitation indeed impeding her more +than any real difficulty in the way. At length, however, it was +reached, and was found vacant of every one but the old portress, who +stood gazing through a small iron grating at what was passing without. + +"Open the door, my good sister," said Marie de Clairvaut touching her +arm. "Of course the Prioress has given orders for you to let me pass." + +"Yes, to let you pass, my sister," replied the portress, "for I +suppose you are the young lady she meant; but not to let any body else +pass." And she ran her eye over the figure of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"Why, surely," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "you would not stop the +gentleman who is going to protect me through the streets." + +"Why, I do not know," replied the portress, still sturdily setting her +face against their passage; "there was another person waiting on the +outside to show you the way, till just a minute ago. Where he's gone, +I don't know, but he seemed the fitter person of the two, for he was +an ecclesiastic. I have heard, too, of some one being confined up +above, by Monsieur Villequier's orders, and as the rector's court +belongs to him, they say I must take care what I am about; so I'll +just ring the bell and inquire." + +"I will save you the trouble of doing that, my good lady," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; and stepping quietly forward, he put her gently +but powerfully back with his left hand, while with his right he turned +the key in the great lock of the wicket, and threw it open. The +portress made a movement of her hand to the bell; but then thinking +better of it, did not ring; and Marie and her lover, without further +opposition, passed at once into the streets of Paris. + +There were very few people in the Rue St. Denis, but on looking up and +down on either side, there were seen a party of horsemen, apparently +halted, at the farther end of the street, on the side nearest to the +country, and a number of persons farther down, passing and repassing +along one of the cross streets. Some way farther up, between the +fugitives and the party of horsemen we have mentioned, were two +figures, one of which was evidently dressed in the robes of an +ecclesiastic, and both gazing down towards the convent, as if watching +for the appearance of some one. + +The moment the young Count and Marie de Clairvaut appeared, the two +figures walked on rapidly in a different direction, and were lost +immediately to their sight by turning down another street. There was +nothing apparent that could alarm the fugitives in any degree, and +though distant shouts and cries were borne upon the air, yet the sound +of musketry had ceased, which gave greater courage to Marie de +Clairvaut. She needed indeed some mitigation of her apprehensions, for +the success which she met with in rescuing her lover had been far from +increasing her courage in the same proportion that it had been +diminished by the very agitation she had gone through. Drawing the +thick veil over her face, and as far as possible over her person, she +clung to Charles's arm, and hurried on with him, directing him as far +as her recollection of the city of Paris would serve. It was long, +however, since she had seen it; and although the general direction +which she took was certainly right, yet many a turning did she +unnecessarily take by the way. + +Still, however, they hurried on, till turning suddenly into one of the +small streets which led round into the Rue St. Honoré itself, the +scene of fierce contention which was going on in the capital was +displayed to their eyes in a moment. + +Across the street, within fifty yards of the turning, was drawn an +immense chain from post to post, and behind it was rolled an immense +number of barrels filled with sand and stones, and rendered fixed and +immovable, against the efforts of any party in front at least, by +carts taken off the wheels, barrows, and paving-stones. Behind this +barrier again appeared an immense multitude of men armed with various +sorts of weapons snatched up in haste. The front row, indeed, was well +furnished with arquebuses, while pistols, swords, daggers, and pikes +gleamed in abundance behind. Several of the persons in front were +completely armed in the defensive armour of the time; and in a small +aperture which had been left at the corner between the barricade and +the houses, sufficient only for two people to pass abreast when the +chain was lowered, an officer was seen in command, with a page behind +carrying his plumed casque. + +The lower windows of all the houses throughout Paris were closed, and +the manifold signs, awnings, and spouts, as well as the penthouses +which were sometimes placed to keep off the rain and wind from some of +the principal mansions, had all been suddenly removed, in order that +any bodies of soldiery moving through the streets might be exposed, +without a place of shelter, to the aim of the persons above, who might +be seen at every window glaring down at the scene below. There too +were beheld musketoons, arquebuses, and every other sort of implement +of destruction; and where these had not been found, immense piles of +paving-stones had been carried up to cast down upon the objects of +popular enmity. + +Between the two fugitives and the barricade were drawn up two +companies of Swiss and one of French infantry; and though standing in +orderly array, and displaying strongly the effects of good military +discipline, yet there was a certain degree of paleness over the +countenances of the men, and a look of hesitation and uncertainty +about their officers, which showed that they felt not a little the +dangerous position in which they were placed. No shots were fired on +either side however, and the only movement was amongst the people, who +were seen talking together, with their leaders stirring amongst them, +while from time to time those who were below shouted up to those in +the windows above. + +Without the slightest apparent fear of the soldiers, who were thus +held at bay, two or three people from time to time separated +themselves from the populace, and coming out under or over the chain, +passed completely round the guards to the opposite corner of the +street, and appeared to be laying a plan for forming another barricade +in that quarter, so as completely to inclose the soldiery. + +At the sight of all these objects Marie de Clairvaut naturally clung +closer to the arm of her lover, and both paused for a moment in order +to judge what was best to do. An instant's consideration however +sufficed, and Charles of Montsoreau led her on to that part of the +barricade where the chain was the only obstacle to their further +progress, passing as he did so along the whole face of the French and +Swiss soldiers, not one of whom moved or uttered a word to stop them +as they proceeded. At the chain, however, they met with a more serious +obstacle. The officer whom they had seen in command at that point +had now turned away, and was speaking to some people behind, and a +rough-looking citizen, armed with a steel cap and breastplate, dropped +the point of his spear to the young Count's breast saying, "Give the +word, or you do not pass!" + +"I do not know the word," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "But I pray +you let me pass, for I am one of the friends and officers of the Duke +of Guise." + +"If you were you would know the word," replied the man. "Keep back, or +I will run the pike into you." + +"I could not know the word," answered the young Count, "if I had been +long absent from the Duke, as I have been, and were hastening to join +him, as I now am." + +"Keep back, I say," cried the man who was no way fond of argument. +"You will repent if you do not keep back." + +Charles of Montsoreau was about to call to the officer he saw before +him, but at that moment the other walked on amidst the people, and was +seen no more. + +"Let us try another street," cried Marie de Clairvaut; "let us try +another street, Charles." And following this suggestion they hurried +back, and took another street farther to the left. + +They now found themselves in a new scene; no soldiers were there, but +dense masses of people were beheld in every direction, and barricades +formed or forming at every quarter. Where they were not complete the +lady and her lover passed without difficulty, and almost without +notice. One of the young citizens, indeed, as he helped her over a +large pile of stones, remarked that her small feet ran no risk of +knocking down the barricade; and an old man who was rolling up a tun +to fill a vacant space, paused to let her pass, and gazing with a sort +of fatherly look upon her and her lover, exclaimed, "Get ye gone home, +pretty one; get ye gone home. Take her home quick, young gentleman; +this is no place for such as she is." + +These were all the words that were addressed to them till they again +reached another barrier; but there again the word was demanded with as +much dogged sullenness as ever, and the young Count, now resolved to +force his way by some means, determined rather to be taken prisoner by +the people and to demand to be carried to the Hôtel de Guise, than be +driven from barrier to barrier any longer. He remembered, however, the +degree of civility which had been shown to him by Chapelle Marteau +some time before, and he demanded of the man who opposed him at the +chain if either that personage or Bussi le Clerc were there. The man +replied in the negative, but seemed somewhat shaken in his purpose of +excluding him, by his demand for persons so well known and so popular. + +At that moment, however, Charles of Montsoreau caught the sight of a +high plume passing amongst the people at some distance, and the +momentary glance of a face that he recollected. + +"There is Monsieur de Bois-dauphin," he cried; "in the name of Heaven +call him up here, that he may put an end to all this tedious +opposition." The man did not seem to know of whom it was he spoke, but +pointing forward with his hand, the young Count exclaimed, "That +gentleman with the plume! that gentleman with the tall red plume!" + +The word was passed on in a moment, and the officer approached the +barrier, when Charles of Montsoreau instantly addressed him by the +name of Bois-dauphin, begging him to give them admittance within the +barricade, and then adding in a low voice, that he had with him the +Duke's ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, who had just made her escape +from the enemies of the House of Guise, and was so terrified that she +could scarcely support herself any longer. + +"You mistake, sir," replied the officer; "I am not Bois-dauphin, but +Chamois: but I remember your face well at Soissons; the Count of +Logères, if I am right." + +The Count gave a sign of affirmation, while Marie de Clairvaut looked +up in his face with an expression of joy and relief, and the officer +immediately added, "Down with the chain directly, my good friends. You +are keeping out the Duke's best friends and relations." + +The men round the chain hastened eagerly to obey, but some difficulty +was experienced in removing the chain, as the barrels--or barriques, +as they are called in France, and from which the barriers called +barricades took their name--pressed heavily upon it, and prevented it +from being unhooked. + +Charles of Montsoreau was just about to pass under with his fair +charge as the most expeditious way, when there came a loud cry from +the end of the same street by which they had themselves come thither, +of "The Queen! the Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!" And +rolling forward with a number of unarmed attendants came one of the +huge gilded coaches of the time, passing at great risk to itself and +all that it contained, through or over the yet incomplete barriers +farther up in the street. + +At the barricade where Charles of Montsoreau now was, however, the six +horses by which the vehicle was drawn were brought to a sudden stop, +and notwithstanding her popularity, which, at this time, was not +small, the citizens positively refused to remove the barricade, +although the Queen entreated them in the tone of a suppliant, and +assured them that she was going direct to the Hôtel de Guise. Some +returned nothing but a sullen answer, some assured her it was +impossible, and would take hours to accomplish; and Monsieur de +Chamois, who apparently did not choose to be seen actually aiding or +directing the people in the formation of the barricades, retreated +amongst the multitude, and left them to act for themselves. + +At that moment the eye of Catherine de Medici fell upon Charles of +Montsoreau, and she beckoned him eagerly towards her. + +"You are here, of course," she said, "upon the part of the Duke." + +"Not so indeed, madam," he replied; "I have but this moment made my +escape from that place where I have been so long and so unjustly +detained." + +"Your escape!" she exclaimed in a tone that could not be affected. +"Villequier has betrayed me. He promised you should be set at liberty +yesterday morning. And you too, Marie," she said looking at the young +Count's fair companion. "You surely received the order for your +liberation that I sent." + +"Safely, madam," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "and thank your Majesty +deeply. But they have refused to let us pass at several barriers, +otherwise I should certainly have executed your Majesty's commands." + +"This is most unfortunate," said the Queen. But pray. Monsieur de +Logères, exert your influence with these people as far as possible. +The welfare, perhaps the very salvation of the state, depends upon my +speaking with the Duke of Guise directly." + +"I will do my best, madam," replied the young Count; "but I fear I +shall not be able to do much. I will leave her under your protection, +madam, and see." + +The Queen made him place Marie de Clairvaut in the carriage beside +her: and having done this, he turned to the barrier and spoke to those +who surrounded that point where the chain had been lowered to let him +pass, with far more effect than he had anticipated. To remove the +barricade, the people said, was utterly impossible; but if her Majesty +would descend and betake herself to her chair which was seen carried +by her domestics behind her, they would do what they could to make the +aperture large enough for her to pass. + +With this suggestion Catherine de Medici, who had no personal fears, +complied at once, and seated herself in the rich gilt-covered chair +which followed her. She was about to draw the curtains round her and +bid the bearers proceed, but her eye fell upon Marie de Clairvaut; and +after a moment's hesitation between compassion and queenly state, she +said, "Poor child, thou art evidently like to drop: come in here with +me; there is room enough for thee also, and the Queen is old enough +not to mind her garments being ruffled. Quick, quick," she added, +seeing Marie hesitate; and without further words the fair girl took +her place by the Queen. + +Although the chairs of those times were very different in point of +size from those which we see (and now alas! rarely see) in our own, +yet Mademoiselle de Clairvaut felt that she pressed somewhat +unceremoniously on her royal companion; but Catherine de Medici, now +that the act was done, smiled kindly upon her, and told her not to +mind; and the bearers taking up the chair carried it on, while the +populace rolled away one of the tuns to permit its passing through the +barricade. The Queen's train of attendants pressed closely round the +chair, and Charles of Montsoreau followed amongst them as near as he +could to the vehicle, the people shouting as they went, "Long live the +Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!" + +At all the barriers a way was made for her to pass, but still the +multitudes in the streets were so thick, and the obstacles so many, +that nearly three quarters of an hour passed, and the Hôtel de Guise +was still at some distance. + +At length Catherine de Medici drew back the curtains of gilt leather, +and beckoned the young Count to approach, saying, as soon as he was +near, "Pray, Monsieur de Logères, go on as fast as possible, and let +the Duke know that I am coming. I fear that with all these delays he +may have gone forth ere I reach his hotel. And hark. Monsieur de +Logères," she continued, "if out of pure good will I once afforded you +one hour of happiness that you did not expect, remember it now; and +should chance serve, speak a word to the Duke in favour of my +purposes. You understand? Quick--go on!" + +Charles of Montsoreau hastened on at the Queen's bidding, and having +now heard the pass-word often repeated amongst the citizens, met with +no opposition in making his way to the Hôtel de Guise. The only +difficulty that he encountered was in the neighbourhood of the mansion +itself, for the street was so thickly crowded with people and with +horses, that it was scarcely possible to approach the gates. Every +thing was hurry and confusion too, and the dense mass of people +collected in that spot was not like an ordinary crowd, either fixed to +one place around the object of their attention, or moving in one +direction in pursuit of a general object; but, on the contrary, it was +struggling and agitated, by numbers of persons forcing their way +through in every different direction, so that it was with the greatest +possible labour and loss of time that any one advanced at all. The +great bulk of those present were armed, and amidst corslets, and +swords, and brassards, heavy boots and long spurs, Charles of +Montsoreau, totally unarmed as he was, found the greatest possible +difficulty in forcing his way, although, probably, in point of mere +personal strength he was more than equal to any one there present. + +Long ere he could reach the gate of the hotel, there was a loud cry +of, "The Queen! the Queen! long live Queen Catherine!" And the crowd +rolling back, as if by common consent, swept him away far from the +spot which he had gained, and nearly crushed him by the pressure. At +some distance he caught a sight of the Queen's chair, but it stopped +at the edge of the crowd, and the movements that he saw in that part +of the mass made him believe that Catherine was descending from the +vehicle, intending to proceed on foot. + +He doubted not that the Queen's attendants, who were very numerous, +would keep off the multitude; and even the rolling back of the people +upon himself evinced that they were inclined to show her every +respect. But still feeling that all he loved on earth was there, he +naturally strove to see over the heads of the people. It was in vain +that he did so, however, for between him and the line along which the +Queen was passing was a sea of waving plumes of every height and +colour, and all that he could discover was, how far she had proceeded +on her way to the gates, by the rush of the people closing up behind +her as soon as she had passed. + +Just as she was entering the mansion a considerable degree of +confusion was created in the crowd by one of the horses, held not far +from the place where Charles of Montsoreau stood, either frightened by +the noise, or pressed upon by the people, beginning to kick violently. +The man whom he first struck was luckily well covered with defensive +armour; but he was knocked down notwithstanding, and all the rest +rushed back, pressing upon the others behind them in confusion and +dismay. + +Charles of Montsoreau, however, took advantage of the opportunity to +make his way forward; but just as he was so doing he was encountered +by the Marquis de Brissac hurrying eagerly forward through the crowd. +He was dressed in his ordinary clothes, and armed with nothing but his +sword; but there was fire and eagerness in his eyes, and he seized the +young Count by the hand, exclaiming, "I am delighted to have found +you, Logères. I wanted a man of action and of a good head. Come with +me! come with me quick! or we shall have more mischief done than is at +all needful. They have begun firing again! There!--Don't you hear?" + +"I hear now," replied the Count, "but I did not pay attention to it +before. I would come with you willingly. Monsieur de Brissac, but I +wish to see the Duke. He does not know yet that I am at liberty: +neither have I a sword." + +"The Duke cannot see you now," cried Brissac, still holding the Count +by the arm. "The Queen and her people are with him. I will get you a +sword. Come with me, come with me. Here, fellow, give the Count your +sword." And taking hold of the baldric of one of the men near, he made +him unbuckle it, and threw it over the Count's shoulders. + +For Brissac, who was well known to almost every body there, the people +now made way at least in some degree; and followed by the young Count +he hurried on, till they both could breathe somewhat more at liberty. + +In the mean time the sound of the musketry was heard increasing every +moment, and Brissac after listening for a moment exclaimed, "It comes +from the Marché Neuf. By Heavens! Logères, we must put a stop to this, +or they will take up the same music all over the town, and we shall +have those poor devils of Swiss slaughtered to a man. Who is that +firing at the Marché Neuf?" he demanded at the first barrier they +reached. + +"Our people," replied the captain of the quarter, "are firing upon the +soldiers in the market-place I hear." + +"Quick, Arnault; quick!" cried Brissac. "Get the keys of the +slaughter-house and bring them after me with all speed! Come on, +Logères, come on!" he continued, unable to refrain from a joke even in +the exciting and terrible scene that was going on. "The King will +find, I am afraid, that he has brought these _pigs_ to a bad _market_, +as the good ladies of the halle say. We must save as many of them from +being butchered as we can, however." And running on, followed by two +or three persons from the different barriers that they passed, they +soon reached the corner of the Marché Neuf, where an extraordinary and +terrible scene was exposed to their eyes. + +The market, which was somewhat raised above a low street that passed +by its side, was a large open space, having at that time neither +booths nor penthouses to cover the viands, usually there exposed, from +the sun: each vendor that thought fit spreading out his own little +canvass tent over his goods when he brought them. On the side by which +Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau approached, there was a low wall, +not a yard high, separating the market from the street which passed by +the side, with some steps up to the former, as well as two or three +open spaces to give ingress; and on the other side was a long low +range of covered slaughter-houses, with tall buildings overtopping +them beyond. + +In the midst of this open space, cooped in by barricades on every +side, and surrounded by tall houses with innumerable windows, was a +body of about eight hundred Swiss. They were standing firm in the +midst of the place, forming a three-sided front, with their right and +left resting on the slaughter-houses; and while their front rank +poured a strong and well-directed but ineffectual fire upon the two +barricades opposite, the second rank endeavoured to pick off their +assailants at the different windows. + +In the meanwhile, however, from those windows and barricades was +poured in upon the unhappy Swiss a tremendous fire, almost every shot +of which told. The people at the barriers rose, fired, and then bent +down again behind their defences, while the men at the windows kept up +a still more formidable, but more irregular discharge, sometimes +firing almost altogether, as if by common consent, sometimes picking +off, here and there, any of their enemies they might fix upon; so that +at one moment, the whole sweeping lines of the tall houses were in one +blaze of fire and cloud of smoke; and the next, the flashes would drop +from window to window, over each face of the square, like some +artificial firework. + +Such was the scene of confusion and destruction which burst upon the +eyes of Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau when they entered the square +of the Marché Neuf. The fire of the barrier which they passed was +instantly stopped, but in other places it was still going on and +Brissac, without the slightest hesitation, jumped at once upon the low +wall we have mentioned, and waved his hat in the air, shouting loudly +to cease firing. Some cessation instantly took place, but still not +altogether; and Charles of Montsoreau, rapidly crossing the +marketplace to command the men at the opposite barricade to stop, was +slightly wounded in the arm by a ball from one of the windows. + +It luckily happened that the baldric which had been procured for him +by Brissac bore the colours of the League and the cross of Lorraine +embroidered on the front; and the defenders of the barrier stopped +instantly at his command. When that was accomplished, he turned to +rejoin Brissac, and as he went, called to the people at the lower +windows of the houses to stop firing in the name of the Duke of Guise, +and to pass the same order up to those above them. The Swiss had +ceased immediately, very glad of any truce to an encounter in which +fifty or sixty of their number had already fallen, while many more +were seriously wounded. + +The keys which Brissac had sent for had by this time arrived; and, +accompanied by the young Count, he advanced, hat in hand, to the +officer in command of the Swiss, who met him half way with a sad but +calm and determined countenance. + +"You see, sir," said Brissac, "that it is perfectly impossible for you +to contend against the force opposed to you." + +"Perfectly," replied the officer; "every street is a fortress, every +house a redoubt. But we never intended to contend, and indeed had +received orders to retire, but could not do so on account of the +barricades, when suddenly some shot was fired from behind those +buildings; and whether it was a signal to commence the massacre, or +whether the people thought that we had fired, I know not, but they +instantly began to attack us; and here are more than sixty of my poor +fellows butchered without cause." + +"There is only one plan to be pursued, sir," replied Brissac, "in +order to save you. You must instantly lay down your arms." + +"Were the people opposed to me soldiers, sir," replied the officer, "I +would do so at a word; but the people seem in a state of madness, and +the moment we are disarmed they might fall upon us all, and butcher us +in cold blood--yourself and all, for aught I know." + +"I have provided against that, sir," replied Brissac. "Here are the +keys of those buildings, which will shelter you from all attack, I +must not put in your hands a fortress against the citizens of Paris; +so that while you retain your weapons you cannot enter; but the moment +you lay down your arms, I will give you that shelter, and pledge my +word for your protection." + +The joy which spread over the officer's countenance at this offer +plainly showed, what neither word nor look had done before, how deeply +he had felt the terrible situation in which he was placed. + +"It shall be done this instant," he said; and returning to his men, +while Brissac unlocked the gates, he made them pile their arms in the +market-place, amidst a deafening shout from the people on all sides. +The Swiss then marched, rank by rank, into the place of shelter thus +afforded them; and Brissac, bowing low to the commander, who entered +the last, said with a smile, which the other returned but faintly, "In +name, my dear sir, the exchange you are just making is not an +agreeable one; but I am sure you will find that this slaughterhouse is +rather a more comfortable position than the one from which I have just +delivered you." + +The Marquis then caused a guard of the citizens to be placed over the +arms of the Swiss; and turning to Charles of Montsoreau, he said, +"Come, let us quick to the new bridge. The King used to say of me, +Monsieur de Logères, that I was good for nothing, either on the sea or +on the land. I think he will find to-day that I am good for something +on the pavement." + +Thus saying he led the way back through the barrier; and Charles of +Montsoreau, having more leisure now than before to observe the +countenances and demeanour of the different people around, could not +help thinking that older and more skilful soldiers than the citizens +of Paris could boast were busy in directing the operations of the +populace in different parts of the city. The scene was a strange and +extraordinary one altogether; the streets were absolutely swarming +with people, and crowds were hurrying hither and thither through every +open space, but were still kept in dense masses by the constant +obstruction of the barricades. + +Hastening on through the midst of these masses with Brissac, the young +nobleman's eye ran hastily over all the crowds that he passed, when +suddenly, at the end of one of the largest streets, which rose between +the dark gigantic houses on either side, with a gentle acclivity from +the spot where he then stood, he saw amongst the various groups which +were moving rapidly along or across it, one which attracted his +attention more particularly than the rest. It was at that moment +coming down the street, but proceeding in a somewhat slanting +direction towards the corner of another small street, not fifty yards +from the spot where he then was. There were two figures in it, in +regard to which he could not be deceived: the one nearest him was the +Abbé de Boisguerin, the second was his own brother, Gaspar de +Montsoreau; and he could not help imagining that another whom he saw +leading the way was that personage who had first called upon him on +his arrival in Paris, named Nicolas Poulain. + +Before he could recollect himself, an exclamation of surprise had +called the attention of Brissac; but remembering how much his brother +had excited the indignation of the Duke of Guise, and that his very +life might be in danger if taken in the streets of Paris at that time, +Charles of Montsoreau only answered in reply to Brissac's questions, +that he had fancied he saw somebody whom he knew. + +"There goes worthy Master Nicolas Poulain," said Brissac, "and the +good Curé of St. Genevieve, as zealous in our cause as any one; but we +can't stop to speak with them just now." And he was hurrying on, but +Charles of Montsoreau stopped him, saying, + +"For my part, Monsieur de Brissac, I shall return to the Hôtel de +Guise. The Duke, I dare say, has concluded his interview with the +Queen by this time, and I much wish to speak with him." + +"Well, you cannot miss your way," cried Brissac. "Take that first +turning to the left, and then the third to the right, and it will lead +you straight to the Porte Cochére." + +Charles of Montsoreau nodded his head, and hurried on, with manifold +anxieties and apprehensions in his bosom, which twenty times he +pronounced to be absurd, but which, nevertheless, he could not banish +by any effort of reason. + + + + + CHAP. II. + + +We must now return to mark what was passing at another point in the +capital, an hour or two earlier than the events narrated in the end of +the last chapter. The Duke of Guise sat in a cabinet in his hotel, +with his sword laid upon the table before him, which also bore a pen, +and ink, and paper, and some open letters. His foot was resting on a +footstool, his dress plain but costly, and not one sign of any thing +like preparation for the stirring events, which were to take place +that day, apparent in either his looks, his apparel, or his demeanour. + +Beside him booted, and in some degree armed, stood the Count of St. +Paul; while Bois-dauphin, who had just had his audience, was leaving +the cabinet by a low door, and the Duke, bending his head, appeared +listening with the utmost tranquillity to what his friend was telling +him. + +"Then the matter is done," he said, as soon as St. Paul had concluded. +"The Place Manbert is in the hands of the people, and may be made a +Place d'Armes. Bois-dauphin tells me that the soldiers under +Tinteville, at the Petit Pont, are barricaded on all sides and cannot +move. You give me the same account of the Marché Neuf, the same is the +case with the Grève, the French guard under the Chatelet are hemmed in +all round, the Cemetery of the Innocents is invested on all sides, and +Malivaut, I understand, has been driven from his post in great +disorder. This being done, St. Paul, you see these troops of the +King's are not exactly in fortresses, but in prisons; and how Biron, +or Crillon, or the King himself, could have committed the +extraordinary error--all of them being men of experience--how they +could have committed the extraordinary error, I say, of dividing their +soldiery in the narrow streets and squares of such a city as Paris, +sending them far from the palace, and leaving them without +communication with each other, I cannot conceive. However, they are +all in our hands, and what we must think of is, to make a moderate use +of our success. Try to keep the people from any active aggression, St. +Paul; let them stand upon the defensive only, spread amongst them +different parties of those whom we have collected, who may give them +direction and assistance if needful. But keep the principal part of +our own people in this neighbourhood, that we may direct them on any +point where their presence may be necessary." + +"Might it not be as well, your Highness," said the Count, "to take one +measure more? We have far more people than enough to guard all the +barricades. I can undertake to draw ten or even twelve thousand from +different spots, and march them out of the Porte Neuve." + +"To lead them where?" demanded the Duke of Guise, lifting his eyes to +the countenance of St. Paul with a meaning expression. + +"To the Tuilleries and to the Louvre," replied the Count. "Every point +of importance," he added in a low and meaning voice, "will then be +invested." + +The Duke of Guise waved his hand. "No, St. Paul, no!" he said, "that +step would instantly require another. No; if the enemy misjudge our +forbearance, and attempt aught towards shedding the blood of the +citizens of Paris, we must then act as God shall direct us. In the +mean time I say not, that the barricades may not be carried up to the +very gates of the Louvre, for that is for our own defence; but at +present, St. Paul, at present, it must be on the defensive that we +stand. I beseech you, however, to see that no ground is lost in any +part of the city, for you know how soon an advantage is gained. Should +it be needful send for me, but not till the last extremity." + +The Count of St. Paul turned to obey, but paused for a moment before +he had reached the door. The Duke of Guise by this time was gazing +fixedly upon the hilt of his sword, as it lay on the table before him, +and seemed perfectly unconscious that the Count had not quitted the +room. A slight smile curled that gentleman's lip, as he saw the +direction that the Duke's eyes had taken, and he opened the door and +passed out. + +For several minutes the Duke of Guise continued to gaze in deep +thought; and his bosom at that moment was certainly full of those +sensations which never, perhaps, occur to any man but once in his +lifetime--even if Fate have cast him one of those rare and memorable +lots, which bear down the winner thereof, upon the stream of fame and +memory, through a thousand ages after his own day is done. The fate of +his country was in his hands; he had but to stretch out his arm and +grasp the crown of France: and what temptations were there to do so to +a mind like his! + +It must not be forgotten that the Duke of Guise, by every hereditary +feeling, by every prejudice of education, as well as by many strong +and peculiar points in his own character, was in truth and reality a +strenuous and zealous supporter of the Roman Catholic Church. His +veneration for that great and extraordinary institution had descended +to him from his father, and had formed the great principle of action +in his own life. Even had he merely assumed that devotion for the +church during so many years, the very habit must have moulded his +feelings into the same form; and he must have been by this time, more +or less a zealous advocate of the Catholic cause, even if he had set +out with caring nothing in reality about it. But such was not the +case: his father had educated him in principles of strict and stern +devotion to the faith in which they were born; and though in the +gaieties and the frivolities of youth, or the eager struggles of +manhood, he might have appeared in the ordinary affairs of life any +thing on earth but the zealot, yet still his zeal would have been far +more than a pretence, had it only been the effect of early education +and constant habit. + +There was something still more, however, to be said. The spirit of the +Catholic Church was consonant to, and harmonious with, the whole tone +of his own feelings, at once deep, powerful, imaginative, +enthusiastic, politic, and commanding. Chivalry, feudalism, and the +Church of Rome, went hand in hand: all three were, indeed, in their +decay; but if ever man belonged to the epoch of chivalry, it was Henry +Duke of Guise; and he clung to all the other institutions that were +attached to that past epoch, of which he in spirit was a part. + +Attached therefore sincerely, deeply, and zealously to the Catholic +Church--far, far more than his brother the Duke of Mayenne ever was or +ever could be--Guise beheld a weak monarch, whom he despised and hated +from the very bottom of his heart, wasting the whole energies of the +Catholic party in France in a mere pretence of opposing the Huguenots, +and, in fact, caring for nothing but so to balance the two religious +factions as to be permitted to remain in luxurious indolence, +swallowed up with the most foul, degrading, and abhorrent vices; +setting an example of low and filthy effeminacy to his whole court; +and only chequering a life of soft and unmanly voluptuousness by +bursts of frantic debauchery, or moments of apparent penitence and +devotion, so wild and extravagant as to betray their own affectation, +by the absurdities which they displayed. + +The church to which Guise was attached was thus betrayed; his own +especial friends and relations were neglected, insulted, or +maltreated; all that were great or good in the nobility of France were +shut out from the high offices of state, trampled upon by the minions +of the King, and plundered by insolent and fraudulent financiers; the +course of public justice was totally perverted; every thing in the +government was venal and corrupt; the exertions of commerce and +industry totally put to a stop; assassination, poison, and the knife, +of daily occurrence; and bands of audacious plunderers tearing the +unhappy land from north to south. + +The Duke of Guise might well think, as he sat there gazing upon the +hilt of that renowned sword which had never been drawn in vain, that, +were he to say the few short words which were all that was necessary +to bring the crown to his head and the sceptre to his hand--he might +well think that he could obtain for France thereby those great +objects which he conceived were, beyond all others, necessary to her +well-being. He might well conceive too that the cost of so doing would +but be little: civil war already raged in the land; the whole south of +France was one scene of contention; it already existed in the capital; +and would, in all probability, be shortened rather than prolonged by +his striking the one great and decisive blow. + +The King, who was absolutely at his mercy, and whom he could cast down +from his throne at a single word, was no obstacle in his way; the +Epernons, the d'Aumonts, the Villequiers, he looked upon, +notwithstanding all their favour, and the semblance of power which had +been cast into their hands, as a mere herd of deer, to be driven +backwards and forwards, like beasts of the chase, between himself and +Henry of Navarre. And then again, when he looked to the great and +chivalrous Huguenot monarch, what were the feelings with which he +regarded the struggle that might take place between them? His breast +heaved, his chest expanded, his head was raised, his eye flashed with +the thought of encountering an adversary worthy of the strife, a rival +of powers equal or nearly equal to his own. When he thought of army to +army, and lance to lance, against Henry of Navarre, with the crown of +France between them as the golden prize of their mighty strife, his +spirit seemed on fire within him, and he had well nigh forgotten all +his resolutions, in order to do the daring act which might bring about +that glorious result; and then, when fancy pictured him returning +triumphant over his rival, with peace restored, and civil war put +down, and commerce flourishing, and the rights of France maintained on +every frontier, an uniform religion, a happy people, and the strong +truncheon of command in a hand that could wield it lightly, the +prospect was too bright, too beautiful, too tempting; and he pressed +his hand tight upon his eyes, as if he could so shut it out from his +mental vision. + +What was it that deterred him? There was much reason on his side; +there was little if any risk; there was the object of the church's +safety; there was the gratification of vengeance upon those who had +insulted and injured him; there were the exhortations of the King of +Spain; there was almost the universal voice of the people in the north +of France; there was his own ambition; there was the certainty that +all he did would be absolved, sanctioned, confirmed by the head of the +Catholic Church; there was already in his favour the solemn and +decided declaration of the highest theological authority in France; +and there was many a specious argument, which no one could expect that +he should sift and refute against himself. + +What was it deterred him? Was it that there is a majesty which hedges +in a King, sufficiently strong to overawe even the Duke of Guise +himself? Was it that the habitual reverence, which he had been +accustomed to show towards the kingly office, veiled or shielded from +his eyes the real weakness of him who exercised it? Was it that he +feared himself?--Or was it that he felt the act of usurpation must be +confirmed by murder? + +It cannot be told! Certain it is that he dreamt grand visions; that he +saw mighty prospects of fair paths leading to honour, and glory, and +high renown, and his country's good, and his church's safety; and that +he banished the visions and would not take the only step which would +have over-passed every barrier to his forward way. + +The words of Catherine de Medici rung in his ears--the words which had +warned him against the growth of ambition in his own heart; he heard +the shouts of the people without, and her warning voice again came +back in tones that seemed well nigh prophetic. Almost, it would +appear, without a cause, the vanity of all things seemed to press upon +his mind at that moment with stronger effect than he had ever +experienced before. There was a leaden weight upon his spirits he knew +not why. He seemed to feel the hand of Fate, the tangible pressure of +a directing arm, selecting for him the path he was to pursue, and +forcing him thereon at the very moment when supreme command appeared +given to him without a check. + +The sun seemed to dazzle his eyes as he gazed from the window, vague +figures passed before him, and crossed the dancing motes, picturing, +like shadows, the persons of whom he had been thinking. He saw Henry +the Third distinctly before him, and fierce faces and bloody knives, +and figures weltering in their blood upon the ground. He felt that he +had indulged fancy too far, that he had given way to thought at the +moment of action, that his course must be shaped as he had +predetermined it in calmer hours; and waving his hand, as if to dispel +the visions that still haunted his sight, he rose from his chair, +leaning heavily on the table, pushed the sword away from him, and +murmured to himself, "No, no! I will never be an usurper! Ho, without +there!" he continued. "Who waits? What is that sound of musketry?" + +"Erlan has just arrived, my Lord," replied the attendant, "to bear +your Highness word, that the citizens have driven Malivaut down into +the market, and that is the firing we hear." + +"Tell Erlan to speed back as fast as possible," replied the Duke, "and +bid them cease directly. Let them content themselves with hemming in +the enemy without attacking them. But I hear more firing still; I +shall be obliged to go forth myself." + +"Monsieur de Brissac has just gone out on one side, your Highness," +replied the attendant, "and Monsieur de St. Paul on the other; both +with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. But they have not had time +to get to the spot yet." + +"It has ceased now," said the Duke listening. "It has ceased now +towards the Chatelet: but on the other side it is fierce. Go down and +see what are those shouts, and let me know! Surely Henry," he added, +"would not venture into such a scene as this. Alas, no! He would +venture nothing--dare nothing, either for his own sake or his +country's." + +A moment after the attendant returned saying, "It is the Queen, my +Lord; her Majesty Queen Catherine. The crowd of people prevents the +chair from coming up to the gates; but she has descended and is coming +on foot." + +The Duke instantly started up and approached the head of the staircase +for the purpose of hurrying down to receive his royal visitor; but +Catherine was by this time upon the stairs, with Madame de Montpensier +and a number of other ladies, who had passed the morning at the Hôtel +de Guise, surrounding her on all sides. The Duke advanced and gave her +his hand to aid her in ascending the stairs; and perhaps the aspect of +Catherine at that moment taught him more fully than any thing else, +how tremendous was the scene without, and how completely the capital +of France was at his disposal. + +Habituated for more than twenty years to control all her feelings, and +to repress every appearance of fear or agitation, Catherine de Medici +was nevertheless on the present occasion completely overcome. Her lip +quivered, her head shook, and there was a degree of wild apprehension +in her eyes, which it was some moments ere her strongest efforts could +conquer. + +"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as she had drawn her breath, "I +must speak with you for a few moments alone; I must beseech you to +give me audience, even if it be but for half an hour." + +"Your Majesty has nothing to do but command," replied the Duke. "My +time is at your disposal." + +The Queen smiled slightly at feeling how easily the empty words of +courts may be retorted upon those that use them. It has been said that +it costs nothing to use civil language and say courtly things, even +when insincere: but it costs much; for, sooner or later, we are sure +to be paid in the same coin to which we have given currency, perhaps +even more depreciating than when we sent it forth. She answered only +by that smile however; and the Duke led her forward to his cabinet, +all the rest of those who crowded the staircase remaining behind. + +With every sign of ceremonious reverence the Duke of Guise led his +royal guest to a seat, and stood before her; but she paused for a +moment, and hesitated ere she spoke. "My Lord," she said at length, +"this is a terrible state of things." + +"Your Majesty knows more of it than I do," replied the Duke calmly, +"for I have not gone forth from the house to-day; but I hear there is +some tumult in Paris." + +"Henry of Guise!" replied the Queen, fixing her eyes upon him. "Henry +of Guise, be sincere!" + +"Madam," replied the Duke, "one must adapt one's tone to +circumstances. With those who are sincere with us we may be as candid +as the day; but when we are sadly taught the fallacy of words, and the +fragility of promises, we must, of course, shelter ourselves under +some reserve." + +"Your Highness's words imply an accusation," said Catherine somewhat +sharply. "In what have I dealt insincerely with you?" + +"Your Majesty promised me," replied the Duke of Guise, "that my noble +friend, the young Count of Logères, should be set at liberty not later +than yesterday morning; and that my ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, +should be immediately replaced under my protection." + +"You have done me wrong, your Highness," replied the Queen; "and +attributed to want of will what only arose from want of power. +Villequier has formally claimed the guardianship of Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut; his application is before the parliament at this hour; and +orders have been given on all hands for the young Lady to remain under +the protection of the King till the question is decided." + +"I will cut his cause very short," replied the Duke of Guise frowning, +"if she be not within my gates ere six hours be over." + +"She is within your gates even now, my Lord," replied the Queen. "Your +Highness is too quick. I sent an order myself for the liberation of +the Count de Logères, for that only depended upon the King my son. +Some one, however, diverted it from its right course, and he was only +set free this morning. He ought to have been here before me, for I +sent him on; but I suppose he has not been able to pass the mass of +people round your doors. As to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I have +risked every thing to restore her to you; and notifying to Villequier +and Epernon that I would no longer countenance her being detained, I +liberated her on my own authority and brought her here in my own +chair. She would have been freed two nights ago, for I wished to +effect the matter by a little stratagem, and have her carried from the +convent and brought hither without any one knowing how or by whom it +was done; but the meddling burgher guard came up and drove the people +that I sent away. But let us, oh let us, my Lord, discuss more serious +things. Have I now been sincere with you?" + +"You have, madam," replied the Duke, "and I thank your Majesty even +for doing an act of justice, so rare are they in these days. But may I +know what are now your Majesty's commands?" + +"You cannot affect to doubt, cousin," replied the Queen, "that Paris, +the capital of my son's kingdom, is in revolt from end to end. Can you +deny that you are the cause of it?" + +"Though no man is bound to accuse himself, madam," replied the Duke, +returning the Queen's searching glance with a calm, steady gaze, "yet +I will answer your question, and sincerely. I have in no degree +instigated this rising. His Majesty is the cause and not I. We see, +without any reason or motion whatsoever, or any expression of the +King's displeasure, large bodies of troops introduced into the city, +during the night, without drums beating or colours flying, and +altogether in a clandestine manner. We see them take possession +of various strong points, and we hear them using menacing +language--Monsieur de Crillon himself passing through the streets, +breathing nothing but menaces and violence; and if your Majesty can +wonder that in these circumstances the citizens of Paris fly to arms +for the defence of their property, of their lives, and of the honour +of their women, it is more than I can do. In truth, I know not what +the King expected to produce, but the very result which is before us. +I assure your Majesty, however, that it is not at my instigation that +this was done; though, even if I had done this, and far more, I should +have held myself completely justified." + +"Justified," said the Queen, shaking her head mournfully. "What then +becomes of all your Highness said upon ambition but three days ago?" + +"Ambition, madam, would have nothing to do with it," replied the Duke. +"It would have been merely self-defence. Who had so much cause to fear +that the rash and despotic proceedings which have taken place were +aimed at him as I have had? Who had so much cause to know that the +object of all this military parade, was not the hanging of some half +dozen miserable burghers in the Place de Grève, but the arrest, and +perhaps massacre, of Henry of Guise and all his kind and zealous +friends? Can you deny, madam, that such was the cause for which these +soldiers were brought hither? Can you deny, madam, that only +yesterday, when the King assuming friendship towards me, invited me to +ride forth with him--can you deny that it was debated in his council, +whether he should or should not order his guards to murder me as we +went? Confident in my own conscience, madam, and believing that the +King, though misinformed, entertained no personal ill-will against one +who had served him well, I came to Paris, walked through the royal +guards, and presented myself at Court, in the midst of my enemies, +with only eight attendants; and ever since that day, there has not +been an hour in which my life and liberty have not been in danger, +in which schemes for my destruction have not been agitated in the +Cabinet of the King; and I say that, under these circumstances, I +should have been perfectly justified in raising the people for my own +defence. But, madam, I did not do so; and I am not the cause of this +rising.--What is it, Monsieur de Bois-dauphin?" he added, turning to +a gentleman who had just entered, and who now answered a few words in +a low tone. The Duke retired with him into the window, and after +speaking for a moment or two in whispers, Guise dismissed him and +returned, making apologies to the Queen for the interruption. + +It may be said, without noticing it again, that the same sort of +occurrence took place more than once--different officers and +attendants coming in, from time to time, speaking for a moment with +the Duke in private, and hurrying out again. Though Catherine de +Medici felt this to be somewhat unceremonious treatment, and though it +evidently showed her, that whatever share the Duke had had in raising +the tumult at first, he assuredly now guided all its proceedings, and +ruled the excited multitudes from his own cabinet; yet, in other +respects, she was not sorry for time to pause and think ere she +replied, knowing that she had to deal with one whose mind was far too +acute to be satisfied with vague or unsatisfactory answers. + +"My Lord," she said, as soon as the conversation was resumed, "I did +not mean exactly to say that you are the active cause of these +proceedings, or that you have excited the people. What I meant was, +that your presence in Paris is the occasion of this emotion. You +cannot doubt that it is so; and therefore, being in this respect the +cause, it is only yourself who can provide the remedy." + +"Pardon me, madam," replied the Duke of Guise; "I do not see how that +can be. In the first place, I have all along denied that I am the +cause, either inert or active. The people have risen for their own +defence, though, certainly, my defence and my welfare is wrapped up in +that of the people. In the next place, I know not what remedy can be +provided in the present state of affairs. What have you to propose, +madam?" + +"What I came to propose, my fair cousin," replied the Queen, "and +what, I am sure, is the only way of quieting the tumult that now +exists, is, that you should quit Paris immediately.--Nay! nay! hear me +out. If I propose this thing to you, it is not without being prepared +and ready to offer you such inducements and recompences, both for +yourself and all your friends, as may show you how highly the King, my +son, esteems you, and at what a price he regards the service you will +render him. Look at this paper, good cousin of Guise, signed with his +own name, and see what perfect security and contentment it ought to +give you." + +The Duke of Guise, however, put the paper gently and respectfully from +him, replying, "Madam, what you propose is impossible. Either the +people of Paris have risen in their own defence, in which case my +leaving the city would have no effect upon the tumult, or else they +have risen in mine, when it would be base to abandon them. I believe +the first of these cases is the true one, and that, therefore, by +staying in Paris, I may serve the King far more effectually than I +could by quitting the city." + +Catherine de Medici had nothing directly to reply to the reasoning of +the Duke; but she answered somewhat warmly, "By my faith, your +Highness, I think some day you will logically prove that the best way +to serve the King is to take the crown off his head." + +"Madam," replied the Duke drily, "Messieurs d'Epernon, Villequier, +Joyeuse, D'O., and others, have long been trying to prove the +proposition which your Majesty puts forth; but they have not yet +convinced me of the fact,--nor ever will. They, madam, are or have +been those who have put the King's crown in danger; and, as far as +regards myself, I have but to remind you that if I had any designs +upon the King's person, five hundred men sent out this morning by the +Porte de Nesle, and five hundred more by the Porte Neuve, would be +quite sufficient for all the purposes your Majesty attributes to me." + +Catherine de Medici turned deadly pale, seeing how easily the palace +itself might be invested. At that instant one of the Duke's officers +again entered, and spoke to him for a moment or two apart. The Queen +quietly took up a pen from the table, wrote a few words on a slip of +paper, and opening the door of the cabinet demanded in a low voice, +"Is Pinart there?" + +A gentleman instantly started forward, and putting the paper in his +hands, she spoke to him for a moment in a whisper, ending with the +words, "Use all speed!" Then re-entering the cabinet, she took her +seat while the Duke was yet speaking with his friend. + +"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as he had done, and the stranger +had departed, "you have certainly given me strong proof that you have +no evil intentions; but such power is, alas! very dangerous to trust +one's self with. Read that paper, I beseech you, and tell me if there +be any other thing you can demand--any other condition which will +induce you to quit Paris even for a few days?" + +"It were useless for me to read it, madam," replied the Duke. "Nothing +on earth that could be offered me would induce me to quit Paris at +this moment. But believe me, madam, my being here has nothing to do +with the continuance of the tumult. I have sent out all my friends and +officers and relations already to calm the disturbance. But it is the +King who is the cause of it, or, rather, the King's evil advisers. As +he has occasioned it, he must put a stop to it." + +"What would you have him do?" demanded Catherine de Medici quickly. +"How would you have him act?" + +"In the first place," replied the Duke, "let him recall his troops; +let them be withdrawn from every post they occupy! Their presence was +the cause of the people's rising, and as soon as they are gone, the +emotion will gradually subside." + +"He has sent the order of recall already," replied Catherine; "but it +is impossible to execute it. Hemmed in by barricades on every side, +how can they retire, or take one step without danger?" + +"That I trust," replied the Duke, "can soon----" + +But he was interrupted in the midst of what he was saying by the +sudden entrance of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"I beg your Highness to pardon me," he said. "Your Majesty will, I am +sure, forgive me, when I ask if you know what has become of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?" + +There was anxiety and apprehension in every line of Charles of +Montsoreau's countenance, and the Queen's brow instantly gathered +together with a look of mingled surprise and apprehension. + +"She followed me into the hotel; did she not?" exclaimed the Queen. "I +got out of the chair first, and she came immediately after. Surely I +saw her upon the stairs!" + +"The porter, madam, declares, that there was no lady entered with your +Majesty; that two or three gentlemen came in; and that it was some +time before your chair, and the rest of your male attendants could +come up, on account of the crowd. I have ventured to ask Madame de +Montpensier and the rest of the ladies in the house, before I intruded +here: but no one has seen Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and she is +certainly not in the house." + +"Is this the way I am treated?" exclaimed the Duke of Guise, his brow +gathering into a tremendous frown. "Is this the way that I am sported +with at the very moment----" + +"Nay! nay! nay! Cousin of Guise," exclaimed Catherine de Medici, +rising from her seat and clasping her hands. "So help me, Heaven, as I +have had no share in this! I descended from my chair in the midst of +the crowd--knowing terror and agitation, such as, indeed, I never knew +before--and I thought that this poor girl had followed. I was too much +engrossed with the thought of my son's throne tottering to its +foundation to pay much attention to any thing else; but Monsieur de +Logères himself can tell you, that I treated her with all kindness, +and that mine was the order for her liberation." + +"Indeed it was, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Her Majesty +displayed every sort of kindness, and Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was in +the same chair with her when I left her, scarce a hundred yards from +these gates. I fear, my Lord, however, that there are machinations +taking place, which I must explain to you. And in a low voice he told +the Duke what he had seen while returning from the Marché Neuf. + +"This Nicolas Poulain is a villain," exclaimed the Duke after he had +listened. "I have received the proofs thereof this very morning. Ho! +without there!--Madam, by your leave," he continued, turning to the +Queen, "I would fain speak with these attendants of yours, but dare +not presume to command them hither in your presence." + +The Queen immediately directed all those who had followed her chair, +or had borne it, to be called in, and the Duke questioned them +sharply, in a stern and lofty tone, regarding what they had seen of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut after the Queen had passed on. + +The answer of each was the same however, namely, that none of them had +seen any thing of her. Some had accompanied the Queen and kept the way +clear, and two others who, had remained with the chair, as well as the +bearers themselves, declared that the young Lady, after having +descended from the Queen's chair had gone on; that there was an +immediate rush of the people, which separated them from the rest of +the royal train; and that what between the pressure and confusion that +immediately took place, and the kicking of one of the chargers, which +made the people run back with cries and affright, they had seen +nothing more of the party to which they had belonged, till they had +made their way up to the Hôtel de Guise and obtained admission. + +The Duke paused with a gloomy and anxious brow. "Go, some one," he +said at length, "go up to Philibert of Nancy, who was placed above, to +watch what was taking place from the top of the house. Ask him what he +saw after the Queen's arrival, and bring me down word." + +"May I go, my Lord?" demanded Charles of Montsoreau. + +The Duke nodded his head, and the young nobleman sprang up the stairs, +and guided by one of the servants found the watchman, who had been +placed at the top of the house to report from time to time whatever +occurrences of importance he might perceive in the neighbouring +streets. All the information the man could give, however, was, that he +had seen a party separate from the rest of the people, almost +immediately after the Queen's entrance; that they seemed to be taking +great care of some person in the midst of them, who, he fancied, had +been hurt by the kicking and plunging of a horse which he had remarked +hard by. The party had turned the corner of the street without +attracting his attention farther; but, he added, that a moment or two +afterwards he thought he had heard a shrill cry coming from the +direction which they had taken. + +With such tidings only, and with his heart more agonised than ever, +Charles of Montsoreau returned to the Duke, who was still standing +gloomily by the Queen, who, on her part looked up at his dark and +frowning countenance with a degree of calmness which did not seem +quite so natural as she could have wished. + +"Whatever has happened, my Lord Duke," she said, after listening to +the young nobleman's report, "whatever has happened, on my honour, on +my salvation, I have had no share in it; and I promise you most +solemnly, not to rest a moment till I have discovered what has become +of your ward, and have made you acquainted therewith. If she be in the +Court of my son, I make bold to say, that she shall be instantly +restored to you: but I cannot believe that it is so, as it is +impossible for Villequier to have passed those barriers without being +torn to pieces by the people." + +Still the Duke remained thinking gloomily without making any answer. +"Logères," he said at length, "I must trust you with this business, +for I have more matters to deal with than I can well compass. From +what you said just now, and from what the boy Ignati told me, I know +how you stand with our poor Marie. You know what I said, and what I +promised long ago. Seek her, find her, and wed her! Monsieur de St. +Paul will tell you where your own men are; take her, wherever you find +her: by force, if it be necessary; and if any man, calling himself a +gentleman, oppose you, cleave him to the jaws. I will bear you out in +whatever you do: there is my signet: but stay; you had better see +Marteau Chapelle and Bussi about it. They know every house in Paris, +and I can spare them now from other affairs: bid them go with you and +aid you; and tell Chapelle---- What is it now, Brissac? You look +confounded and alarmed." + +"The news I have will confound your Highness also, I am sure," replied +Brissac; "to alarm you is not possible, I fancy. I have just received +intelligence from the Porte de Nesle, my Lord, that the King has +quitted Paris, and taken the road to Chartres!" + +The Duke of Guise turned towards Catherine de Medici, and gazed upon +her sternly, saying, "You have done this, madam! You amuse me, while +you destroy me!"[1] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 1: I have given the Duke's own words without variation.] + +--------------------- + + +"I _have_ done this, cousin of Guise," replied the Queen, "and I have +done wisely for all parties. I have removed from you a great +temptation to do an evil action--a temptation which I saw that you +yourself feared; and while I have removed that danger from you, my +advice has put my son in safety." + +"Madam," replied the Duke, "I felt no temptation: my resolution was +firm, positive, and unshaken; and had I chosen to compromise the +King's safety, or do wrong to his legitimate authority, the Louvre +would have been invested six hours ago, for the people were already on +their march, if I had not stopped them. I wonder that he escaped in +safety, however, for they are very much infuriated at the sight of +these soldiers." + +"He walked from the Louvre," replied Brissac, "on foot to the +Tuilleries, I hear, followed by some half dozen gentlemen; he then +mounted his horses in the stables, and rode out suddenly; but it is +said that they fired at him from the Porte de Nesle. The people, +however, as they hear it, are becoming quite furious, and I fear that +we shall not be able to keep them from massacring the soldiery." + +"You see, madam," replied the Duke of Guise, still thinking alone of +the King's escape, "you see, madam, to what danger the King has +exposed himself. Had he remained in Paris no evil could have befallen +him. He was safe, on my life, and on my honour. + +"I believe you, cousin of Guise; I believe you;" replied the Queen, +who thought she saw that the tone of the Duke of Guise was not quite +so peremptory as it had been, while the King had seemed entirely in +his power. "But now, in order to prove your good will entirely, let me +beseech you to exert yourself to save the unhappy men who have been +placed in such a situation of danger." + +"That shall soon be done, madam," replied the Duke; "and as soon as +this is done, I too must take means for finding my ward. In the +meantime, madam, I will beseech you to use such measures at the Court, +as may insure that the people of Paris, and of the realm in general, +shall not be driven again to such acts as these, remembering, that as +you warned me not long ago, popularity is the most transient of all +things, and that mine may not last long enough to save the state a +second time from the dangers that menace it." + +"I understand you, cousin of Guise; I understand you;" replied the +Queen. "It may not last long enough, or it may not be willingly +exerted: but I give you my promise, that every thing shall be done to +content you; and with that view I have already demanded that the +insolent, greedy, and ambitious Epernon shall be banished from the +Court, and stripped of his plundered authority.--But hark!" she +continued, "I hear the firing recommence. Wait not for further words, +or for any ceremonies; I will find my way back to the Louvre without +difficulty. Go, my Lord, go at once, and save the poor Swiss from the +fury of the people!" + +The Duke bowed low, took up his hat and sword, and without other arms +walked out into the streets. + + + + + CHAP. III. + + +Passing out by the rooms belonging to the porter, instead of by the +Porte Cochère, the Duke of Guise, followed by a number of his +officers, presented himself to the people on the steps which we have +already noticed. The moment he appeared, the whole street rang with +acclamations, a path was instantly opened for him through the midst of +the people, and mounting his horse he rode on, the barricades opening +before him, as if by magic, wherever he came, and the people rending +the air with acclamations of his name. + +From time to time he stopped as he went, either bending down his proud +head to speak to some of those whom he knew, or addressing the general +populace in the neighbourhood of the different barriers, exhorting +them to tranquillity, and beseeching, commanding, and entreating them +to desist from all attacks upon the soldiery. His words spread like +lightning from mouth to mouth; and though he went in person to several +of the different points where the unequal contest was actively going +on, the assault upon the troops was stopped in other quarters also, by +the mere report of his wishes. + +Thus, as it were in triumph, totally unarmed amidst the armed +multitude, he went ruling their furious passions, as if by some +all-powerful charm. The most violent, the most exasperated, the most +sullen, uttered not one word in opposition to his will, and showed +nothing but promptness and zeal in executing his commands. Before he +reached the Place de Grève even, towards which his course was +directed, the screams, the cries, the shouts, the firing, had ceased +in every part of Paris, and nothing was heard throughout that wide +capital but the rending shouts of joy, with which the multitude +accompanied him on his way. + +On entering the Place de Grève the Duke looked sternly up at the +windows of the Hôtel de Ville, but did not enter the building. He +said, however, speaking to those immediately surrounding him, "A week +shall not have elapsed before we have cleared that house of the vermin +that infest it; and the people shall be freed from those who have +betrayed them." + +Then dismounting from his horse, and ascending the steps leading to +the elevated space, called the Perron of the Hôtel de Ville, he lifted +his hat from his head for a moment, as a sign that he wished to +address the people. All was silent in an instant; and then were heard +the full rich deep tones of that eloquent voice, pouring over the +heads of the multitude, and reaching the very farthest parts of the +square. + +"My friends and fellow-citizens," he said. "You have this day acquired +a great and glorious victory. You have triumphed over the efforts of +despotic power, exerted, I am sure, not by the King's own will and +consent, but by the evil counsels, and altogether by the evil efforts, +of minions, peculators, and traitors. The real merit of those who win +great victories and achieve great deeds, is ascertained more by the +way in which they use their advantages, than by the way in which those +advantages have been gained. Were you a mean, degraded, unthinking +race of men, who had been stirred up by oppression into objectless +revolt, you would now content yourselves with wreaking your vengeance +on a few pitiable and unhappy soldiers, who in obedience to the +commands which they have received, have been cast into the midst of +you, like criminals of old, given up naked to a hungry lion. But you +are not such people; you have great objects before you; you know and +appreciate the mighty purposes for which you have fought and +conquered; and though driven by self-defence to resist the will of the +King, you are still men to venerate and respect the royal authority; +and even while you determine, for his sake as well as for your own, +never to rest satisfied till the Catholic Church is established beyond +the power of heretics to shake; till the Court is freed from the +minions and evil counsellors that infect it; till the finances of the +state are collected, and administered by a just and a frugal hand; and +till the whole honours, rewards, and emoluments of the country are no +longer piled upon one man--though you are determined to seek for and +obtain all this, nevertheless, I know, you are not men to trench in +the least upon the royal authority, farther than your own security +requires, or to injure the royal troops whom you have conquered, when +they are no longer in a situation to do you wrong. You will remember, +I am sure, that they are our fellow-christians and our fellow-men, and +you will treat them accordingly. I have therefore," he said, +"requested my friends and fellow-labourers in your cause, Monsieur de +Brissac and Monsieur de St. Paul, to conduct hither in safety the +French and Swiss troops from the different quarters in which they have +been dispersed. Their arms will be brought hither by our own friends, +and in the manner which we shall deal with these two bodies of +soldiery, I trust that we shall meet still with the approbation of our +brethren." + +While thus speaking, the Duke of Guise had been interrupted more than +once by the applauses of the people, and in the end loud and +reiterated acclamations left no doubt that all he chose to do would +receive full support from those who heard him. + +While he was yet speaking--according to the orders which he had given +as he came along--the arms of the Swiss and French guards were brought +in large quantities, by different bodies of the citizens: some +carrying them in hand-barrows, some bearing them upon their shoulders; +and it was a curious sight to see men and boys, and even women, loaded +with morions, and pikes, and swords, and arquebuses, bringing them +forward through the crowd, and piling them up before the princely man +who stood at the top of the steps, surrounded by many of the noblest +and most distinguished gentlemen in France. + +This sight occupied the people for some minutes, and then a cry ran +through the square of "The Swiss! the Swiss!" The announcement caused +some agitation amongst the populace, and some forgetting that the +soldiery were disarmed, unslung their carbines, or half drew their +swords, as if to resist a new attack. The discomfited soldiers, +however, came on in a long line, two abreast, now totally disarmed, +and seeming by their countenances yet uncertain of the fate that +awaited them. With some difficulty a space was made for them in the +Place de Grève, and being drawn up in two lines, the Duke commanded +them to take their arms, but not their ammunition. Two by two they +advanced to the pile; and each man, as far as possible, selected his +own, when it appeared, to use the words of the Duke of Guise himself, +when recounting the events of that day to Bassompiere, that there +never had been such complete obedience amongst so agitated a +multitude; for not one sword, morion, pike, or arquebuse, of all the +Swiss and French there present, was found to be wanting.[2] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 2: This extraordinary fact reminds us of days not long +passed.] + +--------------------- + + +When all was complete, the Duke of Guise turned to the soldiery, +saying in a loud and somewhat stern tone, "The people of Paris +considering that you have acted under the commands of those you have +sworn to obey, permit you for this once to retire in safety from the +perilous situation in which you have been placed; but as there are +points which make a considerable difference between the Swiss troops +in the pay of France and the French troops themselves, there must be a +difference also in their treatment. The Swiss, as foreigners, could +have no motive or excuse for refusing to obey the commands imposed +upon them; the French had to remember their duty to their country and +to their religion. The Swiss, therefore, we permit to march out with +colours flying and arms raised; the French will follow them, with +their arms reversed and their colours furled." + +A loud shout from the people answered this announcement; for +throughout the course of that eventful day, the Swiss had acted with +moderation and discipline, whereas the licentious French soldiery had +during the early morning, while they thought themselves in possession +of the capital, displayed all the brutal insolence of triumphant +soldiery. + +The Duke of Guise spoke a few words to Brissac and to St. Paul, and +those two officers put themselves at the head, Brissac of the Swiss, +and St. Paul of the French guards. Each held a small cane in his hand, +and with no other arms they led the two bands from barrier to barrier +through the city, till they were safe within the precincts of the +Louvre. + +Scarcely had these two parties quitted the Place de Grève, however, +drawing a number of people from that spot, when information was +brought to the Duke, that there were still two bands of soldiers in +the city, one in the Cemetery of the Innocents, and one under the +Chatelet, but both threatened by the people with instant destruction. + +"We must make our way thither quickly," said the Duke; "for, if I +remember right, it is the band of Du Gas which is at the Chatelet, and +the people are furious against him." + +He accordingly lost not a moment on the way; but turning to +Bois-dauphin, who accompanied him, he said in a low tone, as they +went, "I would have given my left hand to stay and examine the +interior of the Hôtel de Ville, in order to punish some of the +traitors who, I know, are lurking there. Perhaps it is better, +however, to let them escape than that any mischief should be done; and +in these popular movements, if we once begin to shed blood, there is +no knowing where it will end." + +"I fear there is bloodshed going on at present," said Bois-dauphin, +hearing a shot or two fired at no great distance. "They are at it +under the Chatelet now." + +"Hurry on! hurry on!" said the Duke, speaking to some of those behind. +"Run on fast before, and announce that I am coming. Command them, in +my name, to stop." + +Two or three of his followers ran forward, and no more shots were +heard; but scarcely two minutes after, just as the Duke had passed one +of the barricades, he saw two or three men hurrying up to him, led by +Chapelle Marteau, who approached him with no slight expression of +grief and apprehension in his countenance. + +"I fear I have bad news for you, my Lord," he said. + +"What is it?" demanded the Duke calmly. "Such a day as this could +hardly pass over without some alloy." + +"I fear," replied the Leaguer, "that your Highness' friend. Monsieur +de Logères, is mortally wounded. He brought me your signet and orders, +which I immediately obeyed. We gained information which led us to +suppose that the persons we sought for, were concealed in a house in +the Rue de la Ferronière here hard by. We proceeded thither instantly +and demanded admission; but they, affecting to take us for a party of +soldiery, fired upon us from the window, when two shots struck the +Count, one lodging in his shoulder, and the other passing through his +body. He is yet living, and I have ordered him to be conveyed to the +Hôtel de Guise at once, where a surgeon can attend upon him. Our +people were breaking into the house to take the murderers prisoners, +when, hearing of your approach, I came away to tell you the facts." + +The Duke of Guise paused, and gazed sadly down upon the ground, +repeating the words, "Poor youth! poor youth! so are his bright hopes +cut short! He shall be avenged at least! Show me the house, Chapelle." + +And he followed rapidly upon the steps of the Leaguer, who led him to +a small house, with the entrance, which was through a Gothic arch, +sunk somewhat back from the other houses. There were two windows above +the arch, and a window which flanked it on either side; but the +followers of the young Count of Logères and of Chapelle Marteau had by +this time broken open the doors, and rushed into the building. + +"This is part of the old priory of the Augustins," said the Duke of +Guise as they came up. "They exchanged it some fifty years ago for +their house further down. But there are two or three back ways out, I +know; and if you have not put a guard there, they have escaped you." + +It proved as the Duke anticipated. The house was found completely +vacant, and though strict orders were sent to all the different gates +to suffer no one to pass out without close examination, either the +order came too late, or those against whom it was levelled proved too +politic for the guards; for none of those whom the Duke of Guise +wished to secure, except Pereuse, the Prevôt des Marchands, were taken +in the attempt to escape. + +The shots, the sound of which, Guise had heard, proved to be those +which had struck the unfortunate Count de Logères, and no difficulty +was found in inducing the people who surrounded the soldiery near the +Chatelet, to suffer them to depart, as their companions had done. + +On entering the Cemetery of the Innocents, however, the Duke instantly +saw that the danger of the troops was greater; for, shut up within, +those walls, together with the Swiss, he found the famous Baron de +Biron and Pomponne de Bellievre, while the people without were loudly +clamouring for their blood. They both advanced towards him as soon as +he appeared; and the Duke, gazing around him, said with a sigh, "Alas, +Monsieur de Biron! those who stirred up this fire should have been +able to extinguish it." + +"I say so, too, my Lord," replied Biron sadly. "Evil be to those who +gave the counsel that has been followed. God knows I opposed it to the +utmost of my power, and only obeyed the King's absolute commands in +bringing these poor fellows hither, who, I fear, will never be +suffered to pass out as they came." + +"For the soldiery I have no fear," replied the Duke, "and as for you, +gentlemen, I must do the best that I can. But the people look upon you +as partially authors of the evil, and they will not be easily +satisfied." + +The Duke of Guise, however, succeeded, though not without difficulty, +in his purpose of saving all. The people yielded to him, but for the +first time showed some degree of resistance; and he returned to the +Hôtel de Guise feeling more sensibly, from that little incident, the +truth of the warning which Catherine de Medici had given him, +regarding the instability of popularity, than from all the arguments +or examples that reason or history could produce. + +We may easily imagine the reception of the Duke in his own dwelling: +the joy, the congratulations, the inquiries; and we may imagine, also, +the passing of that busy night, while messengers were coming to and +fro at every instant, and couriers were dispatched from the Hôtel de +Guise to almost every part of France. + +Henry of Guise was well aware, that whatever deference and humility he +might assume in his words towards the King, or whatever testimonies of +forgiveness and affection Henry might offer to him, his own safety +now, for the rest of his life, depended on his power, and that his +armour must be the apprehensions of the King, rather than his regard. + +Up to a very late hour, notwithstanding all the fatigues and +agitations of the day, he sat with his secretary Pericard, writing +letters to all his different friends in various parts of the country, +demanding their immediate assistance and support, even while he +expressed the most devoted attachment to the King; and thus, in the +letter we have already cited to Bassompiere, he makes use of such +expressions as the following:-- + +"Thus it is necessary that you should make a journey here to see your +friends, whom you will not find, thank God! either wanting in means or +resolution. We must have good intelligence from Germany, however, that +we be not taken by surprise. We are not without forces, courage, +friends, nor means; but still less without honour, or respect and +fidelity to the King, which we will preserve inviolably, doing our +duty, as people of worth, of honour, and as good Catholics." + +It was about twelve o'clock at night, when Reignaut, the surgeon, +entered the cabinet of the Duke, and bowing low said, "I come, +according to your Highness's order, to tell you the state of the young +Count of Logères. Soon after I saw you about six to-day, we extracted +both balls. He bore the operation well, and has slept since for +several hours." + +"Is he sleeping still?" demanded the Duke. + +"No," replied the surgeon. "He awoke about a quarter of an hour ago, +and seems anxious to see your Highness. He questioned me closely as to +his state, when I told him the truth." + +"You did right, you did right," replied the Duke. "He is one that can +bear it. What is your real opinion, Reignaut, in regard to the +result?" + +"I can hardly tell your Highness," replied the surgeon. "Two or three +days more are necessary, before we can judge. The wound in the +shoulder is not dangerous, though the most painful. The shot which +passed through his body, and lodged in the back, is one which we +generally consider mortal; but then, in ordinary cases, death either +takes place almost immediately, or indications of such a result are +seen in an hour or two, as to leave no further doubt on the subject. +No such indications have appeared here, and it may have happened that +the ball has passed through without touching any vital part. We must +remember, also," he continued, "that the wound was received when the +moon was in her first quarter, which is, of course, very favourable; +and we shall also, if there be any chance of life being saved, have +made some progress towards recovery before any crisis is brought on by +the moon reaching the full." + +The Duke listened attentively, for though such things may appear to +us, in the present day, mere foolishness, that was not the case two +centuries and a half ago, and the power of the moon, in affecting the +wounded or sick, was never questioned. "Stay, Reignaut," said the +Duke, "I will go with you, and see this good youth. I love him much; +there is a frankness in his nature that wins upon the heart. Besides, +he has saved my life, and has come to my aid on all occasions, as if +there were a fate in it; and I believe, moreover, that he loves me +personally as much--nay, perhaps more, than any of my own family and +relations." + +Thus saying the Duke rose, and, followed by Reignaut, passed through +the door of his cabinet into the anteroom. His pages instantly +presented themselves to light him on his way, and traversing some of +the long corridors of the vast building be inhabited, he reached the +chamber where his unhappy friend lay stretched upon the bed of pain +and sickness. The boy Ignati sat beside him, tending him with care and +affection; and at the foot of the bed, with his arms crossed upon his +chest, stood his faithful servant Gondrin, with tears in his eyes. + +The Duke seated himself by the young Count, and remained with him for +nearly an hour; and knowing well what effect the mind has upon the +body, spoke to him cheerfully and hopefully of the time to come, +talked of his recovered health as a thing certain, and mentioned his +union with Marie de Clairvaut as beyond all doubt. + +"It is upon that subject, my Lord," said the young gentleman, "that I +wished particularly to speak with your Highness. I have not had either +time or opportunity of telling you all that has occurred since I left +you at Soissons. But from all I have heard, I now judge better in +regard to the situation of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut than even you +can. Nay, Monsieur Reignaut, I must speak a few words, but I will be +as brief and as prudent as possible. In this business, my Lord, +suspect not the Queen. It is not in her hands that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut will be found. Neither is she with Villequier, depend upon +it; nor in the power of the King. I grieve to say it, but I feel sure +my own brother has something to do with the events of this day as far +as they affect her so dear to me." + +"But you surely do not think," exclaimed the Duke, "that it is your +brother's hand which inflicted these wounds upon you!" + +"The ball would be poisoned, indeed, my Lord," replied Charles of +Montsoreau, "if I did believe such to be the case. But I trust it is +not so; most sincerely do I trust--ay, and believe--it is not so. +There is another hand, my Lord Duke; and not long ago I could as well +have believed that my own father's would have been raised against me +as the one of which I speak. But still there is another hand, my Lord, +which--actuated by motives dark and evil--I believe to have been +raised against my life. That hand is in general unerring in its aim; +and the moment before the shot was fired, I saw the calm cold features +which I know so well, at the window just above me." + +"But whose is the hand?" exclaimed the Duke. "Whose are the features +that you mean?" + +"I mean those of the Abbé de Boisguerin, my Lord," replied the Count; +"and to him, to him, I think, your Highness must look even rather than +to my brother. I believe Gaspar but to be a tool in his hands, and +that he uses him for his own dark and criminal designs." + +"Have I not heard you say he was your tutor?" demanded the Duke. "What +then are his motives? what can be his inducements?" + +"Love, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I have the word of +that sweet girl for his having dared to use words towards her, for +which he deserves and must meet with punishment. Him I would point out +to your Highness as the person to be watched, and sought for, and made +to account for all his actions; for, depend upon it, his are the +machinations which are ruling these events." + +"He shall not be forgotten!" replied the Duke. "He shall not be +forgotten! But now, Logères, speak no more, except indeed only to +answer me one question. I have heard that the county of Morly has +lately fallen to you by the death of the old Count. These, with the +estates of Logères, if properly conducted, may afford me great +assistance. You are incapable for the time of directing them at all. +Do you authorise me to fill your post, and give orders in your name +till you are better?" + +"Most willingly, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I had +already thought of it. But your Highness talks of my becoming better: +I have thought of that matter too, but in a different light; and +considering what may take place in case of my own death, I have +requested Monsieur Reignaut here to cause a will to be drawn up, +leaving the whole that I possess to the person whom I love best on +earth, with your Highness for her guardian. There are a few gifts +bestowed on those that love me, and a provision for all old servants: +but----" + +"But it will not be wanted, Logères," said the Duke, pressing his +hand. "I see it in your eye; I hear it in the tone of your voice. You +will recover and strike by my side yet--perhaps, in many a well-fought +field. Silence and perfect quiet, I know, are Monsieur Reignaut's best +medicines; but I shall come to you, from time to time, when I have got +any pleasant tidings to bear." + + + + + CHAP. IV. + + +We must now pass over a considerable lapse of time without taking any +note of the political intrigues with which it was occupied, and lead +the reader at once from the month of May to the end of summer, and +from the city of Paris to the distant town of Augoulême. + +Under the high hill on which that city stands, at the distance of +about a league from the base, was in those days a beautiful park with +a pavilion of four towers; and in one of these towers, on a fine +summer day towards the end of July, sat the young Marquis of +Montsoreau together with the Abbé de Boisguerin: not exactly in +conversation, for the Marquis had not spoken a word for nearly an +hour; but in dull companionship. + +The young nobleman's back was turned towards the light, his eyes were +bent down upon the ground, his head drooped forward in a desponding +attitude, the nostril was painfully expanded, as if he drew his breath +with difficulty, and the teeth were tight shut, as it were to keep +down some struggling emotions that swelled for utterance. An open +letter lay upon the table, and another much more closely written, and +written in cypher, was in the hand of the Abbé de Boisguerin. The +Abbé's brow too was a good deal contracted, and his lip was somewhat +pale, though it quivered not; but from time to time he addressed the +young nobleman with words of consolation, regarding some afflicting +tidings just received. + +Those words, however, though well chosen, appropriate and elegant, +were not of the words that console, for they were not of the heart. He +reasoned logically on the inutility of human grief, and still more on +the vanity of regretting that which could not be recalled. He spoke +lightly of all deep feelings for any earthly thing, and he talked of +every deed upon the face of the earth being justified by the +importance of the objects to be obtained. + +When he had talked thus for some time without obtaining any answer, he +was going on to justify the past; but Gaspar de Montsoreau suddenly +started up, and interrupted him with a vehemence which he had never +displayed before. + +"Abbé de Boisguerin," he said, "talk not to me of consolation and of +comfort. Is not my brother dead? Is not my brother dead, killed by my +own hand? Can you tear that from the book of fate? Can you blot it out +from memory? Can you rase it for ever from the records of crimes done? +Can you find me a pillow on all the earth, where I can lay my head in +peace?" + +"Your brother, indeed, is dead," said the Abbé de Boisguerin, without +in the least degree trying to relieve the mind of his young companion +from the crime with which conscience charged him. "Your brother, +indeed, is dead; and it is not to be denied that your hand, my dear +Gaspar, took his life; but yet you were in a city where war was +actually going on between two parties, one of which you served, and +the other your brother. These things have happened every day in civil +wars, and always will happen. They are to be grieved at, but who can +help them?" + +"But I was engaged in no civil wars," exclaimed the young Marquis. "My +men were at the Louvre. I was not fighting on the part of the King: I +was not engaged in trampling down the people. But what was I busied +with, Abbé de Boisguerin? I was engaged in a scheme for carrying +off--from him she loved, and from those who had a right to protect +her--one whom I had no title to control, whom I was bound by honour to +guard and to defend. I was injuring her; I was preparing to injure +her. If I had not lied to her myself, I had caused her to be deceived +and lied to; and all that I had previously done made the act itself +which I had committed, but the more hateful. Speak not to me of +consolation, Abbé; speak not to me of hope or comfort. You of all men, +do not venture to mention to me a word like happiness or confidence." + +"And why not, my Lord?" demanded the Abbé somewhat sternly. "What have +I done to merit reproach in the matter?" + +"Has it not been you that have prompted me throughout?" demanded the +Marquis. "Was it not you who devised the scheme, prepared the means, +got possession of the Queen's letter by corrupting her servants. Was +it not your tool, that, upon pretence of assisting her to the other +gates of the hotel, got her into our power; and was it not you, when +her prayers and entreaties and agitation would have made me yield--was +it not you that resisted, and remorselessly bade the men carry her on? +Did you not yourself stand by me when the shot was fired; and was it +not your warning, that disgrace and death must follow hesitation, +which winged the ball that took my brother's life?" + +"It is all true, Gaspar," replied the Abbé de Boisguerin in a sad but +no longer a harsh tone. "It is all true; and from you I meet the +reward, which all men will meet and well deserve who love others +better than themselves, and who do for them things that they would not +do for themselves. Nevertheless, I still think that there was not that +evil on our side with which you seem to reproach yourself. Shocked and +mourning for your brother's death, you see all things in dark and +gloomy colours. Those things which you regarded before as light, have +now become to you heavy and sombre as night. But all this is but mood, +and let me call to your remembrance what sense and reason say. You and +your brother loved the same person,--you vehemently, warmly, +devotedly; he coldly, and by halves. You, as the elder brother and as +lord of the dwelling in which she was received, had, if any thing, the +first claim upon her; and he himself rendered that claim still greater +by leaving her entirely to you, and absenting himself from her. You +had every right, therefore, to seek her hand by all means; and when +you found that, though he affected generous forbearance, he had gone +covertly to forestall your demand, and gain the promise of her hand +from her guardian, surely you were bound to keep no measures with him. +All I did subsequently was to serve you in a cause that I thought was +right, and it is but a few days ago that you were grateful to me for +so doing. I said at the time, and I say again, that if at the moment +when your brother commenced his attack upon the house in the Rue de la +Ferronière, either you or I had been taken, death and eternal disgrace +would have been the consequence. We acted but in our own defence, and +those who assailed us cannot accuse us for so acting." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him in sullen silence, his dark eyes +rolling from side to side beneath his heavy eyebrows. In his dealings +with the Abbé de Boisguerin he had by this time learned fully how +artful and politic was the man who led him. He saw it, and he could +not doubt it, even while he shared in the things at which his better +spirit revolted. But that very knowledge taught him to doubt, whether +the art and the policy were used for his service, and out of affection +to him, or whether they were all directed in some secret way to the +benefit of him who wielded them so dexterously. The suspicions which +Villequier had instilled rose fresh in his mind at this very time; and +as his only answer to the Abbé's reasonings, he demanded with a keen +glance and a sharp tone, "Tell me. Abbé, was it, or was it not, you +who brought the reiters upon us, and who gave the King's forces notice +of our passage?" + +"I did the one, but not the other," replied the Abbé calmly. "I dealt +not with the reiters, Gaspar de Montsoreau, for that would have been +dangerous to me, to her, and to you. But I did inform the troops of +the King, because I already had learned how deeply the Duke of Guise +was pledged to your brother; because I knew that no reasoning would +prevent either you or this fair girl from going on to Soissons; and +because I saw that there was no earthly chance of your obtaining her +hand, but by placing her under the charge of her father's nearest male +relation, from whom the Duke of Guise unjustly withholds the +guardianship. I own it, I acknowledge it, I am proud of it." + +The way in which the Abbé replied was not such as Gaspar de Montsoreau +had expected; but dissatisfied with himself, and of course with every +thing else, Gaspar de Montsoreau still gazed sullenly on the floor, +and then raised his eyes to the open window of the pavilion, where the +warm sun was seen streaming through the green vines, with the birds +still singing sweetly in the woods without. But it was all to him as +the face of Eden to our first parents after the fall; a shade seemed +to come over his eyes when he looked upon the loveliness of nature; +the very sunshine seemed to him darkness; and the fair world a desert. + +"Can you give me back my delight in that sunshine?" he said, after a +pause. "Can you make the notes of those birds again sound sweet to my +ear? Can you remove the heavy, heavy burden of remorse from this +heart? Can you ever, ever prove to me, that for this unrequited love I +have not made myself a guilty wretch, bearing the sign of Cain upon +his brow, the curse of Cain within his bosom?" + +"If such be your feelings," replied the Abbé, "if such--contrary to +all justice and reason--is the state in which your mind is to remain, +there is one way that will alleviate and soothe you, that may seem in +your eyes some atonement, and put your conscience more at rest. Cast +off this love which you believe has led you into evil, yield the +pursuit of this fair girl, renounce the object for which you did that +whereof your heart reproaches you, and by that voluntary punishment +and self-command, do penance for aught in which you may have failed. +Doubtless, that penance will be severe and terrible to endure; but the +more it is so, the greater is the atonement." + +The Marquis gazed him in the face thoughtfully while the Abbé spoke, +and then fell into a long reverie. His brow was raised and depressed, +his teeth gnawed his nether lip, his hand clenched and opened with the +struggle that was going on within, and at length, stamping his heel +upon the ground, he exclaimed, "No, no, no! I have paid a mighty +price, and I will save the jewel that I have bought with my soul's +salvation! That fiery love is the only thing now left me upon +earth.--She shall be mine, or I will die! What is there that shall +stop me now? What is there that shall hinder me? Have I not wealth, +and power, and courage, and strength, and daring, and determination? +The fear of crime! the fear of crime! that weak barrier is cast down +and trampled under my feet. Have I not broken the nearest and the +dearest ties of kindred and affection, murdered the brother that +hung on the same breast, dimmed the eyes that looked upon me in +infancy, frozen the warm heart that was cradled in the same womb with +mine?--Out upon it! What is there should stop me now? The lesser +crimes of earth, the smaller violences, seem ground into unseen dust +by this greater crime. Abbé, I will buy her of Villequier!--I know how +to win him!--I will force her to love me, or she shall hate her +husband! What is there shall stop me now? I will buy the priest as +well as the ring, or the wedding garment; and she shall be mine, +whether her heart be mine or not!". + +While he spoke the Abbé de Boisguerin gazed upon him with one of his +calm dark smiles; but upon the present occasion that smile upon the +lip was at variance with a slight frown upon his brow. He replied +little, however, saying merely, "It is so, Gaspar! It is so, that men +seek to enjoy the fruit, and yet regret the means. They will never +find happiness thus, however." + +"Happiness!" exclaimed the Marquis, with a look of agony upon his +face. "Is there such a thing as happiness? Oh yes, there is, and I +once knew it, when together with that brother who is now no more, and +you also, my friend, undisturbed by stormy passions, content with that +I had, blessed with the only friendship and affection that was needful +to content, I passed the sunny hours in sport and joy, and scarcely +knew the common pains incident to man's general nature. And you have +aided to destroy this state, and you have helped to drive me forth +from happiness, to blot it out so entirely, that I could almost forget +it ever existed." + +"No, no, Gaspar of Montsoreau!" exclaimed the Abbé quickly, "I have +not done any of these things you talk of. I have not aided in any one +degree to take from you the happiness you formerly had. There is but +one secret for the preservation of happiness, Gaspar. It matters not +what is the object of desire, for any thing that we thirst for really +may give us happiness in nearly the same portion as another. Happiness +is gained by the right estimation of the means. If a man ever uses +means that he regrets, to obtain any object that he desires, he loses +the double happiness which may be obtained in life, the happiness of +pursuit and the happiness of enjoyment. Every means must, of course, +be proportioned to its end; where much is to be won, much must be +risked or paid: but the firm strong mind, the powerful understanding, +weighs the object against the price; and, if it be worthy, whatever +that price may be, after it is once paid and the object attained, +regrets not the payment. It is like an idle child who covets a gilt +toy, spoils it in half an hour, and then regrets the money it has +cost, ever to sorrow over means we have used, when those means have +proved successful. Say not, Gaspar, that I disturbed your happiness! +While you were in your own lands, enjoying the calm pleasures of a +provincial life, knowing no joys, seeking no pleasures but those +which, like light winds that ruffle the surface and plough not up the +bosom of the water, amuse the mind but never agitate the heart, I +lived contented and happy amongst you, believing that, but once or +twice at most in the life of man, a joy is set before him, which is +worthy of being bartered against amusement. I joined in all your +sports, I furnished you with new sources of the same calm pleasures; +and as long as I saw the passions were shut out, I sought no change +for myself or for you either. But when the moment came, that strong +and deep passions were to be introduced; when I saw that your heart, +and that of your brother, like the moulded figure by the demigod, had +been touched with the ethereal fire, and woke from slumber never to +sleep again, then it was but befitting that I should aid him who +confided in me, in the pursuit that he was now destined to follow. If +the object was a great and worthy one, the means to obtain it were +necessarily powerful and hazardous. No man ought to yield his repose +for any thing that is not worth all risks; but having once begun the +course, he must go on; and weak and idle is he who cannot overleap the +barriers that he meets with, or, when the race is won, turns to regret +this flower or that which he may have trampled down in his course." + +"You are harsh, Abbé," replied the Marquis thoughtfully, somewhat +shaken by his words--for though the wounds of remorse admit no balm, +they are sometimes forgotten in strong excitement. "You are harsh, but +yet it is a terrible thing to have slain one's brother." + +"It is," replied the Abbé; "but circumstances give the value of every +fact. It is a terrible thing to slay any human being; to take the life +of a creature, full of the same high intelligences as ourselves: but +if I slay that man in a room, and for no purpose, it is called murder; +if I slay him in a battle-field, in order to obtain a crown, it is a +glorious act, and worthy of immortal renown." + +The Marquis listened to his sophistry, eager to take any theme of +consolation to his heart. But any one who heard him, would have +supposed that the Abbé de Boisguerin thought his companion too easily +consoled. Perhaps it might be that the Abbé himself sought to defend +his share in the transaction, rather than to give any comfort to his +unhappy cousin. At all events, after a brief pause, during which both +fell into thought, he added, "What I grieve the most for is, that +Charles was kind-hearted and generous, frank and true, and I believe +sincerely that, but for this unhappy business, he loved us both." + +"Ay, there is the horror! there is the horror!" exclaimed the Marquis, +casting himself down into a chair, and covering his eyes with his +hands. "He did love me, I know he did; and I believe he sought to act +generously by me." + +The Abbé suffered him to indulge in his grief for a moment or two, and +then replied, "But the misfortune is, that, with all this, your object +is not yet secured; that though you have once more snatched her from +the power of the Guises, you have not contrived to keep her in your +own." + +The Marquis waved his hand impatiently, saying, "I cannot--I will not +talk of such things now. Leave me, Abbé, leave me! I can but grieve; +there is no way that I can turn without encountering sorrow." + +The Abbé turned and left him; and descending the steps into the +gardens, he walked on in the calm sunshine, as tranquilly as if purity +and holiness had dwelt within his breast. "I must bear this yet a +while longer," he said to himself. "But now, if I could find some +enthusiastic priest, full of wild eloquence, such as we have in Italy, +to seize this deep moment of remorse, we might do much with him to +make him abjure this pursuit; perhaps abjure the world! The foolish +boy thinks that it was his hand that did it, and does not know that I +fired at all, when his hand shook so that he could not well have +struck him. Perhaps there may be such a priest as I need up there," he +continued, looking towards Augoulême, "perhaps there may be such a +priest up there, of the kind I want. Epernon has his fits of devotion +too, I believe. At all events, I will go up and see. The madder the +better for my purpose." + +Thus saying he called some servants, ordered his horse, and, as soon +as it was brought, rode away towards Augoulême. + + + + + CHAP. V. + + +Gaspar de Montsoreau remained in the same position in which the Abbé +had left him for nearly an hour, and the struggle of the various +passions which agitated his heart, were perhaps as terrible as any +that had ever been known to human being. His situation, indeed, was +one which exposed him more than most men are ever exposed, to the +contention of the most opposite feelings. He had not been led +gradually on, as many are, step by step, to evil; but he had been +taken from the midst of warm and kindly feelings, from the practice of +right, and an habitual course of calm and tranquil enjoyment, and by +the mastery of one strong and violent passion had been plunged into +the midst of crimes which had left anguish and remorse behind them. + +Still, however, the passion which had at first led him astray, existed +in all its fierceness and all its intensity; and, like some quiet +field--from which the husbandman has been accustomed to gather yearly, +in the calm sunshine, a rich and kindly harvest--when suddenly made +the place of strife by contending armies, his heart, so tranquil and +so happy not a year before, had now become the battle-place of remorse +and love. + +Sometimes the words of the Abbé came back upon his ear, urging him to +abandon for ever, as a penance for his crime, the pursuit which had +already led him to such awful deeds; but then again the thought of +Marie de Clairvaut, of never beholding that beautiful being again, of +yielding her for ever, perhaps, to the arms of others, came across his +brain, and almost drove him mad. + +Then would rush remorse again upon his heart, the features of his +brother rose up before him, his graceful form seemed to move within +his sight; the frank warm-hearted, kindly smile, that had ever greeted +him when they met, was now painted by memory to his eye; and many a +trait of generous kindness, many a noble, many an endearing act, the +words and jests of boyhood and infancy, the long remembered sports of +early years, the accidents, the adventures, the tender and twining +associations of youth and happiness, forgotten in the strife of +passion and the contention of rivalry, now came back, as vividly as +the things of yesterday--came back, alas! now that death had ended the +struggle, rendered the deeds of the past irreparable, thrown the pall +of remorse over the last few months, and left memory alone to deck the +tomb of the dead with bright flowers gathered from their spring of +life. + +It was too much to bear: he turned back again to the words, not of +consolation but of incitement, which the Abbé had spoken to him. He +tried to think it was folly to regret what had been done; he tried to +recollect that it was in a scene of contention, and in moments of +strife, that his brother had fallen; he strove to persuade himself +that Marie de Clairvaut had been under his care and guidance and +direction, and that his brother Charles had had no right even to +attempt to take her out of his hands. He laboured, in short, to steel +his heart; to render it as hard iron, in order to resist the things +that it had to endure. He sought anxiously to rouse it into activity; +and he tried to fix his mind still upon the thoughts of winning Marie +de Clairvaut. He resolved, at whatever price, by whatever sacrifice, +to gain her, to possess her, to make her his own beyond recall: with +the eagerness of passion and the recklessness of remorse, he +determined to pursue his course, trusting, as many have idly trusted, +that he should induce the woman, whose affections and feelings he +forced, to love the man to whose passions she was made a sacrifice. + +The struggle was still going on, the voice of conscience was raising +itself loudly from time to time, memory was doing her work, and +passion was opposing all, when, without hearing any step, or knowing +that any one had arrived at the house, he felt a hand quietly laid +upon his arm, and starting up with a feeling almost of terror, which +was unusual to him, he beheld the dark and sinister, though handsome, +countenance of Villequier. + +The courtier grasped his hand with enthusiastic warmth, and gazed in +his face with a look of deep interest. "You are sad, Monsieur de +Montsoreau," he said; "I grieve to see you so sad. I fear that the +news which I came to break to you has been told you, perhaps, in a +rash and inconsiderate manner. You are aware then that your brother is +no more. I hoped to have been in time, for I only heard it the day +before yesterday, in the evening, from the Duke of Guise, who is now +with the King, and, as you know, all powerful." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him to an end, and then merely bowed his +head, saying, "I have heard all, Monsieur de Villequier." But although +he saw that his companion--who had more than once witnessed the +fierceness of his feelings towards his brother regarding Mademoiselle +de Clairvaut--was surprised at the deep grief he now betrayed, he +dared not let him know how much that grief was aggravated by remorse, +from the belief that his own hand had cut the thread of his brother's +life. + +"I am sorry. Monsieur de Montsoreau," added Villequier, "to see you so +deeply affected by this matter. Pray remember, that though Monsieur de +Logères was your brother, he was struggling with you for the hand of +the person you love, and that his being now removed, renders your hope +of obtaining the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut no longer doubtful +and remote, but certain and almost immediate." + +"I see not the matter in the same cheering light that you do, Monsieur +de Villequier," replied Gaspar de Montsoreau thoughtfully. "You say, +and I hear also that it is so, that the Duke of Guise is now all +powerful with the King; if such be the case, what results have we to +anticipate? Do you think that the Duke of Guise will ever consent to +the union of his ward with me? Do you think that, prejudging the +question as he has already done, he will give me the bride that he +promised to my brother? Have I not heard from those who were present, +that he has sworn by all he holds sacred, that never, under any +circumstances, should she be mine?" + +"The Duke of Guise is not immortal," replied Villequier drily; "and +his death leaves her wholly in my power. Should such an event not take +place, however, and the period of her attaining free agency approach, +we must risk a little should need be, and employ a certain degree of +gentle compulsion to drive or lead her to that which we desire." + +"When will it be?" demanded Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Why should we +pause? why should we risk any thing by delay?" + +"She becomes a free agent by the law," replied Villequier, "on the +morrow of next Christmas. If that day passes, it is true, prayers and +supplications will be all that can be used, for the Parliament will +extend its protection to her, and not the King himself can force her +to wed any one she does not choose. Before that period her guardian +can, for such is the feudal law of this realm, that she can be forced +either to resign her lands or produce some one in her stead to lead +her retainers in the King's service. The law has been somewhat +stretched, it is true; but on more than one occasion, with the consent +of the King, the guardian of a young lady difficult to please, has +compelled her to make a choice, and the Parliament has sanctioned the +act." + +"Are you not her lawful guardian, then?" demanded the young Marquis, +"that you should hesitate, in hopes of the Duke of Guise's death." + +"I maintain that I am her guardian," replied Villequier, "and my suit +is before the Parliament; but I should be much more certainly her +guardian, if the Duke of Guise were dead." + +"The Duke of Guise dead!" said Gaspar de Montsoreau sullenly. "A thing +improbable, unlikely, not to be counted upon. If that be all my hold +upon you, Monsieur de Villequier, the hopes that you have held out to +me are but slight in fabric and foundation." + +"Hear me, my good young friend," replied Villequier. "They are not so +slight as you imagine. In the first place, we have for some time held +in France that rash and troublesome persons who oppose our progress, +or thwart our desires, are to be encountered for a certain time by the +arts of policy and by every soft and quiet inducement we may hold out +to them. When we have been patient as long as possible, and find that +they are not to be frustrated by any ordinary means, it becomes +necessary to put a stop to their opposition, and to remove them from +the way in which we are proceeding. Now, the Duke of Guise has been +very busily teaching a number of persons, both high and low, that his +prolonged life would be extremely inconvenient to them. Biron does not +love him, D'Aumont abominates him, D'O. has good cause to wish him a +step beyond Jerusalem; Henry of Navarre has in him a bitter enemy; the +rash, vain, Count of Soissons an obstacle and a stumbling-block; and +though I am his humble servant, and the King his very good friend, yet +both Henry and myself could do quite as well without him. Besides +these, there are at least ten thousand more in France who would walk +with their beavers far more gallantly, if there were a Guise the less +in the world; so that I say, on very probable reasoning, that I would +fully as soon reckon upon the life of a man of eighty, as I would upon +the robust, powerful existence of Henry of Guise even for an hour. But +putting all that aside. Monsieur de Montsoreau, taking it for granted +that he lives, what can I do but what I propose? You have the King's +promise and mine in writing; we can do no more. The cause is before +the Parliament, and Henry, restrained in his own court, at war with +his own subjects, and driven from his own capital, depend upon it, +will never sign your contract of marriage with Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut till every other hope has failed; ay, and what is more, till +he sees before him a very very great object to be gained by so doing." + +"A fresh object you mean, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar de +Montsoreau. "I know that this is the way in which kings and statesmen +deal with men less wise than themselves. There must be always one +object secured to obtain the promise, and another to obtain the +performance. Pray, what is the new object, Monsieur de Villequier? and +is it sure, that if an object be held out of sufficient worth and +importance, the King will not find some specious reason for drawing +back, or that some new irresistible obstacle does not present itself?" + +"Consider the King's situation. Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied +Villequier, "with the Duke of Guise constantly at his side, dictating +to him all his movements, with the question, of guardianship even now +lying before the Parliament, he would run the very greatest risk at +this moment if he were to do as we both wish, and forcibly hurry on +this business to a conclusion. But the aspect of affairs is changing +every day,--the Count of Soissons has come to join him; Henry of +Navarre himself has sent him offers of assistance and support; +Epernon, roused into activity, is levying forces in all parts of the +country; every day the King may expect to make some way against the +party of his adversaries; and therefore every day is something gained. +But even were it not so very hazardous to attempt any thing of the +kind at present, you could not expect the King to risk much, and +embarrass his policy for your sake, without some individual motive. +That this business should take place, is your strong and intense +desire. It is very natural that it should be so; but neither the King +nor myself have any such feelings, passions, or wishes. Let us each +have our advantage, or our gratification, in that which is to ensue, +and I will undertake, and pledge myself in the most solemn manner, +that Mademoiselle de Clairvaut shall be your wife before next +Christmas-day." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau paused, and thought carefully over all that had +been said. "I thank you. Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "for +speaking freely in this matter. Let us cast away all idle delicacy. +Things have happened to me lately which have taught me to hold all +such empty verbiage at naught. Let us look upon this business as a +matter of dealing, a matter of merchandise." + +"Exactly!" replied Villequier raising his eyes slightly, but not +seeming in the least degree offended. "Let us consider it in such a +light. Every matter of policy is but trade upon a large scale." + +"Well then," continued Gaspar de Montsoreau in the same bold tone, "I +will look upon you and the King, Monsieur de Villequier, as two +partners in a mercantile house. Now, what sort of merchandise is it +that you would prefer to have in barter for your signature to my +marriage contract with this young Lady. Shall it be money?" + +"Money!" exclaimed Villequier, with a slight ironical smile playing +about the corners of his mouth. "Have you any money? It is indeed a +surprising thing to hear any one talk of money except the Duke of +Guise, or the Duke of Epernon. Why, Bellievre assures me, upon his +honour, that the very dispatch which he was ordered to send to +Soissons, to forbid positively the Duke of Guise coming to Paris, was +stopped, for what reason think you? Because, when he took it down to +the treasury, there was not found fifty livres to pay the courier's +expenses. The courier would not go without the money, Bellievre had +none to give him, so between them both they carried the King's +dispatch to the post, and put it in with the common letters. The +letters went to Rheims before they were sent to Soissons, and the Duke +of Guise was in Paris, while the order to forbid him was on the +road.[3] Money? Oh certainly, money above all things! But pray do not +let it be a large sum, lest, like an apoplectic epicure, the King's +treasury and my purse die of sudden repletion." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 3: This is historically true in regard to one of the +dispatches to the Duke of Guise; and in representing Henry and his +courtiers as occasionally acting the part of low and mercenary +swindlers, first fleecing and then laughing at a dupe, I am also borne +out by facts.] + +--------------------- + + +"Well then, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, after taking +one or two turns up and down the room, "I will tell you what I will +do, to show you how dearly I hold the gift that is promised me. On the +day of my marriage with Marie de Clairvaut, when it is all completed, +the benediction said, the contract signed, your name as guardian, and +the King's in confirmation attached, I will place in your hands the +sum of one hundred thousand crowns of the sun." + +"Heavens and earth!" exclaimed Villequier in the same tone in which he +had spoken before, "I did not know that there was such a sum in +France. If I were to tell it to Monsieur d'O. he would not believe +me." + +"But remember, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar of Montsoreau, +not quite liking the levity of his companion's speech, "this is no +jesting matter with me, whatever it may be with you; and I must have +such sure and perfect warranty that you will not betray my hopes +again, or ask for even the slightest further delay, that there cannot +be a doubt rest upon my mind; otherwise----" + +"Otherwise what, Monsieur de Montsoreau?" demanded Villequier. "If we +do not keep our words, you know we shall lose the great advantage that +we hope to gain from you. That is the surest bond! Let the matter +stand thus, sir: if this marriage do take place, as I have promised +you it shall, the hundred thousand crowns of gold are paid; if not, we +are the losers. I see no alternative beyond this." + +"By Heavens! but there is, and there shall be one," answered Gaspar de +Montsoreau impetuously. "I see that Monsieur de Villequier, who is +supposed to count upon every chance and circumstance collateral and +direct, has forgotten one or two points, although he has not forgotten +that I am heir of my brother's lands, both of Logères and Morly. But I +will only put him in mind of what might take place on either side. The +King and Monsieur de Villequier might find obstacles of great import +rise up against my wishes, or they might find greater advantages in +some other quarter; they might think it worth while to keep me +trifling in inactivity, or employ me in their service against the +enemy. They might do all this, and then forego the sum named for a +greater. I, on the other hand. Monsieur de Villequier, might see +wavering and hesitation; I might grow tired of waiting and dependence; +I might say to-morrow I have no certainty in this business, and I +might give my banner to the wind, broider the cross of the League upon +my breast, or assume the double cross of Lorraine, and either range +the spears of Montsoreau and Logères in the ranks of the army of +Mayenne, or marching to Chartres, Tours, or Blois, might bow me lowly +to my Lord of Guise, and begging him to forget the past, swear myself +his faithful servant." + +Villequier gazed on him for a moment with certainly not the most +friendly expression of countenance, and was about to speak; but the +young Marquis, conscious of his own importance, waved his hand, +saying, "Nay, nay, Monsieur de Villequier! on all and on every account +the plan I am about to propose is the only one that can be followed. +Of course, in dealing with his Majesty, I cannot treat as crown to +crown;" and he smiled somewhat bitterly. "But I must treat with you as +gentleman to gentleman, and leave you to entreat his Majesty--urgently +and zealously, as I doubt not you will do it, to accede graciously to +our views. Thus then shall it be, that you and the King shall enter +into a bond with me, by which you shall engage that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut shall, with the full consent of both parties expressed by +their signature to our marriage-contract, become my wife on or before +next Christmas-day, and in default shall be subject to amercement in +whatsoever amount the Parliament of Paris may judge that I am damaged +by the want of performance. This is merely to secure that the matter +be explicit; and in the same bond may be placed my engagement to pay +the sum named, upon the fulfilment of the contract. This is fair, and +only fair; and you know my last resolve." + +"In truth, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "if you knew +but the state of our finances, you would see that we are far more +likely to be so eager in concluding this business as even to risk +dangerous consequences, than to trifle with you in any degree." + +He remembered the curious engagement that he had entered into with the +Abbé de Boisguerin, and he paused a moment, in hopes that Gaspar de +Montsoreau might show even the slightest sign of hesitation: but, so +far from it, the frown deepened on the young nobleman's brow, and he +replied sharply, "I will trust to no contingencies. Monsieur de +Villequier. These are changing times, as you well know. The cross +Fleurdelisée in your arms[4] may well be changed, by the golden +billets dropped around it, into the cross of Lorraine. If what I have +offered be as good as you say, there is no earthly reason why his +Majesty of France or yourself, Monsieur de Villequier, should object +to enter into the engagement with me that I propose." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 4: Such were the arms of the Villequier family.] + +--------------------- + + +"Well," answered Villequier; "well, I must do my best with the King; +but I dare say, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he said in a lower voice, "I +dare say you are well aware that a little compulsion, perhaps, must be +used in this instance." + +He thought he saw hesitation, and he went on the more eagerly, for he +wished to avoid the written engagement. "I must be permitted to use +what means I think fit to wring consent from the young Lady herself. +Nor must I have one word of objection on your part, whatever you see +or hear--no asking for delay!--no yielding to her tears. One word of +such a kind, remember, vitiates the engagement upon our part, but +leaves you as strictly bound as ever." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau gazed down upon the ground sternly for several +moments, with his brows contracting, till his eyes were nearly hid +beneath them. His fingers were seen to clasp into the palms of his +hands, as if the nails would have buried themselves there. But after a +short and terrible struggle, the evil spirit maintained its +ascendancy, and he exclaimed, "Be it so! Be it so! But in the +meantime, sir," he continued abruptly, "there is one thing I have to +demand. How have I been led with hopes, and meeting nothing but +disappointments, for the last two months. I who dared all, and +underwent all, to snatch her once more from the power of the Guises. +When forced to fly, it was under your power and in your charge I left +her; and yet, though this is the fourth or fifth time that you and I +have met, I have never been able to see her, or to learn distinctly +where she is. This must be no longer, Monsieur de Villequier. I need +consolation; I need comfort; the only comfort or consolation I can +find is in her presence and in her society. Where is she?--I demand to +know where she is. I was brought to Augoulême by information that she +was in the neighbourhood; but I cannot discover her, and I will be +trifled with no longer." + +"By all I hold sacred," exclaimed Villequier, not a little surprised +by the bold and daring tone and decided manner, which the young +nobleman had so suddenly put on, "By all I hold sacred----" + +"What is that, sir?" demanded Gaspar de Montsoreau. + +Villequier smiled. "Oh many things, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he +answered; "I hold many things sacred. But with any oath or abjuration +that you think most convenient, I assure you that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut is not under my charge, or in my power at this moment." + +"But was so how long ago?" demanded the Marquis. + +"About a fortnight," replied Villequier coolly. "The fact is, Monsieur +de Montsoreau, that his high and mighty Highness, the Duke of Guise, +having come to pay a humble visit to his Majesty--to congratulate him, +I suppose, on being driven out of Paris,--gave significant notice to +the King, on their first interview at Chartres, that he believed +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut to be in my hands, and that he would have +her instantly delivered up. I was not present, you know, but every +thing passed as the Guises wished. I dare say you have heard all the +rest; Epernon was banished, and fled to Augoulême here, stripped of +his high posts and manifold emoluments; Guise was created +generalissimo of the King's armies; in fact, Guise dictated the law to +the King, and Henry was fain to forget all the past, or to cover the +bitter memory with a jest." + +"But to the point; to the point, Monsieur de Villequier," said the +Marquis de Montsoreau. "What of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?" + +"Why, the King told me," replied Villequier, "that the Duke demanded +her at all events till the Parliament of Paris had decided our cause. +The next day the Duke and I had an interview on the subject; but ere +that, I had placed her in the hands of a friend, and begged him to +remove her for a time from the house where she then was. The Duke was +as imperious and unceremonious as an executioner. He vowed that I +should give her up to him at once; and though we did our best to +deceive him, exactly as we had done with your wild thoughtless +brother, the Duke did not so easily believe us; and both I and the +King were obliged to swear upon the mass that she was not in our +power, and that we knew not where she was. That was easily done; but +Henry's low laugh had nearly betrayed the whole; and the Duke swore +loudly, and menaced high, that if he were deceived, he would have +vengeance." + +"And now, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, "where is she +now? And who is the friend in whose hands you have placed her?" + +Villequier paused for a single moment, as if to consider whether he +should tell him or not. But a moment after he answered with a smile, +"The friend in whose hands she is placed, Monsieur de Montsoreau, is +one in whom at that time you yourself placed great confidence. I trust +the same feelings exist still towards him. I mean the Abbé de +Boisguerin." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau started at the intelligence with feelings of +angry dissatisfaction, which he could hardly account for to himself, +but which he instantly strove to conceal from the keen eyes of the +artful man with whom he was dealing. The exclamation of "Indeed!" +however, which broke from his lips, was uttered in a tone which +instantly showed Villequier that the tidings were by no means +pleasing; and while he suffered the young Marquis to digest them at +leisure he laid out in his own mind a plan for keeping the Abbé and +his former pupil at variance, not with any clear and definite object, +indeed, but for the purpose of having a check upon the young Marquis +at any future moment, in case of necessity. Villequier felt, too, that +the clear, artful, and unscrupulous mind of the Abbé de Boisguerin was +far better fitted to deal with, and frustrate him in any purpose that +he might entertain, than that of the young Marquis, which, though not +deficient either in acuteness or policy, was constantly misled by +inexperience, or by the impetuosity of strong passions. He felt that +the counsels of the Abbé might under many circumstances, if given +sincerely, be a safeguard to Gaspar de Montsoreau against his arts; +and he therefore saw no slight advantage in encouraging feelings of +doubt and dissatisfaction in the mind of his young companion. + +"It is surprising," said the Marquis, "that the Abbé did not +communicate to me the facts which you have mentioned, Monsieur de +Villequier; but I suppose that you bound him down to secrecy." + +"To general secrecy," replied Villequier, "as was absolutely +necessary. But you, of course, as my friend, and as the person most +interested--you, of course, were excepted. No, Monsieur de Montsoreau, +no! In this business the Abbé has acted upon his own judgment. He was +then at Blois, you know. I was in great haste, knew no other person to +whom I could apply, and therefore entrusted him with the task, +thinking him also, at that time, you must remember, sincerely, truly, +and devotedly your friend." + +"And have you any cause. Monsieur de Villequier," demanded the +Marquis, "have you any cause to suppose now that he is not my friend?" + +"Nay, Monsieur de Montsoreau!" replied Villequier. "If you are +satisfied, I have nothing to say. I only thought you seemed +dissatisfied, and----" + +"And what, Monsieur de Villequier?" demanded the Marquis, seeing that +he paused. + +"I was going to say," replied Villequier, "that it might be as well +for you to be upon your guard. We are living in troublous times, +Monsieur de Montsoreau. We are both of us placed in a delicate +situation; every word and action ought to be guided by policy and +forethought; and though I do not wish to wound the delicacy of your +friendship towards your relation and friend, Monsieur de Boisguerin, +yet we all know that he is a skilful politician, and that when, some +years ago, even as a young man he appeared at the Court of France, her +Majesty the Queen-mother was heard to say, she was glad when he was +gone, for she was confident that he would outwit Satan himself, and +therefore might go far to outwit her." + +"I should not mind his policy," replied the Marquis. "I should not +mind his policy, if you had not insinuated doubts as to whether he was +at heart my friend." + +Villequier answered nothing, but gazed down upon the ground with his +brow somewhat contracted, and then stirred the rushes on the floor +with the point of his sword, as if determined not to make any reply. + +"You are silent, Monsieur de Villequier," said Gaspar of Montsoreau; +"and yet there is hanging a cloud of much thought upon your brow, as +if there were intelligence in your breast which you could give, but +would not. I beseech you, if you are really friendly to me--or to +speak more plainly--if our interests in this business are in some +degree linked together, I beseech you to let me know fully and fairly +what you think, and what you know, of the Abbé de Boisguerin." + +"Thus adjured, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "I can but +answer you, that I do not think Monsieur de Boisguerin is as friendly +to you as you suppose. Depend upon it, he has his own purposes to +answer first, and you are but a secondary consideration, if not, +perhaps, a tool." + +"These are grave charges, sir," said Gaspar de Montsoreau, somewhat +angry at the term tool. "I should like to have some proofs to sustain +them." + +"See! you are angry already," cried Villequier. "However, at the +present moment I have no proofs to give. At some future time--ay, +before the period of your marriage with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I +may give you such proof of what is the Abbé's real character and real +feelings towards you, that you will say I am well justified. In the +meantime I have warned you sufficiently to put you on your guard. That +is enough for the present moment: you must act as you think fit; but +still you will be prepared. Farther, I have only to say, that it is +not I that keep you from seeing Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You have my +full will and consent to see her whom you will. I would not, indeed, +have you visit her too often, lest discovery should ensue, and Guise +obtain possession of her at once. But your own discretion must be your +guide. I will now leave you, Monsieur de Montsoreau; and, depend upon +it, you will not find that I will fail you in any of the promises I +have made, and will very soon return to you with the business arranged +by the King, in the manner that you desire. We must then wait until +further delay be judged dangerous: then if nothing occurs to relieve +us from the other obstacles, we must in the end step over them; and, +forgetting a little law, conclude your marriage, whether the +Parliament awards me the guardianship or not. When once she is made +your wife, they cannot easily unwife her." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau, full of thoughts rather than words, did not +pursue the conversation further. "I have but shown you scanty +courtesy, Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "in not asking you to make +your home of my poor house. It is not, indeed, such as I could wish to +offer you, having been taken from its bankrupt lord in some slight +haste. But still----" + +"I thank you most humbly, Marquis," replied Villequier. "But I am +bound farther to the city on the hill there. I must lodge with Epernon +to-night, for I have messages to him from the King." + +Thus saying, after various more such ceremonious speeches as the age +required, Villequier took his departure, and mounting his horse, which +he had ordered to be kept still saddled in the court-yard, he rode on +towards Augoulême, followed by his train. As he did so, he once more +thought over the alliance between Gaspar de Montsoreau and Marie de +Clairvaut. "If I can bring it about," he thought, "I not only gain +this sum he promises, but bind him to me for ever. I am her nearest +male relation, and I could not well find such an alliance in France. +Montsoreau, Morly, Logères; it is a wonderful combination! But even, +were it not for that--were it half as good, where should I get the man +in France who would give a hundred thousand golden crowns for the +possession of such a cold piece of pretty marble as that." + + + + + CHAP. VI. + + +While the conversation just narrated was taking place, and the +character and views of the Abbé de Boisguerin were being commented +upon in a manner which he could but little have wished, he himself was +pursuing his way towards the town of Augoulême, with feelings and +purposes varying at every step; though in his case it was not the +slightest sting of remorse or regret which occasioned this vacillation +of purpose. + +Probably there never was a man on earth who wholly and entirely +stilled the voice of conscience, and there might be moments when the +Abbé's own heart reproached him for things which he had done. But the +habit of his thoughts was different. He had been brought up in a +school where right and wrong were so frequently confounded for the +purpose of maintaining the temporal dominion of the church that, at a +very early period of his life, he had arrived at that conclusion, +which the sceptical followers of Pyrrho arrive at by a more lengthened +process, namely, that on earth there is no absolute and invariable +right and wrong. + +The Jesuits had taught him, that what was wrong under some +circumstances, and marked by the reprobation both of God and man, was +right under other circumstances, and even praiseworthy; and forgetting +the cautious restrictions under which the wiser and the better members +of the order attempted, though vainly, to guard the doctrine, his keen +and clear mind at once determined, that if fraud could ever be pious, +virtue of any kind could be but a name. If there were no invariable +and universal standard: if his thoughts and his actions were to be +governed by the opinions, and directed to the purposes of men, the +only rule of virtue, he saw, must be the approbation of others like +himself; and as every course of action must have an end and object to +secure energy in pursuing it, he readily fell into the belief that +gratification was the great object, and men's good opinion but to be +sought as a means to that end. + +It may be easily conceived how far he went on upon such a course of +reasoning. It naturally ended in the disbelief of every thing that +other men hold sacred: yet he put on all the semblances of religion; +for as he believed in no hereafter, to do so, did not seem to him an +impious mockery, but merely an unmeaning ceremony required by society. +Every thing had become with him a matter of calculation; any thing +that was to be obtained, was to be obtained by a certain price; and, +as he himself declared, he never regretted giving any price, provided +the object was attained, and was of equal value. + +It was his passions alone that led him wrong, and made him calculate +falsely. They had done so more than once in life, but yet not +frequently; not indeed that he sought to subdue them, but that they +were not naturally easily roused. + +It was no remorse then, or regret, that moved him in the varying state +of his thoughts as he rode on. It was doubt as to the means that he +was employing; It was doubt as to whether the strong passion, which he +felt within his breast, was not blinding his eyes, and misleading his +judgment, as to the choice of paths and instruments. He felt that on +the present occasion he calculated not so coolly as he was accustomed +to do; he felt that the object he had proposed to himself--or rather +which passion, and rash passion had suggested--was one so great and so +little likely to be obtained, that the means employed must be great +and extraordinary also; and that no single false step could be taken +without the loss of every hope. His sensations were all strangely +complicated, however. He felt and reproached himself for feeling that +the passion in his heart had grown up so powerful, so overwhelming, +that when he thought of staking life itself upon the issue, not a +hesitation crossed his mind, and that he was ready to say, like a +love-sick boy, "Let me die, if she be not mine!" But with that +passion, he had mingled ambition, both as a means and as an end; +prospects had opened before his eyes which had roused in his heart +aspirations, which he thought he had put down; and not only to succeed +in his love, but to gild that love with pageantry and state and power, +had now become his object. + +Still, however, he remembered that in grasping at these high things, +he might overlook matters which would prevent him reaching them; and +after riding on quickly for some time, he drew in his rein, to think +more calmly, to review his situation, and to calculate exactly all the +important, the critical steps which were now to be taken. + +"What am I next going to do?" he thought. "To seek for a priest, who +may work upon that impetuous, weak-minded boy, to yield the object of +his passion, because, in the pursuit thereof, he has shed his +brother's blood. And yet, is it likely that he will yield it? No! I +fear not! and yet stronger minds than his have been bowed down by +superstition to greater sacrifices. He may, it is true; and it may be +as well to secure that chance: but then, even then, only one small +step is gained. If one could get him to yield all his great +possessions at the same time, that were something! But he will not do +that! Two centuries ago we would have sent him to the holy land: but +those good times are past. What then is to be done?--To hurry him on +into some rash enterprise, and sharing his danger, take the equal +chance of which shall live and which shall die?--That were a +gamester's policy indeed.--No! we must find more easy means than +that." + +"However," continued the Abbé, after a pause "in the meantime, I must +strike for myself alone. She hates and abhors him evidently. I myself +have been too rash and rough with her. My passion has been too +impetuous--too fiery. I know that those women who seem so cold and +circumspect are often like Ætna, icy above but with fire at the heart. +But I have been rash. She will easily forgive that offence, however, +and forget it too, when I can woo her as one unbound by the clerical +vows, and companion of the high and great. I must lose no time, +however, for events are drawing clearly to a mighty issue. Here is the +party of Henry, and the party of the League. I must choose between the +two without delay. And yet the choice is soon made. In the first +place, it would be long ere Guise would trust me: in the next, he +would never love me: in the next, he himself is not long lived. As I +have seen a bird, when hit by a skilful fowler, tower high into the +air before it falls, so Guise is soaring up with mighty effort, which +will end but in his own destruction. I will away to Epernon at once. +He is the man whose fortunes will yet rise; his unconquerable spirit, +his courage, determination, and activity, his gross selfishness, his +insolence, his very weakness, will all contribute to support him +still. This is a world in which such things thrive! Epernon must be +the man; and if I show him such cause as I can show him, he may well +be glad to attach me to himself, as increasing his power and enhancing +his importance with the King. It is to him I will go! Doubtless his +reverses have humbled him somewhat, otherwise it were no light task to +deal on such subjects with Epernon." + +In judging of Epernon the Abbé judged by mankind in general, for in +almost every breast pride is a cowardly quality, and once depressed +sinks into grovelling submission. Epernon, however, was the exception +to the general rule, and seemed rather to rise in haughtiness under +adversity. + +With thoughts like those which we have just detailed, the Abbé spurred +on towards Angoulême; but as he began to climb the steep ascent, he +saw several indications of popular emotion, which made him hesitate +for a moment, as to whether he should proceed or not. There were two +or three groups of citizens all speaking eagerly together, and in low +tones; and at the gates of the city he remarked a man whom he had seen +before, and knew to be the mayor of the place, conversing in a low +tone, but in what seemed an anxious manner, with the soldiers of the +Corps de Garde. The Abbé contrived to make his horse pass as near them +as possible, but at the same time affected to be deeply busied with +his own thoughts while really listening attentively to their +conversation. He could only catch, however, the end of one sentence +and the beginning of a reply:-- + +"This Duke--a proud insufferable tyrant," said the voice of the mayor. + +"Get along; if you were not what you are, I would put my pike into +you," replied the soldier; and went on with some observations upon his +companion's conduct, not very complimentary, the whole of which the +Abbé de Boisguerin did not hear. + +As he advanced into the town, however, his keen eye remarked many more +signs and symptoms of the same kind, from all of which he drew his own +deductions; and on entering the castle, which was then inhabited by +the Duke of Epernon, he dismounted in the court of the guardhouse, as +it was called, where there were a considerable number of the Duke's +soldiery loitering about. Though it was not the usual place for +visitors to dismount, they suffered him to attach his horse to one of +the large iron hooks in the wall, and in a few minutes after he was in +the presence of the Duke of Epernon. Not a trace of humiliation or +abasement was to be seen in the Duke's countenance or demeanour. He +was as proud, as fierce, as fiery as ever; and although he received +the Abbé, having seen him more than once in Paris during the late +events, and entertaining that degree of consideration for him which a +keen and powerful mind almost always commands, he nevertheless seemed +to doubt whether he should ask him even to sit down, and did it at +length with an air of condescension. + +"Well, Monsieur de Boisguerin," he said at length, "to what do I owe +this visit?" + +"I come, my Lord," replied the Abbé without a moment's hesitation, "to +offer your Lordship my poor services." + +The Duke smiled. "They are of course," he said, "welcome. Monsieur de +Boisguerin. But the time of offering them is somewhat singular, when +all men think my fortunes on the decline, or, perhaps, I should say, +utterly down." + +"Such it may seem to them, my Lord," replied the Abbé; "but such it +seems not to me. There are sciences, my Lord, which teach us what the +future is destined to produce; and I own that I am quite selfish in my +present act, seeking to attach myself to one who is yet destined to +uphold the throne of France, to affect the fortunes of the times, to +triumph over all his enemies, and to outlive most of them now living." + +"Indeed!" said the Duke thoughtfully; "and am I to believe this +prophecy seriously?" + +"Most seriously, my Lord," replied the Abbé. "I myself believe it and +know it, as I believe and know the great fortunes that are likely to +attend myself--otherwise, perhaps, you might not have seen me here +to-day." + +"That is candid, at all events," said the Duke; "and to say truth, I +think that your prophecy, in some things, may be right; for I feel +within my breast that undiminished power, that sense of my own +strength, that confidence in my own destiny, which surely never can be +given to a falling man. But you spoke of your own future high +fortunes, sir. What may they be?" + +The Abbé paused and looked down for a moment, but then replied, "I +tell not the prophecy to every one, my Lord; but to you, to whose +services I hope to dedicate those high fortunes, I fear not to relate +it. It was pronounced long ago, in the city of Rome, when I was there +studying, and as a rash young man had entangled myself in an affair +with a fair girl of the city, who suffered our intercourse to be +discovered, and consequently well nigh ruined all my prospects. I +thought indeed it was so, and was turning my back upon Rome for ever, +when I met with an old monk, who from certain facts I told him drew my +horoscope, and assured me that I should find my fate in France; that +my fortune would be brought about by the death of two relations far +younger than myself; and that I should suddenly take a share in great +events, and rule the destiny of others when I least expected it. Such +was the old man's prophecy now many years ago; and I have seen no sign +of its accomplishment till the present time." + +"And what signs have you seen now?" demanded Epernon. + +"That I have been suddenly led, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "from the +calm and tranquil quiet of a provincial life, without my own will or +agency, into scenes of activity and strife; and that one, out of the +two lives which lay between me and the great possessions of +Montsoreau, Logères, and Morly--lives, which in their youth and +healthfulness seemed to cut me off from all hope--has already lapsed, +and left but one." + +"How is that?" exclaimed the Duke. "What life has lapsed?" + +"That of the young Count of Logères," replied the Abbé. + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon in a tone somewhat sorrowful. +"I had not heard that. He was a bold, rash youth; but yet there was in +him the seeds of great things. He was fearless, and proud, and firm: +virtues, the parents of all dignity and greatness.--You say then that +there is but one life between you and all these lordships." + +"But one," replied the Abbé; "that of Gaspar of Montsoreau, in regard +to whom you took some slight interest, at the time his marriage with +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was talked of." + +"Was talked of?" said the Duke. "Is it not talked of still?" + +"Why, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "the Lady's evident detestation of +the young Marquis has rendered the matter hopeless. You yourself +remarked it, when you spoke with her at Vincennes; and he is now +convinced of it himself. The grief and depression thus produced have +impaired his health; and, indeed, it would seem as if ten years had +gone over him, instead of a few months, since all this affair began." + +"I hope, Monsieur de Boisguerin," said the Duke of Epernon with a +bitter smile, "I hope that you have not been taking too deep lessons +of our friend Villequier. I would rather be a prisoner on a charge of +high treason, and with Guise for my enemy, than I would be next akin +to Villequier, and between him and lands and lordships." + +The Abbé's brow grew as dark as night. "My Lord," he said, "I will not +affect to misunderstand you; but I am sure that fate will work out its +own will without any aid of mine; and had I been disposed to clear the +way for myself, who should have stopped me, or who could have +discovered any thing I did, when these two youths have been under my +care and guardianship ever since their father's death?" + +"I did but jest, Abbé," replied the Duke. "But supposing that the +events which you anticipate were really to occur, what would be your +conduct then?" + +"So sure am I, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "that they will occur, that +my conduct has been put beyond doubt. I have already demanded of the +Court of Rome to be freed from this black dress; and my last letters +from the eternal city announce to me, that the dispensation is already +granted, and, drawn up in full form, is now upon the road." + +"Ha!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon. "Is it so, indeed? You must have +powerful protectors in the conclave." + +"I have," replied the Abbé; "and though his Holiness is not fond of +relaxing the vows of any one without some puissant motive; yet, when +there is a strong one, he does not let the opportunity of unbinding +slip, lest his key should grow rusty. But however, my Lord, supposing +these things done away, and I Marquis of Montsoreau and Lord of +Logères, my first aim and object would be to raise what power and +forces I could, and with my sword, my wealth, and my life, were it +necessary, serve his Majesty the King, under him whom I hope soon to +see directing the state, namely, the Duke of Epernon, if----" + +"Ay, there is still an _if_," replied the Duke. "Well, sir, what is +the condition?" + +"It is, my Lord," said the Abbé after a pause, in which it was evident +that he considered the way he was to put his demand, "It is, that the +Duke of Epernon will pledge me his princely word, that as far as his +power and influence go, he will support my claim to the hand of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut." + +The Duke actually started back with surprise; and, forgetting +altogether the splendid future with which the Abbé had been +endeavouring to invest his pretensions, he exclaimed, in a tone of +anger and contempt that chafed and galled the spirit of the ambitious +man with whom he spoke, "Yours,--yours? Abbé de Boisguerin? you, a +poor preceptor in your cousin's house, an insignificant churchman, +unbeneficed and unknown--you, to lay claim to the heiress of +Clairvaut, a niece of the Guise, a lady nor far removed from a +sovereign house? On my soul and honour, I mind me to write to +Villequier at once, and bid him marry his cousin to this young Marquis +out of hand, in order to save your brains from being cracked +altogether!" + +"Villequier can marry his cousin to no one," answered the Abbé, +"without my full consent. No, nor can the King either!" + +"Mort-bleu!" exclaimed Epernon with a scornful laugh. "Vanity and +ambition have driven the poor man mad. Get you gone, Monsieur de +Boisguerin; get you gone! I shall not trust with any mighty faith to +your fine prophecies." + +Though the Abbé de Boisguerin felt no slight inclination to put his +hand into his bosom, and taking forth the dagger that lay calmly +there, to plunge it up to the hilt in the heart of Epernon, he showed +not in the slightest degree the wrath which internally moved him. Nay, +the great object that he had in view made him in some degree conquer +that wrath, and he replied, "Well, my good Lord, I _will_ get me gone. +But, before I go, you shall hear another warning, which may enable you +to judge whether my divinations are false or not. It is destined that, +in the course of today or to-morrow, you should encounter a great +peril. Remember my words! be upon your guard! and take measures to +ensure yourself against danger! Go not out into the streets scantily +attended----" + +"Oh no!" replied the Duke with a sneer. "I do not trust myself alone +in the streets and high roads without a footboy to hold my horse, like +the noble aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. I am not +so bold a man, nor so loved of the people; and as to chance perils, I +fear them not." + +"Your acts on your own head, my Lord Duke!" replied his companion. "I +give you good day." And turning away abruptly, he passed out of the +room through the long corridor, and part of the way down the stairs +which led to the court of the guard. + +He was scarcely half way down, however, when some sounds which he +heard coming from the other side of the building made him suddenly +stop, listen, and then turn round; and, with a step of light, he +retrod his way to the chamber where he had left the Duke. + +Epernon was busy writing, and looking up fiercely, demanded "What +now?" + +"Fly, my Lord, fly quick!" exclaimed the Abbé. "I come to give you +time to save yourself, for the mayor and his faction are upon you. +They have come in by the great court, and I think have killed the +Swiss at your gate. Believe me, my Lord, for what I say is true! Fly +quickly, while I run down to send the guard to your assistance." + +His words received instant confirmation, even as the Duke gazed +doubtfully in his face; for a door on the opposite side of the room +burst open, and a terrified attendant rushed in, while eight or nine +fierce faces were seen pursuing him quickly. + +The Duke darted to a staircase, which led to a little turret, and the +first steps of which entered the room, without any door, just behind +his chair. He sprang up eagerly towards the small dressing-room above, +and the mayor and his armed companions pursued as fiercely, leaving +the Abbé to make his escape towards the court of the guard, without +giving any heed to his proceedings. Before the Abbé had passed the +door, however, he heard a loud crash, and turned his head to see by +what it was occasioned, when, at a single glance he perceived that the +very eagerness of his pursuers had saved the Duke of Epernon. Ten or +twelve heavily armed men had all rushed at once upon the old and crazy +staircase which led to the Duke's dressing-room. The wood work had +given way beneath them, precipitating one or two into the story below, +and the greater part back into the room itself, but leaving a chasm +between them and the Duke, which it was impossible for them to +pass.[5] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 5: Such is the account given by the most credible +historians. The author of the life of the Duke, M. Girard, who was +nearly contemporary, gives a different version: acknowledges that the +Duke fled into his cabinet, but adds that he there defended himself +like a lion.] + +--------------------- + + +Without pausing to make any farther remark, the Abbé ran down hastily +and alarmed the guard; and while the soldiers rushed tumultuously up +to defend a commander whom they all enthusiastically loved, the Abbé +de Boisguerin mounted his horse and rode quietly out of the town. He +doubted not, as indeed it happened, that the soldiery would arrive in +time to save their Lord, and to compel the mayor and his comrades to +make a hasty retreat. + +It was not, however, towards the Château of Islay, where he had left +Gaspar de Montsoreau, that the solitary horseman took his way; but, on +the contrary, crossing the Charente, he rode rapidly onward by the +banks of the river, in the direction of that field of Jarnac, where, +in his early days, Henry III. had given such striking promises of +heroism and conduct which his after life so signally failed to fulfil. + +As he rode along, he thought with somewhat of a smile upon his +countenance, that his last prophecy to the Duke of Epernon had met +with a speedy fulfilment; and he pondered with some bitterness over +the parting words which that nobleman had spoken to him. + +"The aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said to +himself, "without a single footboy to hold his horse! That may be in +the present instance policy rather than any thing else, my good Lord +Duke. But still we may learn wisdom, even, from such bitter words as +those. I had forgotten how much all men value the gilded exterior. But +it shall be so no longer. This that I aim at must be soon lost or won. +I have staked life upon the pursuit, and all that makes life valuable. +And why should I not stake fortune also? 'Fortune buys fortune,' says +the old adage; and as the stake is great, so shall my game be bold." + +His resolution was instantly taken. He possessed, as we have said +before, sufficient wealth to give him competence, and to enable him to +mingle with decent splendour in the society in which he was born. But +he calculated that the same fortune which put him at ease for life, +might afford him the means of magnificence and display, if he resolved +to expend the whole within a few years. He did so resolve, saying to +himself, "I shall either be at the height of fortune and enjoyment ere +two years be over, or I shall be no more. It suits me not to go on +playing stake after stake, as many men do, beaten, like a tennis-ball, +from prosperity to ruin, and from ruin to prosperity. I have bent +myself to one great purpose, and I will attain it or die. That is +always within one's power, to shake off life when it is no longer a +source of happiness." + +As he thus thought, his horse slowly descended a gentle hill by the +side of the river, with a meadow down to the Charente on the one side, +and a bank crowned with the wall of a vineyard on the other. Built up +against the wall was a little shrine, with a virgin and child behind a +net-work of iron, and the votive offering of a silver lamp burning +below. + +Sitting on the little green spot which topped the bank at that +place--after having apparently said his prayers at the foot of the +shrine--was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years of age; and as +the Abbé came slowly near, the youth took a pipe out of his pocket and +began playing a wild plaintive Italian air, full of rich melody and +deep feeling. The music was not new to the Abbé; he had heard it +before in other lands, when the few pure feelings of the heart which +he had ever possessed had not been crushed, like accidental flowers +blossoming on a footpath, by the passing to and fro of other coarser +things. + +He drew in his horse and paused to listen, and then gazed at the boy, +and thought he had seen him somewhere before. The eyes, the features, +the expression of the countenance, seemed to be all connected with +some old remembrances; and the air which he played too, brought his +memory suddenly back to early scenes, and a land that he had loved. As +he gazed at the boy, who went on with the air, the recollection of his +person again connected itself with different events; and, though now +he was clothed in simple grey, he fancied he recognised in him the +youth who had been seen with Charles of Montsoreau when he attacked +and defeated the small body of reiters near La Ferté, and whom he had +also beheld more than once in Paris, when he was watching the +proceedings of the young Count in the capital. + +This conviction became so strong, that he went up and spoke to him, +and found that it was as he suspected. After conversing with him for a +few moments, he told him that if he would pursue that road for nearly +a league, he would meet with some buildings belonging to a farm; and +then, turning again down a road to the left, he would find him at a +château upon the banks of the river. The boy promised to come, and the +Abbé rode on, while Ignati putting up his pipe followed as fast as +possible, and soon arrived at the gates of the dwelling to which he +had been directed. + +He was brought into the presence of the Abbé by an attendant wearing +the colours of no noble house in France, and found him with some fruit +and wine before him. But in regard to the subject on which the boy +expected to be questioned most closely, namely, the death of Charles +of Montsoreau, the Abbé spoke not one word. Notwithstanding all his +firmness of purpose, notwithstanding the remorseless character of his +mind and of his habitual thoughts, he loved not to touch upon the +subject of his young cousin's death, unless forced on to do so by +circumstances. He spoke of Paris and of the Duke of Guise; and where +he had first met with the young Count of Logères, and of all the +accidents that had befallen him while in company with Charles of +Montsoreau. But he spoke not one word in regard to the day of the +barricades, or the young nobleman's death. + +From time to time, while he talked with the boy, Ignati saw that the +Abbé's eyes fixed upon his countenance, and at length he asked him, +"You are an Italian by birth, are you not?" + +"I am," replied the boy; "that is, I am a Roman." And he said it with +that pride which every person born within the precincts of the ancient +queen of empires feels, although glory has long departed from her +walls, and the memory of past greatness is rather a reproach than an +honour. + +"And what is your name?" demanded the Abbé sharply. + +"My name is Ignati," answered the youth. + +"Ignati!" said the Abbé, "Ignati!" But you have some other name. What +was your father's?" + +"I do not know," answered the boy, with his cheeks and his brow +glowing. "Why do you ask?" + +"Your mother's then?" said the Abbé, without replying to his question. +"Your mother's? what was your mother's name?" + +"Her name was Laura Pandolfini," replied the boy, gazing upon the Abbé +with a degree of sternness in his look. "Did you know her?" + +The face of the Abbé changed from deadly pale to glowing red in a +moment; and after a pause he replied angrily and abruptly, "I know +her?--I know her? I know a common strumpet?" + +The boy's eyes flashed fire; and his hand was in his bosom in a moment +seeking the knife that lay there. But he had put the pipe in the +breast of his doublet also, and ere he could reach a weapon, which, as +we have seen, he was able to use with fatal effect, the form of a lady +passing across the two open doors on the other side of the room made +him suddenly pause; and after a moment's thought, he drew back his +hand and said, "What you say is false! She deserved not the name you +have given her!" + +He was turning towards the door, when the Abbé cried "Stay!" +and as the boy turned, he put his hand to his head and mused +thoughtfully. Then starting suddenly he added, "No, no! It would be +discovered!--Come hither, boy!" he added; and taking out his purse he +counted out some pieces of gold, to no light amount; and giving them +to the boy, he said, "There, you have lost your master and seem to be +poorly off. Take those, and get thee into some reputable employment." + +But the boy gave one fierce glance at his countenance, dashed down the +gold upon the pavement, and exclaiming, "I will have no liar's money!" +quitted the chamber and the house. + +The Abbé gazed after him for a moment or two, fell into deep thought, +and ended by pressing his hands over his eyes and exclaiming, "I am a +fool!" + +After pausing for a few moments more, he said to himself, "Well, I +must wait no longer here. This girl seems pleased with my new +demeanour towards her. Of my past language which frightened her, it +seems that very soon no other impression will remain but the memory of +the deep and passionate love I testified. That is never displeasing to +any woman; and if I can lead her gently on, the matter will be soon +accomplished, now that this her first fancy is at an end, and the +grave has taken the great obstacle out of the way. Love him, she did +not, with true, womanly, passionate, love; but fond of him she was, +with the sickly fancy of an idle girl; and her grief will be +sufficient to soften her proud heart. It is a wonderful softener, +grief; and she will cling to whosoever is near her, that has skill and +power to soothe and support her. I will teach her to love better than +she has loved!--But I must write down these tidings. I must not tell +them to her with my own voice, and with her eyes upon me, lest she +learn to hate me as the bearer of evil tidings." + +And seeking for pen and ink he wrote a note, such as few others but +himself could have composed. It was tender, yet respectful,--not +lover-like, yet through every word of it love's light was +shining--sad, but not gloomy--melancholy, yet with words of hope. When +he had done he folded and sealed it, and then listening to the distant +village clock, he said-- + +"If I am absent much longer, Gaspar may suspect; and I am rather +inclined to believe that some one has roused suspicions in his mind +already. Well, we shall soon see; it is no very difficult task to rule +a light-brained youth like that." + +Thus thinking, and leaving the note behind him on the table, the Abbé +proceeded to the stables, chose a fresh horse, caused it to be saddled +and bridled, and rode back to the Château of Islay with all speed. +Before he proceeded to the saloon to join the young Marquis, he +questioned his own servants as to all that had taken place during his +absence; heard of the long visit of Villequier; and planned his own +conduct accordingly. + +Gaspar of Montsoreau, when he joined him, expressed some surprise that +he had not returned before, and added, in as gentle a tone as he could +assume, "I trust, nay good friend, that you have been pursuing the +inquiries which have so long frustrated us in regard to the dwelling +of that sweet girl, whom we were very wrong to place again in the +hands of Villequier, even though it might have cost us our lives had +we either remained in Paris, or attempted to take her with us." + +Though the young Marquis spoke quickly, his companion, who knew his +character to the very bottom and could instantly see the workings of +his mind when he used any of the arts he himself had taught him, +perceived at once that Villequier had betrayed the secret of Marie de +Clairvaut's abode; and he replied deliberately, "Yes, Gaspar, I have +been more successful; and I think now--tamed down as you have been by +grief, and requiring some consolation--I think now, I say, that it is +not only safe but right, to let you know both that this fair girl is +in the neighbourhood of the spot where we now stand, and that she is +under my care and guidance." + +"In the neighbourhood?" exclaimed Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Under your +care and guidance? How happened I not to hear this before, Abbé?" + +"Simply," replied the Abbé, "because the state of violence and +irritation in which you were when I last returned to you from +Blois--the period when I first became possessed of any knowledge on +the subject--would have led you into acts of impetuosity, which, in +the first place, would have terribly injured your cause with her; and, +in the next, would have discovered the place of her abode to every one +from whom we seek to conceal it. Now, however, I think you can command +yourself, and you will find the benefit of what has been done to serve +you. All I require is, that you would let me know when you visit +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut; that you would do so with prudence and +caution and forbearance; and though it is not of course necessary that +you should desist from pleading your own cause with her, yet let it be +as gently as may be." + +The Abbé de Boisguerin knew that Gaspar de Montsoreau could not do as +he asked him; that it was not in his nature to plead his own cause +gently. He felt perfectly confident that the rash impetuosity of the +young Marquis would alienate more and more the regard of Marie de +Clairvaut, and thus, perhaps, facilitate even his own views and +purposes. Could he have prevented it, he would not willingly have let +him visit her at all; but it was now impossible to exclude him; and he +knew that the secret of Charles of Montsoreau's death gave him the +power of destroying at once all his former pupil's hopes, if he saw +that he even made one step in removing the bad impressions Marie +previously had received. + +On his part, though not quite satisfied with being deceived, Gaspar of +Montsoreau believed that the Abbé had deceived him for his own good; +and the selfish purposes which were most needful for him to discover, +were still concealed in spite of the warnings of Villequier. + + + + + CHAP. VII. + + +In the gardens of the Château by the banks of the Charente; which the +Abbé de Boisguerin had left to return to Gaspar de Montsoreau, and in +an arbour which had been constructed, as is still ordinary with the +people of that country, by a number of vines entwined over a light +trellis work; with a soft and beautiful scene before her eyes, and the +autumn sunshine gilding the glowing waters, Marie de Clairvaut sat and +wept, with the note from the Abbé which had conveyed to her the +bitterest tidings she ever had received on earth open in her hand. A +day had passed since the events just recorded had taken place, and she +had now received the news many hours, but her grief had not in the +least subsided; and to herself it even seemed greater than it had been +at first. Her whole thoughts at first had been bent upon the one +painful fact, that he whom she had loved with all the fervour, and the +depth, and the devotion of a heart that had never loved before, was +lost to her for ever; that she should never behold again that frank +and candid countenance, beaming with looks of deep and indubitable +affection; that she should never again see those eyes poring into hers +with the intense gaze of love, and seeming at once to give and receive +fresh light; that she should never hear the tones of that musical +voice, which had so often assured her of protection and support; that +she should never cling to that arm, which had so often brought her +rescue and deliverance in the moment of danger. Then, she had felt +only that he was lost and gone, cut off in the brightness of his days, +in the glory and strength of his youth, in the full blossom of his +hopes, and ere he had yet more than lifted to his lips the cup, which, +offered to him by honour, virtue, and sincerity, ought to have been a +sweet one indeed. + +Now, however, there had grown upon her mind feelings indeed more +selfish, but which were the natural consequences of her situation, and +connected intimately with the loss of him she loved. A feeling of +desolation had come over her--of utter loneliness in all the world. It +seemed as if she had never loved or esteemed or clung to any but +himself; as if there were no one to protect her, to guide, support, +direct, or cheer her upon earth; as if life's youth were over, the +fortune of existence spent like a prodigal, the heart's treasury +empty, and nothing left for the immortal spirit on this side the grave +but penury of every rich and noble feeling, lone solitude and petty +cares, and all the dull anxieties of a being without an object. + +Desolate, desolate indeed, did she feel: and well too might she feel +desolate! for though her grief did some wrong to many who loved her as +friends and relations, and would have done much to aid and support +her; yet, oh! what is such love and esteem? what is aid and support +wrung from the midst of hours devoted to other things, and thoughts +and feelings centered upon other objects, when compared with the +entire devotion, the pure, single love of an upright, an honourable, +and a feeling heart--where the being loved is the great end and object +of every thought and every action--where all the feelings of the +spirit are hovering by day round that one object, and guarding it like +angels through the watches of the night? Oh yes, she was lonely, she +was desolate, she was unprotected and unsupported, when she compared +the present with the past! Well might she think so; well might she +grieve and mourn over her own deprivation, when she wept for him and +for his early end! + +Some comfort, perhaps, had been indeed afforded her by the change +which had taken place in the demeanour of the Abbé de Boisguerin. She +could never love him; she could never like him: his society could +never even become tolerable to her: but yet it was no slight +satisfaction to find that she was no more to hear words which she +considered as little less than sacrilegious, or to endure the eager +passion in his eye, and hear him dare to talk to her of love. She +looked upon him as her gaoler indeed, though he often denied that he +had power to liberate her; but yet she felt that peace and comfort at +least depended much upon that gaoler's will, and was not a little +pleased to find that during the three or four last visits which he had +paid, no word which could offend her had been spoken, no tone or even +look that she could take amiss was to be seen, though a certain +tenderness and melancholy seemed to have fallen upon him, which she +could well have wished removed, or not so openly displayed. + +During the very morning of which we are now speaking, he had come +there again, and his conduct towards her had been all that she could +have desired. He had not spoken directly of the cause of the deep +grief which he saw his intelligence of the former day had brought upon +her, but all his words were chosen so as to harmonise with that grief; +and the object of his visit itself, as he expressed it, was only to +see whether he could do any thing to console her, or to alleviate the +sorrow under which she laboured. She had thanked him for his courtesy +and kindness; but, ere he had left her, he said with a tone of what +seemed real regret, that he was sorry to say his own visit would be +followed by another, which he feared might, in some degree, importune +her. + +"The young Marquis of Montsoreau," he added, "will be restrained no +longer from seeing you; and you know, Madam, it is impossible for me +to prevent him, which I would willingly have done, especially as the +view he takes of the recent most lamentable event is not likely to do +aught but give you pain." + +"Oh, cannot you stay him?" exclaimed Marie de Clairvaut. "Cannot you +stay him at this terrible moment, when the very sight of him will be +horrible to me?" + +"I fear not indeed. Lady," replied the Abbé. "I would have given my +right hand to prevent his coming, but he seemed perfectly determined. +However, when I return, I will do my best once more, in the hope that +he may yet be moved." And after a visit very much shorter than usual, +he had taken his leave and departed. + +The fair girl he left had gone out into the gardens, as we have seen, +once more to weep alone over the sad and painful situation in which +she was placed, and over the dark and irreparable loss which she had +sustained; but ere she had gone out, she had taken the only precaution +in her power to insure that her solitude would remain inviolate, +directing the servants--who acted indeed the part of turnkeys--if the +Marquis of Montsoreau applied to see her, to state at once that she +was not well enough to receive him, and wished to pass some days alone +and in tranquillity. + +She wept long and bitterly; but in about an hour after she had gone +out, the sound of horses' feet reached her ear, and voices speaking at +the gateway made themselves heard. She could distinguish even the +tones of the young Marquis, and indistinctly the words of the servant +in reply. But Gaspar of Montsoreau was hurt and offended by the +message she had left, and a certain inclination to tyranny in his +disposition broke forth with his usual impetuosity. + +"Inform Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said, "who it is that desires +to see her, and let me have an answer quick. Say that I much wish for +a few minutes' conversation with her. What, fellow! Would you shut the +gates upon me like a horseboy? Get ye gone and return quickly. I will +walk in the gardens till you come back." And striding in he threw the +gate violently to, and advanced directly to the water's side, as if he +could have divined that the object of his search was there. + +Marie de Clairvaut was indignant, and that feeling for a moment +enabled her to throw off the overwhelming load of grief. Rising at +once she came forth, and crossed the green slope towards the château, +passing directly by Gaspar of Montsoreau as she did so, and intending +merely to bow her head by way of salutation. He placed himself in such +a manner, however, that she could not pass on, although he must have +seen the tears fresh upon her cheeks, and her indignation was more +roused than before. + +"I directed the servant, sir," she said, when forced to pause, "to +inform you, if you came, that I was not well enough to see you; and +that I wished for solitude and tranquillity." + +"Nay, indeed, dear Lady," said the young Marquis, conquering the +feelings of anger with which he had entered, and speaking with a calm +and tender tone, "I thought, if you knew that I was here, pity, if +nothing else, would induce you to see, but for a few moments, one +who has languished for weeks and months for a single glance of your +eyes--one who so deeply, so tenderly, so devotedly, loves you." + +Those words sounded harsh, painful, and insulting to the ears of Marie +de Clairvaut--words which, from the lips of him she loved, would have +been all joy and sweetness, but were now abhorrent to her ear; and +looking at him sternly, with her bright eye no longer dimmed, though +her lip quivered, she said, "Never let me hear such words again, +sir!--I beg that you would let me pass!--Marquis of Montsoreau, this +is cruel and ungentlemanly! Learn that I look upon myself as your +brother's widow, and ever shall so look upon myself till my dying +day." And thus saying she passed him, and entered the house. + +She listened eagerly for the sound of horses' feet after she had +entered her own apartments, and was very soon satisfied that the young +Marquis had gone back. As soon as she was assured of this, she once +more went out into the open grounds--for the load of grief ever makes +the air of human dwellings feel oppressive; and again going down to +the bank of the river, she gazed upon its tranquil current as she +walked by the side; and though her sorrow certainly found no relief, +yet the sight of the waters flowing beneath her eyes, calm, tranquil, +incessant, led, as it were, her thoughts along with them. They became +less agitated, though still as deep and powerful; they seemed to +imitate the course of the river, running on incessantly in the same +dark stream, but in quiet and in silence. The tears indeed would, from +time to time, rise into her eyes and roll over her cheeks, but no sob +accompanied them; and though a sigh often broke from her lip, it was +the sigh of deep, calm despair, not of struggling pain. + +It is wonderful how, when we are in deep grief, the ordinary sounds +and sights of joyous nature strike harsh and inharmonious upon us. +Things that would pass by unheard at other times, as amongst the +smaller tones in the great general concert of the day, then become +painfully acute. The lark that sung up in the sky above her head, made +no pleasant melody for her ear; a country boy crossing the opposite +fields, and whistling as he went, pained her so much, and made her +gentle heart feel so harsh towards him, that she schooled herself for +such sensations, saying, "He cannot tell that I am so sorrowful! He +cannot tell that the sounds which I once was fond of, are now the most +distasteful to me." + +A minute or two after a few notes upon a pipe were played immediately +beneath the garden wall--a little sort of prelude, to see that the +instrument was clear; and unable to endure it longer, Marie de +Clairvaut turned to seek shelter in her prison. + +Ere she had taken three steps, however, she paused. The air was not +one of the country; a finer hand, too, a more exquisite taste than +France could produce woke the instrument into sounds most musical, and +in a moment after, she recognised the sweet air which she had twice +before heard, and both times from the lips of Charles of Montsoreau. + +The memory of the first time that it had met her ear was sweet and +delightful; but the memory of the second time was as the memory of +hope; and, in despite of all, it woke again the feelings it had +awakened before; and an indistinct feeling of glad expectation came +across her mind, like a golden sunbeam, shining through the mist of an +autumnal morning. What was it she hoped? what was it she expected? She +knew not herself; but still there was an indistinct brightening came +over her heart, and feelings; and when the air was over, instead of +flying from the music, she listened eagerly for its renewal. + +The pipe, however, sounded not again; but in a moment after she heard +some one say, "Hark!" and the sweetest possible voice began to sing:-- + + + SONG. + + Weep not, Lady, weep not, + Grief shall pass away; + Angels' eyes that sleep not + Watch thee on thy way. + + Heavenly hands are twining + Garlands of glad flowers. + Joy and Hope combining + Wreath thy future hours. + + Diff'rent powers are near thee-- + Bright Hope, dark Despair; + Let the Goddess cheer thee-- + Fly the Fiend of Care. + + Son of Sin and Sorrow + Despair by earth was given; + Child of the bright to-morrow, + Hope was born of Heaven. + + +What could it mean? Marie de Clairvaut asked herself. The words seemed +directly addressed to her, and applicable to her own situation: yet +the voice, as far as she could judge, she had never heard before. But +still every note, every word, appeared to counsel hope. "Can I have +been deceived?" she thought. "Can the Abbé de Boisguerin and Gaspar de +Montsoreau have combined for their own dark purposes to cheat me, to +induce me to believe that the one I love so well is dead?" + +But, alas no! The Abbé had left, inclosed in his own, the brief note +which he had received from Paris, announcing the event, and that note +bore every appearance of being an ordinary matter of business, passing +regularly through the post-office of the capital. Could the song that +she had heard, she asked herself, again--could it have been +accidental; could it have been sung at that moment through one of +those strange combinations, which sometimes arise out of entirely +indifferent circumstances, to give zest to our joy, or poignancy to +our sorrow? She determined, if possible, to ascertain; and raising her +voice a little above its ordinary tone, she said, "Who is there? To +whom do you sing?" + +She did not seem to have made herself heard, however, for a moment +after the same voice demanded, "Is there any one that listens?" + +"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, eagerly, "I listen; speak on!" + +"Well then, hearken," said the voice, and again a new air and a new +song began. + + + SONG. + + + He goes away to a far distant land, + With cross on his shoulder and lance in his hand; + And news soon comes how his lightning brand + Has scattered the hosts of paninrie. + His beautiful Lady sits weeping and lone, + And wishes she were where her Knight has gone; + But she grieves not his absence with angry moan, + For her spirit is full of his chivalry. + + But what are the tidings come next to her ear? + Oh! tidings dark and heavy to hear; + How her fearless warrior, her husband dear, + Has fallen 'neath the lance of the Moslema. + How, gallantly staking his life, to save + From infidel hands, the Redeemer's grave, + He has fought for the righteous and sleeps with the brave, + 'Neath the walls of Hierosolima! + + 'Tis true, oh, 'tis true!--yet she will not believe, + "Ah, no! e'en in dying he would not deceive; + And he promised, if spirit such power could receive, + And he fell in his holy chivalry. + To visit my side in the watches of night, + To comfort my heart, and to gladden my sight, + And call me to join him in countries of light, + And dwell in his breast through eternity." + + Years pass; and he comes not. Nor yet she believes! + 'Tis his absence, but 'tis not his death that she grieves. + Hope strong in affection, her heart still deceives, + Lo! she watches yon Palmer how eagerly, + To ask him some tidings of Syria to say-- + But what is thy magic, oh, thou Palmer gray? + She is clasped in his arms! she has fainted away! + And he kisses her fair cheek how tenderly. + + +As the song had gone on, Marie de Clairvaut could no longer doubt +that, though allegorical, those words were applicable to herself. +Joy--joy beyond all conception took the place of grief; all that she +had suffered, all that she had endured in the past, she now felt, +indeed, to be nothing to what she had lately undergone. But the +extatic delight which the last words of that song gave, the sudden +dissipation of grief was too much for her to endure. It was like the +light that blinds us when we suddenly rush from the darkness into the +sunshine; and she who had gone through dangers, and horrors, and +perils of many a kind, firm and unshaken, fell fainting under the +sudden effect of joy. How long she remained so she knew not; but at +all events it was not long enough to attract the attention of the +people of the house, from the windows, of which she was screened by a +thick alley of trees. Some one, however, had been near her, for there +were the prints of small feet in the grass, extending from the wall to +the spot where she lay, and immediately under her hand was placed a +small packet addressed to herself. + +Fearful of discovery, she hid it instantly in her bosom, and, as soon +as she could, rose, and with a step far slower than her wishes, sped +back again to the house to read the paper she had received, in secret. + +It was written in a bold, free hand; the date was that very morning; +and the first words, "My beloved." + +Marie de Clairvaut laid the letter down and gasped for breath. It was +sufficient, it was altogether sufficient; every doubt, every fear that +had remained was now at an end, and she once more burst into tears; +but, oh, how sweet were those tears! how happy! how unlike the past! +Soon she took up the letter again, and through the dazzling drops that +still hung in her eyes read the bright assurance, that he lived for +her who loved him. + +"I have feared," the letter said, "I have feared, that a report of my +death which has been current in this city of Paris should have reached +my beloved Marie, and the more especially as, by the counsel and +earnest entreaty of the Duke of Guise, I have myself contributed to +the spread of the rumour, and have taken every means to suffer it to +be confirmed. The object of this, however, was to deliver you alone by +throwing those who so unjustly detain you off their guard; and some +days ago I came on into this neighbourhood--where my brother, the Abbé +de Boisguerin, and the Duke of Epernon, all are, and to which we have +traced Villequier several times--in the confident belief that you were +not far distant from Angoulême. It might have been some time ere I +discovered your abode, but accident has befriended me, and my page, +who bears you this, and undertakes positively to deliver it to you, +saw you yesterday morning by a most extraordinary but fortunate +chance. I dare not venture near you in the early part of the morning, +but ere night has closed in, I will find some means to see and speak +with you. As far as possible, dearest Marie, be prepared for any thing +that it may be necessary to undertake. I fear that you have already +suffered much; but I will not doubt that even the rash and violent men +who have dared every crime to withdraw you from those that love you +best, have treated you with tenderness and kindness. I too have +suffered much, but far more from knowing that you were at the mercy of +those who persecute you while I was lying stretched upon the bed of +sickness, than from the very wounds that brought me there. I am now +well: I am near you; and that is enough to enable me to say that I am +happy, although there may be perils and dangers before us, as we are +still in the midst of our adversaries, and must once more attempt to +pass through a long track of country with obstacles at every step." + +The letter ended with every expression of affection and of love; and +again and again Marie de Clairvaut read it and wept, and fell into +fits of deep thought, and could scarcely believe that the joyous +tidings were true. + +She next asked herself what she could do to favour her lover's +efforts. The two or three women who had been appointed to wait upon +her, as well as the male attendants by whom she was surrounded, were +all strangers to her, and she felt that they were her gaolers. There +was one of them, however, who had looked upon her during the preceding +day with evident compassion, had watched her tears with sorrowful +eyes, and had spoken a few words of consolation. At one time she +thought of speaking to that woman, and trying to gain her to her +interests for the purpose of facilitating any thing that Charles of +Montsoreau might do to effect her liberation. She hesitated, however, +and judging that if he succeeded in seeing her that evening it would +be by passing over the wall at the spot where she had heard the boy +singing in the evening; she lingered about during the whole of the +evening, listening for the least sound. None was heard, however, and +at length the bell at the gates of the enclosure was heard to ring. + +Agitated and anxious, fearing that every moment might bring Charles of +Montsoreau to the spot, at the very time that other persons were near, +she came out from behind the trees, and walked slowly on by the side +of the river. Just at that moment a small boat pushed slowly up the +current by a country boy, passed by the spot where she stood; but the +boy whistled lightly on his way, as he went, and took no notice of +her; and in a minute after, she heard steps approaching from the other +side, and turned with some anxiety to see who it was that approached. + +It was the servant girl we have before mentioned, who came towards her +quickly, saying, "You have been very sad these two days, lady, and I +wish you would take comfort. Here is a good man, one of the preaching +friars just called at the gate, and I'm sure, if you would but listen +to him, he would give you consolation." + +"Oh no," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "he could give me no consolation, +my good girl. My own thoughts just now are my best companions." + +As she spoke, however, to her dismay, she saw the monk coming across +the green from the side of the gates, and she determined at once to +reject all his proffered advice and consolation, fearing that the +precious minute for seeing him she loved might be lost by this +unwonted intrusion. + +"Do listen to him, dear lady," said the girl. "When I told him how sad +you were, he said he was sure that he could give you comfort." + +In the mean time the friar approached with a slow step, with his cowl +drawn over his head, and his hand supported by his staff. Marie de +Clairvaut trembled from anxiety and apprehension, and only returned +the friar's benedicite by an inclination of the head and an assurance +that she did not stand in need of the consolation he offered. + +"Yet listen to me, daughter," he said, without withdrawing the cowl +from his head. But the first tones of that full rich voice proved +sufficient nearly to overpower the fair girl to whom he spoke. "If you +will hear me but for five minutes, my daughter," he said, "I think and +I believe, that I can suggest to you consolations that you may take to +heart; and if not, the few words I have to speak can do you no harm at +least." + +Marie de Clairvaut bowed her head, and took a step or two nearer to +the water, while the woman withdrew for a short space, so as to be out +of ear shot. But still she remained watching the two, as if she were +either afraid of having done wrong in admitting the friar at all, or +had suddenly conceived some suspicion of his purpose. The eyes of +Marie de Clairvaut and of Charles of Montsoreau turned that way, and +both saw that they were watched. Could they have followed the dictates +of their own hearts, they would have cast themselves into each other's +arms; but now they were forced to stand, ruling every look and every +gesture, and assuming the demeanour of strangers, even while the words +of love and affection were bursting from their lips. The young +nobleman, however, gave but brief course to his feelings. + +"This night, Marie," he said, after a few words of passionate +tenderness, "this very night at twelve, a boat shall be ready for you +underneath that bank, and means prepared for you to descend. It has +already passed up the river in order that we may descend swiftly with +the stream, for the current is too rapid to permit of our passing up +without the risk of being stopped at every moment. At Jarnac, however, +all is prepared for our escape, and though our journey thence may be +longer, it will be more secure. Can you be here at that hour?" + +"I can," she said, "and will, and, oh! may God grant, Charles, that +this time we may not only come within sight of the haven, as we have +twice done before, but reach it altogether; and never, never again +will I suffer them to separate me from you, as I did on that awful day +in Paris." + +"Even yet, neither I nor the Duke know how it happened," said Charles +of Montsoreau. + +"As I was following the Queen," replied Marie, rapidly, "some one +pulled me by the sleeve, and on turning to see who it was, the crowd +closed in between me and Catherine. The person who had touched me was +dressed in the colours of the house of Guise, and he said, 'The Duke +expects you Mademoiselle. If you will come round this way, I will lead +you to the other gate where there is no crowd.' I followed willingly, +and nothing doubting; and he led me round into one of the streets +behind, when suddenly I was seized by the arms on either side, and +hurried along without the power of resistance. I cried for help as +loud as I could, indeed, but they bore me rapidly into the house +opposite, where I saw the Abbé de Boisguerin, and could hear your +brother's voice talking to Monsieur de Villequier. They then put me +into a chair, the blinds of which I could not undraw, and carried me +rapidly to another house, where I remained for some time, till +Villequier and the rest again appeared. I did all that woman could do, +Charles, to make them set me free; but what could I do? what means had +I to use?--entreaties, to which they were deaf; menaces, at which they +laughed. Your brother, indeed, said something that he intended for +kindness, and the Abbé looked gloomy and sad. But Villequier only +smiled for all answer; till at length tidings were brought them that +they were discovered, and that people were coming rapidly in pursuit +of them. I was then once more borne away by Villequier, after a few +words between him and your brother; and I heard your brother say as +they parted, 'I will delay them as long as possible.' Where they took +me I know not well, but I believe it was the Hôtel de Villequier.--But +see, the woman is coming near! We must part, dear Charles; I fear we +must once more part." + +Nothing more could be said, for the girl now approached; and Charles +of Montsoreau, assuming the tone of the friar, bade Marie remember his +words, and take them to heart; and then, giving her his blessing, +departed. + +Shortly before midnight, wrapt in a cloak of a dark colour, in order, +as far as possible, to pass unobserved if any eye should be watching, +Marie de Clairvaut passed through one of the lower windows of the +château, and with a light step, sprang into the little cloister that +ran along one side of the building, at no great depth from the window. +The moon was shining bright and full, and every object around, except +where the shadow of the cloister fell, was as clear as if the sun had +been in the sky. + +She paused and listened with a beating heart. There was no sound but +the murmur of the quick Charente; and then, putting her ear to the +open window, she listened there to ascertain that all was quiet in the +house. Nothing stirred; and, knowing how important it was to leave no +trace of the manner in which her flight had been effected, she closed +the casement carefully, and prepared to go forth into the moonlight. + +There was something, however, in the stillness, and the clearness, and +the calmness of every thing that was in itself fearful; and she +hesitated for a moment before she went out. At length, however, she +ventured across the green and shining turf, and with a quick step +approached the edge of the water. Looking down upon it from above, she +could see nothing in the deep shadow of the bank; but, suddenly, a +bright ripple caught some stray rays of moonlight, and chequered the +dark bosom of the water with quick lines of silver. + +"Are you there?" said the voice of Charles of Montsoreau from below. + +"Yes," she said. "How shall I descend?" + +But, even as she spoke, a figure glided out from the shrubs beside +her, and, uttering a low cry, Marie de Clairvaut perceived the girl +who had given admittance to the supposed friar on the preceding +evening. The sound which she had uttered had instantly caught the +attention of Charles of Montsoreau; and, springing up the bank, he +found the girl with her hand clasped round the Lady's wrist, but +holding up the other hand as if enjoining silence. + +"You are unkind," said the girl, in a low tone, "when I was kind to +you. I have already been bitterly reproached for letting in the monk; +and now, if you fly, what will become of me? They will say that I did +it." + +"Fear not, fear not!" answered Charles of Montsoreau, "and attempt not +to detain the Lady, my good girl; for go she must and will; and, as +there is no other boat here, any attempt to pursue us will be vain. +All you can do by endeavouring to detain her will be useless, and but +injure yourself. Here is money for you," he continued. + +The girl put it away with her hand, replying, "I want no money, sir; +but if she goes, I will go with her. I will not stay here in the power +of that dark Abbé. I will come with her if she will let me." + +"Willingly, willingly," replied Charles of Montsoreau; "but say not a +word, and come quick; and remember, till the Lady is safe under the +protection of the Duke of Guise, we pause for no one, so there must be +no pretences of fatigue." + +"Fear not," replied the girl; "I can bear more than she can. But how +can we get down the bank?" + +"There is a short ladder," said the young Count. "Come quick!" And in +a moment after he aided Marie de Clairvaut to descend. It was all done +in a moment. The girl followed the Lady, the ladder was taken into the +boat, and, with joy and satisfaction beyond all conception, the fair +girl, whose days had lately passed so sorrowfully, felt the little +vessel fluctuating beneath her feet as she seated herself in it; while +Charles of Montsoreau, with a man who had been waiting therein, pushed +the boat away from the bank, and a boy seated at the stern guided it +into the deeper parts of the water. There were but a few words spoken +by any one. + +"You are sure, Ignati," said the young Count, "that you marked every +rock and shoal as you came up?" + +"Quite sure," replied the boy; and, leaving the current, which was +rapid and powerful, to bear them on, without disturbing its smooth +surface by the splash of oars, they glided along quickly down the +stream: now in moonlight, now in shade, with the high rocky banks and +promontories filled with holes and caverns, which border the valley of +the Charente, now seen in bright clear light--now rising up against +the silvery sky wrapped in deep shadows and obscurity. + +The hand of Marie de Clairvaut lay clasped in that of her lover as +they sat side by side. Their hearts were full, though their lips were +silent; and the eyes of both were raised towards the sky, filled with +thankfulness, and hope, and trust. Thus they went on for about two +hours, saying but little, and that little in low and murmured tones; +but as they went, Charles of Montsoreau found occasion to tell her +that he had luckily effected a new arrangement, and that he had +procured means of landing and proceeding on their journey before they +reached Jarnac. + +At length, after a voyage of about two hours and a half, as the moon +was beginning to decline, a rushing sound was heard over the bow of +the boat, and the waters of the river were seen fretting against a +dyke, which had been built to confine it in its proper course. A +couple of houses, sheltered by two sloping hills which swept down to +the very bank of the river, appeared upon the left hand, with what +seemed a number of living objects gathered about them. + +Marie de Clairvaut turned her eyes to Charles of Montsoreau with some +apprehension, but he pressed her hand tenderly, saying, "Fear not, +fear not. They are my own people, waiting for our arrival." + +The boy guided the boat safely up to the landing place, and the +question, "Who comes here?" was demanded, as if at a regular warlike +post. + +"A friend," replied Charles of Montsoreau, and gave the word Château +Thierry. The man grounded his arms, and Charles of Montsoreau, +springing to the shore, led Marie de Clairvaut and the girl who had +followed her, to one of the houses, where every thing seemed prepared +for their reception. + +He paused for a moment to gaze upon the face of the girl who had +accompanied them, and to ask her name, which he found to be Louise. +The countenance was good, and frank, and gentle, and the natural +spirit of physiognomy, which is in every one's brain, gave a pleasant +reading of that face. + +"Listen to me," he said, speaking to her. "As you have preferred the +service of this lady to remaining behind where I found you, depend +upon it every attention and devotion that you show to her by the way +will be taken note of and well rewarded; and do not forget, that, if +possible, you are never to leave her, but to do every thing in your +power, under all circumstances, to enable her to reach the Duke of +Guise, who is her near relation, and whom we expect to find at Blois +or Chartres." + +"Is she so great a lady?" said the girl. + +"She is the niece and ward of the great Duke of Guise," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; "and the time is rapidly coming when those who +have injured and offended her will be severely punished, and those who +have assisted and befriended her rewarded far beyond their +expectations." + +Having said this, he left them to see that all was properly prepared; +and in a few minutes more Marie de Clairvaut, with the girl who +accompanied her, were placed in one of the rude but roomy chaises of +the country, and with six horses to drag it through the heavy roads, +was rolling away in the direction of Limoges, followed by Charles of +Montsoreau, and a party of five or six servants on horseback. + + + + + CHAP. VIII. + + +The autumn was far spent, an early winter had set intensely in, frost +once more covered the ground, the last leaves had fallen from the +trees, and looking round upon the thick tapestry that covered the +walls, and the immense logs of wood which blazed in the deep arched +fire-place, the tenant of a splendid room in the old château of Blois +smiled when he thought of where he had last passed a similar frosty +day: in arms in the open field against the enemies of the land. + +Now, however, the appearance of Henry Duke of Guise was in some degree +different from that which it had ever been before. Loaded with honours +by the King, adored by the people, gratified in every demand, ruling +almost despotically the state, the height to which he had risen had +impressed itself upon his countenance, and added to that expression of +conscious power, which his face had ever borne, the expression also of +conscious success. His dress, too, was more splendid than it had ever +been--not that he had adopted the silken refinements of Epernon or +Joyeuse; not that his person was loaded with jewels, or that his ear +hung with rubies: but every thing that he wore was of the richest and +most costly kind; and as he now stood ready dressed to go down to hold +the table of grand master of the King's household and generalissimo of +the armies of France, at which Henry himself, and all the great nobles +of the Court were that day to be present, it would have been +difficult, throughout all Europe--nay, it would have been impossible, +to match his princely look, or to excel in taste his rich apparel. One +single star gleamed upon his bosom, the collars of manifold orders +hung around his neck, the hilt of his sword was of massy gold, and +thin lines of gold embroidery marked the slashings of his green velvet +doublet, where, slightly opening as he moved with easy dignity, the +pure white lining below appeared from time to time. There were no +jewels on his hands, but one large signet ring. He wore no hat, and +the brown hair curling round his forehead was the only ornament that +decked his head. There was a jewel in his belt, indeed, a single +jewel of high price, and the pommel of the dagger, which lay across +his loins, was a single emerald. + +From time to time, while he had been dressing;--indeed we might say +almost every minute, some messenger, or page, or courier appeared, +bearing him news or letters from the various provinces of the realm. +His secretary stood beside him, but every line was read first by the +Duke's own eye; and then he handed them to Pericard, either with some +brief comment or some direction in regard to the answer to be +returned. + +"Ha!" he said, smiling, after reading one epistle. "There is a curious +letter from good Hubert de Vins. Hubert loves me as his own brother, +and yet to read that letter one would think he respected me but +little. There is no bad name he does not give me down to Maheutre and +Huguenot, because I trust in King Henry, who, he says, is as +treacherous as a Picardy cat." + +"I think with Monsieur de Vins, your Highness," said Pericard, who had +been reading the letter while the Duke spoke, "'that trusting in the +semblances of the King's love, you expose your life every hour as if +it were neither a value to yourself or your friends or your country.'" + +"You mistake, Pericard," replied the Duke; "I trust not in Henry's +love at all. Whether it be feigned or whether it be real for the time, +matters not a straw. If it be feigned, it does me no harm, but, on the +contrary, daily gives me greater power; if it be true, I receive the +benefits thereof for the time, well knowing that to-morrow or the next +day it will change completely into hate. I'll tell you what it is I +trust to, Pericard: not to the King's love, but to his good sense; for +were I dead to-morrow he could be ten times worse than he is to day. I +am he who stands between him and destruction!--Ah! who have we hear?" +he continued, as the door again opened. "From Provence;"--and taking +the letter from the hand of a dusty courier, he read it over +attentively and threw it to Pericard, saying, "That is good news +surely, Pericard! In the room of the two deputies who were so +difficult to manage that we were obliged to stuff them with carp and +truffles till they both fell sick and fled, we have got two steady +Leaguers not to be shaken by threats or moved by choice meats. If we +could dislodge that viper, Epernon, from Angoumois, all would be clear +before us till we reached the confines of Henry of Navarre. But +Epernon is raising troops, I hear----" he added, although he saw that +some one had entered the room and was approaching him. + +"Which he will soon disband. Monsieur de Guise," said the stranger, +"as I am charged by the King to set out to-morrow morning to give the +Duke his commands to that effect." + +"By my life, Monsieur Miron," said the Duke, "you will have soon to +lay aside altogether the exercise of your esculapean powers, at least +upon his Majesty's person. You show yourself so skilful in healing the +wounds of the state, and curing the sickness of the body politic." + +"Your Highness is good unto me," replied the King's physician, looking +humble; "but I came to pay my respects to your Highness now, not +having seen you since the exile of Villeroy, Pinar and the rest. I +hope your Highness does not think that their disgrace is likely to +affect your interests at court." + +"Not in the least, Monsieur Miron," replied the Duke: "far from it. I +seek to exercise no influence amongst the King's ministers. Those who +are good for the state are good to me. On the King's good feeling and +good sense I firmly rely." + +"Some body," said the physician, "informed his Majesty that you were +grieved at the dismissal of Villeroy. I may tell him, then, that such +is not the case, for he was pained to hear it." + +"Tell him so, I beseech you," replied the Duke. "I know the King would +not wish without some good reason to dismiss any one that I especially +esteemed." + +"Most assuredly," replied Miron; "but might I give your Highness one +slight warning as a friend, and a most sincere one?" + +"Most gratefully will it be received," replied the Duke. "Speak +freely, my learned sir," he continued, seeing that the physician had +fixed his eyes upon Pericard. "Our good Pericard is as silent as your +friend death, Monsieur Miron, who tells no tales you know to those on +this side the grave, whatever he may do to those on the other. What is +it you have to say?" + +"It is this, my Lord," replied Miron. "I should tell you first, that I +do believe the King sincerely loves you, and that if you deal but +politicly with his humours, there is none in whom he will place such +confidence. But my good lord the King's temperament is a strange +one.--I speak as a physician. It is indeed injured by some excesses, +but though by nature full of the mercurial character, there was always +much of the saturnine in it. The balance between these has been +overthrown by many circumstances, and in certain conjunctions of the +planets he is strangely and variably affected. Such also is the case +in the time of these hard frosts. In soft and genial weather he may be +easily dealt with: you will then find him but as a thing of wax in +your hands. But I beseech you, my Lord, remember that, when the pores +of the earth are shut up and filled with this black and acrid frost, +'tis then that all the humours of the body are likewise congealed, and +Henry is at that time filled with black and terrible vapours, which +are dangerous not alone to himself, but to every one who approaches +him unprepared. I say it advisedly, my good Lord. Any one who urges +the King far, at such moments, is in peril of his life.[6] But I must +say no more, for here comes a messenger." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 6: Such, and in such terms, strange and fantastic as they +may seem, was undoubtedly the warning given by the physician Miron to +the Duke of Guise not many days before the catastrophe of Blois.] + +--------------------- + + +"I thank you most sincerely," replied the Duke. "Who is this packet +from? I must speedily descend to supper." + +"From his Highness of Mayenne," replied the messenger. "He said it was +matter of life and death, and commanded me to ride post haste." + +"Ha!" said Guise, as he opened the packets and saw the contents. "Our +cousin of Savoy in arms in France. This shows the need of unanimity +amongst ourselves. He shall find himself mistaken, however, if he +thinks Guise will forget his duty to his country. Write Charles of +Mayenne word, Pericard, to bring his troops into such a position that +they can act against Savoy at a moment's notice, and tell him that he +shall have orders to do so ere three days be over. Send, too, to +Rouen, thanking them for their attachment; and see that our agent at +the court of Rome have full instructions regarding the Count de +Soissons. Ha! here comes our brother of the church. My good Lord +Cardinal, we will descend together. We shall scarcely reach the hall +before the King arrives." + +The person who entered bore a strong family likeness to the Duke, but +was neither so tall nor so powerful in person. He was dressed in the +crimson robes of a prince of the church of Rome; and his countenance, +which had much shrewdness and some dignity, accorded well with his +station, Miron had retired quietly while the Duke spoke; a sign had +dismissed the messenger from the Duke of Mayenne, and none but +Pericard remained in the room. But yet the Cardinal spoke in a whisper +to his brother, who merely smiled, replying, "Come, come; we have no +time now to jest." And thus saying, he led the way down to a hall, +where supper was prepared at the table of the Grand Master for all the +most distinguished guests then resident at Blois. + +The table was covered, as was then much the custom, with jewelled +plate of many kinds, and various fanciful devices. The room was in a +blaze of light, and all the guests, but the King and his particular +train, had already arrived. They were standing back from the table, +and gathered together in the magnificent dresses of that period, +formed splendid groups in different parts of the chamber, while sewers +and other attendants, hurrying backwards and forwards, brought in the +various dishes, and set them in their regular order. + +The appearance of the Duke and his brother, the Cardinal de Guise, +occasioned an instant movement amongst the guests, and the proudest +there bowed lowly to the gallant Prince, whose fortunes hitherto had +gone on from height to height. Nobles and generals of the highest +distinction eagerly sought a word with him, and bishops and prelates +of many a various character crowded forward, but to touch the hand of +one who had stood forth so prominently in defence of the church. + +In a few minutes the table was covered with the various dishes, and +intimation that supper was served was immediately given to the King, +who appeared the moment after, while the Duke of Guise advanced to the +door to receive him, and with every testimony of lowly respect led him +to the raised seat appointed for him. The King was followed by six +gentlemen, for whom places had been reserved, and amongst them the eye +of Guise rested upon Villequier. That eye flashed for a single moment +as it saw him; but the next instant all was calm, and the Duke noticed +him especially by an inclination of the head. + +As soon as the King had taken his seat, saying, "Sit, my Lord Duke, I +pray you; stand upon no further ceremonies," Guise and the rest seated +themselves at the table, and the monarch and his princely officer bent +forward to say some complimentary nothing to each other, each at the +same time unfolding the napkin that lay before them. As they did so, +from the napkin of the Duke of Guise fell out upon his plate a folded +letter; and Henry, who was all gaiety and condescension at that +moment, exclaimed aloud with a light laugh, "Some letter from his +lady-love, upon my honour. Read, read, my Lord Duke! Read, read! +Carvers, touch not a dish till the Duke has read." + +The Duke opened the letter smiling, while the King bent a little +towards that side, as if jestingly, to see the contents. All eyes +round the table were fixed upon those two; and it was seen that the +colour mounted into the cheek of the Duke of Guise, that his brow +gathered into a frown, and his lip curled with a scornful smile. As +far as the paint on the King's countenance would admit, he appeared to +turn pale at the same moment. But Guise, crushing the letter together +in his hand, threw it contemptuously under the table, saving aloud, +"They dare not!"[7] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 7: Some of the Duke's historians say, that he did not speak +the words aloud, but merely wrote at the bottom of the note, "On +n'oseroit," and then threw it under the table.] + +--------------------- + + +None but the King around the table knew to what those words alluded: +but Henry had seen the words, "Beware, Duke of Guise, your life is in +danger every day. There are those round you from morning to night, who +are ready to spill your blood." + +The Duke seemed to forget the matter in a moment, and by the graces of +his demeanour soon caused it to be forgotten also by all those around. +Henry resumed his gaiety and tranquillity; wine and feasting did their +part; and some short time after the King, with his glass filled with +the most exquisite wine of France, exclaimed, "Let us drink to some +one, my Lord Duke. To whom shall it be?" + +"It is for your Majesty to command," replied the Duke gaily. "Let us +drink to our good friends the Huguenots!" + +"Willingly, willingly," cried Henry laughing. "To the Huguenots, +cousin of Guise: ay, and to our good barricaders, too; let us not +forget them." + +The King smiled, and many around smiled also, at what they thought +would be a mortification to the Duke. But Guise answered immediately, +after drinking the toast, "It is well bethought of your Majesty, while +you give us the health of your bitter enemies, to give us that of your +most faithful servants, who will never cease to defend you against +them." + +He spoke with such an air of good humour, that none could see he had +taken any offence, and this matter was also forgotten in a few +moments. Shortly before the dessert was placed upon the table, a page +slipped a small scrap of paper with a few words written upon it into +the hands of the Duke, who gathered the meaning at a single glance, +while his whole countenance brightened with satisfaction. "Come, +Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "honour me by drinking with me to a +mutual relation of ours. Here is to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, as +sweet, as good, as fair a lady as any in France. Let us drink her +health, and a gallant husband to her soon." + +"Willingly, willingly, my Lord," replied Villequier; "and I wish your +Lordship would let me name that husband. But here is to her health." +And he drank the wine. + +"Nay," answered Guise, "that cannot be, Monsieur de Villequier, for I +have named him myself already." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Villequier, with no slight surprise in his look. +But he instantly overcame the first emotion, adding, "I suppose, then, +that the young Lady is under your protection at the present moment?" + +"At which you can neither be displeased nor surprised. Monsieur de +Villequier," replied the Duke, still bearing a courteous and affable +look. "As you know you swore upon the mass some weeks ago that she was +not under your protection, and that you knew not where she was, it +must be a relief to your mind to find that she is well cared for." + +"Oh, my good Lord of Guise," replied Villequier in the same courteous +tone, "no one ever doubts that his Highness of Guise cares for every +one that comes within his influence. Have we not an instance of it +here, when no sooner is one of the good Duke's friends, and the +allotted husband of his fair niece, dead, than another of his friends +is raised to the same happy prospect. But, pray, may I ask if the +young Lady herself is well pleased with this rapid substitution of +lovers?" + +"Delighted, I believe," replied the Duke with a smile full of meaning. +"Though I have had no particular communication with her yet, inasmuch +as, it having been discovered that she had escaped from the hands of +some base persons who unjustly detained her, the worthy and +respectable governor of Angoumois took pains to guard the country all +round, in order to stop her on her journey to Blois. This has much +delayed her coming, and would most likely have delayed it still +longer, had she not taken refuge with Monsieur and Madame Montmorin, +till I sent a force sufficient to open the way for her through all the +La Valettes in France. It is thus only this night--nay, this very +moment, that I hear of her arrival in Blois." + +"Well, my Lord," answered Villequier with a laugh, "it is evident that +he who attempts to strive with the Duke of Guise, either in stratagem +or in force, must be a bold man, and should be a clever one. As I told +your Highness, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was not in my hands, but how +she was set free from the hands in which she was placed must remain a +mystery rather difficult to solve. A servant girl, it seems, became +the immediate instrument; but the skill with which every trace of her +path was concealed, and even the manner in which her flight itself was +effected, bespeaks a better brain than that of a peasant of Angoumois. +Is it permitted, my Lord, to ask the name of the favoured gentleman +you destine for her husband?" + +"His Majesty receives his Court to-night, I think," replied the Duke, +"and then, Monsieur de Villequier, I shall have much pleasure in +presenting that gentleman to you. But, Monsieur de Villequier, if, as +your words imply, you have suffered yourself to be out-man[oe]uvered +in this business, I will mortify your pride in your own skill by +telling you that you have been foiled and frustrated by no efforts of +mine, but by the wit of a girl and the courage and stratagem of a mere +youth. My Lord the King, may I humbly beseech your Majesty to let us +drink better policy to Monsieur de Villequier." + +Henry laughed lightly and drank the wine; and the rest of the supper +passed off gaily, though Villequier from time to time fell into a +momentary fit of thought, from which he was twice roused to find the +eye of the Duke of Guise upon him. At length, as the hour for the +reception of the Court in the King's own apartments approached, Henry +rose and retired, followed by Villequier and the rest of the gentlemen +who had accompanied him. + +The Duke of Guise paused for a moment after, speaking rapidly to +several of those around him; and then, calling a page, he whispered +to him, "Go with speed to Monsieur Chapelle Marteau. Tell him to let +me see him at midnight. I should also like to see Monsieur de Magnac, +one of the Presidents of the Nobles. You will very likely find him +in his cabinet at the Palais de Justice. I would fain see them +both.--Gentlemen, the King will soon be in the hall, where you had +better meet his Majesty. I must be absent for a few moments, and you +will therefore pardon me." + +Thus saying the Duke left them, and followed by one or two attendants, +proceeded to the apartments assigned especially to himself. + +In the mean while the rest of the nobles hurried from the château to +various parts of the town, in order to accompany their wives and +daughters to a great assembly of the Court, which was to be held that +night in the grand hall of the castle. In the same hall the meetings +of the States-General of the kingdom usually took place, when the +three orders assembled together; but, as it was considered probable +that they would deliberate separately for some days to come, the hall +had been arranged that night, as we have said, for the reception of +the Court; and in it soon appeared almost all the splendid nobility of +France brought into Blois by the meeting of the States. The Duke of +Guise, however, had not yet arrived when the King appeared, and much +was the surprise and wonder of all that he did not show himself. In +about ten minutes after, however, there was a whisper near the great +doors of "The Duke! the Duke is coming! He is in the corridor speaking +to Brissac:" and after the pause of an instant, the two wings of the +door were thrown open, and Guise, followed by a long and brilliant +train, and himself decorated with the collars and jewels of all the +first orders in Europe, entered the great hall and advanced towards +the King. With him appeared the lovely form of Marie de Clairvaut, +leaning on his left arm, while, dressed with all that splendour to +which the fashion of the day lent itself, appeared upon his right the +young Count of Logères, somewhat thinner and somewhat paler than he +had been when he before presented himself at the Court of France, but +with his head high, and proud with the best kind of pride, the +consciousness of rectitude, and his eye bright with the excitement of +the moment and the scene. The eyes of Marie de Clairvaut were bent +down, and there was a slight but not ungraceful embarrassment in her +manner, from the consciousness that many late events which had +befallen her would attract more than usual attention to herself. + +Advancing straight towards the King and Queen, the Duke of Guise took +Marie's hand in his, saying, "Allow me to present to your Majesties my +dear niece and ward. Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and permit me also to +present to you my friend----;" and he laid particular emphasis on the +word, "the Count of Logères, whom, with your Majesty's permission, and +this fair Lady's consent, I destine to be her husband. Were it +possible to give him a higher treasure than herself, I should be bound +to do it, as if it had not been for him, and for his skill, courage, +and determination on two occasions, my head would have been now in the +dust, and I should not now have had the hope of serving your Majesty +well, faithfully, and successfully, as I trust to do." + +From his first entrance, and while he spoke, a low murmur had run +through the whole Court, some inquiring who the gentleman was that +accompanied him, the few who knew Charles of Montsoreau whispering his +name, and all, as it passed round, expressing their surprise at the +re-appearance of one supposed to be dead. The Duke of Guise in the +mean time turned to Villequier, who had at first become pale at the +sight of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"Monsieur de Villequier," said the Duke, "you were desirous of knowing +the name of the friend for whom I destine my niece. Allow me to +present him to you in the person of the Count of Logères, whom I trust +you will soon congratulate upon their marriage." And while he spoke he +ran the finger of his right hand gently down his baldric towards the +hilt of his sword, with a gesture significant enough, but which could +only be seen by Villequier. + +Having said this, the Duke and his party retired to a space left for +them on the King's right hand, and the various entertainments of the +evening commenced, the King, who had been rather amused than otherwise +at the reappearance of Charles of Montsoreau, giving himself up to one +of those bursts of gaiety, which occasionally ran into somewhat +frantic excesses. + +We cannot pause here to describe the scene. All was splendour and +amusement; and in the light Court of France the circumstances in +which Marie de Clairvaut was placed were sufficient to draw around her +all the gay, and the gallant, and the idle. Unaccustomed to such +scenes--less accustomed, indeed, than even she was--the eye of Charles +of Montsoreau turned towards her from time to time, with perhaps some +anxiety, to see how she would bear the homage that was paid to her; +whether, in short, it would be the same Marie de Clairvaut in the +midst of flattery and adulation and that bright and glittering scene, +that it had been with him in the calm quiet of country life, in more +than one solitary journey, and in many a scene of peril, danger, and +distress. Whenever he looked that way, however, he saw the same sweet, +calm, retiring demeanour; and more than once he found her eyes seeking +him out in some distant part of the hall, and her lips light up with a +bright smile as soon as their glances met. He felt, and he felt +proudly, that there was none there present who could doubt that her +guardian's choice was her own also. + +With the irregularity which marked all Henry's conduct at that period, +after remaining for half an hour with the appearance of the utmost +enjoyment, the King suddenly became sombre and gloomy; and, after +biting his lip and knitting his brow for a few minutes, turned and +quitted the hall. All was immediately the confusion of departure, and +Charles of Montsoreau made his way across to where the Duke of Guise +was seen standing, towering above all the rest. The young Count had +remarked, that in the course of the evening the Duke had been speaking +long and eagerly with a lady of extraordinary beauty, who stood at +some distance from the royal party; and he had heard her named as the +Marchioness of Noirmontier, with a light jest from more than one +tongue at her intimacy with the Duke. When he now reached the side of +that Prince she had passed on, and was bending over Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut, and speaking to her with a look of tenderness and +admiration. + +"Come on Count, come on," said the Duke, in a low but somewhat sharp +tone, as soon as his young friend joined him. And they advanced to the +side of the two ladies at the moment that Madame de Noirmontier was +urging Marie to spend a few days with her at her beautiful château +some way down the Loire. The Duke, however, did not suffer his ward to +reply. + +"I fear, dear Madam," he said in a decided and somewhat stern tone, +"that it cannot be." + +The colour rushed violently up into the cheeks of Madame de +Noirmontier, and the tears seemed ready to spring into her eyes. But +the Duke added, "Logères, escort Marie back to my apartments. If you +will permit me, Madam, I will be your attendant to your carriage, and +explain why my young ward cannot have the extreme pleasure and honour +you intended for her." + +"It needs no explanation, your Highness," replied the Marchioness, +raising her head proudly. "I intended to have staid some days longer in +this neighbourhood; but as she cannot come to me, I shall return at +once to Paris." + +The Duke looked mortified, but still offered her his hand; and when he +rejoined his own party in the apartments assigned to him, he was +somewhat gloomy and abstracted. + + + + + CHAP. IX. + + +"His Highness, Sire," said one of the attendants to Henry III. on the +following day, "His Highness of Guise is not to be found this morning. +His servants say that he has gone forth on horseback, followed only by +two grooms: but whither he has turned his steps, no one seems rightly +to know." + +"Seek him with Madame de Noirmontier," said Villequier, who stood +beside the King. + +But Henry, however, who was in no mood for jesting at that moment, +replied sharply, "He is playing with me! He is playing with me! He +mocks me! He will repent it some day! And I think you mock me too, +Villequier, to talk of Madame de Noirmontier at this moment. Have you +not heard this business of Savoy? He knew it last night, and said +nothing of it; and I'll tell you what more he has done, Villequier, +which you may like as little as I like the other. He has fixed the day +for the marriage of his niece with that bold young Logères. But this +business of Savoy is terrible, and these mutinous States will be the +ruin of the realm." + +"Sire," replied Villequier, "your Majesty must remember that I am +somewhat in darkness, in twilight at least. I have heard a rumour that +the Savoyard is in arms in France. But what of the States?" + +"Why, they are even now discussing," exclaimed the King, "whether +there shall be war or not, even to defend our invaded territory. There +are the Clergy now arguing it at the Jacobins, the Nobles in the +Palais de Justice, and the Third Estate in the Hôtel de Ville,--all, +all showing a disposition to hesitate at such a moment; and Guise, the +Generalissimo of my armies, and Grand Master of my household absent. +Heaven knows where!" + +"The devil knows best, most likely," replied Villequier with a calm +smile. "But, perhaps, the secret may be, that the Duke of Savoy is +son-in-law of the King of Spain. Now, the King of Spain has been a +good friend to the Duke of Guise, and the good Pope used always to say +that a Guise never jumped higher than the King of Spain liked." + +"By my faith!" replied the King, "I sometimes think that this same +gloomy Philip is more sovereign in France than the King thereof. But +here come tidings from the Tiers Etats. Come, Monsieur Artau, how have +gone the deliberations of the States? What say our good Commons to war +with Savoy?" + +"They go against it altogether, Sire," replied the officer who now +entered. "Chapelle Marteau spoke against it vehemently, declared that +it was but a plundering excursion of some light troops, who had +carried off a few thousand crowns, while it would cost many millions +to carry on a war with Savoy: and then, up got another, and talked of +imposts and taxes and the poverty of the state, and said that millions +and hundreds of millions had been lost in peculation and extravagance. +If your Majesty indeed, he said, would bear two-thirds of the expense +out of your domain, and would cut down your tall trees, or mortgage a +part of the royal forests, the Commons would see what could be done." + +"By Heaven!" exclaimed Henry stamping his foot, "when they keep me +here, a throned beggar, without a crown in my pocket, to give a jewel +to a mistress or a friend, they expect me to carry on the defence of +the country at my own expense! On my soul! I have a great mind to cast +away the sceptre, to go down into the ranks of a private gentleman, +and name my rule-loving mother to govern in my stead: or faith, I care +not if it were Guise himself. He would teach these surly citizens what +it is to have an iron rod over their heads. By the Lord! he would not +spare the backs of the porkers. Hie thee, good Artau to the Clergy at +the Jacobins; see what they say to the matter. And what say you, +Villequier, to my scheme of abdicating?" + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier calmly, "I think it is an excellent +good one. But I hope, in the first place, that you will give a few +thoughts to what I told you concerning the young Marquis de Montsoreau +and the hundred thousand crowns he promised on the day of his marriage +with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You know your Majesty has claimed the +lion's share; and seventy-five thousand crowns at the present moment, +or any time between this and Christmas, might serve to give your +Majesty a new lace to your doublet, or a new doublet to your lace, for +to my mind both are plaguy rusty. Now, though the re-appearance of +this young Count of Logères will cut down the amount of his brother's +estates most terribly, yet that affects me more than you, Sire; and by +having made inquiries I find, to a certainty, that he is quite capable +of paying the money the moment the marriage is concluded." + +"Seventy-five thousand crowns!" repeated the King thoughtfully. +"Seventy-five thousand crowns! Why, my friend, I think that neither +you or I have heard of such a thing since we had beards. But how does +all this square with my giving the crown to Guise, which you approved +so highly?" + +"Oh, extremely well, Sire," replied Villequier. "The crown I would +have you give him is neither the crown of France nor of Poland: I +would give him an immortal crown, Sire. You will fit him better, +depend upon it, that way than with a terrestrial one. His aspiring +spirit seeks the skies, and, could I deal with him, should very soon +find them. However, you will remember that your royal word, as well as +mine, is pledged to the young Marquis de Montsoreau." + +A dark smile came over the King's face. "We will see, Villequier; we +will see," he said. "My word must be kept and shall not be broken. The +morning of Christmas-day the Duke has fixed for the marriage. Who +knows what may happen between this and then, Villequier. She is then +absolutely your ward failing the Duke of Guise, and we will have no +hesitation or delay, when we have the power to compel obedience. But +we must be very cautious, Villequier; we must be very cautious. We +must neither seem pleased with this business of the marriage, for then +he would suspect us of some concealed design; nor must we oppose him +strongly, because that would put him on his guard; and I fear me, that +all the crowns in France could not do me so much good as the Duke of +Guise could do me harm if he were offended." + +"Without being slain," replied Villequier in a low tone. "Oh no, my +Lord, I know well, a wounded boar is always the most dangerous." + +The King smiled again in the same dark and sinister manner, but he +made no reply to Villequier's insinuation--perhaps still doubtful of +his own purposes, perhaps prevented from speaking openly by the return +of Monsieur D'Artau. + +"What! so soon come back?" exclaimed Henry. "You cannot judge of the +tone of the assembly, D'Artau. You should have heard more of their +deliberations." + +"There was no more to hear, Sire," replied D'Artau. "The Clergy were +all agreed; every body had become wonderfully pacific in a moment. +There had not been one voice raised for war, and fifty or sixty were +raised against it; so their deliberations, as I have said, were almost +concluded at the time I entered. They went to no vote, indeed, upon +the subject, but agreed to pass on to another question." + +"The villains! the crows!" exclaimed the King. "What did they give us +as reasons, did you hear?" + +"Why, they said, Sire," replied the officer, "that they had taxed +themselves, time after time, for the purpose of carrying on the war +with the Huguenots; that they had now again taxed themselves to the +utmost of their means, and would not consent that any part of the sum +thus raised should be diverted to make war upon their fellow +Catholics, while nothing had yet been done against the enemies of +their faith." + +"The specious hypocrites!" exclaimed Henry. "But what said they all to +the absence of the Duke of Guise?" + +"It was said, Sire, as I heard, by several people, that he had +evidently absented himself from policy, not wishing to oppose your +Majesty, and yet unwilling to go to war with Savoy. Some said, indeed, +Sire," he continued, "that Chapelle Marteau had acknowledged that this +was the case. But that could not be so either, for the Duke sent for +the President of the Tiers Etats last night, without being able to +find him. That I know from the servants, so that what Chapelle said +must have been out of his own head; while, on the contrary, I hear +that Monsieur Magnac and the Count de Brissac, who were with the Duke +for more than an hour last night, spoke vehemently against the Duke of +Savoy amongst the Nobles at the Palais de Justice. Thus the Nobles +were as unanimous for the war, as the other two States were against +it." + +"That should be the foot-fall of a Guise in the antechamber," said the +King. "Who is without there?" + +"The Duke of Guise, your Majesty," said a page entering almost as the +King spoke, "craves audience for a moment." + +"Admit him," said the King; "admit him:" and the next instant the Duke +of Guise entered hastily in a riding dress. + +"Your Majesty's gracious pardon," he said, "for presenting myself +before you thus: but I heard tidings, as I came along, which I +believed might give you great and exceeding pain." + +"Well may it give me pain, cousin of Guise," replied the King. "Well +may it give me pain, to find that my subjects are so insensible to +their own honour or to mine, as to suffer a foreign enemy to encamp +upon our native soil, without doing what best we may to drive him +forth." + +"It may, indeed, Sire," replied the Duke of Guise. "But the matter has +not been properly explained; and neither the Tiers Etats nor the +Clergy have seen it in its true light." + +"But where was the Duke of Guise to explain it?" demanded Henry. +"Where was the Generalissimo of my armies, the Lieutenant-general of +my kingdom, the Grand Master of my household, the man whose voice is +only second to my own in France--ay, and by Heavens! whose voice is +sometimes first likewise? Where was he, I say; and how came he not to +be present?" + +"From the simplest of all possible causes, Sire," replied the Duke. +"The business regularly appointed for this morning's discussion by the +States was a mere trifling matter of some petty impost. I had not told +your Majesty last night of this affair of Savoy, because I thought it +would spoil the pleasure of your evening, and perhaps disturb your +rest. I myself, however, neglected nothing. I instantly dispatched +orders, in your Majesty's name, to my brother of Mayenne, to advance +towards Piedmont with troops from Lyons. Before I rested, I sent for +the Presidents of the Nobles and of the Tiers Etats. The latter, +however, was not to be found; but I told Brissac and Magnac what had +occurred, and begged them to prepare all minds for vigorous measures +against Savoy, without disclosing the actual fact of aggression, that +fact having only reached me by the excessive speed of my brother's +courier. I felt perfectly certain that the news could not be known +till to-night or to-morrow morning; and how it happened that your +Majesty was informed of it so early, as to send down a message thereon +to each of the three Estates, I really do not know." + +"Very simply, my good cousin of Guise," replied the King, whose face +had now relaxed from the harsh and acrid aspect it had borne +throughout the morning; "it was Miron told me." + +"I had forgotten, I had forgotten," replied the Duke. "He was in the +room when the packet arrived, and I must have given vent to my +thoughts aloud." + +"Well, under such circumstances," replied the King, "I suppose I must +pardon, cousin of Guise, your having gone to pay your homage somewhere +else, as Monsieur de Villequier insinuates, when the King much wanted +your presence." + +"Monsieur de Villequier is, as usual, wrong," replied the Duke of +Guise frowning upon him. "Where he seeks for or finds such abundance +of evil motives to attribute to other men, I do not know. May it not +be in his own bosom? I went, for your Majesty's service, to inspect a +body of three thousand men, about to march early this morning from +Laucome to join the army of the Duke of Nevers, and it was only as I +returned that I heard of this unfortunate business." + +"Perhaps his Highness thinks," said Villequier, not unwilling to +increase any feeling of ill-will between the King and the Duke, +"perhaps his Highness thinks that your Majesty would have done more +wisely to have waited till his return, and not to have communicated +the news from Savoy at all to the States, till you had consulted him +upon it." + +Villequier had almost said, "till you had asked his permission;" but +he feared that a part of the King's anger might fall back upon +himself. The Duke of Guise, however, saw through all his purposes in a +moment, and replied, "Far from it, Monsieur de Villequier! I think, on +the contrary, that I should have done more wisely if, instead of +inspecting the troops at all--although Nevers, who is my enemy, might +have reproached me for neglect--I had waited till the King had risen, +to convey the expression of his will in person to the States-General, +Sire, I humbly crave your Majesty's pardon for this one instance of +neglect; and, to prove how sorry I am that it has occurred, I will +undertake to show the Clergy and the Commons such good motives for +changing their decision, that your Majesty's name and honour shall not +suffer by the invasion of your territories unresisted." + +"They will refuse you, Guise; they will refuse you," replied the King. +"I know them well. You think to rule them, Guise; but the first time +you speak of money to Commons or to Clergy, you will find that +cabalistic word, money, acts on them as the sign of the cross upon the +fiends we read of, and makes the seeming angels resume their shapes of +devils in a moment." + +"Well, Sire, well," exclaimed the Duke of Guise, tossing his lofty +head with a proud smile, "if they refuse us, we will shame them. You +and I together will put our lances in the rest, as in days of old: we +will call the nobility of France about us; and I will promise, at my +own expense, without craving these penurious Commons for a sol, with +my own men and your Majesty's good help, in three weeks' time to drive +the Savoyard back to his mountain den. But no, Sire, no! They will not +refuse me; and I pledge myself before this hour to-morrow to bring you +such tidings from both clergy and commons as you could wish to hear." + +"If you do, cousin," cried the King eagerly, "if you do, you are my +best of friends and counsellors for ever." + +"Fear not. Sire; fear not," replied the Duke of Guise; "I will be bold +to undertake it. But I must see the presidents and some of the +deputies speedily, to know what are the vain and idle notions on which +they have hesitated in regard to a step imperatively necessary. I will +therefore humbly take my leave, beseeching you to think well of me +during my absence, even though my good Lord of Villequier be at your +Majesty's right elbow." + +Thus saying the Duke retired, and the King, turning to Villequier, +asked with some anxiety "Think you, Villequier, that he will succeed?" + +"I know not, Sire," replied Villequier; "but I should judge not. They +have too far committed themselves to retract, let the question be what +it would, but are not at all likely to retract where money is +concerned." + +"Well, well," said the King; "I will hope the best. And now, +Villequier, we must think of what can be done, in order not to lose +the seventy-five thousand crowns. Mort Dieu! What a sum! In the very +first place, we must call hither your young friend, wherever he may +be, without loss of an hour. We must not have him appear at the Court, +however. He must lie concealed, but be ready at a moment's notice. Let +him bring what men he can with him. But above all, do not let him +forget the crowns, Villequier. Let them be prepared.--Nay, smile not, +I have a scheme for the purpose, which will mature itself in time. But +no good plan should ever be hurried, and it should always be formed of +elements as ductile as warm wax, that it may fit itself into the mould +of circumstances. It will mature itself in time, Villequier; it will +mature itself in time. But now to this other terrible business." + +"Pray, Sire, what is that?" demanded Villequier with some alarm, for +since his arrival at Blois Henry had shown so much more activity and +application to serious matters, that even his favourite had forgotten +his character. "Pray, what terrible business does your Majesty speak +of?" + +"Have you not heard," exclaimed the King, "have you not heard, that +the boat was upset in coming down the Loire--the boat with the parrots +and monkeys; and my great beautiful black ape, Ridolin-din-din, was +nearly drowned, and has caught such a cold, that it is feared he will +die!--Sweet creature, he is a beauty, and in his woollen nightcap and +long gown is not at all unlike my mother. Poor fellow, have you not +heard him coughing in the room beyond? I must go and give him some +confection of quinces." + +During a considerable portion of the day Henry devoted himself to his +ape, but towards evening his anxiety in regard to the States and to +the eruption of the Duke of Savoy seized upon him again. This was +terribly increased by the arrival of a new courier, bearing more ample +particulars than the former. The king slept ill at night, and rose +early the next morning; but still all the reports brought him of the +disposition of the States made him imagine that no means would be +taken to curb the enemy, and that he himself would be left by his +subjects the mockery and by-word of Europe, unable to repel the +outrages of even the pettiest of all the neighbouring princes. The +sneers of many of his favourites and courtiers at the Duke of Guise, +too--their ironical smiles at the very idea of his being able to +change the announced determination of two great bodies in the State, +tended to irritate the King still more, and to drive him almost to +madness. + +In this state of mind he was walking up and down his chamber between +eleven and twelve o'clock on the succeeding day, when suddenly hearing +the bustle of many feet without, he himself threw open the door and +beheld the Duke of Guise approaching with his usual train and several +other persons. + +There was in the noble countenance of the Duke the glad consciousness +of success; but Henry, eager for confirmation, exclaimed, "What is it, +cousin of Guise? What is it? Uncertainty drives me wild." + +"Health to your Majesty," replied the Duke. "These gentlemen who +follow me. Messieurs Brissac and Magnac, the Presidents of the +Nobility, the Archbishop of Lyons representing the Clergy, and my good +friend, Chapelle Marteau, President of the Third Estate, humbly +approach your Majesty with a petition, that as the Duke of Savoy has +committed a wanton infringement upon the territories of France, you +would be graciously pleased to pronounce a declaration of war against +that Prince, in which your dutiful subjects will aid and support your +Majesty to the best of their ability." + +The King's joy knew no bounds, and throwing his arms around the Duke +of Guise, he kissed him on both cheeks. Recovering himself, however, +in a few minutes, he received the deputies from the States with some +degree of dignity. His joy, however, was still exuberant; and, in +dismissing the petitioners, he said that the declaration should be +immediately issued, and that he would trust to his best friend and +wisest counsellor, pointing to the Duke of Guise, to repel speedily, +with that unconquerable hand which had won so many victories, this new +aggression upon the territory of France. + +As soon as the deputies were gone, he burst forth again in the same +strain, vowing to the Duke that he loved him beyond every thing on +earth, that his attachment should be unalterable and inviolate, and +that whatever might be said or urged against the Duke, he would never +believe it. + +"Cousin of Guise," he exclaimed, "there are people who would fain +persuade me that you aim at my crown, and perhaps there are others who +may try to persuade you that I aim at your liberty or life, I know +there are." + +"Sire, we neither of us believe them," replied the Duke. + +"Let us never believe them," answered the King; "let us never believe +them. Let us swear, Guise, let us swear to hold good faith and +undoubting sincerity and true friendship to each other for ever! Let +us swear it upon the altar even now! Let us swear it by the Holy +Communion, by which we dare not swear falsely, and then the +insinuations of our enemies will be as empty air!" + +"Most willingly, Sire," replied the Duke; "I am ready this moment. It +is near the hour of mass, and having nothing in my heart but good +towards your Majesty, I am ready this very moment." + +"Come then, come to the chapel," cried the King. And taking the Duke +of Guise by the hand he led the way, followed by only the two +attendants who were in the anteroom. In ten minutes more the King and +the Duke might be seen kneeling before the same altar, calling down +the wrath of God upon their heads if they ever did one act of enmity +towards each other, drinking of the same consecrated cup, and dividing +the host between them.[8] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 8: This awful fact is but too certain.] + +--------------------- + + + + + CHAP. X. + + +It was a bright clear frost, all the ancient houses and streets of +that most curious and interesting old town, called Blois, were seen +clear and defined, without the slightest thin particle of smoke or +haze, and from the high windows of the chamber of Catherine de Medici +the servant, who sat and gazed out, might see the slightest object +that passed along the road below. + +As she thus sat and gazed, her eyes fell upon a glittering troop of +cavaliers who issued forth from the castle gates, and took their way +through the town, and she could see the princely form of the Duke of +Guise, and the strong frame of Brissac, and the graceful person of +Charles of Montsoreau, riding nearly abreast at the head of the troop. + +"The Duke has gone forth, may it please your Majesty," said the woman, +turning to the bed on which lay Catherine de Medici, sick in body and +uneasy in mind. "The Duke has gone forth, and a large train with him." + +"Then the King will soon be here," replied the Queen-mother. "Go into +the further chamber, good Bridget, and wait there till he leaves me. +If Madame de Noirmontier arrives from Paris before he is gone, bid her +wait there too. I will see her after, and be glad to see her." + +The attendant had scarcely retired, when Henry III. himself entered +with a slow step, a dull frowning brow, and lips turned down, giving +his countenance a diabolical expression of sneering malice, which +contrasted strongly with the white and red paint which he had used, +and the gay foppery of his apparel. + +"You sent for us, good mother," he said. "How goes it with you? Has +the fever left you, or do you still suffer?" + +"My sufferings are of no moment," replied Catherine de Medici. "They +will soon pass, Henry, and I shall be well again. But the illnesses of +states pass not so soon, my son; and upon your acts, at the present +moment, depends the welfare of France for centuries." + +"I know it, madam," replied Henry sullenly. "But may I ask upon what +particular occasion your Majesty has thus resumed the maternal rod?" + +"The occasion is this, my son," replied the Queen: "I find that you +are opposing Guise, when you have no power to oppose him; and you are +opposing him in things where your opposition will not increase your +power, but will increase his. Were you to oppose him firmly but +stedfastly on points where reason, and right, and the welfare of the +State were upon your side, however blind they might be for a time, the +people would come over to your side in the end. But if you oppose him +in things where your pride, or your vanity, or your selfishness is +concerned, depend upon it his party will every day increase; for Guise +having identified himself with the people and the Catholic Church, his +foibles will be treated far more leniently by both church and people +than yours." + +"Guise!--Guise!--Guise!" cried the King in a bitter tone. "For ever, +Guise! I am sick to death of the very name. What would you have, +Madam? Have I not yielded almost every thing to him? Have not all his +demands been granted, till they become so numerous that I have not +wherewithal to stop their mouths? Did I not sign the decree of July? +Did I not declare old scarlet Bourbon next heir to the Crown? Did I +not satisfy the cravings of Nemours and of Mayenne? Did I not banish +Epernon; give the Duke all sorts of posts; yield him up towns and +cities? Did I not render him king of one half of France? What is it +that I have refused him?" + +"In many points you mistake, my son," replied the Queen. "You have +yielded more than one of these things, not to him, but to the League. +You refused to him, too, the sword of Constable; and in that perhaps +you were right. At all events he himself seemed to think that you were +so, for he has not pressed the demand: but after promising to the +League, as one of their towns of surety, the city of Orleans, which +both you and I know was promised, you would now persuade Guise and the +League that it was inserted in the edict by mistake, and that the town +promised was Dourlans, a heap of hovels on a little hill, as if you +thought that, by such a trumpery evasion, you could deceive the keen +wit of a Lorraine. Guise, of course, set his foot upon the small +deception. But what are you doing now? Quarrelling with him because he +demands that which has been recognised as a right of every +generalissimo in the kingdom; namely, the right of having his own +prevôt and guards. Such has ever been the case, as you well know. The +matter is a trifle, except to your own jealous disposition; and even +were he not right, it would still be but a trifle. But when he is +right, and you are wrong, the refusal is an insult, and the matter +becomes of importance." + +"Madam," said the King bitterly, "in spite of all you say. Guise shall +not absolutely be King of France. Has he not here, within these three +days, refused me an impost necessary to maintain my dignity as a King, +and to provide for the safety of the State? Does he not try to keep me +a beggar, that I may have no means of asserting my own rights and +dignity?" + +"No," replied the Queen; "No, Henry! He did not refuse you the impost; +it was the States. If I heard rightly, he spoke in favour of it." + +"Ay, spoke!" cried the King. "But how did he speak? +Lukewarmly--unwillingly. The States soon saw which way his wishes +turned. Had he not been playing the hypocrite, he would have commanded +it in a moment. Did he not show how he could command in that business +of Savoy? Four-and-twenty hours were sufficient for him to make every +man in Clergy and in Commons eat their words. This is something very +like sovereign power, madam. It is power such as I never possessed +myself." + +"Ay, and then you were grateful to him for its exercise," replied +Catherine; "and swore eternal friendship to him on the altar!" + +"Certainly, but his ambitious views have become far more outrageous +since then," replied the King angrily. "Has he not exacted that Henry +of Navarre shall be excluded by name from the succession? Has he not +forced the Count de Soissons to receive absolution from the Pope? Has +not he blazed abroad, throughout all the world, the letters of the +Pope himself, thanking him for his efforts to put down heresy, and +exhorting him to persevere, as if he and none other were King of +France? And now he must have guards, must he! now he must have guards! +When will the crown be wanted? His leading staff is already the +sceptre, for it sways all things; his chair is already the throne, for +from it emanates every movement of the States-General of France. Yes, +madam, yes! the throne and sceptre he has gained; and I see the leaves +of his ducal coronet gradually changing themselves into fleurs-de-lis, +and the bandlets of the close crown ready to meet above his head." + +"But to the guards which he demands," said Catherine de Medici, "he +has a right, as Lieutenant-general of the kingdom; and why should you +oppose him on a point where he is right? + +"Ay, the guards! the guards!" cried Henry. "Let him have them, madam; +let him have them. But nevertheless, in a few days, all this will be +over." And so saying, without waiting for further reply, the King +turned and quitted his mother's chamber. + +Following a private staircase, which had been so constructed as only +to afford a means of communication between the various apartments of +the royal family, the King descended to a large chamber, or sort of +hall, with a deep window looking out towards the Loire. He found +already in that chamber several of his most intimate and confidential +friends and favourites, who, notwithstanding the high degree of +confidence which the King placed in them, viewed the gloomy sullenness +of his countenance with some sort of apprehension. In truth, when the +fit was upon him, it could never be told where the blow would fall; +and he often thus deprived himself of counsel and assistance in his +moments of greatest need. + +There were some, however, then present, whose purpose it was to +exasperate the irritation which he suffered, even at the risk of +injuring, in some degree, themselves; and the Maréchal d'Aumont, who +had been waiting there for his return, advanced, and though the King +addressed not one word to him, but walked on sullenly till he had +almost touched him, he began the conversation first, speaking in a low +tone. At length the King stopped abruptly, and, gazing in his face, +exclaimed, "What, without my veto; without my consent and approbation? +Do the States propose that their determinations be law without the +King?" + +"They do, Sire," replied the Maréchal d'Aumont; "and I doubt not they +would consider that the approbation of the Duke of Guise would be +quite sufficient. They have already made him feel that such is the +case, Sire; for one of his creatures offered me not long ago, if I +would attach myself to him, to make me Governor of Normandy, declaring +that the States, at a word from the Duke, would make your Majesty take +it from the Duke of Montpensier, to whom you had given it." + +The King paused for a moment, with his hands clasped, and his eyes +gazing on the ground. At length he raised them suddenly, saying, "Hark +ye, D'Aumont!" and then spoke a few words in a whisper, as the Marshal +bent down his ear. + +D'Aumont turned somewhat pale as he listened; his brows knit, and a +certain degree of wildness came into his eyes; but he answered, the +moment the King had done, "I have not rightly understood your Majesty. +But it seems to me, that the only way a sovereign can deal with +rebellious subjects and traitors, is to cause them to be arrested, and +deliver them over to their natural judges, to be tried according to +law." + +Henry waved his hand with a look of contemptuous disappointment, and +then added, looking fixedly in D'Aumont's face, "You will be silent!" + +"On my honour, Sire," replied D'Aumont; and bowing low, but with a +face still pale, he quitted the chamber. + +Without noticing the other gentlemen who were standing at the farther +corner of the room, Henry called to a page, and descended by the +staircase into the gardens. He looked up for a moment at the bright +and cheerful sunshine, and then upon the clear wintry scene around; +but the sight seemed only to plunge him in deeper gloom than ever; and +turning to the boy he said, "Run back to the hall, and bid Monsieur +Crillon come here alone." + +He then stood with his arms crossed upon his chest, gazing upon the +ground beneath his feet, and when Crillon approached he took him by +the arm, and walked slowly on with him to the other side of the +gardens. He was silent for some moments; but then turning to Crillon +he said, "You are colonel of my French guards, Crillon, and there is a +service which I want you and them to perform." + +"Speak, Sire," replied Crillon with his bluff manner. "If there be any +thing that a soldier and a man of honour can do for you, I am ready to +do it." + +"Are not kings the highest magistrates in their realm, Crillon?" said +the King, gazing in his face; "and have they not a right to judge +their own subjects, and pass sentence upon them?" + +"I wish to Heaven I were a lawyer, Sire," replied the old soldier, +"and then I would give your Majesty an answer. But on my honour, at +present, I have not considered the subject." + +"Well then, Crillon," continued the King, "to put it in another shape: +I have a subject who is more king than myself; who stands between me +and the sun; who grasps at all the power in the realm; and who, day by +day, is increasing in ambition and insolence." + +"Your Majesty means the Duke of Guise," said Crillon; "I know him in a +minute by the description." + +"You are right," said Henry. "But this must not continue long, +Crillon. Methinks a small body of my guards, with a brave and +determined commander, might rid me of this enemy, of this viper. The +most learned lawyers of my realm have assured me that law and justice +and right authorise me to cause this deed to be done. Will you +undertake it, Crillon?" + +"Sire," replied Crillon, "I beg your Majesty's pardon for reminding +you, that there is a public executioner appointed by law, and I must +not interfere with any other man's office. As to my becoming an +assassin, that your Majesty does not conceive possible for a moment." + +Henry looked bitterly down upon the ground, and then said, in a tone +between wrath and anguish, "My friends desert me!" + +"No, Sire, they don't," replied Crillon. "There is a way of settling +the matter, which your Majesty has forgotten, but which suits my +feelings and habits better than any other way. I will now humbly take +leave of your Majesty, and going up to the cabinet of his Highness of +Guise, I will insult him before his people, tell him that he has +wronged his King and his country, and bid him accompany me to the +field with equal arms. The Duke, bad as he is, is not a man to refuse +such an invitation; and I think I can insure your Majesty, that you +shall not be troubled with the Duke of Guise for a long time to come." + +The King smiled; "Alas! Crillon," he said, "you deceive yourself. You +forget what you undertake. Remember, you purpose to strive with, hand +to hand, the most powerful man in Europe--the most dexterous and +skilful in the use of every weapon upon the face of the earth,--the +most fearless, the most active, the most prompt, whose hand never +trembles, whose eye never winks, whose foot never slips. He would slay +thee, Crillon; he would slay thee in a moment." + +"I know it, Sire," replied Crillon calmly; "but not before I have slain +him. If I choose to make my body a sheath for his sword, I will make +his body a sheath for mine, while my hand holds tight against my +breast the hilt of his weapon, to keep in my own spirit till I see his +fled. This can be done, Sire, and it shall be done within these two +hours. I give your Majesty good day, for there is no time to spare." + +"Stay, Crillon, stay!" said the King, "I command you not to think of +it. If you attempt it, you will ruin all my plans. I thank you for +your willingness. I owe you no ill-will for your refusal. You will +find the page at the door: tell him to send Monsieur de Laugnac to +me--Montpizat Laugnac, you know." + +"Oh, I know him, Sire," replied Crillon. "He is a man of small +scruples. I will tell the page as your Majesty bids me." And he +retired from the presence of the King with a quick step. + +The manner in which the King dealt with Laugnac formed a strange +contrast with his manner towards Crillon. The moment that the former, +who was first gentleman of his chamber, and captain of the famous band +of Quarante-cinq, joined him in the garden, the King seized him by the +hand, saying, "Laugnac, the Duke of Guise must die!" + +"Certainly, Sire," replied Languac, as if it were a thing perfectly +natural. "I have thought so some time." + +"Will you undertake it, Laugnac," demanded the King. "You and your +Quarante-cinq?" + +"I must have more help than that, Sire," said Laugnac, "if it is to be +done out in the streets, in the open day, which I suppose must be the +case, as he is seldom out at night." + +"Oh no, no, no! that will never do!" exclaimed the King. "We must have +no rashness, Laugnac. He never rides but with a train, which would set +you at defiance; and, besides, the town is filled with Guisards. You +would have men enough upon you to slay you all in five minutes. We +must put him off his guard; we must lull him into tranquillity, and +then draw him to some private place, where you and your good fellows, +posted behind the arras, can strike him to the heart before he is +aware." + +"It is an excellent good plan, Sire," exclaimed Laugnac +enthusiastically. "I will speak with my good friend, Larchant, who is +a bold man and strong, a mortal enemy of the Guise, and a most devoted +servant of your Majesty. We will soon arrange a plan together which +cannot fail." + +"Swear him to secrecy," cried the King; "and remember to-morrow must +not pass without its being done. If you can find Villequier too, who +ought to be returned by this time, for we have much to do together +to-morrow, consult with him, for in a matter of poisoning or of the +knife you know, Laugnac, he has not his equal in France." + +The King smiled, and Laugnac smiled too, at the imputation which they +cast on another of the dark deeds exactly similar to those they were +both plotting themselves. + +"Do you not think, your Majesty," said the latter, "that it could be +done just about the time of the Duke's coming to the Council +tomorrow?" + +"Excellent, good," said the King, "for that will cut him off, just ere +this marriage that is talked of. But go quick, Laugnac, and make all +the arrangements, and let me know the plan to-night; for look where +the very man comes:" and he pointed down the alley that led to the +château, where the Duke of Guise was seen approaching alone. + +"He is alone," said Laugnac. "Could it not be done now? I and another +could make sure of it, if your Majesty would detain him here till I +seek aid." + +"On no account," said the King, grasping his wrist tight. "On no +account, Laugnac. You forget all the windows of the château see us. +The rest of his creatures would escape, and I must have not a few of +them in prison. No! we will be tender with him. He shall be our sweet +cousin of Guise, our well-beloved counsellor and friend. Greet him +gracefully as you pass by him, and tell the page to seek, high and +low, for Villequier, and bring him to me." + +Laugnac bowed low, and walked away, and as he went he left the Duke of +Guise the whole of the path, pulling off his hat till the plumes +almost swept the ground, but without speaking. Guise bowed to him +graciously; but, evidently in haste, passed on towards the King, whom +he saluted with every demonstration of respect, and on whom in return +Henry smiled with the most gracious expression that he could assume. + +"What seeks our fair cousin of Guise?" said the King. "I know this is +a busy hour with him in general, and therefore judge that it must be +matter of some importance brings him now." + +"Not exactly so, Sire," replied the Duke. "There is but little +business of importance stirring now, when so many of the multitude, +lately collected in Blois, have returned to their own homes for the +approaching festival. I came, however, to beseech your Majesty to +grant me permission to absent myself for a few days on the same joyful +occasion. All business for the time ceasing, my presence will not be +necessary." + +"Assuredly, assuredly!" replied Henry, turning pale at the very idea +of the Duke escaping from his hands. "But do you go soon, fair cousin. +I thought that you proposed the marriage of your fair ward for +to-morrow; indeed, I heard that every thing was prepared, and I myself +intended to be one of the guests." + +"We have not forgotten your Majesty's gracious promise," replied the +Duke. "Every thing is prepared, and half an hour before high mass we +shall all be waiting for your Majesty in the revestry of the chapel. +Never yet have I seen two young beings so happy in their mutual love; +and as we have broken through some cold forms, in consideration of the +many services which the lover has rendered to his future bride, they +are always together, and clinging to each other, as if they fancied +that something would yet separate them." + +Henry smiled, but there was a certain mixture in it, which rendered it +difficult to say whether the expression was gracious or ironical. +"Well then, good cousin," he said, "as you have such mighty business +toward, we had better hold our council as early as possible to-morrow, +and not wait till the usual hour. Let it be as near day-break as +possible. The god of day does not open his eyes too soon at this +season of the year. And yet I fear that the business of various kinds, +that we have before us, will occupy more time than one council can +afford. Thus we may be obliged to detain you at Blois, fair cousin, +longer than you expect, I fear." + +"I did not intend to go, Sire," replied the Duke, "till somewhere +about twelve on Christmas-day, which would give me the opportunity of +being present at two councils; and I shall be also absent so short a +space of time--certainly not longer than three whole days--that the +interruption will not be great." + +"Well, be it so; be it so," replied the King. "We know that your +activity makes rapidly up for time lost. As to the marriage, I will +sign the contract in the revestry, where I meet you; and I think that, +notwithstanding the poverty of my treasury, I have a jewel yet of some +price to give the bride." + +"I beseech your Majesty think not of it," replied the Duke of Guise. +"She and her good husband will be equally devoted to your service +without such a mark of your condescension." + +After a few more words of the same kind, the Duke took leave, and +Henry remained in the garden walking to and fro, and growing every +moment more and more impatient for the arrival of Villequier. + +"Where can he be?" he muttered to himself. "He promised to be back +before nine o'clock this morning. What can detain him? By Heavens! he +will lose the best part of our enterprise if he stays. Can he have met +with some mishap by the way--or has some lady poisoned him with +champignons or with Cyprus wine--or tried cold steel upon him--or shot +him with a silver bullet in honour of his great master. No steel would +touch him, I should think, if all tales are true. But here he comes; +here he comes, alive and well, with the eye of a wolf and the footfall +of a cat.--He is a handsome animal notwithstanding, even now, if he +would but paint his lips a little, for they are too pale. Something +has gone wrong. He seems agitated; and to see Villequier moved by any +thing is indeed a wonder. Why, how now, dear friend? What is it that +affects you? I declare your lip quivers, and your cheek is red. What +is the meaning of this?" + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I just met the Duke of Guise in the +hall of the château, and he not only tells me that the marriage of his +niece goes forward, but that your Majesty has promised to sign the +contract, and to be present at the ceremony. How you intend to +withdraw yourself, I do not know: but to throw, at least, some +obstacle in the way, I said that my signature had not been asked; and +while my application was before the Parliament of Paris, the marriage +could not take place without that signature. He answered haughtily, +Sire, not by requesting, but by commanding, me to be in the revestry +of the chapel at the hour of half-past eleven; and he added, with a +significant tone, that he would teach me the use of pen and ink." + +Henry showed no wrath: his mind was made up to his proceedings; his +dark determination taken; and utterly remorseless himself, he sported +in his own imagination with the idea of Guise's death, and only smiled +at his conduct to Villequier, as the skilful angler sees amused the +large trout dash at the gilded fly, knowing that a moment after he +will have the tyrant of the stream upon his own hook, and panting on +the bank. + +"You shall be in the revestry, Villequier," said the King; "you shall +sign the marriage contract, for the King commands you as well as the +Duke of Guise; and surely two such potent voices must be obeyed." + +Villequier paused for a minute or two ere he replied, calculating what +might be the King's motives in his present conduct. He knew Henry +well, and knew his vacillating changeable disposition; and he +suspected that he was determined to violate his promise to Gaspar de +Montsoreau upon some inducement, either of hope or fear, held out to +him by the Duke of Guise. He was well aware, however, that if the +means taken had been disagreeable, the King, though he might have +endured them smilingly in the presence of the Duke, would have burst +forth into passion, almost frantic, when conversing with him. He +therefore replied straightforwardly, "I suppose, Sire, the younger +brother has outbid the elder." + +"Wrong, wrong, good friend," replied the King. "Your hawk has missed +its stroke, Villequier. The Duke of Guise wills it so! Is not that +quite sufficient in France?" + +"I hope it will not be so long, Sire," replied Villequier, now +beginning, though indistinctly, to catch the King's meaning. "I hope +it will not be so long." + +"Ha, René! Do you understand me now?" said Henry. "Hark ye! Are you +not this girl's guardian beyond all doubt, were the Duke out of the +way?" + +"Indubitably," answered Villequier; "for the only thing that affects +my right, even now, is her father's will, appointing this same Henry, +Duke of Guise to be her guardian: the other brothers are not named." + +"Well then," said Henry, "have a contract of marriage in due and +proper form drawn out, this very night, in the names of Marie de +Clairvaut and Gaspar, Marquis of Montsoreau. Be in the revestry at the +hour named, and bring with you your gay bridegroom with all his golden +crowns. You shall sign the contract, and I will sign the contract, and +we will find means I think to make the fair Lady sign the contract +too, while the Duke of Guise's bridegroom discovers his way into a +dungeon of the château. You have been so long absent, I feared you +would not come in time to hear all this." + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I was forced to be absent; for +although your Majesty seems to have forgotten a certain paper given to +the Abbé de Boisguerin, I have not." + +"Ha!" said the King, "I had forgotten indeed. We must suppress that, +Villequier; we must suppress that, if he will not consent to our +plans; which, I see by your face, it is not your opinion that the +worthy Abbé will do. You must get it from him and suppress it." + +Villequier smiled at the very thought. "He will never give it up to be +suppressed, Sire," replied the Marquis. "Your Majesty little knows the +man." + +"Well, then, suppress him!" said the King with a laugh; "suppress him, +Villequier, and the paper with him. Under the great blaze made by this +business of the Guise, his affair will be but as one of the wax tapers +that a country girl, with a sore eye, buys for half a denier to hang +up before St. Radigonde. Suppress him, Villequier; suppress him. I +know no one so capable of sweeping the window clear of such flies." + +"Yes, Sire," replied Villequier; "but he is a wasp, not a fly. He has +antidotes for poison, and sureties against the knife. He has, besides, +more powerful friends, it seems, than any of us believed, or at least +more powerful means of gaining them. The Pope has been induced to set +him free of his vows. I find, too, that Epernon sent for him +immediately after that business of the attempt upon his life at +Augoulême, and they are now sworn friends and comrades, levying forces +together, holding counsel every other hour; and here is the former +Abbé now disporting himself as Seigneur de Boisguerin; and, just like +a butterfly that has cast its slough, he arrives in Blois last night +in gilded apparel, with a train of twenty horse behind him, and a +number of sumpter mules. I saw him in his gay attire near Augoulême, +and find that he aspires to the hand of the fair heiress himself." + +"But what is to be done, Villequier?" said the King smiling. "It seems +to me that all the world are seeking her. Suppose we send for an +auctioneer, and set her up _aux enchères_. But, to speak seriously, +what will you do with this cidevant Abbé?" + +"I have done with him something already," replied Villequier, "that +with all his art he could not prevent nor know. I found this young +Marquis of Montsoreau somewhat stubborn to counsel. He loved not the +plan of coming and lying concealed at Blois. Though he is politic and +artful at seasons himself, yet now he was all passion and fury. +Nothing would serve him but he must come to Blois in open day, with a +hundred lances at his back. He would fight his brother, it seemed, and +cut his throat. He would beard the Guise; and he would compel your +Majesty and me to fulfil our promise to the letter. That the girl had +escaped he attributed to my connivance; and, by Heavens! I almost +feared he would have laid violent hands upon me. In short, Sire, by a +little skilful teazing, I found that this same Abbé de Boisguerin, +whose credit I had once greatly shaken, had resumed the mastery, and +was urging on his former pupil to every sort of rash and violent act, +probably with the hope of getting him killed out of his way. I soothed +the good youth down, however, and told him I would give him proof of +his friend's regard. I hid him where he could hear all that passed, +and then entrapped the Abbé into talking of the paper that we had +signed for him. I told him that the person for whom your Majesty and I +destined this fair Helen, was the young Marquis of Montsoreau. I +reminded him that he had obtained that paper with an absolute and +direct view to that marriage; at least, that he had told me so; and I +asked him immediately to sign his consent to the alliance. Your +Majesty may imagine his answers; and the youth's rage was such that +most assuredly he would have broken in upon us, if I had not stationed +two men to stop him. However, he became afterwards as docile as a +lamb, was convinced, by what passed, that we had throughout been +dealing sincerely with him, and will be ready at the hour to-morrow. +When the good Abbé, perhaps, hears that the whole affair is concluded, +that Guise is gone, and your Majesty powerful, he may judge it more +wise to be silent and resigned. We can tempt him, first, with some +post; we can alarm him, if that will not do, with some peril; and +lastly, if we fail in both, then we must find some way of putting an +end to the matter altogether." + +"That will be easily done," replied the King, his mind reverting to +the Duke of Guise. "But come, Villequier, let us go and consult with +Laugnac. I told him, before you came, to seek for you and consult with +you. We must trust as few as possible in this business, and I must see +to the whole myself, for this is a step on which, if we but slip, we +fall to inevitable perdition." + + + + + CHAP. XI. + + +Was the Duke of Guise unconscious of the dangers that surrounded him? +Was he unaware that the power which he assumed, and the power which +the States also put upon him, could not but render him obnoxious in +the highest degree to the King, who, though weak and indolent, was +jealous of that authority which he failed himself to exercise for the +benefit of his people? Was the Duke ignorant that the Monarch was as +treacherous as feeble, was as remorseless as vicious? Was it unknown +to him, that to all the creatures who surrounded the King he was an +object of hatred and jealousy; and that there were ready hands and +base hearts enough to attempt any thing which the royal authority +might warrant? + +He was not so ignorant, or so unaware: he had been warned +sufficiently, days and weeks before; but even had that not been the +case, on that very night he received sufficient intimations of his +danger to put him on his guard. + +He had presided at the supper-table as Grand Master of the King's +household, and he had received his guests with easy courtesy. The meal +was over somewhat sooner than usual; and, the business of the State +being considerably slackened, in consequence of the approaching +festival of Christmas, he sat in his cabinet with Charles of +Montsoreau and Marie de Clairvaut only, enjoying an hour of +refreshment in calm and tranquil conversation upon subjects, which, +however agitating to them, was merely a matter of pleasant interest to +him. + +Charles of Montsoreau sat by his side making some notes of various +little things that the Duke told him, and Marie de Clairvaut was +seated on a stool at his feet, while he looked down upon her, from +time to time, with the sort of parental tenderness which he had +displayed towards her from her infancy. + +A pleasing sort of melancholy had come over him,--a sadness without +grief, and mingling even occasionally with gaiety. It was that sort of +present consciousness of the emptiness of all worldly things, which +every man at some moment feels, even the ambitious, the greedy, the +zealous, the passionate. Perhaps that which had brought such a mood +upon him, was the contrast of all the arrangements for his fair ward's +marriage and the deep and intense feelings which that event excited in +the bosom of herself and Charles of Montsoreau, with the eager and +fiery struggles in which he had been lately taking part, while engaged +in the dark fierce strife of ambition, or tossed in the turbid +whirlpool of political intrigue. And thus he sat, and thus he talked +with them of their future prospects and their coming happiness, +sometimes speaking seriously, nay gravely--sometimes jesting lightly, +and smiling when he had made Marie cast down her eyes. + +As he thus sat there was a tap at the door of his cabinet, and the +Duke knowing it to be the page, bade him enter; when the boy Ignati +appearing, informed him that the Count de Schomberg was without. + +"Bid him come in," replied the Duke, keeping his seat, and making a +sign for his companions not to stir. "Welcome, Schomberg," he said; +"you see that I am plotting no treason here. What do you think of my +two children? Joinville will be jealous of my eldest son. But, jesting +apart, I think you know the Count de Logères. My niece, Marie, I know +you have had many a time upon your knee in her infancy." + +Schomberg bowed to each, but gravely; and replied to the Duke, who +held out his hand to him, "My dear Duke, I wish every body were as +well persuaded that you are plotting no treason as I am. But I come to +speak to your Highness upon a matter of business. I have a warning to +give you," he added in a whisper. + +"Oh! speak it aloud; speak it aloud," replied the Duke. "If it +concerns myself, you may well speak it before these two." + +"Indeed!" said Schomberg, apparently hesitating, and running his eyes +over the tapestry, as if calculating how he had best proceed. "My good +Lord Duke," he said, at length, "I believe you know that there are few +who love you better than myself, though I neither am nor affect to be +a zealot, but rather what your people call one of the Politics." + +"I know Schomberg, what you mean," said the Duke; "you are my friend, +but not my partisan. I can make the distinction, Schomberg, and love +the friend no less. What have you to say?" + +"Why this, my Lord," replied Schomberg. "Look up above the door +there, just before your eyes. Do you see how beautifully they have +carved in the black oak the figure of a porcupine, and how all the +sharp and prickly quills stick out, ready to wound the hand that +touches it?" + +"Yes, I see," replied the Duke. "But do you know the history of that +porcupine, Schomberg?" + +"Yes," answered the Count, "I know it well, my Lord of Guise. Both in +the stonework and the woodwork of this castle, there are many such. +They were placed there, I think, my Lord--am I not right?--by an old +monarch of France, as a sort of device, to signify that whoever grasps +royalty too rudely, will suffer injury in consequence." + +The Duke smiled in the same placid mood as before, but replied, "In +the next chamber, Schomberg, which is my own bedchamber, you may see +the device of Francis the First too,--a salamander unhurt in the midst +of flames; which may be interpreted to mean, that strong courage is +never more at ease than in the midst of perils." + +A grave smile came over the face of Schomberg, to find the figures in +which he involved his warning so easily retorted by the Duke of Guise. +"I have heard of your Highness," he said, without noticing the Duke's +reply, "that not very many years ago you were known to swim against +the stream of the Loire armed at all points. You are a strong man, my +Lord Duke; but there are other streams you cannot swim against, depend +upon it." + +"Then I will try to go with the current, Schomberg," replied the Duke. +"As long as that is with me, it will bear me up." + +"But it may dash you against a rock, Duke," replied Schomberg; "and I +see one straight before you." + +He spoke sternly and impressively, and Guise listened to him with more +attention. "Speak, Schomberg, he said; speak; you may speak clearly +before them. But sit, good friend; pray thee sit. Standing there +before me, with your sad aspect and warning voice, you look like a +spectre." + +"Well, my Lord," said Schomberg, seating himself, "I have certain +information that there are evil designs against you, ripe, or almost +ripe, for execution. Your life is in danger. Guise; I tell you truly, +I tell you sincerely, and I beseech you to hear me. Your life is in +danger, and you have no time to lose if you would place it in safety." + +"Why, what would you have me to do, Schomberg?" said the Duke in a +tone not exactly indifferent, but still showing no great interest in +the subject. + +"I would have you mount your horse this night," replied Schomberg, "or +at day-break tomorrow. I would have you gather your train together, +take these two young people with you, and retiring to Paris, inform +the King that you had proof your life was not safe at Blois." + +The Duke of Guise meditated for a moment, and then replied, +"Schomberg, I cannot grasp this fear. Brought up to arms from my +youth, cradled in the tented field, with death surrounding me at every +hour of life, I cannot feel as other men might feel in moments of +peril to myself. Neither will I ever have it said of me, that I +willingly fled from my post under the apprehension of any personal +danger." + +"By our old friendship. Guise," replied Schomberg, "by our +companionship in the fields of other days, I beseech you to consider +and to judge wisely. Remember, if the vengeance of a monarch, or the +instigation of villanous courtiers, were to have success, and you were +to fall beneath the blow of an assassin, what would become of your +children, all yet in their youth? what would become of your relations +and your friends, placed, as you have placed them, on a high pinnacle, +to be aimed at by a crowd of idle minions with their bird-bolts? What +would become of your son?" + +"Joinville must make his own fame," replied the Duke, "and guard his +own rights with his own sword. I was left earlier than he is without a +parent's care; with a host of enemies around me; with my father's +name, giving me a heritage of envy and hatred; and with no support but +my own sword. With that sword I have bowed those enemies to the dust, +and Joinville must show himself worthy to bear it too." + +He paused, and meditated for a moment or two, and then added, "After +all, Schomberg, I do not see that there can be much danger. Here, in +the castle, I am as strong or stronger than the King. When I go forth, +I am so well accompanied, that it would be difficult to surprise me, +if they attacked me with numbers. A single assassin might dog my +steps, it is true; but I do not know that man upon the face of the +earth, who, hand to hand with me, would not have more than an equal +share of fear and danger. However, I will think of what you have said, +and will take good care to be more upon my guard than ever. At the +same time, Schomberg, I thank you most sincerely, and look upon your +regard as one of the best possessions that I have." + +"Guise," said Schomberg, rising and approaching the door, "I have +failed with you. But I yield not my point yet. I will send those to +you who may have more influence." + +"Stay, Schomberg, stay!" cried the Duke; but his friend passed through +the door and would not return. + +Charles of Montsoreau then raised his voice in the same cause as +Schomberg, and Marie de Clairvaut entreated anxiously that he would +yield to what had been proposed. But at them the Duke only laughed. + +"Hush, hush!" he said. "Logères, you do not know what you say. There, +kiss her and be gone. To-morrow she shall be yours, no more to part. +Say no more, silly girl; say no more. You, a child of a Guise, talk to +me of fear! Call thy maidens, get thee to thy bed, and rise to-morrow +with bright eyes and blooming cheeks. Fare thee well, sweet one. I +long to be quit of thy guardianship." + +Remonstrance was useless, and they parted; and the Duke of Guise +sitting down for a moment, gave himself up to thought. His eyes were +fixed upon the dark tapestry opposite, where was depicted a woody +scene, the particulars of which could not be well distinguished by the +dim light of the lamp. + +After he had gazed for a moment or two, however, his eyes assumed a +peculiar expression, a fixed, intense, and somewhat bewildered stare. +He passed his hand twice before them, as if he felt them dim or +dazzled; then clasped his hands together and gazed, still muttering to +himself, "Strange, very strange! It is there still!" And starting up +from the table, he seized the lamp, and advanced directly towards the +side of the room on which his eyes had been fixed, still gazing +stedfastly on the same spot. At length, as he approached close to the +wall, his features relaxed, and he said with a smile, "It is gone! +These delusions of the sight are wonderful!" + +He had not yet returned to his seat, when the door on his right hand +opened gently, and the form of a woman glided in. It was that of the +beautiful being with whom he had parted in some anger at the King's +ball, and she gazed at him, evidently surprised to see him standing +with the lamp in his hand close to the wall, on a side where there was +no exit. + +"In the name of Heaven, Guise! what is the matter?" she said. "I heard +you speaking as I came in. You are pale; your lip quivers!" + +"It is nothing; it is nothing," replied the Duke, putting down the +lamp, and taking her hand. "This is, indeed, dear and kind of you, +Charlotte. I trusted, I was sure, that your anger for a light offence +would not last long." + +"It would have lasted long, Guise," she said, "or at least its effects +would not have passed away, had it not been for the warning that I +have received concerning you. Guise, you would not have seen me +now--you would never have seen me in these rooms again----" + +"Nay, nay," interrupted the Duke, "traduce not so your own nature. Say +not that a few unthinking words would render her so harsh, who is so +gentle." + +"They were not unthinking words, Henry of Guise," replied the Lady. +"They were words of deep meaning, to be read and understood at once. +Think you that I could misunderstand them? Think you that I could not +read that Guise would not suffer the pure to dwell with the impure? +However," she added quickly, seeing that the Duke was going to +interrupt her, "let me speak of other things. I was about to say that +you would not have seen me this night, you would never have seen me in +these chambers again, had I not learned that your life was in danger; +and then my fears for you showed me that my love was unchanged, and I +came, at all risks, to warn you, and to beseech you to be gone." + +"Nay, nay," replied the Duke. "How can I be gone when you are here, +Charlotte? And, besides, there is no real danger. It is Schomberg has +frightened you, I know. He came here with the same tale; but I showed +him there was no danger." + +"It was not from Schomberg!" said Madame de Noirmontier vehemently. "I +have never seen Schomberg since I have been here. It was from the +Queen; it was from Catherine herself that I heard it. She told me to +tell you; she told me to warn you. Her son, she said, had not divulged +to her his scheme; but from her knowledge of the man, and from the +words he used, she was certain that he would attempt your life within +three days." + +"Then his attempt will fail, dear Charlotte," said the Duke, holding +her hand tenderly in his. "Fear not for me; I am fully upon my guard; +and in this château, and this town, am stronger than the King +himself." + +"Oh Guise, Guise, you are deceiving yourself," she said, bursting into +tears. "Twice I have been at your door this night, but the page told +me there was some one with you; and now I have come determined not to +leave you, till I see you making preparations to depart. Let me +entreat you, let me beseech you," she continued, as Guise wiped away +her tears. "Nay, Guise, nay; in this I will take no refusal. If not +for your own sake, for my love you shall fly. You shall treat me ill, +as you did before, again and again. You shall make a servant of me--a +slave. You will not surely refuse me, when you see me kneeling at your +feet." And she sunk upon her knees before him, and clasped her fair +hands in entreaty. The Duke was raising her tenderly, when the page's +knock was heard at the door; and before he could well give the command +to enter, the boy was in the room. + +"My Lord," he said, "there is Monsieur Chapelle Marteau, and several +other gentlemen, desiring earnestly to speak with you." + +Madame de Noirmontier looked wildly round the room, and seemed about +to pass through the door by which the page had entered. "Be not +alarmed," said the Duke, "you cannot pass there, Charlotte. These men +will not be with me above a few minutes. Pass into that room, and wait +till they are gone. I have a thousand things to say to you, and will +dismiss them soon." + +After a moment's hesitation she did as he directed, and turning to the +page, the Duke bade him admit the party who were waiting without. It +consisted of Chapelle Marteau, the President de Neuilli, a gentleman +of the name of Mandreville, the Duke's brother the Cardinal de Guise, +and the Archbishop of Lyons. + +The Duke received them with that winning grace for which he was +famous, and soon learned from them that their visit was owing to the +information received from the Count de Schomberg. Every one then +present, but the Archbishop of Lyons, urged him strongly to quit Blois +immediately. They had come in a body, they said, in hopes that their +remonstrances might have the greater effect. Each had heard in the +course of the evening those rumours which generally announce great +events; some had been told that the Duke was arrested; some that he +had been absolutely assassinated in the gardens of the château; and +some that the act was to be performed that night by a number of +soldiers, who had been privately introduced into the castle. + +Guise listened silently and with great attention, displaying in +demeanour every sort of deference and respect for the opinions of +those who showed such an interest in his fate. He replied, however, +that he trusted and hoped that both the rumours they had heard, and +the intelligence given by Schomberg, originated in nothing but +mistaken words, or in those idle and unfounded reports which always +multiply themselves in moments of great political agitation and +excitement. Besides this, he said, even if the King were disposed to +attempt his life, the execution of such an act would be very +difficult, if not impossible; and that, considering before all things +his duty to his country, the very fact of the King seeking such a +thing ought to be the strongest reason for his stay, inasmuch as the +Monarch's animosity could only be excited towards him out of enmity to +the Catholic Church, and a disposition to repress and tyrannise over +the States. + +"If such be his feelings," continued the Duke, "we must consider +ourselves as two armies in presence of each other, and the one that +retreats of course awards the victory to his adversary." + +The Archbishop of Lyons, perhaps, was the person who decided the fate +of the Duke of Guise; for had the party which came to him been +unanimous and urgent in their remonstrance, there is a probability +that he would have yielded; but the Archbishop seemed doubtful and +undecided. He said that he thought, indeed, it might be well the Duke +should go; at least for a time. But they had to consider, also, the +probabilities of the King making any attempt upon the Duke. Though +weak, timid, and indolent, Henry was shrewd and farseeing, he said. +The only result that could follow an attempt upon a person so beloved +by the whole nation, and especially by the States, as the Duke of +Guise, would be to arm the people of France in an instant against the +sovereign authority. This the King must well know, he continued; and +that consideration made him less eager upon the subject, though he +thought it might be as well that his Highness should retire for a +time. + +His speech more than counterbalanced the exhortations of all the rest; +and from that moment the resolution of the Duke became immovable. His +dauntless mind, which might have yielded had he stood absolutely alone +in opinion, came instantly to the conclusion, that if there were a +single individual who doubted whether he should fly or not, he himself +ought to decide upon remaining. He made no answer to the Archbishop's +speech, but suffered Mandreville to combat his arguments without +interruption. That gentleman replied that Henry, far from being the +person represented, though cunning, was any thing but prudent. Had +they ever seen, he demanded, the cunning of the King, even in the +least degree, restrain or control him? Had the self-evident risk of +his throne, of his life, and of the welfare of his people, ever made +him pause in the commission of one frantic, vicious, or criminal act? +He was no better, the deputy said, than a cunning madman, such as was +frequently seen, who, having determined upon any act, however absurd +or evil might be the consequences, even to the destruction of his own +self, would arrive at it by some means, and go directly to his +purpose, in despite of all obstacles. He contended that they had good +reason to know that the King devised evil against the Duke; and they +might depend upon it that no consideration of policy, right, or +religion, would prevent him from executing his purpose by some means. + +He spoke truly, and with more thorough insight into the character of +the King than any one previously had done; but the resolution of the +Duke of Guise, as we have said before, was already taken. + +"My good friends," he said in conclusion, "I thank you most sincerely, +and I shall ever feel grateful for the interest that you have taken in +me, and for your anxiety regarding me on the present occasion. But my +resolution is taken, and must be unalterable. I cannot but acknowledge +that the view of Monsieur de Mandreville may have much truth in it; +but, nevertheless, matters are now at such a point, that if I were to +see death coming in at that window, I would not seek the door." + +Against a determination so forcibly expressed, there was, of course, +no possibility of holding further argument; and after a word or two +more on different subjects of less interest--the Duke of Guise +replying as briefly as possible to every thing that was said--the +party took their leave and retired. + + + + + CHAP. XII. + + +There was at that time a large open space round the church of St. +Sauveur, in Blois, where the people from the country used occasionally +to exhibit their fruits and flowers for sale; and exactly opposite the +great door of the church stood a large and splendid mansion, with an +internal court-yard, part of which had been let to some of the +deputies for the States-General. The principal floor, however, +consisting of sixteen rooms, and several large passages and corridors, +had been left untenanted, in consequence of the proprietor asking an +exorbitant rent, till two or three days before the period of which we +speak. Then, however, the apartment was taken suddenly, a number of +attendants in new and splendid dresses appeared therein; and, as we +have seen from the account of Villequier to the King, the Abbé de +Boisguerin arrived in Blois, with a splendid train of attendants, and +took up his abode as the master of that dwelling. + +About the same time that the conversations which we have detailed in +the last chapter were going on in the cabinet of the Duke of Guise, +the Abbé was seated in one of the rooms, which he had fixed upon for +his own peculiar saloon. It was very customary in those days, and in +France, for every chamber, except a great hall of reception, to be +used also as a bed-room. But that was not the case in this instance; +for the chamber, which was small, though very lofty, had been used by +the former occupants as a cabinet, and had been chosen by the Abbé +probably on account of its being so completely detached from every +other chamber, that no sound of what was done or said therein could be +overheard by any one. + +He sat in a large arm-chair, with his feet towards the fire, and with +his right elbow resting on a table covered with various sorts of +delicacies. Those delicacies, however, were not the productions of the +land in which he then lived, but rather such as he had been accustomed +to in other days, and which recalled former habits of life. There were +fine dried fruits from the Levant, tunny and other fish from the +Mediterranean; and the wines, though inferior to those of France, were +from foreign vineyards. + +Before him was standing a man whom we have had occasion to mention +more than once--that Italian vagabond named Orbi, from whom, it may be +remembered, Charles of Montsoreau delivered the boy Ignati. He was now +dressed in a very different guise, however, from that which he had +borne while wandering as a mere stroller from house to house. His +shaggy black hair was trimmed and smooth; his beard was partially +shaved and reduced to fair proportions, with a sleek mustachio, well +turned and oiled, gracing his upper lip; his face, too, was clean; and +a suit somewhat sombre in colour, but of good materials, displaying in +the ruff and at the sleeves a great quantity of fine white linen and +rich lace, left scarcely a vestige of the fierce Italian vagabond, +half bravo, half minstrel, which he had appeared not a year before. + +The conversation which was going on between him and the master he now +served, was evidently one of great interest. The Abbé's wine remained +half finished in the glass; the preserved fruits upon his plate were +scarcely tasted; and he exclaimed, "So, so! Villequier sends me no +answer to my letter! A bare message, by word of mouth, that the Duke +of Guise wills it to be so; and that the Duke's will is all powerful +at the Court of France! The King sets at nought his own royal word, +does he?" + +"He said something, sir," said the Italian, "about his knowing, and +the King also, that they must pay a penalty; but that no sum was to be +grudged, rather than offend the Duke at this time." + +"Sum!" cried the Abbé de Boisguerin, starting up and pushing the chair +vehemently from him. "What is any sum to me?" And with flashing eyes, +and a countenance all inflamed, he strode up and down the chamber for +a moment or two, with his heart swelling with bitterness and +disappointed passion. "A curse upon this bungling hand," he cried, +striking it upon the table, "that it should fail me at such a moment +as that! I thought the young viper had been swept from my way for +ever!--My aim was steady and true, too! His heart must be in some +other place than other men's." + +"Ha! my Lord," joined in the Italian in the tone of a connoisseur, +"the arquebus is a pretty weapon, I dare say, in a general battle, but +it is desperate uncertain in private affairs like that. You can never +tell, to an inch or two, where the ball will hit. But, with a dagger, +you can make sure to a button-hole; and even if there should be a +struggle, it is always quite easy so to salve the point of your blade, +that you make sure of your friend, even if you give him but a scratch. +Now the attempt to poison a ball is all nonsense, for the fire +destroys the venom." + +"At what hour said you, Orbi?" demanded the Abbé, without attending to +his dissertation. + +"Half an hour before high mass," replied the man, "the marriage is to +take place." + +Again the Abbé de Boisguerin burst into a vehement fit of passion, and +strode up and down the room cursing and blaspheming, till accidentally +his eyes fell upon a small Venetian mirror, and the aspect of his own +countenance, ordinarily so calm and unmoved, now distorted by rage and +disappointment, made him start. A smile of scorn, even at himself, +curled his lip; and calming his countenance by a great effort, he +again seated himself, and mused for a moment. + +"This must not, and shall not be," he said at length. "Orbi, you are +an experienced hand, and doubtless dexterous. Will you stop this going +forward?" + +The man smiled, stroked back his mustachios, and replied, "I thought +you would be obliged to take my way at last. Well, Monseigneur, I have +no objection; but the time is short. I told you what I expected for +such an affair when I offered to do it in Paris." + +"You shall have it! you shall have it!" replied the Abbé. "But if you +do it, so that no suspicion ever falls on me, you shall have as much +again this day two years; for nothing but the lives of these two young +men stands between me and immense wealth." + +"The worst of it all is," said the Italian, "that there is so short a +time. It is to take place in the castle chapel; so there will be no +going through the streets. To find him alone will be a matter of +difficulty; and though I went over the passages, thinking it might +come to this, yet I saw no one place, but at the door of the room +called the revestry, where one could strike easily." + +"I have seen the place," said the Abbé, "long ago; but I do not +remember it so perfectly as to give you any aid. I know that the +window of the room you mention looks into the court and gardens, and +under the garden wall shall be a swift horse to bear you away. That is +all I can do for you." + +"I must do the rest for myself," replied the man, "and will find some +means, depend upon it. Perhaps he may not wait for the other if he be +eager, but may come first by himself, and then it will be easily done. +However, I will now go and get the dagger ready, and I can undertake +that the least scratch shall not leave an hour's life in him." + +The Abbé de Boisguerin nodded his head and smiled as the other +departed. "They know not," he said to himself, "they know not the man +they have to deal with. These mighty men, these haughty Guises, may +find that every man of strong determination and unflinching courage +may thwart, if he cannot master, them; may destroy their plans, if he +cannot accomplish his own. But there is another still to be dealt +with. There is this proud, unfeeling, contemptuous girl; she who +has been rejoicing in the reappearance of this crafty fair-faced +boy.--There is now no going back; and why should I not risk life to +win her too, and gratify both my love and my revenge?--Yet that seems +scarcely possible," he continued. "Closely watched within the castle, +never going out but strongly accompanied, she is put, it would seem, +entirely out of my power, now that Villequier has fallen off from +me.--And yet," he continued meditating, "and yet, there is nothing +impossible to the dauntless and the daring.--Could I not bring her to +the postern gate of the garden an hour before this marriage is to take +place, and then, with swift horses and a carriage ready, convey her +once more far away?--We have done as bold and difficult a feat before; +and methinks, if I could tell her that I have news to give her +concerning her uncle's safety--for rumours of his danger must have +reached her ears--she will not fail to come, and come alone.--Oh! if I +once more get her in my power, she shall find no means to fly again, +till, on the contrary, she shall be more inclined to kneel at my feet, +and beseech that I would wed her.--So it shall be! I will write to her +that, if at ten o'clock she will be alone at the postern gate of the +castle, she will hear news that may save her uncle's life. Then, with +the swiftest horses we can find, a few hours will take us far from +pursuit!--I will carry her into Spain! Epernon is with me and the +way open!--It shall be done!" he said aloud; "it shall be done! But, +then, this boy's death is scarcely needful! Why should I mind his +living?--It will be but the greater torture to him to know that she is +mine!--And yet, it were better he should die. All the tidings, and the +rumours, and the bustle of his violent death in the castle will too +much occupy the minds of men to let them notice our flight; so that we +shall gain an hour or two. There is an eager and a daring spirit, +also, within him--a keen and active mind--which might frustrate me +once more in the very moment of hope. He must die! I have set my own +life upon the chance; and what matters it whether one or two others +are swept away before me? He must die! and then, without protection, +she is mine. Once into Tourraine, and I am safe!--Ha! you are back +again quickly, my good friend Orbi. Is all ready?" + +"Everything, sir," replied the man; "and if I could but get into the +château, and stumble upon the youth alone, I might be able to +accomplish the matter to-night. Could you not furnish me with a billet +to this Villequier, or some one? It matters not what; any empty words, +just to make them admit me at the gates." + +"Not to Villequier," said the Abbé; "not to Villequier. But I will +write a few words to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut herself." + +"That will do well! that will do well!" replied the man. "I am more +likely to find him hanging about her apartments than any where else; +and then one slight blow does the deed." + +"Bring me paper and pens from the next room," cried the Abbé. "It +shall be done this moment." And as soon as implements for writing were +procured, he wrote a subtle epistle to Marie de Clairvaut, beseeching +her to speak for a moment, at the postern gate of the château gardens +early on the following day, to a person who would communicate +something to her, which might save the life of her guardian the Duke +of Guise. It was written in a feigned hand, and under the character of +an utter stranger to her. Some mistakes too were made in the +orthography of her name, and in regard to other circumstances, for the +purpose of rendering the deception complete. When this was concluded +and sealed, he placed it in the hands of Orbi, and after a few more +words they parted. + +While the Abbé busied himself in causing a carriage to be bought for +the proposed enterprise of the following day, and in ordering the +swiftest horses that could be found, to be obtained--not from the +royal post, by which his course might have been tracked, but from one +of the keepers of _relais_, as the irregular posting houses were +called, which were then tolerated in France; the Italian proceeded on +his task, with feelings in his heart which might well have been +received as a reason for abating the price of the deed he was about to +perform. + +To tell the truth it might be considered fully as much his own act as +that of the Abbé, for the same malevolent feelings were in the hearts +of each; and he went not there merely as the common hired assassin, to +do the work of his trade, as a matter of course; but he went also to +avenge a long remembered blow, which still rankled in his heart, with +the same bitterness that he had felt at the moment that it was +received. + +He met with some difficulty in obtaining entrance to the château at so +late an hour of the night; but the letter addressed to Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut enabled him to effect that object at length, and he was +directed towards the suite of apartments assigned to the Duke of Guise +and his family. When he had once passed the two first gates, he met +with no obstruction, but wandered through the long dimly lighted +corridors, scarcely encountering a waking being on his way, and +certainly none who seemed inclined to speak to him. + +When he had reached that part of the building to which he had been +directed, he looked round for some one to give him farther +information, not absolutely intending to seek the apartments of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and deliver the note, but merely to obtain +a general knowledge of how the different chambers were allotted. After +passing on some way, without meeting any one or hearing a sound, he +saw a door half open, with the light streaming out, and quietly +approaching he looked in. + +There was a boy in the dress of a page, sitting before a large +Christmas fire reading a book; but though he walked stealthily, the +first step which the Italian took in the room caught the youth's quick +ear, and starting up he showed the Italian the face of his former +bondman, Ignatius Marone. The man started when he saw him; but +recovering himself instantly, he went up and endeavoured to soothe the +boy with fair and flattering words. + +"Ah, my little Ignati," he said, "here thou art then, and doubtless +well off with this young Lord of thine." + +"I _am_ well off, Signor Orbi," was the boy's brief reply; and seeing +that the man paused and kept gazing round him, the boy added, "But +what is your business here?" + +"I am only looking about me," replied the man in somewhat of a +contemptuous tone, which he could not smother, although it was his +full intention to cajole the boy into giving him all the information +he wanted, and perhaps even to induce him unconsciously to aid his +purpose. + +"Come, come, Signor Orbi," replied the boy, "I know you well, +remember; and I know, that though you may have changed your doublet, +you cannot have changed what is within it. If you do not say +immediately what you want, I will call those who will make you." And +he approached one of the other doors which the room displayed, and +raised his hand towards the latch. + +"Hist, hist, Ignati!" cried the Italian. "By Heavens! if you do, you +shall never hear what I have got to tell you,--something that would +make your heart beat with joy if you knew it." + +"And what is that?" said the boy, still standing near the door, and +looking at his fellow-countryman with a face of scorn and doubt. + +"Come hither, and I will tell you," said the Italian; but the boy +shook his head, and Orbi added in a low tone, "You know who your +mother was, Ignati; but do you know your father?" + +The boy gazed at him bitterly and in silence, without making any +further answer; and the man added, "He is now in Blois." + +Ignati instantly sprang forward towards him, exclaiming, "Where? +Where? Where can I find him? I have still the letter from my dead +mother. I have still all the proofs given me by the Marone. Where is +he? where is he?" + +"Come, let us sit down by the fire," said the man, "and I will tell +thee more;" and finding the boy now quite willing to do what he +wished, the man sat down by the fire with him, calculating the various +results of particular lines of conduct open before him, but without +suffering any one good principle or feeling to mingle at all with his +considerations. + +He had spoken the words which had called Ignati to him simply as a +matter of impulse, and the first question he asked himself was, +whether he should tell the boy more of the truth or not. Various +considerations, however, induced him to go on, for he had a little +scheme in his head which rendered it expedient for him to embarrass +the proceedings of the Abbé de Boisguerin, on the following morning +after the deed proposed was done, as much as possible. + +"You know, Ignati," he said, "that I always loved you, my good youth." + +"You gave me bitter proofs of it," replied Ignati. + +"Nay, nay; it was my way," replied the Italian. "If you had been my +own son, it would have been the same." + +"I dare say," replied Ignati, "you would have murdered your own son +almost as readily as you tried to murder me." + +"Nay, boy, I tried not to murder thee," rejoined the man. "I was not +such a fool; that would never have answered my purpose." + +"You did it by halves," said the boy. "But come, Master Orbi, tell me +more about this matter you spoke of; and tell me too what brings you +here? Where is my father to be found, if, as you say, he is here?" + +"He is to be found," said Orbi, "in the great house by the church of +St. Sauveur. I remember him well, for when your mother fled out of +Rome before you were born, and was glad to get what assistance she +could, she sent me three times back into the city to speak with the +Abbé of Laurans, as he was then called." + +"And what is he called now?" exclaimed Ignati eagerly. "What is he +called now?" + +"He is called the Abbé de Boisguerin," replied the man, "or the +Seigneur de Boisguerin, as it now is." + +"Then I have seen him," cried Ignati. "Then I have seen him; and he +called her----" But the boy suddenly checked himself, "And now, what +is it you want here?" he said. + +"No harm, Master Ignati," replied the man, with a look half sneering, +half dogged. "You seem as grateful as any one else, and as soon as you +get all you want, you turn upon one. I suppose you are waiting for +your young master coming back from some gay revel, for the whole place +seems as silent as if every body were gone to bed but you." + +"Oh, no," answered Ignati. "There are six of the Duke's men sitting up +in the next room; and all I fear is, that the gentlemen who are with +the Duke himself should come out and find you here." + +"Then, I suppose, your master is with them," said the Italian. + +The boy smiled. "My master is with them," he said, "for my master is +the Duke of Guise; but if you mean the young Count who took me from +you, he has been gone to bed an hour ago. Ay, Master Orbi, and has two +stout men sleeping across his door. I hav'n't forgot that he struck +you a blow one day; nor you either, it seems." + +"You are out there, Sharp-wits," said the Italian. "I bear the boy no +grudge. I got his money, if he gave me a blow into the bargain; so we +are quits." + +"I doubt you," muttered Ignati to himself; but the man went on without +attending to him, saying, "No, no; what I came for really, if you want +to know, was to give a letter to a young lady here, from an old +gentleman at the other side of the castle. Here it is! Ma'mselle de +Clairvaut is the name." + +"Ay, she is gone to bed long ago too," replied the page. "Let me look +at the letter." + +"It is of no great consequence, I believe," replied the Italian, who +fancied the letter a mere pretext. "It is of no great consequence; all +about a Persian cat, I believe. So you may take it and give it her +to-morrow, if she is gone to bed now. There it is. But how is it you +are not with the young Count now? The Duke of Guise!--Page to the Duke +of Guise! Why, that is a step, indeed!" + +"Hush!" cried Ignati, hearing the door of the Duke's cabinet open +behind the arras. "Hush! get you gone with all speed! They are coming +out; and if they find you here, I would not answer for your ears, or +my own either." + +The man started up, and ran out of the door by which he had entered, +as fast as possible. But he had scarcely made his escape, when the +tapestry which covered the doorway into the Duke's cabinet was drawn +aside, and the Cardinal de Guise, with the Archbishop of Lyons, and +the rest of Leaguers, came forth from their conference with the Duke. + + + + + CHAP. XIII. + + +It is now necessary to turn to other apartments in the château +of Blois: namely, a suite inhabited by the King himself. It +comprised--besides several others both above and below--the King's +bed-room, into which opened four doors--one communicating with the +Monarch's private staircase, which we have already spoken of--one to +the right entering into a small dressing-room--one to the left, which +gave admittance to a chamber called the old cabinet--and one +communicating by a short and narrow passage with the large chamber, +which, during the residence of the King at Blois, was employed as a +council-room. The walls of the council-room were bare; but those of +the King's chamber and the two cabinets were lined throughout with +rich old tapestry. + +Before five o'clock on the morning of the 23d of December, Henry had +risen from his bed and dressed himself in haste, and as soon as his +toilet was completed, one of his valets was dispatched with all speed +to bear a message, which had already been entrusted to him. The King +then passed out of his dressing-room into his bed-chamber, holding a +light in his hand, and approached the door which led to the private +staircase. There was eagerness and much anxiety in his countenance, +and his eyes were fixed upon the top of the stairs with an intense +gaze, which seemed to strain them from their orbits. + +At length a heavy foot was heard ascending, and then several more, and +in a moment after the head and shoulders of an armed man, carrying a +light, appeared at the mouth of the staircase. + +"Ah, Laugnac, this is well!" cried the King, as soon as he saw him. +"You are punctual and prepared, I see. Whom have you with you?" + +"Nine of my most determined fellows, Sire," replied Laugnac. "There is +not one, indeed, of the Forty-five that would not shed his life's +blood for your Majesty. But these gentlemen I know well for men who +would kill the devil himself, I believe, if you were to bid them." + +As he spoke, half a dozen steps behind him appeared, man after man, +nine of the Gascon band, called the "Quarante-cinq," in whose +countenances might be read that sort of remorseless determination, +which was suited to the moment and the deed, and whose frames +displayed the strength requisite to execute whatever violent act was +entrusted to them. + +"This is well; this is well," said the King, as they entered. "But +where is Larchant, Laugnac?" + +"He remained behind, Sire," replied the other, "as it will be +necessary to secure the doors of the council-chamber. Whenever the +enemy has entered, he will come round and join your Majesty." + +"I should like to have some one with me in the cabinet," said the +King. "Run and tell Ornano, Bonnivet, and la Grange, to come to me," +he continued, speaking to a valet. "Bring them by the back staircase." + +The valet went away with a pale countenance, feeling all the agitation +which such events might well produce; and while he was gone, the King, +after asking Laugnac if he had explained to his companions what was +the task in which they were about to be employed, addressed them all +in a short speech, not without eloquence and fire. + +When he had concluded, he made Laugnac open one of the large chests +which formed the window-seats of his bed-room, and taking thence a +number of long, sharp, and well-pointed knives, he gave them with his +own hands to the assassins, saying, "Here, gentlemen, are the avengers +of your liberty and mine! and I command and authorise you to use them +for the punishment of the greatest criminal in my kingdom. Every law, +divine and human, requires his death; and where power prevents the +ordinary course of justice from taking place, it is a right and a +privilege of the sovereign to execute judgment by any means that +present themselves! Now, follow me, gentlemen!" And leading them on to +the other side of the chamber, he posted them himself,--the principal +part of them in the old cabinet, and the rest behind the arras round +the door of the bed-room itself. Most of those even who were in the +cabinet were concealed also behind the arras near the entrance, and +the door was left open. + +By the time this had been arranged a page had entered the King's +bed-room, and now informed him that the gentlemen he had sent for had +arrived, adding, "Monsieur de Nambu is there also, Sire, saying you +told him last night to come at this hour." + +"I did, I did," said the King. "Bid them all come up;" and greeting +the others briefly, he took Nambu by the arm and led him into the +passage which conducted to the council-chamber. Through the door which +led thither voices were heard speaking beyond. + +"Stay there, Nambu," he said in a whisper, "and let no one pass +without my especial order. The council cannot have begun its sitting +yet, for it is still dark, I see." + +"As I passed by I saw into the room," said Nambu, "and there were none +but ushers and such people: but I heard that the Duke had been sent +for according to the commands your Majesty gave last night." + +The King then left him, and returned into his room, where he found +Laugnac and the rest of the gentlemen, whom he led towards the door of +his dressing-room. + +"I have taken off my head-piece and cuirass, Sire," said Laugnac, "as +I intend to remain here at the door of your Majesty's dressing-room +till the matter is settled, and the sight of arms might scare the +prey." + +"Right, right, Laugnac!" replied the King. "Bid the page send for +Revol by the back staircase. We shall want him to fetch the Duke." +And, this said, he retired into his cabinet. + +The page ran round at once to the door of the council-chamber, where +he found Revol just about to enter; and whispering a word to him, the +Secretary of State gave the bag of papers which he had in his hand to +one of the ushers, bidding him hold it till he returned, and followed +the King's domestic, forbidding the servants, who had accompanied him +thither, to go any farther. The spot where they remained was the large +open space at the top of the great staircase, and a number of other +persons were there collected, while the company of the King's guard +might be seen at the foot of the staircase, not, indeed, under arms, +or drawn up in regular order, but waiting apparently for the arrival +of some one to give them directions. + +After the departure of Revol, the statesmen who had been summoned to +the council arrived rapidly one after the other. The Cardinal of +Vendôme was amongst the first, and then followed the Marshals de Retz +and d'Aumont. Some other members of the council came next, and then +the Archbishop of Lyons. But still neither the Cardinal de Guise nor +the Duke had made their appearance. Time was now wearing on, and +occasionally a page, or valet-de-chambre, known to belong to the King, +was seen to come and speak with some of the people at the top of the +staircase, and then return suddenly. + +While this was going on, a boy, bearing the habiliments of a page of +the Duke of Guise, passed along at the foot of the staircase; and, +seeing a number of archers of the guard collected there, he ran +lightly up the steps and mingled with the various persons collected. +He passed rapidly along from one to another, as if he was looking for +some person, spoke to two or three of those whose faces he knew, and +then hurrying away down the stairs, passed with a step of light to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise. He found that Prince just quitting +his cabinet and entering the antechamber. A number of gentlemen and +officers followed him, but the boy advanced straight towards him with +a degree of familiarity, neither insolent nor ungraceful, and kissing +his hand said, with his slight Italian accent, "May so humble a being +as I am detain your Highness for one moment?" + +"What is it, Ignati? Speak!" said the Duke of Guise, "I am already +late for the council, my good boy." + +"Your Highness promised to grant me any favour I asked," replied the +boy, "and as the greatest at this moment, I ask to speak with your +Highness alone." + +"What is it?" said the Duke somewhat impatiently; "what is it?" And he +drew him a little on one side, motioning the rest to remain. + +"My Lord," said Ignati, "there is danger going forward, I am sure. +All the archers of the guard are at the foot of the staircase; +there are many strange faces, not usually seen at the door of the +council-chamber. Twice I saw a servant of the King's come and speak to +Henville, and hearing you had not arrived, go round again, as if by +the back staircase, to the King's apartments. I am sure, sir, there is +something wrong." + +The Duke smiled, but it was somewhat thoughtfully. "Thank you, my good +boy," he said. "I know rumours often precede the act; but I cannot +pause to consider such things now." + +"Oh, sir, think!" the boy ventured to exclaim; "think how the welfare +of the State and the welfare of a thousand individuals depend entirely +upon your safety. What would become of me? What would become of the +young Count and his bride, if----" + +"Ay, well bethought," replied the Duke. "Bring me here paper and the +ink-horn;" and when the boy brought them, Guise bent down over a large +coffer that stood near, and wrote a few lines. + +"Take that to the Count," he said, as soon as he had finished writing. +"Quick, Ignati: but, after all, these warnings are but nonsense. There +is nobody in France dares do it. Look, I have delayed too long. Here +comes a messenger from the King." + +"As I find your Highness coming," said the usher, approaching the +Duke, "it is needless, perhaps, to deliver the King's message: but I +was directed to say to your Highness that the council waited, and that +His Majesty was extremely anxious that the business of the day should +go on, as he wished to proceed to Clery in time for dinner. If your +Highness were not well, he said, perhaps you would not object to the +council being held without you." + +"You see!" said the Duke in a low voice, turning towards Ignati with a +smile, "you see!" And following the usher, he walked on upon his way +towards the council-chamber. + +At the bottom of the staircase he found Larchant and the whole body of +archers of the guard, who now pressed round him somewhat closely. + +"What is it, Larchant? what is it, my good friend?" said the Duke. +"Your presence here is unusual, I think." + +"We are here, your Highness," replied Larchant, "to solicit in a body +your mediation with the King. You promised me yesterday, my Lord, that +you would present our petition to his Majesty, and advocate our cause +in the council. These poor fellows have not received any pay for +months; I might almost say years." + +"I did advocate your cause, yesterday," said the Duke, "and his +Majesty graciously sent an order upon the treasurer by one of the +ushers." + +"But the treasurer ungraciously told us, sir, that there was not a +sous in his coffers," replied Larchant; and the Duke taking the paper +out of his hand, began to mount the stairs, saying, "I will see to it, +Larchant; I will see to it." + +Larchant and the archers followed him up the steps, still pressing +close upon him; and he heard a low deep voice say from the midst of +them, "Look to yourself, my Lord Duke, there are bad men abroad!" + +The Duke passed on, however, without notice and entered the hall of +the council, the ushers drawing back with low bows as he appeared, and +throwing open the doors for him to go in. The moment after those fatal +doors had closed behind him, the archers drew up across them at the +head of the stairs. Larchant hurried away towards the chamber of the +King, and Villequier, passing rapidly by, said in a low voice to one +of the attendants, "Go down to Monsieur de Crillon, at the Corps de +Garde; tell him to shut and guard the gates, as the Duke has gone in." + +Though he spoke low, he seemed little to heed who listened to the +words; and they were heard by the boy Ignati, who, with the painful +conviction that some great evil was about to befall the Duke, had +followed him step by step to the council-chamber. The boy put his hand +to his brow with a look of painful anxiety, and darted away once more +towards the apartments of the Duke of Guise. The first person he met +with there was Pericard, the Duke's secretary; and grasping his arm, +he exclaimed, "They will murder him! they will murder him! They are +closing the gates of the castle and guarding them!" + +Pericard rushed to one of the windows that looked out into the court. +"Too true, indeed!" he exclaimed. "Too true, indeed! It may be yet +time to save him though. Run quick, Ignati, and get one of the +Duke's handkerchiefs while I write." And with a rapid hand he wrote +down,--"My Lord, your death is resolved. They are barring and guarding +the gates. I beseech you come out from the hall of the council to your +own apartments. We can make them good against all the world, till the +town rises to protect you." + +Before he had done, the boy was back again with the handkerchief; and +enveloping the note therein, Pericard gave it to him, exclaiming, +"Fly, fly with that to the door of the council-chamber, Ignati. The +ushers will let you in, surely, to give it to the Duke, if you say +that he has forgotten his handkerchief." + +"They have let me in before," said Ignati; "but I doubt it now. I will +try and make my way at all events." + +Again he flew to the top of the staircase, and, as if a matter of +course, pushed up towards the door, endeavouring to force his way +through the archers. + +"Stand back, saucy spright," cried one of the men; "you cannot pass +here." + +"But I must pass," cried the boy, turning upon him with a fierce air +of authority. "I am the Duke of Guise's page, and bring him his +handkerchief, which he forgot. Make way, saucy archer, or I will teach +you to whom you speak." + +"Listen to the insolence of these Guisards," said the man. "But their +day is over. Stand back, fool, or I'll knock you down with my +partisan." + +The boy laid his hand upon his dagger, still striving to push forward; +and the man, without further words, struck him a blow over the head +with the staff of his halbert, which laid him prostrate upon the +ground. For a moment he seemed stunned, but then, starting up, he +turned away, and went down the stairs, bursting into tears ere he +reached the bottom, not with the pain of the blow he had received, but +with the bitter conviction that the last effort had failed, and the +fate of Guise was sealed. + +In the meantime the Duke of Guise entered the council-room, carrying +in his hand the petition of the guards. Every one rose at his +approach; and as the greater part of those present were personally +friendly towards him, he went round and spoke to them with his usual +grace and suavity, and then laying the petition on the table, +approached the fire, saying, "It is awfully cold this morning! Has not +his Majesty yet appeared?" + +"Not yet," replied the Cardinal de Guise, "though we expected him +before, for he sent down to hasten our coming. But what is the matter +with your Highness? there is blood trickling over your mustachio." + +"The cold has made my nose bleed twice this morning," replied the +Duke, and putting his hand in his pocket he said, "My people have been +negligent; they have forgotten to give me a handkerchief. St Prix," he +continued, turning his head to one of the King's valets-de-chambre, +who stood on the inside of the door communicating with the King's +apartments. "I wish you would send to my rooms for a handkerchief. You +will find some of my people at the door." + +"There are plenty, my Lord, belonging to the King," replied St. Prix, +"in this little cabinet:" and crossing the hall of the council, he +took one out and gave it to the Duke, who thanked him graciously, and +still sitting by the fire fell into a deep fit of thought. Suddenly, +however, he turned pale; his eyes assumed the same expression as they +had done the night before, when he had fancied he saw a figure in the +room with him, and taking a small silver bonbonnière from his pocket, +he opened it, as if seeking for something that it usually contained, +saying at the same time, "I feel very faint!--My people have neglected +every thing," he added, "this morning." + +Several members of the council gathered round him, and St. Prix, the +valet, brought him from the cabinet where the handkerchief had been +found, some of the dried plums of Brignolles, which were then held as +a restorative. The Duke took one of them and ate it, and placed the +others in the bonbonnière. After a little, his colour returned, and he +said, "I am better now. How strange these attacks are, and how +fortunate that one never feels them on occasions of battle or danger!" + +A moment or two after, he took a turn or two up and down the room, and +seemed perfectly recovered; and as he was about to resume his seat, +the door of the passage leading to the King's chamber was opened, and +the Secretary of State, Revol, entered, saying, "Monseigneur, his +Majesty wishes to speak a word with your Highness before the business +of the council commences. You will find him in the old cabinet to the +left." + +Revol was as pale as death. But the Duke of Guise took not the +slightest notice; and, passing through the door, which St. Prix held +open for him and closed after him, he advanced towards the chamber of +the King. + +On entering it he saw Laugnac seated upon the coffer at the farther +end of the room; and he remarked, with an angry frown, that the King's +attendant did not rise when he entered. He said nothing, however, but +turned towards the door of the old cabinet, which was too low to +suffer him to pass without bowing his head. He accordingly stooped for +the purpose; and, raising the tapestry with his left hand, while he +held his hat in the right, he passed on. + +He had scarcely taken a step into the cabinet, however, when he at +once saw several men in arms standing round. At the same moment there +was a sound close to him; and, springing from behind the arras, a +fierce and powerful man, named St. Malines, rushed upon him. + +The Duke dropped his hat, and moved his hand towards his sword; but at +the same moment some one seized the hilt with both hands, and St. +Malines struck him a blow with a knife over the left shoulder, burying +the weapon in his bosom. + +Another and another blow succeeded from the hands of those around him: +the blood rushed up into his mouth and throat; but still, with +prodigious power, he seized two of those who were assailing him, and +dashed them headlong to the ground, exclaiming at the same time, "Ah, +traitors!" + +Rushing towards the door, he dragged another along with him into the +chamber of the King; and seeing Laugnac still there, and marking him +as the instigator of his murder, with a brow awful in the struggle of +the strong spirit against the power of death, with hands clenched, and +teeth set, he darted towards him. + +Ere he had taken two steps, however, his brain reeled, his eyes lost +their sight, and Laugnac starting up saw, by the fearful swimming of +those visionless orbs, that the terrible deed was fully accomplished, +that the life of Guise was at an end; and though the Duke still rushed +forward upon him with the convulsive impulse of his last sensation, +the Captain of the Quarante-cinq did not even unsheath his sword, but +merely struck him a light blow with the weapon in the scabbard, and +Guise fell headlong on the carpet by the King's bedside. + +The sound of that deep heavy fall was enough, and Henry, coming forth +from his cabinet, gazed for several minutes earnestly upon the dead +man, while the dark blood rushed forth, and formed a pool round the +Monarch's feet. + +The countenance of every one there present, lips and cheek alike, were +as white as parchment; and for two or three minutes not a word was +spoken, till at length the King exclaimed, "What a height he was! He +seems to me taller even dead than living!" + +Then setting his foot upon the dead man's neck, he cruelly repeated +the cruel words which Guise himself had used at the death of Coligny, +"Venomous beast, thou shalt spit forth no more poison!" + + + + + CHAP. XIV. + + +From the door of the council-chamber the boy Ignati flew back to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise, and the tidings which he brought +spread confusion and terror through the whole of the Duke's domestics: +but Ignati was of a clinging and affectionate disposition, and after +the Duke, his master, his next thoughts turned to Charles of +Montsoreau. To his apartments then the boy proceeded with all possible +speed, having in his hand the note from the Duke of Guise, which he +had almost forgotten in the agitation of the late events. He found the +young nobleman already dressed, and concluding with his attendants +various arrangements for his approaching union with her he loved--an +union, indeed, entirely dependent upon the life of him who was at that +very moment falling under the blows of assassins. + +With the natural hopefulness of youth and of high courage, Charles of +Montsoreau, though still somewhat anxious, had nearly forgotten the +apprehensions of the night before. But the terrified countenance of +Ignati, and the cut upon the boy's brow from the blow he had received, +showed the young Count at once that something had gone wrong; and +demanding what was the matter, but without waiting for an answer, he +opened the billet of the Duke of Guise, and read. + +The words which he found there written were as follows:-- + +"I have had many warnings, Logères, which personally, it does not +become me to attend to. However, should these warnings prove to have +been justly given, and you see Henry of Guise no more, take your fair +bride with you at once; fly to my brother of Mayenne; be united as +soon as possible, without waiting for any ceremony but the blessing of +the priest; and, to the best of your power, avenge the death of him +who was your friend to the last." + +"Where is the Duke, Ignati?" demanded the young Count, eagerly. "Has +he yet gone to the council?" + +"He is gone! he is gone!" replied the boy; "and he will never return!" +And in a rapid manner he told him all that had taken place, as far as +he himself yet knew it. + +"Fly to the apartments of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut instantly," said +the Count. "Ask if I can speak with her, and give her that note. If +she is not in her own apartment, she is in that of the Duchess of +Nemours, which is by the side of it. Quick, Ignati; tell her there is +not a moment to be lost." + +The boy sped away. The Count then gave a few rapid orders to Gondrin, +bidding him discover if there was any means of issuing forth from the +castle; and then turned his steps, as speedily as possible, towards +the chamber of Marie de Clairvaut. + +In the narrow passage, however, which led towards the apartments of +the Duchess of Nemours, he was passed by Pericard, the Duke's +secretary, who slackened not his pace for an instant, but said, "Fly, +sir! Fly! The Duke is dead!" and rushed on. The next moment, Charles +met the fair girl herself, coming towards him with as swift a pace as +his own, and followed by the boy Ignati, who from time to time turned +back his head, as if to see that they were not pursued. Marie was as +pale as death. + +"Oh, Charles," she said, "I fear we cannot obey my uncle's commands. +What has happened to him, I know not; but the guards have just +arrested the Duchess de Nemours and my poor cousin Joinville. It is +impossible to pass in that direction, and I fear all the gates are +guarded." + +"Run to the chapel," said the boy. "Run to the chapel by the back +staircase and the little corridor behind the Duke's room. There will +be no one in the chapel in this time of confusion, and there is a way +from the chapel into the gardens. The postern may be left unguarded." + +"Excellently bethought," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Speed on, +Ignati; speed on before us, and see that there is no one on the watch. +If you find Gondrin, send him to the chapel without a moment's delay. +We must fly, sweet Marie; we must fly, as your uncle has ordered. It +is clear--though it is terrible to say--it is clear that he is dead. +They would not have dared to arrest his son and mother had he been +living. But we must find you some cloak or covering, sweet girl. You +cannot go forth in all this bridal array." + +Marie bent down her head and wept, for though she had suffered much +within the last few months, it had not been with that withering kind +of suffering which dries up the fountain of our tears. She hurried on +with her lover, however, and in his apartments a mantle was speedily +found to cover the bright and happy attire which she had that morning +put on with feelings of hope and joy. In few but distinct words +Charles of Montsoreau told the two servants, whom he found there, to +get out, if possible, by any means into the town, and to bring round +the rest of his train and his horses to the farther side of the +gardens; and then hurrying on by the way which the boy had suggested, +he led Marie de Clairvaut towards the chapel, where they were to have +been united. + +The little corridor which they followed entered at once into a small +room, called the revestry, by the side of the chapel itself, and as +Charles of Montsoreau approached, he heard voices and paused to +listen. He then plainly distinguished the tones of Gondrin and the +page; and though another deep voice was also heard, he hurried on, +feeling certain that they would have come to give him warning had +there been danger. + +The door was partly open, and throwing it back, the Count beheld a +scene which made all his blood run cold, while the fair girl whom he +was leading forward recoiled in terror and dismay. + +Stretched upon the floor, with his sword half drawn from the sheath, +and a deep wound in his left breast, lay Gaspar de Montsoreau. +A pool of blood surrounded him, and the expression of his whole +countenance showed in a moment that the spirit had departed some time. +Scattered--some upon the ground, some upon the table in the midst of +the room, some even in the midst of the blood itself--were a number of +pieces of gold; and two leathern bags, one open and half empty of its +contents, were seen upon the ground. + +At the further side of the room, near the door leading into the +chapel, was standing Gondrin, with his sword naked, and his foot upon +the chest of the Italian Orbi; while the boy Ignati knelt beside the +assassin, and with his drawn dagger held over him, seemed putting to +him some quick and eager questions. + +"I tell you true," answered the man, as Charles of Montsoreau entered; +"I tell you true. It was he who set me on and paid me: the Abbé de +Boisguerin, and no one else." + +The boy sprang up and moved away on the young Count's appearance; and +a few words from Gondrin explained to him, that coming from the +gardens--where he had found all solitary, the key in the lock of the +postern gate, and the way clear--he had heard a low cry from the side +of the chapel, and on entering that room had discovered the unhappy +Marquis de Montsoreau weltering in his blood, and the Italian Orbi +gathering up some of the gold pieces, which seemed to have fallen to +the ground in a brief struggle between him and the Marquis. + +During this account, Marie de Clairvaut, pale as death and terribly +agitated, supported herself by one of the high-backed chairs, and +turned her eyes from the horrible sight which that room exhibited; and +Charles of Montsoreau gazed for a moment on the dead form of his +brother, with those feelings of fraternal love which no unkindness or +ill treatment had been able to banish. + +Every instant, however, was precious; and recovering himself as +speedily as possible, he turned to Gondrin, bidding him disarm the +Italian who had still his sword, though the weapon with which he had +committed the murder had been dropped beside the dead body. + +"Shall I kill him, sir?" said Gondrin, pressing the man down more +firmly with his foot, as he found him make a slight effort to escape. + +"Oh, in pity, in pity, Charles," cried Marie, clasping her hands +towards him, "do not; do not!" + +"No, no!" replied Charles of Montsoreau; "cut that rope from the +window, Ignati. Bind him hand and foot, Gondrin, and leave him to the +justice of those who come after." + +It was done in a moment; and Charles of Montsoreau only pausing once +more for a moment to gaze on his brother's corpse, exclaimed with +sincere sorrow, "Alas, poor Gaspar!" and then with a quick step led +Marie de Clairvaut from that terrible chamber into the gardens and +towards the postern gate. + +All was clear, and Charles of Montsoreau turned the key and threw the +gate back. The moment that it was opened, two men darted forward from +the other side, as if to seize the person coming out, and in one of +them, though entirely changed in dress and appearance, Charles +instantly recognised the Abbé de Boisguerin, who, before he saw that +any one had accompanied Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, had caught her +violently by the arm. + +The memory of a thousand wrongs flashed upon the young Count's mind in +a moment; his sword sprung from the sheath, glittered for a single +instant in the air, and then passed through the body of the base man +before him, piercing him from side to side. + +The Abbé uttered a shrill and piercing cry, and, when the Count +withdrew his weapon, fell instantly back upon the ground, quivering in +the agonies of death. The other man who had stood beside the Abbé fled +amain; but on the road, about fifty yards from the garden wall, stood +a carriage with six horses and their drivers, with a group of some +nine or ten men on horseback. + +On the Abbé's first cry the horsemen began to ride towards the spot, +but the appearance of Gondrin coming through the low door behind the +Count, and then the page, made them pause, hesitate, and seem to +consult. In another moment or two the sound of horses coming from the +side of the town caused them to withdraw still farther from the spot; +and with joy that is scarcely to be expressed, Charles of Montsoreau +saw his own colours in the scarfs of the horsemen that approached. In +a moment after, he was surrounded by at least twenty of his own armed +attendants: led horses, too, were there in plenty; and he now +whispered words of hope that he really felt to Marie de Clairvaut, who +clung almost fainting to his arm. + +"Stop the carriage, Gondrin!" he exclaimed, seeing the drivers in the +act of mounting, as if to hasten away after the horsemen, who, on +their part, had taken flight at the first sight of the young Count's +followers. "We must make use of it, whether they will or not; but +promise them large rewards. There is a mystery here I do not +understand; but it is evidently some new villany. Come, dear Marie, +come; we must not pause." And leading her forward to the carriage, he +spoke to the drivers himself. + +One of them was the master of the horses which the Abbé had hired, and +he was found not at all unwilling to enter into any arrangement that +the Count chose to propose. Marie de Clairvaut was placed in the +carriage, the horsemen surrounded it, and Charles himself was about to +mount his horse, when he perceived that the boy Ignati had not +followed him, but remained kneeling by the side of the Abbé de +Boisguerin. Turning quickly back, to his utter surprise he found the +youth weeping bitterly; and when he urged him to rise and come with +the carriage, Ignati shook his head saying, "No, no! I cannot leave +him like dead carrion for the hawks and ravens.--He was my father! Go +on, my Lord Count, and God speed you!--I must see him buried, and +masses said for his soul!" + +The Count was moved, but he could not remain; and giving the boy some +money, he said, "Spend that upon his funeral, Ignati; and then follow +me with all speed to Lyons. I grieve for you, my boy, though I +understand not how this can be." + +Only one more difficulty existed, which was, to pass through that part +of the town leading to the bridge over the Loire. But the servants who +had made their escape from the castle, and brought round their fellows +to his assistance, assured the Count that the news of the Duke of +Guise's murder had already spread through the city, and that every +thing was in such a state of confusion and dismay, he might pass with +the greatest security. + +Such he found to be the case; all the guard of the King was within the +walls of the château; the gates of the bridges, and of the town +itself, were in the hands of the faction of the League; and no +questions were asked of one who was known to have been the dear and +intimate friend of the murdered Duke. + +Taking his way through a part of the country devoted to the League, +Charles of Montsoreau and his fair companion found no difficulty in +reaching Lyons, where the history of all that had taken place was soon +told to the Duke of Mayenne, and the last lines which the hand of +Henry of Guise ever traced were shown to him, who was destined +thenceforth to be the great head of the League. + +Had the words and the wishes of his brother not been sufficient for +Mayenne, the necessity of binding to his cause for ever one whose aid +was so important as that of Charles of Montsoreau, would have been +enough to decide the Duke's conduct towards him: and as soon as +possible, after all the anguish, difficulty, and danger, which they +had undergone together, the fate of the young Count of Logères and +Marie de Clairvaut was united for ever. + +In regard to them it need only be said that they loved each other to +the last hours of life. + +The boy Ignati followed the young Count to Lyons, but he would not +remain with the man who had taken his father's life. He subsequently +devoted himself to the church, and in the end rose high, by the great +interest that was exercised on his behalf. + +The wars of the League succeeded: but the feelings of Charles of +Montsoreau were greatly changed by the death of the Duke of Guise; and +though he waged war, as zealously as any body could possibly do, +against the murderer of his lost friend, yet, when Henry III. himself +fell under the blow of an assassin, the young Count of Logères would +no longer contend against a monarch so generous, so noble, and so +chivalrous, as the King who next ascended the throne. + +He sheathed the sword then, after the accession of Henri Quatre, and +the rest of his days passed in peace and calm retirement, in the +society of her whom he loved ever, and loved alone. + + + + THE END. + + + + + London: + Printed by A. Spottiswoode, + New-Street-Square + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 39413-8.txt or 39413-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/1/39413/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/39413-8.zip b/39413-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..802c929 --- /dev/null +++ b/39413-8.zip diff --git a/39413-h.zip b/39413-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f5495b --- /dev/null +++ b/39413-h.zip diff --git a/39413-h/39413-h.htm b/39413-h/39413-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..82e7906 --- /dev/null +++ b/39413-h/39413-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7596 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Henry of Guise: or, The States of Blois. Vol. III.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="G. P. R. James"> + +<meta name="Publisher" content="Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans"> +<meta name="Date" content="1839"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) + or, The States of Blois + +Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +Release Date: April 9, 2012 [EBook #39413] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +<br> +http://archive.org/details/henryofguiseorst03jame<br> +(University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)<br> +<br> +2. Table of Contents added by transcriber.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>HENRY OF GUISE;</h1> +<br> +<h5>OR,</h5> +<br> +<h2>THE STATES OF BLOIS.</h2> +<br> +<h2>VOL. III.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>London:<br> +Printed by A. Spottiswoode,<br> +New-Street-Square</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>HENRY OF GUISE</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>OR,</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>THE STATES OF BLOIS.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>BY</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> + +"THE ROBBER," "THE GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL,"<br> +ETC. ETC. ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h4> +<br> +<h3>VOL. III.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h5>PRINTED FOR</h5> +<h4>LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS,</h4> +<h5>PATERNOSTER-ROW.</h5> + +<h3>1839.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<br> + +<h4><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h4> + +<h4><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h4> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>HENRY OF GUISE;</h1> +<br> +<h5>OR,</h5> +<br> +<h2>THE STATES OF BLOIS.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The convent of the Black Penitents was a very different building +indeed, and a very different establishment altogether from that which +the imagination of the reader may have raised up from the images +furnished by dark and mysterious tales of Italian superstition. It was +certainly intended to be, and was, in some degree, a place of +voluntary penitence for women who conceived that they had led a +peculiarly sinful life: but there were two classes of nuns confined +there by their own good will,--one of which consisted of persons who +had mingled long with the world, and really led an irregular life +therein; while the other comprised a number of young women of high +rank, who had never known any thing, either of the pleasures or the +vices which the others now fled from, but who, either by a natural +feeling of devotion, or the urgency of relations, had devoted +themselves at an early period to the cloister.</p> + +<p class="normal">In point of diet, fasts, prayers, and penances the order was certainly +very strict; but the building in itself was any thing but a gloomy +one, and a considerable portion of it, attached to the dwelling of the +superior, was set apart for the occasional boarders, who took up their +abode there, or for such ladies of high rank and station as might wish +to absent themselves for a time from the cares and vanities of the +world, and retire to a more intimate communion with God and their own +heart, than they could enjoy in such a capital as that of France.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such was the original intention of these apartments, and the +destination of the institution altogether; but we well know how every +thing entrusted to human management here is corrupted in process of +time. The rooms which at first had been furnished simply, were soon +decked with every sort of ornament; the visiter's table, as it was +called, was separated from the ordinary board of the refectory; cooks +and wine-growers did their best to gratify the palate; and, with the +exception of the vowed nuns, those who sought shelter in the convent +of the Black Penitents were condemned to but little abstinence, and +knew only this difference from the world in general, that they had an +opportunity of escaping obtrusive society when they thought fit.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in one then of the handsomest apartments of the building--to +speak truth, one far handsomer than that occupied by the Queen-mother +herself--that Marie de Clairvaut made her abode during the time she +was confined in that building. No great restraint, indeed, was put +upon her; but the word confinement was justified by the measures taken +to prevent her quitting the convent, or holding communication with any +one but the nuns themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">To this apartment the Prioress led her back again, after putting an +end to her interview with Charles of Montsoreau, and though the good +lady herself was by no means entirely weaned from the affections of +this world, she thought it but befitting to read Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut a brief lecture on the necessity of attaching herself to +higher objects, and an exhortation to abandon earthly attachments, and +dedicate herself to the service of Heaven. She hinted, indeed, that +there could not be an order more worthy of entering into than the one +of which she was an unworthy member; nor, indeed, one in which so many +of the little pleasures of life could be combined with deep devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut was, at that moment, far more inclined to weep than +smile; but it was scarcely possible not to feel amused at the +exhortation of the Prioress; and certainly the greater degree of +knowledge which the young lady had lately acquired of conventual life +would have banished from her mind all desire to take those irrevocable +vows which she had once looked forward to with pleasure, even if love +had not long before driven all such purposes from her mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Glad to be freed from importunity, and left to her own thoughts, she +replied nothing to the good mother's words; and, as soon as she was +gone, gave up her whole mind to the recollection of the interview +which she had just had with him she loved. To her, too, that interview +was a source of deep gratification; every memory of it was dear to +her; every word that Charles of Montsoreau had spoken came back to her +heart like the voice of hope, and giving way to the suggestions of +that bright enchantress, she flattered herself with the expectation of +seeing him again and again, even if the presence of the Duke of Guise +in Paris failed to restore them both to liberty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Previously to that period, she had been accustomed to see the Queen +almost every day, and indeed more than once during the day; but, +during the whole of that evening she saw her not again, and though she +eagerly asked the next morning to be admitted to the presence of +Catherine de Medici, the only answer that she obtained was, that +though the Princess was expected again in the evening, she had not yet +returned from the palace.</p> + +<p class="normal">The second day passed as the first had done, but during the morning of +the third the excitement of the city had communicated itself even to +the inmates of the convent. The portress, the lay sisters, the +visiters, obtained the news of the hour from those without, and +communicated it to the nuns within. Nor did two of those nuns, who had +entered into some degree of intimacy with the fair prisoner, fail to +bring her, every half-hour, intelligence of what was passing without.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first news brought was that the guards in the streets of Paris had +been all changed and doubled during the preceding night, and that the +Holy League and the Court were in continual agitation, watching each +other's movements. One of the nuns whispered that people said, it had +been proposed by the Duke of Epernon, to murder the Duke of Guise at +the very door of that convent, as he came to visit the Queen-mother; +and others declared, she added, that the Duke had vowed he would not +rest till he had taken the crown off Henry's head, and put it on that +of the Cardinal de Bourbon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then came intelligence that a large body of the Swiss guards had just +entered Paris, and were seen marching rapidly down the Rue St. Honoré, +with their fifes silent, and their drums still. Hourly after that came +the news of fresh troops entering the city, and fresh rumours of +manifold designs and purposes against the life of the Duke of Guise. +His house was to be attacked by the French and Swiss guards, and his +head to be struck off in the Place de Grève: he was to be shot by an +assassin, placed at one of the windows of an opposite house, the first +time he came out; and some said that Villequier had found means to +bribe Lanecque, his cook, to poison him that night at supper, as well +as all who were with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The various scenes, and the dangers and difficulties which she had +lately encountered, had given Marie de Clairvaut a far greater +knowledge of the world, and of how the important events of the world +take place, than was possessed by any of her companions; and she +assuredly did not believe a thousandth part of all the different +rumours that reached her. The reiteration of those rumours, however, +gave her some apprehensions for her great relation; and when towards +the evening she was visited by the Prioress, and found that, beyond +all doubt, every gate of the city, except the porte St. Honoré, was +closed, her fears became much greater, seeing plainly that it was the +design of the Court to hem the Duke in, within the walls of Paris, +deprived, as they believed him to be, of all assistance from his +friends without.</p> + +<p class="normal">The night passed over, however, in tranquillity; and when, at an early +hour, the young lady rose, she was informed, as she had expected, that +a great part of the rumours of the preceding day were false or +exaggerated. No Swiss, it was now said, had arrived, except a very +small body; the Duke of Guise had been seen on horseback with the +King; and the mind of Marie de Clairvaut became reassured in regard to +her uncle. The Prioress herself--though somewhat given to fear, and +like many other persons, absolutely enjoying a little apprehension in +default of other excitement--acknowledged that all seemed likely to go +well.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this state of security was soon changed. The report regarding the +arrival of the Swiss had only forerun the event by a few hours, for +the sound of drums and trumpets heard from the side of the Cemetery of +the Innocents towards seven o'clock in the morning, announced to the +Parisians that a large body of troops had been introduced in the +night, without the city in general knowing it; and in a few minutes +after the movements of these forces evidently showed that some grand +stroke was to be struck by the Court against its enemies. The Place de +Grève was next occupied by a considerable force of mixed Swiss and +French guards, favoured in their entrance by the Prevôt des Marchands, +and led by the notorious Marquis d'O. Various other points, such as +bridges and market-places, were seized upon by the troops; and the +greatest activity seemed to reign in the royal party, while that of +the Duke of Guise and the League, remained perfectly still and +inactive, as if thunderstruck at this sudden display of energy.</p> + +<p class="normal">News of all these proceedings reached Marie de Clairvaut in the +convent, accompanied with such circumstances of confirmation, that she +could not doubt that the intelligence was partly true. But for a short +time after the troops were posted, every thing seemed to relapse into +tranquillity, except that from time to time reports were brought to +the convent parlour, of citizens, and especially women, being treated +with great insolence and grossness by the soldiery. Crillon himself +was heard to swear that any citizen who came abroad with a sword +should be hung to his door-post, while worse was threatened to the +wives and daughters of the burghers, if the slightest resistance was +made to the troops. The portress brought news that all the houses and +shops in the Rue St. Denis and the Rue St. Honoré were closed; and the +Prioress herself thought it was high time to cause the convent gates +to be shut and barred, and even that door which led into what was +called the rector's court, and which usually stood open, to be closed +and fastened with large chains.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length tidings were brought that the first open resistance of the +people had commenced; that blood had been shed; and it was rumoured +that Crillon himself, attempting to take possession of the Place +Maubert with two companies of Swiss and one of French guards, had been +opposed by the scholars of the University and the citizen guard, and +forced to retreat without effecting his object.</p> + +<p class="normal">The terror of the Prioress was now extreme; the sound of horses +galloping here and there with the most vehement speed, could be heard +even in the parlour of the convent, and towards nine o'clock the roll +of distant musketry borne by the wind completed the terror of the poor +nuns.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident now to Marie de Clairvaut that a struggle had commenced +between the Monarch and the people of the capital, on which depended +the safety, perhaps the life, of the Duke of Guise, and, in a great +degree, her own fate and happiness. In that struggle she could take no +part; and, situated as she was, she could gain no relief even from +hearing any exact account of how it proceeded from time to time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fears of the good superior of the convent had driven her by this +time to the resource of prayer. All the nuns were ordered to assemble +in the chapel; and Marie de Clairvaut, feeling that none at that +moment had greater need of heavenly protection than herself, prepared +to follow, after listening for a few minutes, alone in her chamber, to +the distant roll of musketry which still went on; when suddenly the +Prioress returned in great haste with a paper in her hand, and +apparently in much agitation and alarm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, there," she said, thrusting the paper into Marie de +Clairvaut's hands, "that is from the Queen! Do what you like! Act as +you like! I would not go out for the whole world, for just through the +grating I have seen a Swiss officer carried by, all dropping with +blood as they bore him along the streets. I will go to prayers; I will +go to prayers!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The note from the Queen-mother was very brief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, mademoiselle," it said, "that you have not been kept where +you are by my orders. I would fain have set you free two nights ago by +any means in my power, if meddling fools on the one side, and cowardly +fools on the other, had not frustrated my plan. I have now taken the +responsibility upon myself of ordering the gates to be opened to you. +The man who brings you this is brave and to be trusted; and what I +have to entreat of you is, if I have shown you any kindness, to go +with all speed to the hotel of my good cousin of Guise, and beseech +him to do his best to allay the tumult, so far, at least, that I +myself may come to him with safety. The scenes that you will meet with +may be terrible, but you have that blood in your veins which does not +easily shrink from the aspect of danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut might be more timid than Catherine de Medici +believed; but, when she thought of freedom, and of being delivered +from the power of those whom she detested, to dwell once more with +those she loved, she felt that scarcely any scene would be so terrible +as to deter her from seeking such a result. She remarked, however, +that the Queen did not once mention the name of Charles of Montsoreau, +or allude to his fate. "What," she asked herself, "is he still to be +kept a prisoner, while I am set at liberty? If so, liberty is scarcely +worth having."</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused, and thought for a moment, and then the hope crossed her +mind of setting him at liberty herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely," she said, "I could trace my way back to his apartments. I +remember every turning well; and then, by bringing him through here, +in the confusion and terror that now reign in the convent, I could +easily give him his liberty too."</p> + +<p class="normal">The more she thought of it, the more feasible the scheme seemed to be; +and catching up an ordinary veil to throw over her head, she ran down +into the apartments of the Queen, which she found, as she expected, +quite vacant. She had no difficulty in discovering the corridor that +led towards the rector's court. At the end there was a door which was +locked, but the key was in it, and she passed through. Another short +passage led her to the room where she had waited for the Queen, and +where she had listened to Charles of Montsoreau singing; and then with +a beating and an anxious heart she hurried on rapidly to the chamber +where she had seen him last.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the bolts were shot, showing her that he was still there; but +exactly opposite was an open door at the top of a small staircase, +which seemed to lead to a waiting-room below, for she could distinctly +hear the tones and words of two men of the lower class talking over +the events that were taking place without.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gently closing the door at the top of the stairs, Marie de Clairvaut +locked and bolted it as quietly and noiselessly as possible. Her heart +beat so violently, however, with agitation, that she could scarcely +hear any thing but its pulsation, though she listened breathlessly to +ascertain if the slight noise of the lock had not attracted attention. +All was still, however, and she gently undid the fastenings of the +opposite door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau was seated at the table, and lifted his eyes as +she entered with a sad and despairing look, expecting to see no one +but the attendant. Marie was in his arms in a moment, however, and +holding up her finger to enjoin silence, she whispered, "Not a word, +Charles; but come with me, and we shall be safe! Every one is in the +chapel at prayers; orders are given for my liberation; and in five +minutes we may be at the Hôtel de Guise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are all those sounds," demanded her lover in the same tone, +"those sounds which I have heard in the streets? I thought I heard the +discharge of firearms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear," she answered, "that it is my uncle's party at blows with +that of the King. I know but little myself, however; only that we may +make our escape if we will. I will lead you, Charles; I will lead you +this time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas!" said Charles of Montsoreau as he followed her rapidly, "they +have taken my sword from me;" but Marie ran on with a step of light, +taking care however to lock the doors behind them as she passed to +prevent pursuit.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she had never been in the courtyard since the day of her first +arrival, she met with some difficulty in finding her way thither from +the Queen's apartments: haste and agitation indeed impeding her more +than any real difficulty in the way. At length, however, it was +reached, and was found vacant of every one but the old portress, who +stood gazing through a small iron grating at what was passing without.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Open the door, my good sister," said Marie de Clairvaut touching her +arm. "Of course the Prioress has given orders for you to let me pass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, to let you pass, my sister," replied the portress, "for I +suppose you are the young lady she meant; but not to let any body else +pass." And she ran her eye over the figure of Charles of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, surely," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "you would not stop the +gentleman who is going to protect me through the streets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, I do not know," replied the portress, still sturdily setting her +face against their passage; "there was another person waiting on the +outside to show you the way, till just a minute ago. Where he's gone, +I don't know, but he seemed the fitter person of the two, for he was +an ecclesiastic. I have heard, too, of some one being confined up +above, by Monsieur Villequier's orders, and as the rector's court +belongs to him, they say I must take care what I am about; so I'll +just ring the bell and inquire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will save you the trouble of doing that, my good lady," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; and stepping quietly forward, he put her gently +but powerfully back with his left hand, while with his right he turned +the key in the great lock of the wicket, and threw it open. The +portress made a movement of her hand to the bell; but then thinking +better of it, did not ring; and Marie and her lover, without further +opposition, passed at once into the streets of Paris.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were very few people in the Rue St. Denis, but on looking up and +down on either side, there were seen a party of horsemen, apparently +halted, at the farther end of the street, on the side nearest to the +country, and a number of persons farther down, passing and repassing +along one of the cross streets. Some way farther up, between the +fugitives and the party of horsemen we have mentioned, were two +figures, one of which was evidently dressed in the robes of an +ecclesiastic, and both gazing down towards the convent, as if watching +for the appearance of some one.</p> + +<p class="normal">The moment the young Count and Marie de Clairvaut appeared, the two +figures walked on rapidly in a different direction, and were lost +immediately to their sight by turning down another street. There was +nothing apparent that could alarm the fugitives in any degree, and +though distant shouts and cries were borne upon the air, yet the sound +of musketry had ceased, which gave greater courage to Marie de +Clairvaut. She needed indeed some mitigation of her apprehensions, for +the success which she met with in rescuing her lover had been far from +increasing her courage in the same proportion that it had been +diminished by the very agitation she had gone through. Drawing the +thick veil over her face, and as far as possible over her person, she +clung to Charles's arm, and hurried on with him, directing him as far +as her recollection of the city of Paris would serve. It was long, +however, since she had seen it; and although the general direction +which she took was certainly right, yet many a turning did she +unnecessarily take by the way.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, however, they hurried on, till turning suddenly into one of the +small streets which led round into the Rue St. Honoré itself, the +scene of fierce contention which was going on in the capital was +displayed to their eyes in a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Across the street, within fifty yards of the turning, was drawn an +immense chain from post to post, and behind it was rolled an immense +number of barrels filled with sand and stones, and rendered fixed and +immovable, against the efforts of any party in front at least, by +carts taken off the wheels, barrows, and paving-stones. Behind this +barrier again appeared an immense multitude of men armed with various +sorts of weapons snatched up in haste. The front row, indeed, was well +furnished with arquebuses, while pistols, swords, daggers, and pikes +gleamed in abundance behind. Several of the persons in front were +completely armed in the defensive armour of the time; and in a small +aperture which had been left at the corner between the barricade and +the houses, sufficient only for two people to pass abreast when the +chain was lowered, an officer was seen in command, with a page behind +carrying his plumed casque.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lower windows of all the houses throughout Paris were closed, and +the manifold signs, awnings, and spouts, as well as the penthouses +which were sometimes placed to keep off the rain and wind from some of +the principal mansions, had all been suddenly removed, in order that +any bodies of soldiery moving through the streets might be exposed, +without a place of shelter, to the aim of the persons above, who might +be seen at every window glaring down at the scene below. There too +were beheld musketoons, arquebuses, and every other sort of implement +of destruction; and where these had not been found, immense piles of +paving-stones had been carried up to cast down upon the objects of +popular enmity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Between the two fugitives and the barricade were drawn up two +companies of Swiss and one of French infantry; and though standing in +orderly array, and displaying strongly the effects of good military +discipline, yet there was a certain degree of paleness over the +countenances of the men, and a look of hesitation and uncertainty +about their officers, which showed that they felt not a little the +dangerous position in which they were placed. No shots were fired on +either side however, and the only movement was amongst the people, who +were seen talking together, with their leaders stirring amongst them, +while from time to time those who were below shouted up to those in +the windows above.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without the slightest apparent fear of the soldiers, who were thus +held at bay, two or three people from time to time separated +themselves from the populace, and coming out under or over the chain, +passed completely round the guards to the opposite corner of the +street, and appeared to be laying a plan for forming another barricade +in that quarter, so as completely to inclose the soldiery.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the sight of all these objects Marie de Clairvaut naturally clung +closer to the arm of her lover, and both paused for a moment in order +to judge what was best to do. An instant's consideration however +sufficed, and Charles of Montsoreau led her on to that part of the +barricade where the chain was the only obstacle to their further +progress, passing as he did so along the whole face of the French and +Swiss soldiers, not one of whom moved or uttered a word to stop them +as they proceeded. At the chain, however, they met with a more serious +obstacle. The officer whom they had seen in command at that point +had now turned away, and was speaking to some people behind, and a +rough-looking citizen, armed with a steel cap and breastplate, dropped +the point of his spear to the young Count's breast saying, "Give the +word, or you do not pass!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know the word," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "But I pray +you let me pass, for I am one of the friends and officers of the Duke +of Guise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you were you would know the word," replied the man. "Keep back, or +I will run the pike into you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not know the word," answered the young Count, "if I had been +long absent from the Duke, as I have been, and were hastening to join +him, as I now am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep back, I say," cried the man who was no way fond of argument. +"You will repent if you do not keep back."</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau was about to call to the officer he saw before +him, but at that moment the other walked on amidst the people, and was +seen no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us try another street," cried Marie de Clairvaut; "let us try +another street, Charles." And following this suggestion they hurried +back, and took another street farther to the left.</p> + +<p class="normal">They now found themselves in a new scene; no soldiers were there, but +dense masses of people were beheld in every direction, and barricades +formed or forming at every quarter. Where they were not complete the +lady and her lover passed without difficulty, and almost without +notice. One of the young citizens, indeed, as he helped her over a +large pile of stones, remarked that her small feet ran no risk of +knocking down the barricade; and an old man who was rolling up a tun +to fill a vacant space, paused to let her pass, and gazing with a sort +of fatherly look upon her and her lover, exclaimed, "Get ye gone home, +pretty one; get ye gone home. Take her home quick, young gentleman; +this is no place for such as she is."</p> + +<p class="normal">These were all the words that were addressed to them till they again +reached another barrier; but there again the word was demanded with as +much dogged sullenness as ever, and the young Count, now resolved to +force his way by some means, determined rather to be taken prisoner by +the people and to demand to be carried to the Hôtel de Guise, than be +driven from barrier to barrier any longer. He remembered, however, the +degree of civility which had been shown to him by Chapelle Marteau +some time before, and he demanded of the man who opposed him at the +chain if either that personage or Bussi le Clerc were there. The man +replied in the negative, but seemed somewhat shaken in his purpose of +excluding him, by his demand for persons so well known and so popular.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment, however, Charles of Montsoreau caught the sight of a +high plume passing amongst the people at some distance, and the +momentary glance of a face that he recollected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is Monsieur de Bois-dauphin," he cried; "in the name of Heaven +call him up here, that he may put an end to all this tedious +opposition." The man did not seem to know of whom it was he spoke, but +pointing forward with his hand, the young Count exclaimed, "That +gentleman with the plume! that gentleman with the tall red plume!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The word was passed on in a moment, and the officer approached the +barrier, when Charles of Montsoreau instantly addressed him by the +name of Bois-dauphin, begging him to give them admittance within the +barricade, and then adding in a low voice, that he had with him the +Duke's ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, who had just made her escape +from the enemies of the House of Guise, and was so terrified that she +could scarcely support herself any longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mistake, sir," replied the officer; "I am not Bois-dauphin, but +Chamois: but I remember your face well at Soissons; the Count of +Logères, if I am right."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count gave a sign of affirmation, while Marie de Clairvaut looked +up in his face with an expression of joy and relief, and the officer +immediately added, "Down with the chain directly, my good friends. You +are keeping out the Duke's best friends and relations."</p> + +<p class="normal">The men round the chain hastened eagerly to obey, but some difficulty +was experienced in removing the chain, as the barrels--or barriques, +as they are called in France, and from which the barriers called +barricades took their name--pressed heavily upon it, and prevented it +from being unhooked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau was just about to pass under with his fair +charge as the most expeditious way, when there came a loud cry from +the end of the same street by which they had themselves come thither, +of "The Queen! the Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!" And +rolling forward with a number of unarmed attendants came one of the +huge gilded coaches of the time, passing at great risk to itself and +all that it contained, through or over the yet incomplete barriers +farther up in the street.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the barricade where Charles of Montsoreau now was, however, the six +horses by which the vehicle was drawn were brought to a sudden stop, +and notwithstanding her popularity, which, at this time, was not +small, the citizens positively refused to remove the barricade, +although the Queen entreated them in the tone of a suppliant, and +assured them that she was going direct to the Hôtel de Guise. Some +returned nothing but a sullen answer, some assured her it was +impossible, and would take hours to accomplish; and Monsieur de +Chamois, who apparently did not choose to be seen actually aiding or +directing the people in the formation of the barricades, retreated +amongst the multitude, and left them to act for themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the eye of Catherine de Medici fell upon Charles of +Montsoreau, and she beckoned him eagerly towards her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are here, of course," she said, "upon the part of the Duke."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so indeed, madam," he replied; "I have but this moment made my +escape from that place where I have been so long and so unjustly +detained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your escape!" she exclaimed in a tone that could not be affected. +"Villequier has betrayed me. He promised you should be set at liberty +yesterday morning. And you too, Marie," she said looking at the young +Count's fair companion. "You surely received the order for your +liberation that I sent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Safely, madam," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "and thank your Majesty +deeply. But they have refused to let us pass at several barriers, +otherwise I should certainly have executed your Majesty's commands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is most unfortunate," said the Queen. But pray. Monsieur de +Logères, exert your influence with these people as far as possible. +The welfare, perhaps the very salvation of the state, depends upon my +speaking with the Duke of Guise directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will do my best, madam," replied the young Count; "but I fear I +shall not be able to do much. I will leave her under your protection, +madam, and see."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Queen made him place Marie de Clairvaut in the carriage beside +her: and having done this, he turned to the barrier and spoke to those +who surrounded that point where the chain had been lowered to let him +pass, with far more effect than he had anticipated. To remove the +barricade, the people said, was utterly impossible; but if her Majesty +would descend and betake herself to her chair which was seen carried +by her domestics behind her, they would do what they could to make the +aperture large enough for her to pass.</p> + +<p class="normal">With this suggestion Catherine de Medici, who had no personal fears, +complied at once, and seated herself in the rich gilt-covered chair +which followed her. She was about to draw the curtains round her and +bid the bearers proceed, but her eye fell upon Marie de Clairvaut; and +after a moment's hesitation between compassion and queenly state, she +said, "Poor child, thou art evidently like to drop: come in here with +me; there is room enough for thee also, and the Queen is old enough +not to mind her garments being ruffled. Quick, quick," she added, +seeing Marie hesitate; and without further words the fair girl took +her place by the Queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although the chairs of those times were very different in point of +size from those which we see (and now alas! rarely see) in our own, +yet Mademoiselle de Clairvaut felt that she pressed somewhat +unceremoniously on her royal companion; but Catherine de Medici, now +that the act was done, smiled kindly upon her, and told her not to +mind; and the bearers taking up the chair carried it on, while the +populace rolled away one of the tuns to permit its passing through the +barricade. The Queen's train of attendants pressed closely round the +chair, and Charles of Montsoreau followed amongst them as near as he +could to the vehicle, the people shouting as they went, "Long live the +Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At all the barriers a way was made for her to pass, but still the +multitudes in the streets were so thick, and the obstacles so many, +that nearly three quarters of an hour passed, and the Hôtel de Guise +was still at some distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Catherine de Medici drew back the curtains of gilt leather, +and beckoned the young Count to approach, saying, as soon as he was +near, "Pray, Monsieur de Logères, go on as fast as possible, and let +the Duke know that I am coming. I fear that with all these delays he +may have gone forth ere I reach his hotel. And hark. Monsieur de +Logères," she continued, "if out of pure good will I once afforded you +one hour of happiness that you did not expect, remember it now; and +should chance serve, speak a word to the Duke in favour of my +purposes. You understand? Quick--go on!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau hastened on at the Queen's bidding, and having +now heard the pass-word often repeated amongst the citizens, met with +no opposition in making his way to the Hôtel de Guise. The only +difficulty that he encountered was in the neighbourhood of the mansion +itself, for the street was so thickly crowded with people and with +horses, that it was scarcely possible to approach the gates. Every +thing was hurry and confusion too, and the dense mass of people +collected in that spot was not like an ordinary crowd, either fixed to +one place around the object of their attention, or moving in one +direction in pursuit of a general object; but, on the contrary, it was +struggling and agitated, by numbers of persons forcing their way +through in every different direction, so that it was with the greatest +possible labour and loss of time that any one advanced at all. The +great bulk of those present were armed, and amidst corslets, and +swords, and brassards, heavy boots and long spurs, Charles of +Montsoreau, totally unarmed as he was, found the greatest possible +difficulty in forcing his way, although, probably, in point of mere +personal strength he was more than equal to any one there present.</p> + +<p class="normal">Long ere he could reach the gate of the hotel, there was a loud cry +of, "The Queen! the Queen! long live Queen Catherine!" And the crowd +rolling back, as if by common consent, swept him away far from the +spot which he had gained, and nearly crushed him by the pressure. At +some distance he caught a sight of the Queen's chair, but it stopped +at the edge of the crowd, and the movements that he saw in that part +of the mass made him believe that Catherine was descending from the +vehicle, intending to proceed on foot.</p> + +<p class="normal">He doubted not that the Queen's attendants, who were very numerous, +would keep off the multitude; and even the rolling back of the people +upon himself evinced that they were inclined to show her every +respect. But still feeling that all he loved on earth was there, he +naturally strove to see over the heads of the people. It was in vain +that he did so, however, for between him and the line along which the +Queen was passing was a sea of waving plumes of every height and +colour, and all that he could discover was, how far she had proceeded +on her way to the gates, by the rush of the people closing up behind +her as soon as she had passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as she was entering the mansion a considerable degree of +confusion was created in the crowd by one of the horses, held not far +from the place where Charles of Montsoreau stood, either frightened by +the noise, or pressed upon by the people, beginning to kick violently. +The man whom he first struck was luckily well covered with defensive +armour; but he was knocked down notwithstanding, and all the rest +rushed back, pressing upon the others behind them in confusion and +dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau, however, took advantage of the opportunity to +make his way forward; but just as he was so doing he was encountered +by the Marquis de Brissac hurrying eagerly forward through the crowd. +He was dressed in his ordinary clothes, and armed with nothing but his +sword; but there was fire and eagerness in his eyes, and he seized the +young Count by the hand, exclaiming, "I am delighted to have found +you, Logères. I wanted a man of action and of a good head. Come with +me! come with me quick! or we shall have more mischief done than is at +all needful. They have begun firing again! There!--Don't you hear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hear now," replied the Count, "but I did not pay attention to it +before. I would come with you willingly. Monsieur de Brissac, but I +wish to see the Duke. He does not know yet that I am at liberty: +neither have I a sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duke cannot see you now," cried Brissac, still holding the Count +by the arm. "The Queen and her people are with him. I will get you a +sword. Come with me, come with me. Here, fellow, give the Count your +sword." And taking hold of the baldric of one of the men near, he made +him unbuckle it, and threw it over the Count's shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">For Brissac, who was well known to almost every body there, the people +now made way at least in some degree; and followed by the young Count +he hurried on, till they both could breathe somewhat more at liberty.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean time the sound of the musketry was heard increasing every +moment, and Brissac after listening for a moment exclaimed, "It comes +from the Marché Neuf. By Heavens! Logères, we must put a stop to this, +or they will take up the same music all over the town, and we shall +have those poor devils of Swiss slaughtered to a man. Who is that +firing at the Marché Neuf?" he demanded at the first barrier they +reached.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our people," replied the captain of the quarter, "are firing upon the +soldiers in the market-place I hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quick, Arnault; quick!" cried Brissac. "Get the keys of the +slaughter-house and bring them after me with all speed! Come on, +Logères, come on!" he continued, unable to refrain from a joke even in +the exciting and terrible scene that was going on. "The King will +find, I am afraid, that he has brought these <i>pigs</i> to a bad <i>market</i>, +as the good ladies of the halle say. We must save as many of them from +being butchered as we can, however." And running on, followed by two +or three persons from the different barriers that they passed, they +soon reached the corner of the Marché Neuf, where an extraordinary and +terrible scene was exposed to their eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The market, which was somewhat raised above a low street that passed +by its side, was a large open space, having at that time neither +booths nor penthouses to cover the viands, usually there exposed, from +the sun: each vendor that thought fit spreading out his own little +canvass tent over his goods when he brought them. On the side by which +Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau approached, there was a low wall, +not a yard high, separating the market from the street which passed by +the side, with some steps up to the former, as well as two or three +open spaces to give ingress; and on the other side was a long low +range of covered slaughter-houses, with tall buildings overtopping +them beyond.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of this open space, cooped in by barricades on every +side, and surrounded by tall houses with innumerable windows, was a +body of about eight hundred Swiss. They were standing firm in the +midst of the place, forming a three-sided front, with their right and +left resting on the slaughter-houses; and while their front rank +poured a strong and well-directed but ineffectual fire upon the two +barricades opposite, the second rank endeavoured to pick off their +assailants at the different windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile, however, from those windows and barricades was +poured in upon the unhappy Swiss a tremendous fire, almost every shot +of which told. The people at the barriers rose, fired, and then bent +down again behind their defences, while the men at the windows kept up +a still more formidable, but more irregular discharge, sometimes +firing almost altogether, as if by common consent, sometimes picking +off, here and there, any of their enemies they might fix upon; so that +at one moment, the whole sweeping lines of the tall houses were in one +blaze of fire and cloud of smoke; and the next, the flashes would drop +from window to window, over each face of the square, like some +artificial firework.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such was the scene of confusion and destruction which burst upon the +eyes of Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau when they entered the square +of the Marché Neuf. The fire of the barrier which they passed was +instantly stopped, but in other places it was still going on and +Brissac, without the slightest hesitation, jumped at once upon the low +wall we have mentioned, and waved his hat in the air, shouting loudly +to cease firing. Some cessation instantly took place, but still not +altogether; and Charles of Montsoreau, rapidly crossing the +marketplace to command the men at the opposite barricade to stop, was +slightly wounded in the arm by a ball from one of the windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">It luckily happened that the baldric which had been procured for him +by Brissac bore the colours of the League and the cross of Lorraine +embroidered on the front; and the defenders of the barrier stopped +instantly at his command. When that was accomplished, he turned to +rejoin Brissac, and as he went, called to the people at the lower +windows of the houses to stop firing in the name of the Duke of Guise, +and to pass the same order up to those above them. The Swiss had +ceased immediately, very glad of any truce to an encounter in which +fifty or sixty of their number had already fallen, while many more +were seriously wounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">The keys which Brissac had sent for had by this time arrived; and, +accompanied by the young Count, he advanced, hat in hand, to the +officer in command of the Swiss, who met him half way with a sad but +calm and determined countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, sir," said Brissac, "that it is perfectly impossible for you +to contend against the force opposed to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly," replied the officer; "every street is a fortress, every +house a redoubt. But we never intended to contend, and indeed had +received orders to retire, but could not do so on account of the +barricades, when suddenly some shot was fired from behind those +buildings; and whether it was a signal to commence the massacre, or +whether the people thought that we had fired, I know not, but they +instantly began to attack us; and here are more than sixty of my poor +fellows butchered without cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is only one plan to be pursued, sir," replied Brissac, "in +order to save you. You must instantly lay down your arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Were the people opposed to me soldiers, sir," replied the officer, "I +would do so at a word; but the people seem in a state of madness, and +the moment we are disarmed they might fall upon us all, and butcher us +in cold blood--yourself and all, for aught I know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have provided against that, sir," replied Brissac. "Here are the +keys of those buildings, which will shelter you from all attack, I +must not put in your hands a fortress against the citizens of Paris; +so that while you retain your weapons you cannot enter; but the moment +you lay down your arms, I will give you that shelter, and pledge my +word for your protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">The joy which spread over the officer's countenance at this offer +plainly showed, what neither word nor look had done before, how deeply +he had felt the terrible situation in which he was placed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done this instant," he said; and returning to his men, +while Brissac unlocked the gates, he made them pile their arms in the +market-place, amidst a deafening shout from the people on all sides. +The Swiss then marched, rank by rank, into the place of shelter thus +afforded them; and Brissac, bowing low to the commander, who entered +the last, said with a smile, which the other returned but faintly, "In +name, my dear sir, the exchange you are just making is not an +agreeable one; but I am sure you will find that this slaughterhouse is +rather a more comfortable position than the one from which I have just +delivered you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquis then caused a guard of the citizens to be placed over the +arms of the Swiss; and turning to Charles of Montsoreau, he said, +"Come, let us quick to the new bridge. The King used to say of me, +Monsieur de Logères, that I was good for nothing, either on the sea or +on the land. I think he will find to-day that I am good for something +on the pavement."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying he led the way back through the barrier; and Charles of +Montsoreau, having more leisure now than before to observe the +countenances and demeanour of the different people around, could not +help thinking that older and more skilful soldiers than the citizens +of Paris could boast were busy in directing the operations of the +populace in different parts of the city. The scene was a strange and +extraordinary one altogether; the streets were absolutely swarming +with people, and crowds were hurrying hither and thither through every +open space, but were still kept in dense masses by the constant +obstruction of the barricades.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hastening on through the midst of these masses with Brissac, the young +nobleman's eye ran hastily over all the crowds that he passed, when +suddenly, at the end of one of the largest streets, which rose between +the dark gigantic houses on either side, with a gentle acclivity from +the spot where he then stood, he saw amongst the various groups which +were moving rapidly along or across it, one which attracted his +attention more particularly than the rest. It was at that moment +coming down the street, but proceeding in a somewhat slanting +direction towards the corner of another small street, not fifty yards +from the spot where he then was. There were two figures in it, in +regard to which he could not be deceived: the one nearest him was the +Abbé de Boisguerin, the second was his own brother, Gaspar de +Montsoreau; and he could not help imagining that another whom he saw +leading the way was that personage who had first called upon him on +his arrival in Paris, named Nicolas Poulain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before he could recollect himself, an exclamation of surprise had +called the attention of Brissac; but remembering how much his brother +had excited the indignation of the Duke of Guise, and that his very +life might be in danger if taken in the streets of Paris at that time, +Charles of Montsoreau only answered in reply to Brissac's questions, +that he had fancied he saw somebody whom he knew.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There goes worthy Master Nicolas Poulain," said Brissac, "and the +good Curé of St. Genevieve, as zealous in our cause as any one; but we +can't stop to speak with them just now." And he was hurrying on, but +Charles of Montsoreau stopped him, saying,</p> + +<p class="normal">"For my part, Monsieur de Brissac, I shall return to the Hôtel de +Guise. The Duke, I dare say, has concluded his interview with the +Queen by this time, and I much wish to speak with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, you cannot miss your way," cried Brissac. "Take that first +turning to the left, and then the third to the right, and it will lead +you straight to the Porte Cochére."</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau nodded his head, and hurried on, with manifold +anxieties and apprehensions in his bosom, which twenty times he +pronounced to be absurd, but which, nevertheless, he could not banish +by any effort of reason.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">CHAP. II.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We must now return to mark what was passing at another point in the +capital, an hour or two earlier than the events narrated in the end of +the last chapter. The Duke of Guise sat in a cabinet in his hotel, +with his sword laid upon the table before him, which also bore a pen, +and ink, and paper, and some open letters. His foot was resting on a +footstool, his dress plain but costly, and not one sign of any thing +like preparation for the stirring events, which were to take place +that day, apparent in either his looks, his apparel, or his demeanour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beside him booted, and in some degree armed, stood the Count of St. +Paul; while Bois-dauphin, who had just had his audience, was leaving +the cabinet by a low door, and the Duke, bending his head, appeared +listening with the utmost tranquillity to what his friend was telling +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the matter is done," he said, as soon as St. Paul had concluded. +"The Place Manbert is in the hands of the people, and may be made a +Place d'Armes. Bois-dauphin tells me that the soldiers under +Tinteville, at the Petit Pont, are barricaded on all sides and cannot +move. You give me the same account of the Marché Neuf, the same is the +case with the Grève, the French guard under the Chatelet are hemmed in +all round, the Cemetery of the Innocents is invested on all sides, and +Malivaut, I understand, has been driven from his post in great +disorder. This being done, St. Paul, you see these troops of the +King's are not exactly in fortresses, but in prisons; and how Biron, +or Crillon, or the King himself, could have committed the +extraordinary error--all of them being men of experience--how they +could have committed the extraordinary error, I say, of dividing their +soldiery in the narrow streets and squares of such a city as Paris, +sending them far from the palace, and leaving them without +communication with each other, I cannot conceive. However, they are +all in our hands, and what we must think of is, to make a moderate use +of our success. Try to keep the people from any active aggression, St. +Paul; let them stand upon the defensive only, spread amongst them +different parties of those whom we have collected, who may give them +direction and assistance if needful. But keep the principal part of +our own people in this neighbourhood, that we may direct them on any +point where their presence may be necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Might it not be as well, your Highness," said the Count, "to take one +measure more? We have far more people than enough to guard all the +barricades. I can undertake to draw ten or even twelve thousand from +different spots, and march them out of the Porte Neuve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To lead them where?" demanded the Duke of Guise, lifting his eyes to +the countenance of St. Paul with a meaning expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the Tuilleries and to the Louvre," replied the Count. "Every point +of importance," he added in a low and meaning voice, "will then be +invested."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise waved his hand. "No, St. Paul, no!" he said, "that +step would instantly require another. No; if the enemy misjudge our +forbearance, and attempt aught towards shedding the blood of the +citizens of Paris, we must then act as God shall direct us. In the +mean time I say not, that the barricades may not be carried up to the +very gates of the Louvre, for that is for our own defence; but at +present, St. Paul, at present, it must be on the defensive that we +stand. I beseech you, however, to see that no ground is lost in any +part of the city, for you know how soon an advantage is gained. Should +it be needful send for me, but not till the last extremity."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count of St. Paul turned to obey, but paused for a moment before +he had reached the door. The Duke of Guise by this time was gazing +fixedly upon the hilt of his sword, as it lay on the table before him, +and seemed perfectly unconscious that the Count had not quitted the +room. A slight smile curled that gentleman's lip, as he saw the +direction that the Duke's eyes had taken, and he opened the door and +passed out.</p> + +<p class="normal">For several minutes the Duke of Guise continued to gaze in deep +thought; and his bosom at that moment was certainly full of those +sensations which never, perhaps, occur to any man but once in his +lifetime--even if Fate have cast him one of those rare and memorable +lots, which bear down the winner thereof, upon the stream of fame and +memory, through a thousand ages after his own day is done. The fate of +his country was in his hands; he had but to stretch out his arm and +grasp the crown of France: and what temptations were there to do so to +a mind like his!</p> + +<p class="normal">It must not be forgotten that the Duke of Guise, by every hereditary +feeling, by every prejudice of education, as well as by many strong +and peculiar points in his own character, was in truth and reality a +strenuous and zealous supporter of the Roman Catholic Church. His +veneration for that great and extraordinary institution had descended +to him from his father, and had formed the great principle of action +in his own life. Even had he merely assumed that devotion for the +church during so many years, the very habit must have moulded his +feelings into the same form; and he must have been by this time, more +or less a zealous advocate of the Catholic cause, even if he had set +out with caring nothing in reality about it. But such was not the +case: his father had educated him in principles of strict and stern +devotion to the faith in which they were born; and though in the +gaieties and the frivolities of youth, or the eager struggles of +manhood, he might have appeared in the ordinary affairs of life any +thing on earth but the zealot, yet still his zeal would have been far +more than a pretence, had it only been the effect of early education +and constant habit.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something still more, however, to be said. The spirit of the +Catholic Church was consonant to, and harmonious with, the whole tone +of his own feelings, at once deep, powerful, imaginative, +enthusiastic, politic, and commanding. Chivalry, feudalism, and the +Church of Rome, went hand in hand: all three were, indeed, in their +decay; but if ever man belonged to the epoch of chivalry, it was Henry +Duke of Guise; and he clung to all the other institutions that were +attached to that past epoch, of which he in spirit was a part.</p> + +<p class="normal">Attached therefore sincerely, deeply, and zealously to the Catholic +Church--far, far more than his brother the Duke of Mayenne ever was or +ever could be--Guise beheld a weak monarch, whom he despised and hated +from the very bottom of his heart, wasting the whole energies of the +Catholic party in France in a mere pretence of opposing the Huguenots, +and, in fact, caring for nothing but so to balance the two religious +factions as to be permitted to remain in luxurious indolence, +swallowed up with the most foul, degrading, and abhorrent vices; +setting an example of low and filthy effeminacy to his whole court; +and only chequering a life of soft and unmanly voluptuousness by +bursts of frantic debauchery, or moments of apparent penitence and +devotion, so wild and extravagant as to betray their own affectation, +by the absurdities which they displayed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The church to which Guise was attached was thus betrayed; his own +especial friends and relations were neglected, insulted, or +maltreated; all that were great or good in the nobility of France were +shut out from the high offices of state, trampled upon by the minions +of the King, and plundered by insolent and fraudulent financiers; the +course of public justice was totally perverted; every thing in the +government was venal and corrupt; the exertions of commerce and +industry totally put to a stop; assassination, poison, and the knife, +of daily occurrence; and bands of audacious plunderers tearing the +unhappy land from north to south.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise might well think, as he sat there gazing upon the +hilt of that renowned sword which had never been drawn in vain, that, +were he to say the few short words which were all that was necessary +to bring the crown to his head and the sceptre to his hand--he might +well think that he could obtain for France thereby those great +objects which he conceived were, beyond all others, necessary to her +well-being. He might well conceive too that the cost of so doing would +but be little: civil war already raged in the land; the whole south of +France was one scene of contention; it already existed in the capital; +and would, in all probability, be shortened rather than prolonged by +his striking the one great and decisive blow.</p> + +<p class="normal">The King, who was absolutely at his mercy, and whom he could cast down +from his throne at a single word, was no obstacle in his way; the +Epernons, the d'Aumonts, the Villequiers, he looked upon, +notwithstanding all their favour, and the semblance of power which had +been cast into their hands, as a mere herd of deer, to be driven +backwards and forwards, like beasts of the chase, between himself and +Henry of Navarre. And then again, when he looked to the great and +chivalrous Huguenot monarch, what were the feelings with which he +regarded the struggle that might take place between them? His breast +heaved, his chest expanded, his head was raised, his eye flashed with +the thought of encountering an adversary worthy of the strife, a rival +of powers equal or nearly equal to his own. When he thought of army to +army, and lance to lance, against Henry of Navarre, with the crown of +France between them as the golden prize of their mighty strife, his +spirit seemed on fire within him, and he had well nigh forgotten all +his resolutions, in order to do the daring act which might bring about +that glorious result; and then, when fancy pictured him returning +triumphant over his rival, with peace restored, and civil war put +down, and commerce flourishing, and the rights of France maintained on +every frontier, an uniform religion, a happy people, and the strong +truncheon of command in a hand that could wield it lightly, the +prospect was too bright, too beautiful, too tempting; and he pressed +his hand tight upon his eyes, as if he could so shut it out from his +mental vision.</p> + +<p class="normal">What was it that deterred him? There was much reason on his side; +there was little if any risk; there was the object of the church's +safety; there was the gratification of vengeance upon those who had +insulted and injured him; there were the exhortations of the King of +Spain; there was almost the universal voice of the people in the north +of France; there was his own ambition; there was the certainty that +all he did would be absolved, sanctioned, confirmed by the head of the +Catholic Church; there was already in his favour the solemn and +decided declaration of the highest theological authority in France; +and there was many a specious argument, which no one could expect that +he should sift and refute against himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">What was it deterred him? Was it that there is a majesty which hedges +in a King, sufficiently strong to overawe even the Duke of Guise +himself? Was it that the habitual reverence, which he had been +accustomed to show towards the kingly office, veiled or shielded from +his eyes the real weakness of him who exercised it? Was it that he +feared himself?--Or was it that he felt the act of usurpation must be +confirmed by murder?</p> + +<p class="normal">It cannot be told! Certain it is that he dreamt grand visions; that he +saw mighty prospects of fair paths leading to honour, and glory, and +high renown, and his country's good, and his church's safety; and that +he banished the visions and would not take the only step which would +have over-passed every barrier to his forward way.</p> + +<p class="normal">The words of Catherine de Medici rung in his ears--the words which had +warned him against the growth of ambition in his own heart; he heard +the shouts of the people without, and her warning voice again came +back in tones that seemed well nigh prophetic. Almost, it would +appear, without a cause, the vanity of all things seemed to press upon +his mind at that moment with stronger effect than he had ever +experienced before. There was a leaden weight upon his spirits he knew +not why. He seemed to feel the hand of Fate, the tangible pressure of +a directing arm, selecting for him the path he was to pursue, and +forcing him thereon at the very moment when supreme command appeared +given to him without a check.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun seemed to dazzle his eyes as he gazed from the window, vague +figures passed before him, and crossed the dancing motes, picturing, +like shadows, the persons of whom he had been thinking. He saw Henry +the Third distinctly before him, and fierce faces and bloody knives, +and figures weltering in their blood upon the ground. He felt that he +had indulged fancy too far, that he had given way to thought at the +moment of action, that his course must be shaped as he had +predetermined it in calmer hours; and waving his hand, as if to dispel +the visions that still haunted his sight, he rose from his chair, +leaning heavily on the table, pushed the sword away from him, and +murmured to himself, "No, no! I will never be an usurper! Ho, without +there!" he continued. "Who waits? What is that sound of musketry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Erlan has just arrived, my Lord," replied the attendant, "to bear +your Highness word, that the citizens have driven Malivaut down into +the market, and that is the firing we hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell Erlan to speed back as fast as possible," replied the Duke, "and +bid them cease directly. Let them content themselves with hemming in +the enemy without attacking them. But I hear more firing still; I +shall be obliged to go forth myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur de Brissac has just gone out on one side, your Highness," +replied the attendant, "and Monsieur de St. Paul on the other; both +with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. But they have not had time +to get to the spot yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has ceased now," said the Duke listening. "It has ceased now +towards the Chatelet: but on the other side it is fierce. Go down and +see what are those shouts, and let me know! Surely Henry," he added, +"would not venture into such a scene as this. Alas, no! He would +venture nothing--dare nothing, either for his own sake or his +country's."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment after the attendant returned saying, "It is the Queen, my +Lord; her Majesty Queen Catherine. The crowd of people prevents the +chair from coming up to the gates; but she has descended and is coming +on foot."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke instantly started up and approached the head of the staircase +for the purpose of hurrying down to receive his royal visitor; but +Catherine was by this time upon the stairs, with Madame de Montpensier +and a number of other ladies, who had passed the morning at the Hôtel +de Guise, surrounding her on all sides. The Duke advanced and gave her +his hand to aid her in ascending the stairs; and perhaps the aspect of +Catherine at that moment taught him more fully than any thing else, +how tremendous was the scene without, and how completely the capital +of France was at his disposal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Habituated for more than twenty years to control all her feelings, and +to repress every appearance of fear or agitation, Catherine de Medici +was nevertheless on the present occasion completely overcome. Her lip +quivered, her head shook, and there was a degree of wild apprehension +in her eyes, which it was some moments ere her strongest efforts could +conquer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as she had drawn her breath, "I +must speak with you for a few moments alone; I must beseech you to +give me audience, even if it be but for half an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Majesty has nothing to do but command," replied the Duke. "My +time is at your disposal."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Queen smiled slightly at feeling how easily the empty words of +courts may be retorted upon those that use them. It has been said that +it costs nothing to use civil language and say courtly things, even +when insincere: but it costs much; for, sooner or later, we are sure +to be paid in the same coin to which we have given currency, perhaps +even more depreciating than when we sent it forth. She answered only +by that smile however; and the Duke led her forward to his cabinet, +all the rest of those who crowded the staircase remaining behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">With every sign of ceremonious reverence the Duke of Guise led his +royal guest to a seat, and stood before her; but she paused for a +moment, and hesitated ere she spoke. "My Lord," she said at length, +"this is a terrible state of things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Majesty knows more of it than I do," replied the Duke calmly, +"for I have not gone forth from the house to-day; but I hear there is +some tumult in Paris."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Henry of Guise!" replied the Queen, fixing her eyes upon him. "Henry +of Guise, be sincere!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam," replied the Duke, "one must adapt one's tone to +circumstances. With those who are sincere with us we may be as candid +as the day; but when we are sadly taught the fallacy of words, and the +fragility of promises, we must, of course, shelter ourselves under +some reserve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness's words imply an accusation," said Catherine somewhat +sharply. "In what have I dealt insincerely with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Majesty promised me," replied the Duke of Guise, "that my noble +friend, the young Count of Logères, should be set at liberty not later +than yesterday morning; and that my ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, +should be immediately replaced under my protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have done me wrong, your Highness," replied the Queen; "and +attributed to want of will what only arose from want of power. +Villequier has formally claimed the guardianship of Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut; his application is before the parliament at this hour; and +orders have been given on all hands for the young Lady to remain under +the protection of the King till the question is decided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will cut his cause very short," replied the Duke of Guise frowning, +"if she be not within my gates ere six hours be over."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is within your gates even now, my Lord," replied the Queen. "Your +Highness is too quick. I sent an order myself for the liberation of +the Count de Logères, for that only depended upon the King my son. +Some one, however, diverted it from its right course, and he was only +set free this morning. He ought to have been here before me, for I +sent him on; but I suppose he has not been able to pass the mass of +people round your doors. As to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I have +risked every thing to restore her to you; and notifying to Villequier +and Epernon that I would no longer countenance her being detained, I +liberated her on my own authority and brought her here in my own +chair. She would have been freed two nights ago, for I wished to +effect the matter by a little stratagem, and have her carried from the +convent and brought hither without any one knowing how or by whom it +was done; but the meddling burgher guard came up and drove the people +that I sent away. But let us, oh let us, my Lord, discuss more serious +things. Have I now been sincere with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have, madam," replied the Duke, "and I thank your Majesty even +for doing an act of justice, so rare are they in these days. But may I +know what are now your Majesty's commands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot affect to doubt, cousin," replied the Queen, "that Paris, +the capital of my son's kingdom, is in revolt from end to end. Can you +deny that you are the cause of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though no man is bound to accuse himself, madam," replied the Duke, +returning the Queen's searching glance with a calm, steady gaze, "yet +I will answer your question, and sincerely. I have in no degree +instigated this rising. His Majesty is the cause and not I. We see, +without any reason or motion whatsoever, or any expression of the +King's displeasure, large bodies of troops introduced into the city, +during the night, without drums beating or colours flying, and +altogether in a clandestine manner. We see them take possession +of various strong points, and we hear them using menacing +language--Monsieur de Crillon himself passing through the streets, +breathing nothing but menaces and violence; and if your Majesty can +wonder that in these circumstances the citizens of Paris fly to arms +for the defence of their property, of their lives, and of the honour +of their women, it is more than I can do. In truth, I know not what +the King expected to produce, but the very result which is before us. +I assure your Majesty, however, that it is not at my instigation that +this was done; though, even if I had done this, and far more, I should +have held myself completely justified."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Justified," said the Queen, shaking her head mournfully. "What then +becomes of all your Highness said upon ambition but three days ago?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ambition, madam, would have nothing to do with it," replied the Duke. +"It would have been merely self-defence. Who had so much cause to fear +that the rash and despotic proceedings which have taken place were +aimed at him as I have had? Who had so much cause to know that the +object of all this military parade, was not the hanging of some half +dozen miserable burghers in the Place de Grève, but the arrest, and +perhaps massacre, of Henry of Guise and all his kind and zealous +friends? Can you deny, madam, that such was the cause for which these +soldiers were brought hither? Can you deny, madam, that only +yesterday, when the King assuming friendship towards me, invited me to +ride forth with him--can you deny that it was debated in his council, +whether he should or should not order his guards to murder me as we +went? Confident in my own conscience, madam, and believing that the +King, though misinformed, entertained no personal ill-will against one +who had served him well, I came to Paris, walked through the royal +guards, and presented myself at Court, in the midst of my enemies, +with only eight attendants; and ever since that day, there has not +been an hour in which my life and liberty have not been in danger, +in which schemes for my destruction have not been agitated in the +Cabinet of the King; and I say that, under these circumstances, I +should have been perfectly justified in raising the people for my own +defence. But, madam, I did not do so; and I am not the cause of this +rising.--What is it, Monsieur de Bois-dauphin?" he added, turning to +a gentleman who had just entered, and who now answered a few words in +a low tone. The Duke retired with him into the window, and after +speaking for a moment or two in whispers, Guise dismissed him and +returned, making apologies to the Queen for the interruption.</p> + +<p class="normal">It may be said, without noticing it again, that the same sort of +occurrence took place more than once--different officers and +attendants coming in, from time to time, speaking for a moment with +the Duke in private, and hurrying out again. Though Catherine de +Medici felt this to be somewhat unceremonious treatment, and though it +evidently showed her, that whatever share the Duke had had in raising +the tumult at first, he assuredly now guided all its proceedings, and +ruled the excited multitudes from his own cabinet; yet, in other +respects, she was not sorry for time to pause and think ere she +replied, knowing that she had to deal with one whose mind was far too +acute to be satisfied with vague or unsatisfactory answers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lord," she said, as soon as the conversation was resumed, "I did +not mean exactly to say that you are the active cause of these +proceedings, or that you have excited the people. What I meant was, +that your presence in Paris is the occasion of this emotion. You +cannot doubt that it is so; and therefore, being in this respect the +cause, it is only yourself who can provide the remedy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, madam," replied the Duke of Guise; "I do not see how that +can be. In the first place, I have all along denied that I am the +cause, either inert or active. The people have risen for their own +defence, though, certainly, my defence and my welfare is wrapped up in +that of the people. In the next place, I know not what remedy can be +provided in the present state of affairs. What have you to propose, +madam?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I came to propose, my fair cousin," replied the Queen, "and +what, I am sure, is the only way of quieting the tumult that now +exists, is, that you should quit Paris immediately.--Nay! nay! hear me +out. If I propose this thing to you, it is not without being prepared +and ready to offer you such inducements and recompences, both for +yourself and all your friends, as may show you how highly the King, my +son, esteems you, and at what a price he regards the service you will +render him. Look at this paper, good cousin of Guise, signed with his +own name, and see what perfect security and contentment it ought to +give you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise, however, put the paper gently and respectfully from +him, replying, "Madam, what you propose is impossible. Either the +people of Paris have risen in their own defence, in which case my +leaving the city would have no effect upon the tumult, or else they +have risen in mine, when it would be base to abandon them. I believe +the first of these cases is the true one, and that, therefore, by +staying in Paris, I may serve the King far more effectually than I +could by quitting the city."</p> + +<p class="normal">Catherine de Medici had nothing directly to reply to the reasoning of +the Duke; but she answered somewhat warmly, "By my faith, your +Highness, I think some day you will logically prove that the best way +to serve the King is to take the crown off his head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam," replied the Duke drily, "Messieurs d'Epernon, Villequier, +Joyeuse, D'O., and others, have long been trying to prove the +proposition which your Majesty puts forth; but they have not yet +convinced me of the fact,--nor ever will. They, madam, are or have +been those who have put the King's crown in danger; and, as far as +regards myself, I have but to remind you that if I had any designs +upon the King's person, five hundred men sent out this morning by the +Porte de Nesle, and five hundred more by the Porte Neuve, would be +quite sufficient for all the purposes your Majesty attributes to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Catherine de Medici turned deadly pale, seeing how easily the palace +itself might be invested. At that instant one of the Duke's officers +again entered, and spoke to him for a moment or two apart. The Queen +quietly took up a pen from the table, wrote a few words on a slip of +paper, and opening the door of the cabinet demanded in a low voice, +"Is Pinart there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A gentleman instantly started forward, and putting the paper in his +hands, she spoke to him for a moment in a whisper, ending with the +words, "Use all speed!" Then re-entering the cabinet, she took her +seat while the Duke was yet speaking with his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as he had done, and the stranger +had departed, "you have certainly given me strong proof that you have +no evil intentions; but such power is, alas! very dangerous to trust +one's self with. Read that paper, I beseech you, and tell me if there +be any other thing you can demand--any other condition which will +induce you to quit Paris even for a few days?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It were useless for me to read it, madam," replied the Duke. "Nothing +on earth that could be offered me would induce me to quit Paris at +this moment. But believe me, madam, my being here has nothing to do +with the continuance of the tumult. I have sent out all my friends and +officers and relations already to calm the disturbance. But it is the +King who is the cause of it, or, rather, the King's evil advisers. As +he has occasioned it, he must put a stop to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you have him do?" demanded Catherine de Medici quickly. +"How would you have him act?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the first place," replied the Duke, "let him recall his troops; +let them be withdrawn from every post they occupy! Their presence was +the cause of the people's rising, and as soon as they are gone, the +emotion will gradually subside."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has sent the order of recall already," replied Catherine; "but it +is impossible to execute it. Hemmed in by barricades on every side, +how can they retire, or take one step without danger?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I trust," replied the Duke, "can soon----"</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was interrupted in the midst of what he was saying by the +sudden entrance of Charles of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your Highness to pardon me," he said. "Your Majesty will, I am +sure, forgive me, when I ask if you know what has become of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was anxiety and apprehension in every line of Charles of +Montsoreau's countenance, and the Queen's brow instantly gathered +together with a look of mingled surprise and apprehension.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She followed me into the hotel; did she not?" exclaimed the Queen. "I +got out of the chair first, and she came immediately after. Surely I +saw her upon the stairs!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The porter, madam, declares, that there was no lady entered with your +Majesty; that two or three gentlemen came in; and that it was some +time before your chair, and the rest of your male attendants could +come up, on account of the crowd. I have ventured to ask Madame de +Montpensier and the rest of the ladies in the house, before I intruded +here: but no one has seen Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and she is +certainly not in the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this the way I am treated?" exclaimed the Duke of Guise, his brow +gathering into a tremendous frown. "Is this the way that I am sported +with at the very moment----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay! nay! nay! Cousin of Guise," exclaimed Catherine de Medici, +rising from her seat and clasping her hands. "So help me, Heaven, as I +have had no share in this! I descended from my chair in the midst of +the crowd--knowing terror and agitation, such as, indeed, I never knew +before--and I thought that this poor girl had followed. I was too much +engrossed with the thought of my son's throne tottering to its +foundation to pay much attention to any thing else; but Monsieur de +Logères himself can tell you, that I treated her with all kindness, +and that mine was the order for her liberation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed it was, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Her Majesty +displayed every sort of kindness, and Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was in +the same chair with her when I left her, scarce a hundred yards from +these gates. I fear, my Lord, however, that there are machinations +taking place, which I must explain to you. And in a low voice he told +the Duke what he had seen while returning from the Marché Neuf.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This Nicolas Poulain is a villain," exclaimed the Duke after he had +listened. "I have received the proofs thereof this very morning. Ho! +without there!--Madam, by your leave," he continued, turning to the +Queen, "I would fain speak with these attendants of yours, but dare +not presume to command them hither in your presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Queen immediately directed all those who had followed her chair, +or had borne it, to be called in, and the Duke questioned them +sharply, in a stern and lofty tone, regarding what they had seen of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut after the Queen had passed on.</p> + +<p class="normal">The answer of each was the same however, namely, that none of them had +seen any thing of her. Some had accompanied the Queen and kept the way +clear, and two others who, had remained with the chair, as well as the +bearers themselves, declared that the young Lady, after having +descended from the Queen's chair had gone on; that there was an +immediate rush of the people, which separated them from the rest of +the royal train; and that what between the pressure and confusion that +immediately took place, and the kicking of one of the chargers, which +made the people run back with cries and affright, they had seen +nothing more of the party to which they had belonged, till they had +made their way up to the Hôtel de Guise and obtained admission.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke paused with a gloomy and anxious brow. "Go, some one," he +said at length, "go up to Philibert of Nancy, who was placed above, to +watch what was taking place from the top of the house. Ask him what he +saw after the Queen's arrival, and bring me down word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I go, my Lord?" demanded Charles of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke nodded his head, and the young nobleman sprang up the stairs, +and guided by one of the servants found the watchman, who had been +placed at the top of the house to report from time to time whatever +occurrences of importance he might perceive in the neighbouring +streets. All the information the man could give, however, was, that he +had seen a party separate from the rest of the people, almost +immediately after the Queen's entrance; that they seemed to be taking +great care of some person in the midst of them, who, he fancied, had +been hurt by the kicking and plunging of a horse which he had remarked +hard by. The party had turned the corner of the street without +attracting his attention farther; but, he added, that a moment or two +afterwards he thought he had heard a shrill cry coming from the +direction which they had taken.</p> + +<p class="normal">With such tidings only, and with his heart more agonised than ever, +Charles of Montsoreau returned to the Duke, who was still standing +gloomily by the Queen, who, on her part looked up at his dark and +frowning countenance with a degree of calmness which did not seem +quite so natural as she could have wished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whatever has happened, my Lord Duke," she said, after listening to +the young nobleman's report, "whatever has happened, on my honour, on +my salvation, I have had no share in it; and I promise you most +solemnly, not to rest a moment till I have discovered what has become +of your ward, and have made you acquainted therewith. If she be in the +Court of my son, I make bold to say, that she shall be instantly +restored to you: but I cannot believe that it is so, as it is +impossible for Villequier to have passed those barriers without being +torn to pieces by the people."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still the Duke remained thinking gloomily without making any answer. +"Logères," he said at length, "I must trust you with this business, +for I have more matters to deal with than I can well compass. From +what you said just now, and from what the boy Ignati told me, I know +how you stand with our poor Marie. You know what I said, and what I +promised long ago. Seek her, find her, and wed her! Monsieur de St. +Paul will tell you where your own men are; take her, wherever you find +her: by force, if it be necessary; and if any man, calling himself a +gentleman, oppose you, cleave him to the jaws. I will bear you out in +whatever you do: there is my signet: but stay; you had better see +Marteau Chapelle and Bussi about it. They know every house in Paris, +and I can spare them now from other affairs: bid them go with you and +aid you; and tell Chapelle---- What is it now, Brissac? You look +confounded and alarmed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The news I have will confound your Highness also, I am sure," replied +Brissac; "to alarm you is not possible, I fancy. I have just received +intelligence from the Porte de Nesle, my Lord, that the King has +quitted Paris, and taken the road to Chartres!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise turned towards Catherine de Medici, and gazed upon +her sternly, saying, "You have done this, madam! You amuse me, while +you destroy me!"<a name="div3Ref_01" href="#div3_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">"I <i>have</i> done this, cousin of Guise," replied the Queen, "and I have +done wisely for all parties. I have removed from you a great +temptation to do an evil action--a temptation which I saw that you +yourself feared; and while I have removed that danger from you, my +advice has put my son in safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam," replied the Duke, "I felt no temptation: my resolution was +firm, positive, and unshaken; and had I chosen to compromise the +King's safety, or do wrong to his legitimate authority, the Louvre +would have been invested six hours ago, for the people were already on +their march, if I had not stopped them. I wonder that he escaped in +safety, however, for they are very much infuriated at the sight of +these soldiers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He walked from the Louvre," replied Brissac, "on foot to the +Tuilleries, I hear, followed by some half dozen gentlemen; he then +mounted his horses in the stables, and rode out suddenly; but it is +said that they fired at him from the Porte de Nesle. The people, +however, as they hear it, are becoming quite furious, and I fear that +we shall not be able to keep them from massacring the soldiery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, madam," replied the Duke of Guise, still thinking alone of +the King's escape, "you see, madam, to what danger the King has +exposed himself. Had he remained in Paris no evil could have befallen +him. He was safe, on my life, and on my honour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you, cousin of Guise; I believe you;" replied the Queen, +who thought she saw that the tone of the Duke of Guise was not quite +so peremptory as it had been, while the King had seemed entirely in +his power. "But now, in order to prove your good will entirely, let me +beseech you to exert yourself to save the unhappy men who have been +placed in such a situation of danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That shall soon be done, madam," replied the Duke; "and as soon as +this is done, I too must take means for finding my ward. In the +meantime, madam, I will beseech you to use such measures at the Court, +as may insure that the people of Paris, and of the realm in general, +shall not be driven again to such acts as these, remembering, that as +you warned me not long ago, popularity is the most transient of all +things, and that mine may not last long enough to save the state a +second time from the dangers that menace it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you, cousin of Guise; I understand you;" replied the +Queen. "It may not last long enough, or it may not be willingly +exerted: but I give you my promise, that every thing shall be done to +content you; and with that view I have already demanded that the +insolent, greedy, and ambitious Epernon shall be banished from the +Court, and stripped of his plundered authority.--But hark!" she +continued, "I hear the firing recommence. Wait not for further words, +or for any ceremonies; I will find my way back to the Louvre without +difficulty. Go, my Lord, go at once, and save the poor Swiss from the +fury of the people!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke bowed low, took up his hat and sword, and without other arms +walked out into the streets.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">CHAP. III.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Passing out by the rooms belonging to the porter, instead of by the +Porte Cochère, the Duke of Guise, followed by a number of his +officers, presented himself to the people on the steps which we have +already noticed. The moment he appeared, the whole street rang with +acclamations, a path was instantly opened for him through the midst of +the people, and mounting his horse he rode on, the barricades opening +before him, as if by magic, wherever he came, and the people rending +the air with acclamations of his name.</p> + +<p class="normal">From time to time he stopped as he went, either bending down his proud +head to speak to some of those whom he knew, or addressing the general +populace in the neighbourhood of the different barriers, exhorting +them to tranquillity, and beseeching, commanding, and entreating them +to desist from all attacks upon the soldiery. His words spread like +lightning from mouth to mouth; and though he went in person to several +of the different points where the unequal contest was actively going +on, the assault upon the troops was stopped in other quarters also, by +the mere report of his wishes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, as it were in triumph, totally unarmed amidst the armed +multitude, he went ruling their furious passions, as if by some +all-powerful charm. The most violent, the most exasperated, the most +sullen, uttered not one word in opposition to his will, and showed +nothing but promptness and zeal in executing his commands. Before he +reached the Place de Grève even, towards which his course was +directed, the screams, the cries, the shouts, the firing, had ceased +in every part of Paris, and nothing was heard throughout that wide +capital but the rending shouts of joy, with which the multitude +accompanied him on his way.</p> + +<p class="normal">On entering the Place de Grève the Duke looked sternly up at the +windows of the Hôtel de Ville, but did not enter the building. He +said, however, speaking to those immediately surrounding him, "A week +shall not have elapsed before we have cleared that house of the vermin +that infest it; and the people shall be freed from those who have +betrayed them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then dismounting from his horse, and ascending the steps leading to +the elevated space, called the Perron of the Hôtel de Ville, he lifted +his hat from his head for a moment, as a sign that he wished to +address the people. All was silent in an instant; and then were heard +the full rich deep tones of that eloquent voice, pouring over the +heads of the multitude, and reaching the very farthest parts of the +square.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My friends and fellow-citizens," he said. "You have this day acquired +a great and glorious victory. You have triumphed over the efforts of +despotic power, exerted, I am sure, not by the King's own will and +consent, but by the evil counsels, and altogether by the evil efforts, +of minions, peculators, and traitors. The real merit of those who win +great victories and achieve great deeds, is ascertained more by the +way in which they use their advantages, than by the way in which those +advantages have been gained. Were you a mean, degraded, unthinking +race of men, who had been stirred up by oppression into objectless +revolt, you would now content yourselves with wreaking your vengeance +on a few pitiable and unhappy soldiers, who in obedience to the +commands which they have received, have been cast into the midst of +you, like criminals of old, given up naked to a hungry lion. But you +are not such people; you have great objects before you; you know and +appreciate the mighty purposes for which you have fought and +conquered; and though driven by self-defence to resist the will of the +King, you are still men to venerate and respect the royal authority; +and even while you determine, for his sake as well as for your own, +never to rest satisfied till the Catholic Church is established beyond +the power of heretics to shake; till the Court is freed from the +minions and evil counsellors that infect it; till the finances of the +state are collected, and administered by a just and a frugal hand; and +till the whole honours, rewards, and emoluments of the country are no +longer piled upon one man--though you are determined to seek for and +obtain all this, nevertheless, I know, you are not men to trench in +the least upon the royal authority, farther than your own security +requires, or to injure the royal troops whom you have conquered, when +they are no longer in a situation to do you wrong. You will remember, +I am sure, that they are our fellow-christians and our fellow-men, and +you will treat them accordingly. I have therefore," he said, +"requested my friends and fellow-labourers in your cause, Monsieur de +Brissac and Monsieur de St. Paul, to conduct hither in safety the +French and Swiss troops from the different quarters in which they have +been dispersed. Their arms will be brought hither by our own friends, +and in the manner which we shall deal with these two bodies of +soldiery, I trust that we shall meet still with the approbation of our +brethren."</p> + +<p class="normal">While thus speaking, the Duke of Guise had been interrupted more than +once by the applauses of the people, and in the end loud and +reiterated acclamations left no doubt that all he chose to do would +receive full support from those who heard him.</p> + +<p class="normal">While he was yet speaking--according to the orders which he had given +as he came along--the arms of the Swiss and French guards were brought +in large quantities, by different bodies of the citizens: some +carrying them in hand-barrows, some bearing them upon their shoulders; +and it was a curious sight to see men and boys, and even women, loaded +with morions, and pikes, and swords, and arquebuses, bringing them +forward through the crowd, and piling them up before the princely man +who stood at the top of the steps, surrounded by many of the noblest +and most distinguished gentlemen in France.</p> + +<p class="normal">This sight occupied the people for some minutes, and then a cry ran +through the square of "The Swiss! the Swiss!" The announcement caused +some agitation amongst the populace, and some forgetting that the +soldiery were disarmed, unslung their carbines, or half drew their +swords, as if to resist a new attack. The discomfited soldiers, +however, came on in a long line, two abreast, now totally disarmed, +and seeming by their countenances yet uncertain of the fate that +awaited them. With some difficulty a space was made for them in the +Place de Grève, and being drawn up in two lines, the Duke commanded +them to take their arms, but not their ammunition. Two by two they +advanced to the pile; and each man, as far as possible, selected his +own, when it appeared, to use the words of the Duke of Guise himself, +when recounting the events of that day to Bassompiere, that there +never had been such complete obedience amongst so agitated a +multitude; for not one sword, morion, pike, or arquebuse, of all the +Swiss and French there present, was found to be wanting.<a name="div3Ref_02" href="#div3_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">When all was complete, the Duke of Guise turned to the soldiery, +saying in a loud and somewhat stern tone, "The people of Paris +considering that you have acted under the commands of those you have +sworn to obey, permit you for this once to retire in safety from the +perilous situation in which you have been placed; but as there are +points which make a considerable difference between the Swiss troops +in the pay of France and the French troops themselves, there must be a +difference also in their treatment. The Swiss, as foreigners, could +have no motive or excuse for refusing to obey the commands imposed +upon them; the French had to remember their duty to their country and +to their religion. The Swiss, therefore, we permit to march out with +colours flying and arms raised; the French will follow them, with +their arms reversed and their colours furled."</p> + +<p class="normal">A loud shout from the people answered this announcement; for +throughout the course of that eventful day, the Swiss had acted with +moderation and discipline, whereas the licentious French soldiery had +during the early morning, while they thought themselves in possession +of the capital, displayed all the brutal insolence of triumphant +soldiery.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise spoke a few words to Brissac and to St. Paul, and +those two officers put themselves at the head, Brissac of the Swiss, +and St. Paul of the French guards. Each held a small cane in his hand, +and with no other arms they led the two bands from barrier to barrier +through the city, till they were safe within the precincts of the +Louvre.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had these two parties quitted the Place de Grève, however, +drawing a number of people from that spot, when information was +brought to the Duke, that there were still two bands of soldiers in +the city, one in the Cemetery of the Innocents, and one under the +Chatelet, but both threatened by the people with instant destruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must make our way thither quickly," said the Duke; "for, if I +remember right, it is the band of Du Gas which is at the Chatelet, and +the people are furious against him."</p> + +<p class="normal">He accordingly lost not a moment on the way; but turning to +Bois-dauphin, who accompanied him, he said in a low tone, as they +went, "I would have given my left hand to stay and examine the +interior of the Hôtel de Ville, in order to punish some of the +traitors who, I know, are lurking there. Perhaps it is better, +however, to let them escape than that any mischief should be done; and +in these popular movements, if we once begin to shed blood, there is +no knowing where it will end."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear there is bloodshed going on at present," said Bois-dauphin, +hearing a shot or two fired at no great distance. "They are at it +under the Chatelet now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hurry on! hurry on!" said the Duke, speaking to some of those behind. +"Run on fast before, and announce that I am coming. Command them, in +my name, to stop."</p> + +<p class="normal">Two or three of his followers ran forward, and no more shots were +heard; but scarcely two minutes after, just as the Duke had passed one +of the barricades, he saw two or three men hurrying up to him, led by +Chapelle Marteau, who approached him with no slight expression of +grief and apprehension in his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear I have bad news for you, my Lord," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" demanded the Duke calmly. "Such a day as this could +hardly pass over without some alloy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear," replied the Leaguer, "that your Highness' friend. Monsieur +de Logères, is mortally wounded. He brought me your signet and orders, +which I immediately obeyed. We gained information which led us to +suppose that the persons we sought for, were concealed in a house in +the Rue de la Ferronière here hard by. We proceeded thither instantly +and demanded admission; but they, affecting to take us for a party of +soldiery, fired upon us from the window, when two shots struck the +Count, one lodging in his shoulder, and the other passing through his +body. He is yet living, and I have ordered him to be conveyed to the +Hôtel de Guise at once, where a surgeon can attend upon him. Our +people were breaking into the house to take the murderers prisoners, +when, hearing of your approach, I came away to tell you the facts."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise paused, and gazed sadly down upon the ground, +repeating the words, "Poor youth! poor youth! so are his bright hopes +cut short! He shall be avenged at least! Show me the house, Chapelle."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he followed rapidly upon the steps of the Leaguer, who led him to +a small house, with the entrance, which was through a Gothic arch, +sunk somewhat back from the other houses. There were two windows above +the arch, and a window which flanked it on either side; but the +followers of the young Count of Logères and of Chapelle Marteau had by +this time broken open the doors, and rushed into the building.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is part of the old priory of the Augustins," said the Duke of +Guise as they came up. "They exchanged it some fifty years ago for +their house further down. But there are two or three back ways out, I +know; and if you have not put a guard there, they have escaped you."</p> + +<p class="normal">It proved as the Duke anticipated. The house was found completely +vacant, and though strict orders were sent to all the different gates +to suffer no one to pass out without close examination, either the +order came too late, or those against whom it was levelled proved too +politic for the guards; for none of those whom the Duke of Guise +wished to secure, except Pereuse, the Prevôt des Marchands, were taken +in the attempt to escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shots, the sound of which, Guise had heard, proved to be those +which had struck the unfortunate Count de Logères, and no difficulty +was found in inducing the people who surrounded the soldiery near the +Chatelet, to suffer them to depart, as their companions had done.</p> + +<p class="normal">On entering the Cemetery of the Innocents, however, the Duke instantly +saw that the danger of the troops was greater; for, shut up within, +those walls, together with the Swiss, he found the famous Baron de +Biron and Pomponne de Bellievre, while the people without were loudly +clamouring for their blood. They both advanced towards him as soon as +he appeared; and the Duke, gazing around him, said with a sigh, "Alas, +Monsieur de Biron! those who stirred up this fire should have been +able to extinguish it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say so, too, my Lord," replied Biron sadly. "Evil be to those who +gave the counsel that has been followed. God knows I opposed it to the +utmost of my power, and only obeyed the King's absolute commands in +bringing these poor fellows hither, who, I fear, will never be +suffered to pass out as they came."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the soldiery I have no fear," replied the Duke, "and as for you, +gentlemen, I must do the best that I can. But the people look upon you +as partially authors of the evil, and they will not be easily +satisfied."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise, however, succeeded, though not without difficulty, +in his purpose of saving all. The people yielded to him, but for the +first time showed some degree of resistance; and he returned to the +Hôtel de Guise feeling more sensibly, from that little incident, the +truth of the warning which Catherine de Medici had given him, +regarding the instability of popularity, than from all the arguments +or examples that reason or history could produce.</p> + +<p class="normal">We may easily imagine the reception of the Duke in his own dwelling: +the joy, the congratulations, the inquiries; and we may imagine, also, +the passing of that busy night, while messengers were coming to and +fro at every instant, and couriers were dispatched from the Hôtel de +Guise to almost every part of France.</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry of Guise was well aware, that whatever deference and humility he +might assume in his words towards the King, or whatever testimonies of +forgiveness and affection Henry might offer to him, his own safety +now, for the rest of his life, depended on his power, and that his +armour must be the apprehensions of the King, rather than his regard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Up to a very late hour, notwithstanding all the fatigues and +agitations of the day, he sat with his secretary Pericard, writing +letters to all his different friends in various parts of the country, +demanding their immediate assistance and support, even while he +expressed the most devoted attachment to the King; and thus, in the +letter we have already cited to Bassompiere, he makes use of such +expressions as the following:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus it is necessary that you should make a journey here to see your +friends, whom you will not find, thank God! either wanting in means or +resolution. We must have good intelligence from Germany, however, that +we be not taken by surprise. We are not without forces, courage, +friends, nor means; but still less without honour, or respect and +fidelity to the King, which we will preserve inviolably, doing our +duty, as people of worth, of honour, and as good Catholics."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was about twelve o'clock at night, when Reignaut, the surgeon, +entered the cabinet of the Duke, and bowing low said, "I come, +according to your Highness's order, to tell you the state of the young +Count of Logères. Soon after I saw you about six to-day, we extracted +both balls. He bore the operation well, and has slept since for +several hours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he sleeping still?" demanded the Duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied the surgeon. "He awoke about a quarter of an hour ago, +and seems anxious to see your Highness. He questioned me closely as to +his state, when I told him the truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did right, you did right," replied the Duke. "He is one that can +bear it. What is your real opinion, Reignaut, in regard to the +result?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can hardly tell your Highness," replied the surgeon. "Two or three +days more are necessary, before we can judge. The wound in the +shoulder is not dangerous, though the most painful. The shot which +passed through his body, and lodged in the back, is one which we +generally consider mortal; but then, in ordinary cases, death either +takes place almost immediately, or indications of such a result are +seen in an hour or two, as to leave no further doubt on the subject. +No such indications have appeared here, and it may have happened that +the ball has passed through without touching any vital part. We must +remember, also," he continued, "that the wound was received when the +moon was in her first quarter, which is, of course, very favourable; +and we shall also, if there be any chance of life being saved, have +made some progress towards recovery before any crisis is brought on by +the moon reaching the full."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke listened attentively, for though such things may appear to +us, in the present day, mere foolishness, that was not the case two +centuries and a half ago, and the power of the moon, in affecting the +wounded or sick, was never questioned. "Stay, Reignaut," said the +Duke, "I will go with you, and see this good youth. I love him much; +there is a frankness in his nature that wins upon the heart. Besides, +he has saved my life, and has come to my aid on all occasions, as if +there were a fate in it; and I believe, moreover, that he loves me +personally as much--nay, perhaps more, than any of my own family and +relations."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying the Duke rose, and, followed by Reignaut, passed through +the door of his cabinet into the anteroom. His pages instantly +presented themselves to light him on his way, and traversing some of +the long corridors of the vast building be inhabited, he reached the +chamber where his unhappy friend lay stretched upon the bed of pain +and sickness. The boy Ignati sat beside him, tending him with care and +affection; and at the foot of the bed, with his arms crossed upon his +chest, stood his faithful servant Gondrin, with tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke seated himself by the young Count, and remained with him for +nearly an hour; and knowing well what effect the mind has upon the +body, spoke to him cheerfully and hopefully of the time to come, +talked of his recovered health as a thing certain, and mentioned his +union with Marie de Clairvaut as beyond all doubt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is upon that subject, my Lord," said the young gentleman, "that I +wished particularly to speak with your Highness. I have not had either +time or opportunity of telling you all that has occurred since I left +you at Soissons. But from all I have heard, I now judge better in +regard to the situation of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut than even you +can. Nay, Monsieur Reignaut, I must speak a few words, but I will be +as brief and as prudent as possible. In this business, my Lord, +suspect not the Queen. It is not in her hands that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut will be found. Neither is she with Villequier, depend upon +it; nor in the power of the King. I grieve to say it, but I feel sure +my own brother has something to do with the events of this day as far +as they affect her so dear to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you surely do not think," exclaimed the Duke, "that it is your +brother's hand which inflicted these wounds upon you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The ball would be poisoned, indeed, my Lord," replied Charles of +Montsoreau, "if I did believe such to be the case. But I trust it is +not so; most sincerely do I trust--ay, and believe--it is not so. +There is another hand, my Lord Duke; and not long ago I could as well +have believed that my own father's would have been raised against me +as the one of which I speak. But still there is another hand, my Lord, +which--actuated by motives dark and evil--I believe to have been +raised against my life. That hand is in general unerring in its aim; +and the moment before the shot was fired, I saw the calm cold features +which I know so well, at the window just above me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But whose is the hand?" exclaimed the Duke. "Whose are the features +that you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mean those of the Abbé de Boisguerin, my Lord," replied the Count; +"and to him, to him, I think, your Highness must look even rather than +to my brother. I believe Gaspar but to be a tool in his hands, and +that he uses him for his own dark and criminal designs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I not heard you say he was your tutor?" demanded the Duke. "What +then are his motives? what can be his inducements?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Love, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I have the word of +that sweet girl for his having dared to use words towards her, for +which he deserves and must meet with punishment. Him I would point out +to your Highness as the person to be watched, and sought for, and made +to account for all his actions; for, depend upon it, his are the +machinations which are ruling these events."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He shall not be forgotten!" replied the Duke. "He shall not be +forgotten! But now, Logères, speak no more, except indeed only to +answer me one question. I have heard that the county of Morly has +lately fallen to you by the death of the old Count. These, with the +estates of Logères, if properly conducted, may afford me great +assistance. You are incapable for the time of directing them at all. +Do you authorise me to fill your post, and give orders in your name +till you are better?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most willingly, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I had +already thought of it. But your Highness talks of my becoming better: +I have thought of that matter too, but in a different light; and +considering what may take place in case of my own death, I have +requested Monsieur Reignaut here to cause a will to be drawn up, +leaving the whole that I possess to the person whom I love best on +earth, with your Highness for her guardian. There are a few gifts +bestowed on those that love me, and a provision for all old servants: +but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it will not be wanted, Logères," said the Duke, pressing his +hand. "I see it in your eye; I hear it in the tone of your voice. You +will recover and strike by my side yet--perhaps, in many a well-fought +field. Silence and perfect quiet, I know, are Monsieur Reignaut's best +medicines; but I shall come to you, from time to time, when I have got +any pleasant tidings to bear."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">CHAP. IV.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We must now pass over a considerable lapse of time without taking any +note of the political intrigues with which it was occupied, and lead +the reader at once from the month of May to the end of summer, and +from the city of Paris to the distant town of Augoulême.</p> + +<p class="normal">Under the high hill on which that city stands, at the distance of +about a league from the base, was in those days a beautiful park with +a pavilion of four towers; and in one of these towers, on a fine +summer day towards the end of July, sat the young Marquis of +Montsoreau together with the Abbé de Boisguerin: not exactly in +conversation, for the Marquis had not spoken a word for nearly an +hour; but in dull companionship.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young nobleman's back was turned towards the light, his eyes were +bent down upon the ground, his head drooped forward in a desponding +attitude, the nostril was painfully expanded, as if he drew his breath +with difficulty, and the teeth were tight shut, as it were to keep +down some struggling emotions that swelled for utterance. An open +letter lay upon the table, and another much more closely written, and +written in cypher, was in the hand of the Abbé de Boisguerin. The +Abbé's brow too was a good deal contracted, and his lip was somewhat +pale, though it quivered not; but from time to time he addressed the +young nobleman with words of consolation, regarding some afflicting +tidings just received.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those words, however, though well chosen, appropriate and elegant, +were not of the words that console, for they were not of the heart. He +reasoned logically on the inutility of human grief, and still more on +the vanity of regretting that which could not be recalled. He spoke +lightly of all deep feelings for any earthly thing, and he talked of +every deed upon the face of the earth being justified by the +importance of the objects to be obtained.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had talked thus for some time without obtaining any answer, he +was going on to justify the past; but Gaspar de Montsoreau suddenly +started up, and interrupted him with a vehemence which he had never +displayed before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Abbé de Boisguerin," he said, "talk not to me of consolation and of +comfort. Is not my brother dead? Is not my brother dead, killed by my +own hand? Can you tear that from the book of fate? Can you blot it out +from memory? Can you rase it for ever from the records of crimes done? +Can you find me a pillow on all the earth, where I can lay my head in +peace?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your brother, indeed, is dead," said the Abbé de Boisguerin, without +in the least degree trying to relieve the mind of his young companion +from the crime with which conscience charged him. "Your brother, +indeed, is dead; and it is not to be denied that your hand, my dear +Gaspar, took his life; but yet you were in a city where war was +actually going on between two parties, one of which you served, and +the other your brother. These things have happened every day in civil +wars, and always will happen. They are to be grieved at, but who can +help them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I was engaged in no civil wars," exclaimed the young Marquis. "My +men were at the Louvre. I was not fighting on the part of the King: I +was not engaged in trampling down the people. But what was I busied +with, Abbé de Boisguerin? I was engaged in a scheme for carrying +off--from him she loved, and from those who had a right to protect +her--one whom I had no title to control, whom I was bound by honour to +guard and to defend. I was injuring her; I was preparing to injure +her. If I had not lied to her myself, I had caused her to be deceived +and lied to; and all that I had previously done made the act itself +which I had committed, but the more hateful. Speak not to me of +consolation, Abbé; speak not to me of hope or comfort. You of all men, +do not venture to mention to me a word like happiness or confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why not, my Lord?" demanded the Abbé somewhat sternly. "What have +I done to merit reproach in the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has it not been you that have prompted me throughout?" demanded the +Marquis. "Was it not you who devised the scheme, prepared the means, +got possession of the Queen's letter by corrupting her servants. Was +it not your tool, that, upon pretence of assisting her to the other +gates of the hotel, got her into our power; and was it not you, when +her prayers and entreaties and agitation would have made me yield--was +it not you that resisted, and remorselessly bade the men carry her on? +Did you not yourself stand by me when the shot was fired; and was it +not your warning, that disgrace and death must follow hesitation, +which winged the ball that took my brother's life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is all true, Gaspar," replied the Abbé de Boisguerin in a sad but +no longer a harsh tone. "It is all true; and from you I meet the +reward, which all men will meet and well deserve who love others +better than themselves, and who do for them things that they would not +do for themselves. Nevertheless, I still think that there was not that +evil on our side with which you seem to reproach yourself. Shocked and +mourning for your brother's death, you see all things in dark and +gloomy colours. Those things which you regarded before as light, have +now become to you heavy and sombre as night. But all this is but mood, +and let me call to your remembrance what sense and reason say. You and +your brother loved the same person,--you vehemently, warmly, +devotedly; he coldly, and by halves. You, as the elder brother and as +lord of the dwelling in which she was received, had, if any thing, the +first claim upon her; and he himself rendered that claim still greater +by leaving her entirely to you, and absenting himself from her. You +had every right, therefore, to seek her hand by all means; and when +you found that, though he affected generous forbearance, he had gone +covertly to forestall your demand, and gain the promise of her hand +from her guardian, surely you were bound to keep no measures with him. +All I did subsequently was to serve you in a cause that I thought was +right, and it is but a few days ago that you were grateful to me for +so doing. I said at the time, and I say again, that if at the moment +when your brother commenced his attack upon the house in the Rue de la +Ferronière, either you or I had been taken, death and eternal disgrace +would have been the consequence. We acted but in our own defence, and +those who assailed us cannot accuse us for so acting."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him in sullen silence, his dark eyes +rolling from side to side beneath his heavy eyebrows. In his dealings +with the Abbé de Boisguerin he had by this time learned fully how +artful and politic was the man who led him. He saw it, and he could +not doubt it, even while he shared in the things at which his better +spirit revolted. But that very knowledge taught him to doubt, whether +the art and the policy were used for his service, and out of affection +to him, or whether they were all directed in some secret way to the +benefit of him who wielded them so dexterously. The suspicions which +Villequier had instilled rose fresh in his mind at this very time; and +as his only answer to the Abbé's reasonings, he demanded with a keen +glance and a sharp tone, "Tell me. Abbé, was it, or was it not, you +who brought the reiters upon us, and who gave the King's forces notice +of our passage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did the one, but not the other," replied the Abbé calmly. "I dealt +not with the reiters, Gaspar de Montsoreau, for that would have been +dangerous to me, to her, and to you. But I did inform the troops of +the King, because I already had learned how deeply the Duke of Guise +was pledged to your brother; because I knew that no reasoning would +prevent either you or this fair girl from going on to Soissons; and +because I saw that there was no earthly chance of your obtaining her +hand, but by placing her under the charge of her father's nearest male +relation, from whom the Duke of Guise unjustly withholds the +guardianship. I own it, I acknowledge it, I am proud of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The way in which the Abbé replied was not such as Gaspar de Montsoreau +had expected; but dissatisfied with himself, and of course with every +thing else, Gaspar de Montsoreau still gazed sullenly on the floor, +and then raised his eyes to the open window of the pavilion, where the +warm sun was seen streaming through the green vines, with the birds +still singing sweetly in the woods without. But it was all to him as +the face of Eden to our first parents after the fall; a shade seemed +to come over his eyes when he looked upon the loveliness of nature; +the very sunshine seemed to him darkness; and the fair world a desert.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you give me back my delight in that sunshine?" he said, after a +pause. "Can you make the notes of those birds again sound sweet to my +ear? Can you remove the heavy, heavy burden of remorse from this +heart? Can you ever, ever prove to me, that for this unrequited love I +have not made myself a guilty wretch, bearing the sign of Cain upon +his brow, the curse of Cain within his bosom?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If such be your feelings," replied the Abbé, "if such--contrary to +all justice and reason--is the state in which your mind is to remain, +there is one way that will alleviate and soothe you, that may seem in +your eyes some atonement, and put your conscience more at rest. Cast +off this love which you believe has led you into evil, yield the +pursuit of this fair girl, renounce the object for which you did that +whereof your heart reproaches you, and by that voluntary punishment +and self-command, do penance for aught in which you may have failed. +Doubtless, that penance will be severe and terrible to endure; but the +more it is so, the greater is the atonement."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquis gazed him in the face thoughtfully while the Abbé spoke, +and then fell into a long reverie. His brow was raised and depressed, +his teeth gnawed his nether lip, his hand clenched and opened with the +struggle that was going on within, and at length, stamping his heel +upon the ground, he exclaimed, "No, no, no! I have paid a mighty +price, and I will save the jewel that I have bought with my soul's +salvation! That fiery love is the only thing now left me upon +earth.--She shall be mine, or I will die! What is there that shall +stop me now? What is there that shall hinder me? Have I not wealth, +and power, and courage, and strength, and daring, and determination? +The fear of crime! the fear of crime! that weak barrier is cast down +and trampled under my feet. Have I not broken the nearest and the +dearest ties of kindred and affection, murdered the brother that +hung on the same breast, dimmed the eyes that looked upon me in +infancy, frozen the warm heart that was cradled in the same womb with +mine?--Out upon it! What is there should stop me now? The lesser +crimes of earth, the smaller violences, seem ground into unseen dust +by this greater crime. Abbé, I will buy her of Villequier!--I know how +to win him!--I will force her to love me, or she shall hate her +husband! What is there shall stop me now? I will buy the priest as +well as the ring, or the wedding garment; and she shall be mine, +whether her heart be mine or not!".</p> + +<p class="normal">While he spoke the Abbé de Boisguerin gazed upon him with one of his +calm dark smiles; but upon the present occasion that smile upon the +lip was at variance with a slight frown upon his brow. He replied +little, however, saying merely, "It is so, Gaspar! It is so, that men +seek to enjoy the fruit, and yet regret the means. They will never +find happiness thus, however."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Happiness!" exclaimed the Marquis, with a look of agony upon his +face. "Is there such a thing as happiness? Oh yes, there is, and I +once knew it, when together with that brother who is now no more, and +you also, my friend, undisturbed by stormy passions, content with that +I had, blessed with the only friendship and affection that was needful +to content, I passed the sunny hours in sport and joy, and scarcely +knew the common pains incident to man's general nature. And you have +aided to destroy this state, and you have helped to drive me forth +from happiness, to blot it out so entirely, that I could almost forget +it ever existed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, Gaspar of Montsoreau!" exclaimed the Abbé quickly, "I have +not done any of these things you talk of. I have not aided in any one +degree to take from you the happiness you formerly had. There is but +one secret for the preservation of happiness, Gaspar. It matters not +what is the object of desire, for any thing that we thirst for really +may give us happiness in nearly the same portion as another. Happiness +is gained by the right estimation of the means. If a man ever uses +means that he regrets, to obtain any object that he desires, he loses +the double happiness which may be obtained in life, the happiness of +pursuit and the happiness of enjoyment. Every means must, of course, +be proportioned to its end; where much is to be won, much must be +risked or paid: but the firm strong mind, the powerful understanding, +weighs the object against the price; and, if it be worthy, whatever +that price may be, after it is once paid and the object attained, +regrets not the payment. It is like an idle child who covets a gilt +toy, spoils it in half an hour, and then regrets the money it has +cost, ever to sorrow over means we have used, when those means have +proved successful. Say not, Gaspar, that I disturbed your happiness! +While you were in your own lands, enjoying the calm pleasures of a +provincial life, knowing no joys, seeking no pleasures but those +which, like light winds that ruffle the surface and plough not up the +bosom of the water, amuse the mind but never agitate the heart, I +lived contented and happy amongst you, believing that, but once or +twice at most in the life of man, a joy is set before him, which is +worthy of being bartered against amusement. I joined in all your +sports, I furnished you with new sources of the same calm pleasures; +and as long as I saw the passions were shut out, I sought no change +for myself or for you either. But when the moment came, that strong +and deep passions were to be introduced; when I saw that your heart, +and that of your brother, like the moulded figure by the demigod, had +been touched with the ethereal fire, and woke from slumber never to +sleep again, then it was but befitting that I should aid him who +confided in me, in the pursuit that he was now destined to follow. If +the object was a great and worthy one, the means to obtain it were +necessarily powerful and hazardous. No man ought to yield his repose +for any thing that is not worth all risks; but having once begun the +course, he must go on; and weak and idle is he who cannot overleap the +barriers that he meets with, or, when the race is won, turns to regret +this flower or that which he may have trampled down in his course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are harsh, Abbé," replied the Marquis thoughtfully, somewhat +shaken by his words--for though the wounds of remorse admit no balm, +they are sometimes forgotten in strong excitement. "You are harsh, but +yet it is a terrible thing to have slain one's brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is," replied the Abbé; "but circumstances give the value of every +fact. It is a terrible thing to slay any human being; to take the life +of a creature, full of the same high intelligences as ourselves: but +if I slay that man in a room, and for no purpose, it is called murder; +if I slay him in a battle-field, in order to obtain a crown, it is a +glorious act, and worthy of immortal renown."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquis listened to his sophistry, eager to take any theme of +consolation to his heart. But any one who heard him, would have +supposed that the Abbé de Boisguerin thought his companion too easily +consoled. Perhaps it might be that the Abbé himself sought to defend +his share in the transaction, rather than to give any comfort to his +unhappy cousin. At all events, after a brief pause, during which both +fell into thought, he added, "What I grieve the most for is, that +Charles was kind-hearted and generous, frank and true, and I believe +sincerely that, but for this unhappy business, he loved us both."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, there is the horror! there is the horror!" exclaimed the Marquis, +casting himself down into a chair, and covering his eyes with his +hands. "He did love me, I know he did; and I believe he sought to act +generously by me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé suffered him to indulge in his grief for a moment or two, and +then replied, "But the misfortune is, that, with all this, your object +is not yet secured; that though you have once more snatched her from +the power of the Guises, you have not contrived to keep her in your +own."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquis waved his hand impatiently, saying, "I cannot--I will not +talk of such things now. Leave me, Abbé, leave me! I can but grieve; +there is no way that I can turn without encountering sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé turned and left him; and descending the steps into the +gardens, he walked on in the calm sunshine, as tranquilly as if purity +and holiness had dwelt within his breast. "I must bear this yet a +while longer," he said to himself. "But now, if I could find some +enthusiastic priest, full of wild eloquence, such as we have in Italy, +to seize this deep moment of remorse, we might do much with him to +make him abjure this pursuit; perhaps abjure the world! The foolish +boy thinks that it was his hand that did it, and does not know that I +fired at all, when his hand shook so that he could not well have +struck him. Perhaps there may be such a priest as I need up there," he +continued, looking towards Augoulême, "perhaps there may be such a +priest up there, of the kind I want. Epernon has his fits of devotion +too, I believe. At all events, I will go up and see. The madder the +better for my purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying he called some servants, ordered his horse, and, as soon +as it was brought, rode away towards Augoulême.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">CHAP. V.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau remained in the same position in which the Abbé +had left him for nearly an hour, and the struggle of the various +passions which agitated his heart, were perhaps as terrible as any +that had ever been known to human being. His situation, indeed, was +one which exposed him more than most men are ever exposed, to the +contention of the most opposite feelings. He had not been led +gradually on, as many are, step by step, to evil; but he had been +taken from the midst of warm and kindly feelings, from the practice of +right, and an habitual course of calm and tranquil enjoyment, and by +the mastery of one strong and violent passion had been plunged into +the midst of crimes which had left anguish and remorse behind them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, however, the passion which had at first led him astray, existed +in all its fierceness and all its intensity; and, like some quiet +field--from which the husbandman has been accustomed to gather yearly, +in the calm sunshine, a rich and kindly harvest--when suddenly made +the place of strife by contending armies, his heart, so tranquil and +so happy not a year before, had now become the battle-place of remorse +and love.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sometimes the words of the Abbé came back upon his ear, urging him to +abandon for ever, as a penance for his crime, the pursuit which had +already led him to such awful deeds; but then again the thought of +Marie de Clairvaut, of never beholding that beautiful being again, of +yielding her for ever, perhaps, to the arms of others, came across his +brain, and almost drove him mad.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then would rush remorse again upon his heart, the features of his +brother rose up before him, his graceful form seemed to move within +his sight; the frank warm-hearted, kindly smile, that had ever greeted +him when they met, was now painted by memory to his eye; and many a +trait of generous kindness, many a noble, many an endearing act, the +words and jests of boyhood and infancy, the long remembered sports of +early years, the accidents, the adventures, the tender and twining +associations of youth and happiness, forgotten in the strife of +passion and the contention of rivalry, now came back, as vividly as +the things of yesterday--came back, alas! now that death had ended the +struggle, rendered the deeds of the past irreparable, thrown the pall +of remorse over the last few months, and left memory alone to deck the +tomb of the dead with bright flowers gathered from their spring of +life.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was too much to bear: he turned back again to the words, not of +consolation but of incitement, which the Abbé had spoken to him. He +tried to think it was folly to regret what had been done; he tried to +recollect that it was in a scene of contention, and in moments of +strife, that his brother had fallen; he strove to persuade himself +that Marie de Clairvaut had been under his care and guidance and +direction, and that his brother Charles had had no right even to +attempt to take her out of his hands. He laboured, in short, to steel +his heart; to render it as hard iron, in order to resist the things +that it had to endure. He sought anxiously to rouse it into activity; +and he tried to fix his mind still upon the thoughts of winning Marie +de Clairvaut. He resolved, at whatever price, by whatever sacrifice, +to gain her, to possess her, to make her his own beyond recall: with +the eagerness of passion and the recklessness of remorse, he +determined to pursue his course, trusting, as many have idly trusted, +that he should induce the woman, whose affections and feelings he +forced, to love the man to whose passions she was made a sacrifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">The struggle was still going on, the voice of conscience was raising +itself loudly from time to time, memory was doing her work, and +passion was opposing all, when, without hearing any step, or knowing +that any one had arrived at the house, he felt a hand quietly laid +upon his arm, and starting up with a feeling almost of terror, which +was unusual to him, he beheld the dark and sinister, though handsome, +countenance of Villequier.</p> + +<p class="normal">The courtier grasped his hand with enthusiastic warmth, and gazed in +his face with a look of deep interest. "You are sad, Monsieur de +Montsoreau," he said; "I grieve to see you so sad. I fear that the +news which I came to break to you has been told you, perhaps, in a +rash and inconsiderate manner. You are aware then that your brother is +no more. I hoped to have been in time, for I only heard it the day +before yesterday, in the evening, from the Duke of Guise, who is now +with the King, and, as you know, all powerful."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him to an end, and then merely bowed his +head, saying, "I have heard all, Monsieur de Villequier." But although +he saw that his companion--who had more than once witnessed the +fierceness of his feelings towards his brother regarding Mademoiselle +de Clairvaut--was surprised at the deep grief he now betrayed, he +dared not let him know how much that grief was aggravated by remorse, +from the belief that his own hand had cut the thread of his brother's +life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry. Monsieur de Montsoreau," added Villequier, "to see you so +deeply affected by this matter. Pray remember, that though Monsieur de +Logères was your brother, he was struggling with you for the hand of +the person you love, and that his being now removed, renders your hope +of obtaining the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut no longer doubtful +and remote, but certain and almost immediate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see not the matter in the same cheering light that you do, Monsieur +de Villequier," replied Gaspar de Montsoreau thoughtfully. "You say, +and I hear also that it is so, that the Duke of Guise is now all +powerful with the King; if such be the case, what results have we to +anticipate? Do you think that the Duke of Guise will ever consent to +the union of his ward with me? Do you think that, prejudging the +question as he has already done, he will give me the bride that he +promised to my brother? Have I not heard from those who were present, +that he has sworn by all he holds sacred, that never, under any +circumstances, should she be mine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duke of Guise is not immortal," replied Villequier drily; "and +his death leaves her wholly in my power. Should such an event not take +place, however, and the period of her attaining free agency approach, +we must risk a little should need be, and employ a certain degree of +gentle compulsion to drive or lead her to that which we desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When will it be?" demanded Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Why should we +pause? why should we risk any thing by delay?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She becomes a free agent by the law," replied Villequier, "on the +morrow of next Christmas. If that day passes, it is true, prayers and +supplications will be all that can be used, for the Parliament will +extend its protection to her, and not the King himself can force her +to wed any one she does not choose. Before that period her guardian +can, for such is the feudal law of this realm, that she can be forced +either to resign her lands or produce some one in her stead to lead +her retainers in the King's service. The law has been somewhat +stretched, it is true; but on more than one occasion, with the consent +of the King, the guardian of a young lady difficult to please, has +compelled her to make a choice, and the Parliament has sanctioned the +act."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not her lawful guardian, then?" demanded the young Marquis, +"that you should hesitate, in hopes of the Duke of Guise's death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I maintain that I am her guardian," replied Villequier, "and my suit +is before the Parliament; but I should be much more certainly her +guardian, if the Duke of Guise were dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duke of Guise dead!" said Gaspar de Montsoreau sullenly. "A thing +improbable, unlikely, not to be counted upon. If that be all my hold +upon you, Monsieur de Villequier, the hopes that you have held out to +me are but slight in fabric and foundation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hear me, my good young friend," replied Villequier. "They are not so +slight as you imagine. In the first place, we have for some time held +in France that rash and troublesome persons who oppose our progress, +or thwart our desires, are to be encountered for a certain time by the +arts of policy and by every soft and quiet inducement we may hold out +to them. When we have been patient as long as possible, and find that +they are not to be frustrated by any ordinary means, it becomes +necessary to put a stop to their opposition, and to remove them from +the way in which we are proceeding. Now, the Duke of Guise has been +very busily teaching a number of persons, both high and low, that his +prolonged life would be extremely inconvenient to them. Biron does not +love him, D'Aumont abominates him, D'O. has good cause to wish him a +step beyond Jerusalem; Henry of Navarre has in him a bitter enemy; the +rash, vain, Count of Soissons an obstacle and a stumbling-block; and +though I am his humble servant, and the King his very good friend, yet +both Henry and myself could do quite as well without him. Besides +these, there are at least ten thousand more in France who would walk +with their beavers far more gallantly, if there were a Guise the less +in the world; so that I say, on very probable reasoning, that I would +fully as soon reckon upon the life of a man of eighty, as I would upon +the robust, powerful existence of Henry of Guise even for an hour. But +putting all that aside. Monsieur de Montsoreau, taking it for granted +that he lives, what can I do but what I propose? You have the King's +promise and mine in writing; we can do no more. The cause is before +the Parliament, and Henry, restrained in his own court, at war with +his own subjects, and driven from his own capital, depend upon it, +will never sign your contract of marriage with Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut till every other hope has failed; ay, and what is more, till +he sees before him a very very great object to be gained by so doing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A fresh object you mean, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar de +Montsoreau. "I know that this is the way in which kings and statesmen +deal with men less wise than themselves. There must be always one +object secured to obtain the promise, and another to obtain the +performance. Pray, what is the new object, Monsieur de Villequier? and +is it sure, that if an object be held out of sufficient worth and +importance, the King will not find some specious reason for drawing +back, or that some new irresistible obstacle does not present itself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Consider the King's situation. Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied +Villequier, "with the Duke of Guise constantly at his side, dictating +to him all his movements, with the question, of guardianship even now +lying before the Parliament, he would run the very greatest risk at +this moment if he were to do as we both wish, and forcibly hurry on +this business to a conclusion. But the aspect of affairs is changing +every day,--the Count of Soissons has come to join him; Henry of +Navarre himself has sent him offers of assistance and support; +Epernon, roused into activity, is levying forces in all parts of the +country; every day the King may expect to make some way against the +party of his adversaries; and therefore every day is something gained. +But even were it not so very hazardous to attempt any thing of the +kind at present, you could not expect the King to risk much, and +embarrass his policy for your sake, without some individual motive. +That this business should take place, is your strong and intense +desire. It is very natural that it should be so; but neither the King +nor myself have any such feelings, passions, or wishes. Let us each +have our advantage, or our gratification, in that which is to ensue, +and I will undertake, and pledge myself in the most solemn manner, +that Mademoiselle de Clairvaut shall be your wife before next +Christmas-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau paused, and thought carefully over all that had +been said. "I thank you. Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "for +speaking freely in this matter. Let us cast away all idle delicacy. +Things have happened to me lately which have taught me to hold all +such empty verbiage at naught. Let us look upon this business as a +matter of dealing, a matter of merchandise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly!" replied Villequier raising his eyes slightly, but not +seeming in the least degree offended. "Let us consider it in such a +light. Every matter of policy is but trade upon a large scale."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then," continued Gaspar de Montsoreau in the same bold tone, "I +will look upon you and the King, Monsieur de Villequier, as two +partners in a mercantile house. Now, what sort of merchandise is it +that you would prefer to have in barter for your signature to my +marriage contract with this young Lady. Shall it be money?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Money!" exclaimed Villequier, with a slight ironical smile playing +about the corners of his mouth. "Have you any money? It is indeed a +surprising thing to hear any one talk of money except the Duke of +Guise, or the Duke of Epernon. Why, Bellievre assures me, upon his +honour, that the very dispatch which he was ordered to send to +Soissons, to forbid positively the Duke of Guise coming to Paris, was +stopped, for what reason think you? Because, when he took it down to +the treasury, there was not found fifty livres to pay the courier's +expenses. The courier would not go without the money, Bellievre had +none to give him, so between them both they carried the King's +dispatch to the post, and put it in with the common letters. The +letters went to Rheims before they were sent to Soissons, and the Duke +of Guise was in Paris, while the order to forbid him was on the +road.<a name="div3Ref_03" href="#div3_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> Money? Oh certainly, money above all things! But pray do not +let it be a large sum, lest, like an apoplectic epicure, the King's +treasury and my purse die of sudden repletion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, after taking +one or two turns up and down the room, "I will tell you what I will +do, to show you how dearly I hold the gift that is promised me. On the +day of my marriage with Marie de Clairvaut, when it is all completed, +the benediction said, the contract signed, your name as guardian, and +the King's in confirmation attached, I will place in your hands the +sum of one hundred thousand crowns of the sun."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavens and earth!" exclaimed Villequier in the same tone in which he +had spoken before, "I did not know that there was such a sum in +France. If I were to tell it to Monsieur d'O. he would not believe +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But remember, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar of Montsoreau, +not quite liking the levity of his companion's speech, "this is no +jesting matter with me, whatever it may be with you; and I must have +such sure and perfect warranty that you will not betray my hopes +again, or ask for even the slightest further delay, that there cannot +be a doubt rest upon my mind; otherwise----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Otherwise what, Monsieur de Montsoreau?" demanded Villequier. "If we +do not keep our words, you know we shall lose the great advantage that +we hope to gain from you. That is the surest bond! Let the matter +stand thus, sir: if this marriage do take place, as I have promised +you it shall, the hundred thousand crowns of gold are paid; if not, we +are the losers. I see no alternative beyond this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Heavens! but there is, and there shall be one," answered Gaspar de +Montsoreau impetuously. "I see that Monsieur de Villequier, who is +supposed to count upon every chance and circumstance collateral and +direct, has forgotten one or two points, although he has not forgotten +that I am heir of my brother's lands, both of Logères and Morly. But I +will only put him in mind of what might take place on either side. The +King and Monsieur de Villequier might find obstacles of great import +rise up against my wishes, or they might find greater advantages in +some other quarter; they might think it worth while to keep me +trifling in inactivity, or employ me in their service against the +enemy. They might do all this, and then forego the sum named for a +greater. I, on the other hand. Monsieur de Villequier, might see +wavering and hesitation; I might grow tired of waiting and dependence; +I might say to-morrow I have no certainty in this business, and I +might give my banner to the wind, broider the cross of the League upon +my breast, or assume the double cross of Lorraine, and either range +the spears of Montsoreau and Logères in the ranks of the army of +Mayenne, or marching to Chartres, Tours, or Blois, might bow me lowly +to my Lord of Guise, and begging him to forget the past, swear myself +his faithful servant."</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier gazed on him for a moment with certainly not the most +friendly expression of countenance, and was about to speak; but the +young Marquis, conscious of his own importance, waved his hand, +saying, "Nay, nay, Monsieur de Villequier! on all and on every account +the plan I am about to propose is the only one that can be followed. +Of course, in dealing with his Majesty, I cannot treat as crown to +crown;" and he smiled somewhat bitterly. "But I must treat with you as +gentleman to gentleman, and leave you to entreat his Majesty--urgently +and zealously, as I doubt not you will do it, to accede graciously to +our views. Thus then shall it be, that you and the King shall enter +into a bond with me, by which you shall engage that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut shall, with the full consent of both parties expressed by +their signature to our marriage-contract, become my wife on or before +next Christmas-day, and in default shall be subject to amercement in +whatsoever amount the Parliament of Paris may judge that I am damaged +by the want of performance. This is merely to secure that the matter +be explicit; and in the same bond may be placed my engagement to pay +the sum named, upon the fulfilment of the contract. This is fair, and +only fair; and you know my last resolve."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In truth, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "if you knew +but the state of our finances, you would see that we are far more +likely to be so eager in concluding this business as even to risk +dangerous consequences, than to trifle with you in any degree."</p> + +<p class="normal">He remembered the curious engagement that he had entered into with the +Abbé de Boisguerin, and he paused a moment, in hopes that Gaspar de +Montsoreau might show even the slightest sign of hesitation: but, so +far from it, the frown deepened on the young nobleman's brow, and he +replied sharply, "I will trust to no contingencies. Monsieur de +Villequier. These are changing times, as you well know. The cross +Fleurdelisée in your arms<a name="div3Ref_04" href="#div3_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> may well be changed, by the golden +billets dropped around it, into the cross of Lorraine. If what I have +offered be as good as you say, there is no earthly reason why his +Majesty of France or yourself, Monsieur de Villequier, should object +to enter into the engagement with me that I propose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," answered Villequier; "well, I must do my best with the King; +but I dare say, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he said in a lower voice, "I +dare say you are well aware that a little compulsion, perhaps, must be +used in this instance."</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought he saw hesitation, and he went on the more eagerly, for he +wished to avoid the written engagement. "I must be permitted to use +what means I think fit to wring consent from the young Lady herself. +Nor must I have one word of objection on your part, whatever you see +or hear--no asking for delay!--no yielding to her tears. One word of +such a kind, remember, vitiates the engagement upon our part, but +leaves you as strictly bound as ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau gazed down upon the ground sternly for several +moments, with his brows contracting, till his eyes were nearly hid +beneath them. His fingers were seen to clasp into the palms of his +hands, as if the nails would have buried themselves there. But after a +short and terrible struggle, the evil spirit maintained its +ascendancy, and he exclaimed, "Be it so! Be it so! But in the +meantime, sir," he continued abruptly, "there is one thing I have to +demand. How have I been led with hopes, and meeting nothing but +disappointments, for the last two months. I who dared all, and +underwent all, to snatch her once more from the power of the Guises. +When forced to fly, it was under your power and in your charge I left +her; and yet, though this is the fourth or fifth time that you and I +have met, I have never been able to see her, or to learn distinctly +where she is. This must be no longer, Monsieur de Villequier. I need +consolation; I need comfort; the only comfort or consolation I can +find is in her presence and in her society. Where is she?--I demand to +know where she is. I was brought to Augoulême by information that she +was in the neighbourhood; but I cannot discover her, and I will be +trifled with no longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By all I hold sacred," exclaimed Villequier, not a little surprised +by the bold and daring tone and decided manner, which the young +nobleman had so suddenly put on, "By all I hold sacred----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is that, sir?" demanded Gaspar de Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier smiled. "Oh many things, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he +answered; "I hold many things sacred. But with any oath or abjuration +that you think most convenient, I assure you that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut is not under my charge, or in my power at this moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But was so how long ago?" demanded the Marquis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"About a fortnight," replied Villequier coolly. "The fact is, Monsieur +de Montsoreau, that his high and mighty Highness, the Duke of Guise, +having come to pay a humble visit to his Majesty--to congratulate him, +I suppose, on being driven out of Paris,--gave significant notice to +the King, on their first interview at Chartres, that he believed +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut to be in my hands, and that he would have +her instantly delivered up. I was not present, you know, but every +thing passed as the Guises wished. I dare say you have heard all the +rest; Epernon was banished, and fled to Augoulême here, stripped of +his high posts and manifold emoluments; Guise was created +generalissimo of the King's armies; in fact, Guise dictated the law to +the King, and Henry was fain to forget all the past, or to cover the +bitter memory with a jest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But to the point; to the point, Monsieur de Villequier," said the +Marquis de Montsoreau. "What of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, the King told me," replied Villequier, "that the Duke demanded +her at all events till the Parliament of Paris had decided our cause. +The next day the Duke and I had an interview on the subject; but ere +that, I had placed her in the hands of a friend, and begged him to +remove her for a time from the house where she then was. The Duke was +as imperious and unceremonious as an executioner. He vowed that I +should give her up to him at once; and though we did our best to +deceive him, exactly as we had done with your wild thoughtless +brother, the Duke did not so easily believe us; and both I and the +King were obliged to swear upon the mass that she was not in our +power, and that we knew not where she was. That was easily done; but +Henry's low laugh had nearly betrayed the whole; and the Duke swore +loudly, and menaced high, that if he were deceived, he would have +vengeance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, "where is she +now? And who is the friend in whose hands you have placed her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier paused for a single moment, as if to consider whether he +should tell him or not. But a moment after he answered with a smile, +"The friend in whose hands she is placed, Monsieur de Montsoreau, is +one in whom at that time you yourself placed great confidence. I trust +the same feelings exist still towards him. I mean the Abbé de +Boisguerin."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau started at the intelligence with feelings of +angry dissatisfaction, which he could hardly account for to himself, +but which he instantly strove to conceal from the keen eyes of the +artful man with whom he was dealing. The exclamation of "Indeed!" +however, which broke from his lips, was uttered in a tone which +instantly showed Villequier that the tidings were by no means +pleasing; and while he suffered the young Marquis to digest them at +leisure he laid out in his own mind a plan for keeping the Abbé and +his former pupil at variance, not with any clear and definite object, +indeed, but for the purpose of having a check upon the young Marquis +at any future moment, in case of necessity. Villequier felt, too, that +the clear, artful, and unscrupulous mind of the Abbé de Boisguerin was +far better fitted to deal with, and frustrate him in any purpose that +he might entertain, than that of the young Marquis, which, though not +deficient either in acuteness or policy, was constantly misled by +inexperience, or by the impetuosity of strong passions. He felt that +the counsels of the Abbé might under many circumstances, if given +sincerely, be a safeguard to Gaspar de Montsoreau against his arts; +and he therefore saw no slight advantage in encouraging feelings of +doubt and dissatisfaction in the mind of his young companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is surprising," said the Marquis, "that the Abbé did not +communicate to me the facts which you have mentioned, Monsieur de +Villequier; but I suppose that you bound him down to secrecy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To general secrecy," replied Villequier, "as was absolutely +necessary. But you, of course, as my friend, and as the person most +interested--you, of course, were excepted. No, Monsieur de Montsoreau, +no! In this business the Abbé has acted upon his own judgment. He was +then at Blois, you know. I was in great haste, knew no other person to +whom I could apply, and therefore entrusted him with the task, +thinking him also, at that time, you must remember, sincerely, truly, +and devotedly your friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And have you any cause. Monsieur de Villequier," demanded the +Marquis, "have you any cause to suppose now that he is not my friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, Monsieur de Montsoreau!" replied Villequier. "If you are +satisfied, I have nothing to say. I only thought you seemed +dissatisfied, and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what, Monsieur de Villequier?" demanded the Marquis, seeing that +he paused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was going to say," replied Villequier, "that it might be as well +for you to be upon your guard. We are living in troublous times, +Monsieur de Montsoreau. We are both of us placed in a delicate +situation; every word and action ought to be guided by policy and +forethought; and though I do not wish to wound the delicacy of your +friendship towards your relation and friend, Monsieur de Boisguerin, +yet we all know that he is a skilful politician, and that when, some +years ago, even as a young man he appeared at the Court of France, her +Majesty the Queen-mother was heard to say, she was glad when he was +gone, for she was confident that he would outwit Satan himself, and +therefore might go far to outwit her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should not mind his policy," replied the Marquis. "I should not +mind his policy, if you had not insinuated doubts as to whether he was +at heart my friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier answered nothing, but gazed down upon the ground with his +brow somewhat contracted, and then stirred the rushes on the floor +with the point of his sword, as if determined not to make any reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are silent, Monsieur de Villequier," said Gaspar of Montsoreau; +"and yet there is hanging a cloud of much thought upon your brow, as +if there were intelligence in your breast which you could give, but +would not. I beseech you, if you are really friendly to me--or to +speak more plainly--if our interests in this business are in some +degree linked together, I beseech you to let me know fully and fairly +what you think, and what you know, of the Abbé de Boisguerin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus adjured, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "I can but +answer you, that I do not think Monsieur de Boisguerin is as friendly +to you as you suppose. Depend upon it, he has his own purposes to +answer first, and you are but a secondary consideration, if not, +perhaps, a tool."</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are grave charges, sir," said Gaspar de Montsoreau, somewhat +angry at the term tool. "I should like to have some proofs to sustain +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"See! you are angry already," cried Villequier. "However, at the +present moment I have no proofs to give. At some future time--ay, +before the period of your marriage with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I +may give you such proof of what is the Abbé's real character and real +feelings towards you, that you will say I am well justified. In the +meantime I have warned you sufficiently to put you on your guard. That +is enough for the present moment: you must act as you think fit; but +still you will be prepared. Farther, I have only to say, that it is +not I that keep you from seeing Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You have my +full will and consent to see her whom you will. I would not, indeed, +have you visit her too often, lest discovery should ensue, and Guise +obtain possession of her at once. But your own discretion must be your +guide. I will now leave you, Monsieur de Montsoreau; and, depend upon +it, you will not find that I will fail you in any of the promises I +have made, and will very soon return to you with the business arranged +by the King, in the manner that you desire. We must then wait until +further delay be judged dangerous: then if nothing occurs to relieve +us from the other obstacles, we must in the end step over them; and, +forgetting a little law, conclude your marriage, whether the +Parliament awards me the guardianship or not. When once she is made +your wife, they cannot easily unwife her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar de Montsoreau, full of thoughts rather than words, did not +pursue the conversation further. "I have but shown you scanty +courtesy, Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "in not asking you to make +your home of my poor house. It is not, indeed, such as I could wish to +offer you, having been taken from its bankrupt lord in some slight +haste. But still----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you most humbly, Marquis," replied Villequier. "But I am +bound farther to the city on the hill there. I must lodge with Epernon +to-night, for I have messages to him from the King."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, after various more such ceremonious speeches as the age +required, Villequier took his departure, and mounting his horse, which +he had ordered to be kept still saddled in the court-yard, he rode on +towards Augoulême, followed by his train. As he did so, he once more +thought over the alliance between Gaspar de Montsoreau and Marie de +Clairvaut. "If I can bring it about," he thought, "I not only gain +this sum he promises, but bind him to me for ever. I am her nearest +male relation, and I could not well find such an alliance in France. +Montsoreau, Morly, Logères; it is a wonderful combination! But even, +were it not for that--were it half as good, where should I get the man +in France who would give a hundred thousand golden crowns for the +possession of such a cold piece of pretty marble as that."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">CHAP. VI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">While the conversation just narrated was taking place, and the +character and views of the Abbé de Boisguerin were being commented +upon in a manner which he could but little have wished, he himself was +pursuing his way towards the town of Augoulême, with feelings and +purposes varying at every step; though in his case it was not the +slightest sting of remorse or regret which occasioned this vacillation +of purpose.</p> + +<p class="normal">Probably there never was a man on earth who wholly and entirely +stilled the voice of conscience, and there might be moments when the +Abbé's own heart reproached him for things which he had done. But the +habit of his thoughts was different. He had been brought up in a +school where right and wrong were so frequently confounded for the +purpose of maintaining the temporal dominion of the church that, at a +very early period of his life, he had arrived at that conclusion, +which the sceptical followers of Pyrrho arrive at by a more lengthened +process, namely, that on earth there is no absolute and invariable +right and wrong.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Jesuits had taught him, that what was wrong under some +circumstances, and marked by the reprobation both of God and man, was +right under other circumstances, and even praiseworthy; and forgetting +the cautious restrictions under which the wiser and the better members +of the order attempted, though vainly, to guard the doctrine, his keen +and clear mind at once determined, that if fraud could ever be pious, +virtue of any kind could be but a name. If there were no invariable +and universal standard: if his thoughts and his actions were to be +governed by the opinions, and directed to the purposes of men, the +only rule of virtue, he saw, must be the approbation of others like +himself; and as every course of action must have an end and object to +secure energy in pursuing it, he readily fell into the belief that +gratification was the great object, and men's good opinion but to be +sought as a means to that end.</p> + +<p class="normal">It may be easily conceived how far he went on upon such a course of +reasoning. It naturally ended in the disbelief of every thing that +other men hold sacred: yet he put on all the semblances of religion; +for as he believed in no hereafter, to do so, did not seem to him an +impious mockery, but merely an unmeaning ceremony required by society. +Every thing had become with him a matter of calculation; any thing +that was to be obtained, was to be obtained by a certain price; and, +as he himself declared, he never regretted giving any price, provided +the object was attained, and was of equal value.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was his passions alone that led him wrong, and made him calculate +falsely. They had done so more than once in life, but yet not +frequently; not indeed that he sought to subdue them, but that they +were not naturally easily roused.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was no remorse then, or regret, that moved him in the varying state +of his thoughts as he rode on. It was doubt as to the means that he +was employing; It was doubt as to whether the strong passion, which he +felt within his breast, was not blinding his eyes, and misleading his +judgment, as to the choice of paths and instruments. He felt that on +the present occasion he calculated not so coolly as he was accustomed +to do; he felt that the object he had proposed to himself--or rather +which passion, and rash passion had suggested--was one so great and so +little likely to be obtained, that the means employed must be great +and extraordinary also; and that no single false step could be taken +without the loss of every hope. His sensations were all strangely +complicated, however. He felt and reproached himself for feeling that +the passion in his heart had grown up so powerful, so overwhelming, +that when he thought of staking life itself upon the issue, not a +hesitation crossed his mind, and that he was ready to say, like a +love-sick boy, "Let me die, if she be not mine!" But with that +passion, he had mingled ambition, both as a means and as an end; +prospects had opened before his eyes which had roused in his heart +aspirations, which he thought he had put down; and not only to succeed +in his love, but to gild that love with pageantry and state and power, +had now become his object.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, however, he remembered that in grasping at these high things, +he might overlook matters which would prevent him reaching them; and +after riding on quickly for some time, he drew in his rein, to think +more calmly, to review his situation, and to calculate exactly all the +important, the critical steps which were now to be taken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What am I next going to do?" he thought. "To seek for a priest, who +may work upon that impetuous, weak-minded boy, to yield the object of +his passion, because, in the pursuit thereof, he has shed his +brother's blood. And yet, is it likely that he will yield it? No! I +fear not! and yet stronger minds than his have been bowed down by +superstition to greater sacrifices. He may, it is true; and it may be +as well to secure that chance: but then, even then, only one small +step is gained. If one could get him to yield all his great +possessions at the same time, that were something! But he will not do +that! Two centuries ago we would have sent him to the holy land: but +those good times are past. What then is to be done?--To hurry him on +into some rash enterprise, and sharing his danger, take the equal +chance of which shall live and which shall die?--That were a +gamester's policy indeed.--No! we must find more easy means than +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"However," continued the Abbé, after a pause "in the meantime, I must +strike for myself alone. She hates and abhors him evidently. I myself +have been too rash and rough with her. My passion has been too +impetuous--too fiery. I know that those women who seem so cold and +circumspect are often like Ætna, icy above but with fire at the heart. +But I have been rash. She will easily forgive that offence, however, +and forget it too, when I can woo her as one unbound by the clerical +vows, and companion of the high and great. I must lose no time, +however, for events are drawing clearly to a mighty issue. Here is the +party of Henry, and the party of the League. I must choose between the +two without delay. And yet the choice is soon made. In the first +place, it would be long ere Guise would trust me: in the next, he +would never love me: in the next, he himself is not long lived. As I +have seen a bird, when hit by a skilful fowler, tower high into the +air before it falls, so Guise is soaring up with mighty effort, which +will end but in his own destruction. I will away to Epernon at once. +He is the man whose fortunes will yet rise; his unconquerable spirit, +his courage, determination, and activity, his gross selfishness, his +insolence, his very weakness, will all contribute to support him +still. This is a world in which such things thrive! Epernon must be +the man; and if I show him such cause as I can show him, he may well +be glad to attach me to himself, as increasing his power and enhancing +his importance with the King. It is to him I will go! Doubtless his +reverses have humbled him somewhat, otherwise it were no light task to +deal on such subjects with Epernon."</p> + +<p class="normal">In judging of Epernon the Abbé judged by mankind in general, for in +almost every breast pride is a cowardly quality, and once depressed +sinks into grovelling submission. Epernon, however, was the exception +to the general rule, and seemed rather to rise in haughtiness under +adversity.</p> + +<p class="normal">With thoughts like those which we have just detailed, the Abbé spurred +on towards Angoulême; but as he began to climb the steep ascent, he +saw several indications of popular emotion, which made him hesitate +for a moment, as to whether he should proceed or not. There were two +or three groups of citizens all speaking eagerly together, and in low +tones; and at the gates of the city he remarked a man whom he had seen +before, and knew to be the mayor of the place, conversing in a low +tone, but in what seemed an anxious manner, with the soldiers of the +Corps de Garde. The Abbé contrived to make his horse pass as near them +as possible, but at the same time affected to be deeply busied with +his own thoughts while really listening attentively to their +conversation. He could only catch, however, the end of one sentence +and the beginning of a reply:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"This Duke--a proud insufferable tyrant," said the voice of the mayor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Get along; if you were not what you are, I would put my pike into +you," replied the soldier; and went on with some observations upon his +companion's conduct, not very complimentary, the whole of which the +Abbé de Boisguerin did not hear.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he advanced into the town, however, his keen eye remarked many more +signs and symptoms of the same kind, from all of which he drew his own +deductions; and on entering the castle, which was then inhabited by +the Duke of Epernon, he dismounted in the court of the guardhouse, as +it was called, where there were a considerable number of the Duke's +soldiery loitering about. Though it was not the usual place for +visitors to dismount, they suffered him to attach his horse to one of +the large iron hooks in the wall, and in a few minutes after he was in +the presence of the Duke of Epernon. Not a trace of humiliation or +abasement was to be seen in the Duke's countenance or demeanour. He +was as proud, as fierce, as fiery as ever; and although he received +the Abbé, having seen him more than once in Paris during the late +events, and entertaining that degree of consideration for him which a +keen and powerful mind almost always commands, he nevertheless seemed +to doubt whether he should ask him even to sit down, and did it at +length with an air of condescension.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Monsieur de Boisguerin," he said at length, "to what do I owe +this visit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I come, my Lord," replied the Abbé without a moment's hesitation, "to +offer your Lordship my poor services."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke smiled. "They are of course," he said, "welcome. Monsieur de +Boisguerin. But the time of offering them is somewhat singular, when +all men think my fortunes on the decline, or, perhaps, I should say, +utterly down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such it may seem to them, my Lord," replied the Abbé; "but such it +seems not to me. There are sciences, my Lord, which teach us what the +future is destined to produce; and I own that I am quite selfish in my +present act, seeking to attach myself to one who is yet destined to +uphold the throne of France, to affect the fortunes of the times, to +triumph over all his enemies, and to outlive most of them now living."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said the Duke thoughtfully; "and am I to believe this +prophecy seriously?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most seriously, my Lord," replied the Abbé. "I myself believe it and +know it, as I believe and know the great fortunes that are likely to +attend myself--otherwise, perhaps, you might not have seen me here +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is candid, at all events," said the Duke; "and to say truth, I +think that your prophecy, in some things, may be right; for I feel +within my breast that undiminished power, that sense of my own +strength, that confidence in my own destiny, which surely never can be +given to a falling man. But you spoke of your own future high +fortunes, sir. What may they be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé paused and looked down for a moment, but then replied, "I +tell not the prophecy to every one, my Lord; but to you, to whose +services I hope to dedicate those high fortunes, I fear not to relate +it. It was pronounced long ago, in the city of Rome, when I was there +studying, and as a rash young man had entangled myself in an affair +with a fair girl of the city, who suffered our intercourse to be +discovered, and consequently well nigh ruined all my prospects. I +thought indeed it was so, and was turning my back upon Rome for ever, +when I met with an old monk, who from certain facts I told him drew my +horoscope, and assured me that I should find my fate in France; that +my fortune would be brought about by the death of two relations far +younger than myself; and that I should suddenly take a share in great +events, and rule the destiny of others when I least expected it. Such +was the old man's prophecy now many years ago; and I have seen no sign +of its accomplishment till the present time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what signs have you seen now?" demanded Epernon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I have been suddenly led, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "from the +calm and tranquil quiet of a provincial life, without my own will or +agency, into scenes of activity and strife; and that one, out of the +two lives which lay between me and the great possessions of +Montsoreau, Logères, and Morly--lives, which in their youth and +healthfulness seemed to cut me off from all hope--has already lapsed, +and left but one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?" exclaimed the Duke. "What life has lapsed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That of the young Count of Logères," replied the Abbé.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon in a tone somewhat sorrowful. +"I had not heard that. He was a bold, rash youth; but yet there was in +him the seeds of great things. He was fearless, and proud, and firm: +virtues, the parents of all dignity and greatness.--You say then that +there is but one life between you and all these lordships."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But one," replied the Abbé; "that of Gaspar of Montsoreau, in regard +to whom you took some slight interest, at the time his marriage with +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was talked of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was talked of?" said the Duke. "Is it not talked of still?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "the Lady's evident detestation of +the young Marquis has rendered the matter hopeless. You yourself +remarked it, when you spoke with her at Vincennes; and he is now +convinced of it himself. The grief and depression thus produced have +impaired his health; and, indeed, it would seem as if ten years had +gone over him, instead of a few months, since all this affair began."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope, Monsieur de Boisguerin," said the Duke of Epernon with a +bitter smile, "I hope that you have not been taking too deep lessons +of our friend Villequier. I would rather be a prisoner on a charge of +high treason, and with Guise for my enemy, than I would be next akin +to Villequier, and between him and lands and lordships."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé's brow grew as dark as night. "My Lord," he said, "I will not +affect to misunderstand you; but I am sure that fate will work out its +own will without any aid of mine; and had I been disposed to clear the +way for myself, who should have stopped me, or who could have +discovered any thing I did, when these two youths have been under my +care and guardianship ever since their father's death?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did but jest, Abbé," replied the Duke. "But supposing that the +events which you anticipate were really to occur, what would be your +conduct then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So sure am I, my Lord," replied the Abbé, "that they will occur, that +my conduct has been put beyond doubt. I have already demanded of the +Court of Rome to be freed from this black dress; and my last letters +from the eternal city announce to me, that the dispensation is already +granted, and, drawn up in full form, is now upon the road."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon. "Is it so, indeed? You must have +powerful protectors in the conclave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have," replied the Abbé; "and though his Holiness is not fond of +relaxing the vows of any one without some puissant motive; yet, when +there is a strong one, he does not let the opportunity of unbinding +slip, lest his key should grow rusty. But however, my Lord, supposing +these things done away, and I Marquis of Montsoreau and Lord of +Logères, my first aim and object would be to raise what power and +forces I could, and with my sword, my wealth, and my life, were it +necessary, serve his Majesty the King, under him whom I hope soon to +see directing the state, namely, the Duke of Epernon, if----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, there is still an <i>if</i>," replied the Duke. "Well, sir, what is +the condition?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, my Lord," said the Abbé after a pause, in which it was evident +that he considered the way he was to put his demand, "It is, that the +Duke of Epernon will pledge me his princely word, that as far as his +power and influence go, he will support my claim to the hand of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke actually started back with surprise; and, forgetting +altogether the splendid future with which the Abbé had been +endeavouring to invest his pretensions, he exclaimed, in a tone of +anger and contempt that chafed and galled the spirit of the ambitious +man with whom he spoke, "Yours,--yours? Abbé de Boisguerin? you, a +poor preceptor in your cousin's house, an insignificant churchman, +unbeneficed and unknown--you, to lay claim to the heiress of +Clairvaut, a niece of the Guise, a lady nor far removed from a +sovereign house? On my soul and honour, I mind me to write to +Villequier at once, and bid him marry his cousin to this young Marquis +out of hand, in order to save your brains from being cracked +altogether!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Villequier can marry his cousin to no one," answered the Abbé, +"without my full consent. No, nor can the King either!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mort-bleu!" exclaimed Epernon with a scornful laugh. "Vanity and +ambition have driven the poor man mad. Get you gone, Monsieur de +Boisguerin; get you gone! I shall not trust with any mighty faith to +your fine prophecies."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though the Abbé de Boisguerin felt no slight inclination to put his +hand into his bosom, and taking forth the dagger that lay calmly +there, to plunge it up to the hilt in the heart of Epernon, he showed +not in the slightest degree the wrath which internally moved him. Nay, +the great object that he had in view made him in some degree conquer +that wrath, and he replied, "Well, my good Lord, I <i>will</i> get me gone. +But, before I go, you shall hear another warning, which may enable you +to judge whether my divinations are false or not. It is destined that, +in the course of today or to-morrow, you should encounter a great +peril. Remember my words! be upon your guard! and take measures to +ensure yourself against danger! Go not out into the streets scantily +attended----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no!" replied the Duke with a sneer. "I do not trust myself alone +in the streets and high roads without a footboy to hold my horse, like +the noble aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. I am not +so bold a man, nor so loved of the people; and as to chance perils, I +fear them not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your acts on your own head, my Lord Duke!" replied his companion. "I +give you good day." And turning away abruptly, he passed out of the +room through the long corridor, and part of the way down the stairs +which led to the court of the guard.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was scarcely half way down, however, when some sounds which he +heard coming from the other side of the building made him suddenly +stop, listen, and then turn round; and, with a step of light, he +retrod his way to the chamber where he had left the Duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Epernon was busy writing, and looking up fiercely, demanded "What +now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fly, my Lord, fly quick!" exclaimed the Abbé. "I come to give you +time to save yourself, for the mayor and his faction are upon you. +They have come in by the great court, and I think have killed the +Swiss at your gate. Believe me, my Lord, for what I say is true! Fly +quickly, while I run down to send the guard to your assistance."</p> + +<p class="normal">His words received instant confirmation, even as the Duke gazed +doubtfully in his face; for a door on the opposite side of the room +burst open, and a terrified attendant rushed in, while eight or nine +fierce faces were seen pursuing him quickly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke darted to a staircase, which led to a little turret, and the +first steps of which entered the room, without any door, just behind +his chair. He sprang up eagerly towards the small dressing-room above, +and the mayor and his armed companions pursued as fiercely, leaving +the Abbé to make his escape towards the court of the guard, without +giving any heed to his proceedings. Before the Abbé had passed the +door, however, he heard a loud crash, and turned his head to see by +what it was occasioned, when, at a single glance he perceived that the +very eagerness of his pursuers had saved the Duke of Epernon. Ten or +twelve heavily armed men had all rushed at once upon the old and crazy +staircase which led to the Duke's dressing-room. The wood work had +given way beneath them, precipitating one or two into the story below, +and the greater part back into the room itself, but leaving a chasm +between them and the Duke, which it was impossible for them to +pass.<a name="div3Ref_05" href="#div3_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">Without pausing to make any farther remark, the Abbé ran down hastily +and alarmed the guard; and while the soldiers rushed tumultuously up +to defend a commander whom they all enthusiastically loved, the Abbé +de Boisguerin mounted his horse and rode quietly out of the town. He +doubted not, as indeed it happened, that the soldiery would arrive in +time to save their Lord, and to compel the mayor and his comrades to +make a hasty retreat.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not, however, towards the Château of Islay, where he had left +Gaspar de Montsoreau, that the solitary horseman took his way; but, on +the contrary, crossing the Charente, he rode rapidly onward by the +banks of the river, in the direction of that field of Jarnac, where, +in his early days, Henry III. had given such striking promises of +heroism and conduct which his after life so signally failed to fulfil.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he rode along, he thought with somewhat of a smile upon his +countenance, that his last prophecy to the Duke of Epernon had met +with a speedy fulfilment; and he pondered with some bitterness over +the parting words which that nobleman had spoken to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said to +himself, "without a single footboy to hold his horse! That may be in +the present instance policy rather than any thing else, my good Lord +Duke. But still we may learn wisdom, even, from such bitter words as +those. I had forgotten how much all men value the gilded exterior. But +it shall be so no longer. This that I aim at must be soon lost or won. +I have staked life upon the pursuit, and all that makes life valuable. +And why should I not stake fortune also? 'Fortune buys fortune,' says +the old adage; and as the stake is great, so shall my game be bold."</p> + +<p class="normal">His resolution was instantly taken. He possessed, as we have said +before, sufficient wealth to give him competence, and to enable him to +mingle with decent splendour in the society in which he was born. But +he calculated that the same fortune which put him at ease for life, +might afford him the means of magnificence and display, if he resolved +to expend the whole within a few years. He did so resolve, saying to +himself, "I shall either be at the height of fortune and enjoyment ere +two years be over, or I shall be no more. It suits me not to go on +playing stake after stake, as many men do, beaten, like a tennis-ball, +from prosperity to ruin, and from ruin to prosperity. I have bent +myself to one great purpose, and I will attain it or die. That is +always within one's power, to shake off life when it is no longer a +source of happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he thus thought, his horse slowly descended a gentle hill by the +side of the river, with a meadow down to the Charente on the one side, +and a bank crowned with the wall of a vineyard on the other. Built up +against the wall was a little shrine, with a virgin and child behind a +net-work of iron, and the votive offering of a silver lamp burning +below.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sitting on the little green spot which topped the bank at that +place--after having apparently said his prayers at the foot of the +shrine--was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years of age; and as +the Abbé came slowly near, the youth took a pipe out of his pocket and +began playing a wild plaintive Italian air, full of rich melody and +deep feeling. The music was not new to the Abbé; he had heard it +before in other lands, when the few pure feelings of the heart which +he had ever possessed had not been crushed, like accidental flowers +blossoming on a footpath, by the passing to and fro of other coarser +things.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew in his horse and paused to listen, and then gazed at the boy, +and thought he had seen him somewhere before. The eyes, the features, +the expression of the countenance, seemed to be all connected with +some old remembrances; and the air which he played too, brought his +memory suddenly back to early scenes, and a land that he had loved. As +he gazed at the boy, who went on with the air, the recollection of his +person again connected itself with different events; and, though now +he was clothed in simple grey, he fancied he recognised in him the +youth who had been seen with Charles of Montsoreau when he attacked +and defeated the small body of reiters near La Ferté, and whom he had +also beheld more than once in Paris, when he was watching the +proceedings of the young Count in the capital.</p> + +<p class="normal">This conviction became so strong, that he went up and spoke to him, +and found that it was as he suspected. After conversing with him for a +few moments, he told him that if he would pursue that road for nearly +a league, he would meet with some buildings belonging to a farm; and +then, turning again down a road to the left, he would find him at a +château upon the banks of the river. The boy promised to come, and the +Abbé rode on, while Ignati putting up his pipe followed as fast as +possible, and soon arrived at the gates of the dwelling to which he +had been directed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was brought into the presence of the Abbé by an attendant wearing +the colours of no noble house in France, and found him with some fruit +and wine before him. But in regard to the subject on which the boy +expected to be questioned most closely, namely, the death of Charles +of Montsoreau, the Abbé spoke not one word. Notwithstanding all his +firmness of purpose, notwithstanding the remorseless character of his +mind and of his habitual thoughts, he loved not to touch upon the +subject of his young cousin's death, unless forced on to do so by +circumstances. He spoke of Paris and of the Duke of Guise; and where +he had first met with the young Count of Logères, and of all the +accidents that had befallen him while in company with Charles of +Montsoreau. But he spoke not one word in regard to the day of the +barricades, or the young nobleman's death.</p> + +<p class="normal">From time to time, while he talked with the boy, Ignati saw that the +Abbé's eyes fixed upon his countenance, and at length he asked him, +"You are an Italian by birth, are you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am," replied the boy; "that is, I am a Roman." And he said it with +that pride which every person born within the precincts of the ancient +queen of empires feels, although glory has long departed from her +walls, and the memory of past greatness is rather a reproach than an +honour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is your name?" demanded the Abbé sharply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My name is Ignati," answered the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ignati!" said the Abbé, "Ignati!" But you have some other name. What +was your father's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know," answered the boy, with his cheeks and his brow +glowing. "Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your mother's then?" said the Abbé, without replying to his question. +"Your mother's? what was your mother's name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her name was Laura Pandolfini," replied the boy, gazing upon the Abbé +with a degree of sternness in his look. "Did you know her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The face of the Abbé changed from deadly pale to glowing red in a +moment; and after a pause he replied angrily and abruptly, "I know +her?--I know her? I know a common strumpet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy's eyes flashed fire; and his hand was in his bosom in a moment +seeking the knife that lay there. But he had put the pipe in the +breast of his doublet also, and ere he could reach a weapon, which, as +we have seen, he was able to use with fatal effect, the form of a lady +passing across the two open doors on the other side of the room made +him suddenly pause; and after a moment's thought, he drew back his +hand and said, "What you say is false! She deserved not the name you +have given her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was turning towards the door, when the Abbé cried "Stay!" +and as the boy turned, he put his hand to his head and mused +thoughtfully. Then starting suddenly he added, "No, no! It would be +discovered!--Come hither, boy!" he added; and taking out his purse he +counted out some pieces of gold, to no light amount; and giving them +to the boy, he said, "There, you have lost your master and seem to be +poorly off. Take those, and get thee into some reputable employment."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the boy gave one fierce glance at his countenance, dashed down the +gold upon the pavement, and exclaiming, "I will have no liar's money!" +quitted the chamber and the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé gazed after him for a moment or two, fell into deep thought, +and ended by pressing his hands over his eyes and exclaiming, "I am a +fool!"</p> + +<p class="normal">After pausing for a few moments more, he said to himself, "Well, I +must wait no longer here. This girl seems pleased with my new +demeanour towards her. Of my past language which frightened her, it +seems that very soon no other impression will remain but the memory of +the deep and passionate love I testified. That is never displeasing to +any woman; and if I can lead her gently on, the matter will be soon +accomplished, now that this her first fancy is at an end, and the +grave has taken the great obstacle out of the way. Love him, she did +not, with true, womanly, passionate, love; but fond of him she was, +with the sickly fancy of an idle girl; and her grief will be +sufficient to soften her proud heart. It is a wonderful softener, +grief; and she will cling to whosoever is near her, that has skill and +power to soothe and support her. I will teach her to love better than +she has loved!--But I must write down these tidings. I must not tell +them to her with my own voice, and with her eyes upon me, lest she +learn to hate me as the bearer of evil tidings."</p> + +<p class="normal">And seeking for pen and ink he wrote a note, such as few others but +himself could have composed. It was tender, yet respectful,--not +lover-like, yet through every word of it love's light was +shining--sad, but not gloomy--melancholy, yet with words of hope. When +he had done he folded and sealed it, and then listening to the distant +village clock, he said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I am absent much longer, Gaspar may suspect; and I am rather +inclined to believe that some one has roused suspicions in his mind +already. Well, we shall soon see; it is no very difficult task to rule +a light-brained youth like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus thinking, and leaving the note behind him on the table, the Abbé +proceeded to the stables, chose a fresh horse, caused it to be saddled +and bridled, and rode back to the Château of Islay with all speed. +Before he proceeded to the saloon to join the young Marquis, he +questioned his own servants as to all that had taken place during his +absence; heard of the long visit of Villequier; and planned his own +conduct accordingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gaspar of Montsoreau, when he joined him, expressed some surprise that +he had not returned before, and added, in as gentle a tone as he could +assume, "I trust, nay good friend, that you have been pursuing the +inquiries which have so long frustrated us in regard to the dwelling +of that sweet girl, whom we were very wrong to place again in the +hands of Villequier, even though it might have cost us our lives had +we either remained in Paris, or attempted to take her with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though the young Marquis spoke quickly, his companion, who knew his +character to the very bottom and could instantly see the workings of +his mind when he used any of the arts he himself had taught him, +perceived at once that Villequier had betrayed the secret of Marie de +Clairvaut's abode; and he replied deliberately, "Yes, Gaspar, I have +been more successful; and I think now--tamed down as you have been by +grief, and requiring some consolation--I think now, I say, that it is +not only safe but right, to let you know both that this fair girl is +in the neighbourhood of the spot where we now stand, and that she is +under my care and guidance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the neighbourhood?" exclaimed Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Under your +care and guidance? How happened I not to hear this before, Abbé?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Simply," replied the Abbé, "because the state of violence and +irritation in which you were when I last returned to you from +Blois--the period when I first became possessed of any knowledge on +the subject--would have led you into acts of impetuosity, which, in +the first place, would have terribly injured your cause with her; and, +in the next, would have discovered the place of her abode to every one +from whom we seek to conceal it. Now, however, I think you can command +yourself, and you will find the benefit of what has been done to serve +you. All I require is, that you would let me know when you visit +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut; that you would do so with prudence and +caution and forbearance; and though it is not of course necessary that +you should desist from pleading your own cause with her, yet let it be +as gently as may be."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé de Boisguerin knew that Gaspar de Montsoreau could not do as +he asked him; that it was not in his nature to plead his own cause +gently. He felt perfectly confident that the rash impetuosity of the +young Marquis would alienate more and more the regard of Marie de +Clairvaut, and thus, perhaps, facilitate even his own views and +purposes. Could he have prevented it, he would not willingly have let +him visit her at all; but it was now impossible to exclude him; and he +knew that the secret of Charles of Montsoreau's death gave him the +power of destroying at once all his former pupil's hopes, if he saw +that he even made one step in removing the bad impressions Marie +previously had received.</p> + +<p class="normal">On his part, though not quite satisfied with being deceived, Gaspar of +Montsoreau believed that the Abbé had deceived him for his own good; +and the selfish purposes which were most needful for him to discover, +were still concealed in spite of the warnings of Villequier.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">CHAP. VII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">In the gardens of the Château by the banks of the Charente; which the +Abbé de Boisguerin had left to return to Gaspar de Montsoreau, and in +an arbour which had been constructed, as is still ordinary with the +people of that country, by a number of vines entwined over a light +trellis work; with a soft and beautiful scene before her eyes, and the +autumn sunshine gilding the glowing waters, Marie de Clairvaut sat and +wept, with the note from the Abbé which had conveyed to her the +bitterest tidings she ever had received on earth open in her hand. A +day had passed since the events just recorded had taken place, and she +had now received the news many hours, but her grief had not in the +least subsided; and to herself it even seemed greater than it had been +at first. Her whole thoughts at first had been bent upon the one +painful fact, that he whom she had loved with all the fervour, and the +depth, and the devotion of a heart that had never loved before, was +lost to her for ever; that she should never behold again that frank +and candid countenance, beaming with looks of deep and indubitable +affection; that she should never again see those eyes poring into hers +with the intense gaze of love, and seeming at once to give and receive +fresh light; that she should never hear the tones of that musical +voice, which had so often assured her of protection and support; that +she should never cling to that arm, which had so often brought her +rescue and deliverance in the moment of danger. Then, she had felt +only that he was lost and gone, cut off in the brightness of his days, +in the glory and strength of his youth, in the full blossom of his +hopes, and ere he had yet more than lifted to his lips the cup, which, +offered to him by honour, virtue, and sincerity, ought to have been a +sweet one indeed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, however, there had grown upon her mind feelings indeed more +selfish, but which were the natural consequences of her situation, and +connected intimately with the loss of him she loved. A feeling of +desolation had come over her--of utter loneliness in all the world. It +seemed as if she had never loved or esteemed or clung to any but +himself; as if there were no one to protect her, to guide, support, +direct, or cheer her upon earth; as if life's youth were over, the +fortune of existence spent like a prodigal, the heart's treasury +empty, and nothing left for the immortal spirit on this side the grave +but penury of every rich and noble feeling, lone solitude and petty +cares, and all the dull anxieties of a being without an object.</p> + +<p class="normal">Desolate, desolate indeed, did she feel: and well too might she feel +desolate! for though her grief did some wrong to many who loved her as +friends and relations, and would have done much to aid and support +her; yet, oh! what is such love and esteem? what is aid and support +wrung from the midst of hours devoted to other things, and thoughts +and feelings centered upon other objects, when compared with the +entire devotion, the pure, single love of an upright, an honourable, +and a feeling heart--where the being loved is the great end and object +of every thought and every action--where all the feelings of the +spirit are hovering by day round that one object, and guarding it like +angels through the watches of the night? Oh yes, she was lonely, she +was desolate, she was unprotected and unsupported, when she compared +the present with the past! Well might she think so; well might she +grieve and mourn over her own deprivation, when she wept for him and +for his early end!</p> + +<p class="normal">Some comfort, perhaps, had been indeed afforded her by the change +which had taken place in the demeanour of the Abbé de Boisguerin. She +could never love him; she could never like him: his society could +never even become tolerable to her: but yet it was no slight +satisfaction to find that she was no more to hear words which she +considered as little less than sacrilegious, or to endure the eager +passion in his eye, and hear him dare to talk to her of love. She +looked upon him as her gaoler indeed, though he often denied that he +had power to liberate her; but yet she felt that peace and comfort at +least depended much upon that gaoler's will, and was not a little +pleased to find that during the three or four last visits which he had +paid, no word which could offend her had been spoken, no tone or even +look that she could take amiss was to be seen, though a certain +tenderness and melancholy seemed to have fallen upon him, which she +could well have wished removed, or not so openly displayed.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the very morning of which we are now speaking, he had come +there again, and his conduct towards her had been all that she could +have desired. He had not spoken directly of the cause of the deep +grief which he saw his intelligence of the former day had brought upon +her, but all his words were chosen so as to harmonise with that grief; +and the object of his visit itself, as he expressed it, was only to +see whether he could do any thing to console her, or to alleviate the +sorrow under which she laboured. She had thanked him for his courtesy +and kindness; but, ere he had left her, he said with a tone of what +seemed real regret, that he was sorry to say his own visit would be +followed by another, which he feared might, in some degree, importune +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The young Marquis of Montsoreau," he added, "will be restrained no +longer from seeing you; and you know, Madam, it is impossible for me +to prevent him, which I would willingly have done, especially as the +view he takes of the recent most lamentable event is not likely to do +aught but give you pain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, cannot you stay him?" exclaimed Marie de Clairvaut. "Cannot you +stay him at this terrible moment, when the very sight of him will be +horrible to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear not indeed. Lady," replied the Abbé. "I would have given my +right hand to prevent his coming, but he seemed perfectly determined. +However, when I return, I will do my best once more, in the hope that +he may yet be moved." And after a visit very much shorter than usual, +he had taken his leave and departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fair girl he left had gone out into the gardens, as we have seen, +once more to weep alone over the sad and painful situation in which +she was placed, and over the dark and irreparable loss which she had +sustained; but ere she had gone out, she had taken the only precaution +in her power to insure that her solitude would remain inviolate, +directing the servants--who acted indeed the part of turnkeys--if the +Marquis of Montsoreau applied to see her, to state at once that she +was not well enough to receive him, and wished to pass some days alone +and in tranquillity.</p> + +<p class="normal">She wept long and bitterly; but in about an hour after she had gone +out, the sound of horses' feet reached her ear, and voices speaking at +the gateway made themselves heard. She could distinguish even the +tones of the young Marquis, and indistinctly the words of the servant +in reply. But Gaspar of Montsoreau was hurt and offended by the +message she had left, and a certain inclination to tyranny in his +disposition broke forth with his usual impetuosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Inform Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said, "who it is that desires +to see her, and let me have an answer quick. Say that I much wish for +a few minutes' conversation with her. What, fellow! Would you shut the +gates upon me like a horseboy? Get ye gone and return quickly. I will +walk in the gardens till you come back." And striding in he threw the +gate violently to, and advanced directly to the water's side, as if he +could have divined that the object of his search was there.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut was indignant, and that feeling for a moment +enabled her to throw off the overwhelming load of grief. Rising at +once she came forth, and crossed the green slope towards the château, +passing directly by Gaspar of Montsoreau as she did so, and intending +merely to bow her head by way of salutation. He placed himself in such +a manner, however, that she could not pass on, although he must have +seen the tears fresh upon her cheeks, and her indignation was more +roused than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I directed the servant, sir," she said, when forced to pause, "to +inform you, if you came, that I was not well enough to see you; and +that I wished for solitude and tranquillity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, indeed, dear Lady," said the young Marquis, conquering the +feelings of anger with which he had entered, and speaking with a calm +and tender tone, "I thought, if you knew that I was here, pity, if +nothing else, would induce you to see, but for a few moments, one +who has languished for weeks and months for a single glance of your +eyes--one who so deeply, so tenderly, so devotedly, loves you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Those words sounded harsh, painful, and insulting to the ears of Marie +de Clairvaut--words which, from the lips of him she loved, would have +been all joy and sweetness, but were now abhorrent to her ear; and +looking at him sternly, with her bright eye no longer dimmed, though +her lip quivered, she said, "Never let me hear such words again, +sir!--I beg that you would let me pass!--Marquis of Montsoreau, this +is cruel and ungentlemanly! Learn that I look upon myself as your +brother's widow, and ever shall so look upon myself till my dying +day." And thus saying she passed him, and entered the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">She listened eagerly for the sound of horses' feet after she had +entered her own apartments, and was very soon satisfied that the young +Marquis had gone back. As soon as she was assured of this, she once +more went out into the open grounds--for the load of grief ever makes +the air of human dwellings feel oppressive; and again going down to +the bank of the river, she gazed upon its tranquil current as she +walked by the side; and though her sorrow certainly found no relief, +yet the sight of the waters flowing beneath her eyes, calm, tranquil, +incessant, led, as it were, her thoughts along with them. They became +less agitated, though still as deep and powerful; they seemed to +imitate the course of the river, running on incessantly in the same +dark stream, but in quiet and in silence. The tears indeed would, from +time to time, rise into her eyes and roll over her cheeks, but no sob +accompanied them; and though a sigh often broke from her lip, it was +the sigh of deep, calm despair, not of struggling pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is wonderful how, when we are in deep grief, the ordinary sounds +and sights of joyous nature strike harsh and inharmonious upon us. +Things that would pass by unheard at other times, as amongst the +smaller tones in the great general concert of the day, then become +painfully acute. The lark that sung up in the sky above her head, made +no pleasant melody for her ear; a country boy crossing the opposite +fields, and whistling as he went, pained her so much, and made her +gentle heart feel so harsh towards him, that she schooled herself for +such sensations, saying, "He cannot tell that I am so sorrowful! He +cannot tell that the sounds which I once was fond of, are now the most +distasteful to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">A minute or two after a few notes upon a pipe were played immediately +beneath the garden wall--a little sort of prelude, to see that the +instrument was clear; and unable to endure it longer, Marie de +Clairvaut turned to seek shelter in her prison.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ere she had taken three steps, however, she paused. The air was not +one of the country; a finer hand, too, a more exquisite taste than +France could produce woke the instrument into sounds most musical, and +in a moment after, she recognised the sweet air which she had twice +before heard, and both times from the lips of Charles of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">The memory of the first time that it had met her ear was sweet and +delightful; but the memory of the second time was as the memory of +hope; and, in despite of all, it woke again the feelings it had +awakened before; and an indistinct feeling of glad expectation came +across her mind, like a golden sunbeam, shining through the mist of an +autumnal morning. What was it she hoped? what was it she expected? She +knew not herself; but still there was an indistinct brightening came +over her heart, and feelings; and when the air was over, instead of +flying from the music, she listened eagerly for its renewal.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pipe, however, sounded not again; but in a moment after she heard +some one say, "Hark!" and the sweetest possible voice began to sing:--</p> +<div class="poem2"> + +<br> +<p class="t8">SONG.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Weep not, Lady, weep not,</p> +<p class="t1">Grief shall pass away;</p> +<p class="t0">Angels' eyes that sleep not</p> +<p class="t1">Watch thee on thy way.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Heavenly hands are twining</p> +<p class="t1">Garlands of glad flowers.</p> +<p class="t0">Joy and Hope combining</p> +<p class="t1">Wreath thy future hours.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Diff'rent powers are near thee--</p> +<p class="t1">Bright Hope, dark Despair;</p> +<p class="t0">Let the Goddess cheer thee--</p> +<p class="t1">Fly the Fiend of Care.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Son of Sin and Sorrow</p> +<p class="t1">Despair by earth was given;</p> +<p class="t0">Child of the bright to-morrow,</p> +<p class="t1">Hope was born of Heaven.</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">What could it mean? Marie de Clairvaut asked herself. The words seemed +directly addressed to her, and applicable to her own situation: yet +the voice, as far as she could judge, she had never heard before. But +still every note, every word, appeared to counsel hope. "Can I have +been deceived?" she thought. "Can the Abbé de Boisguerin and Gaspar de +Montsoreau have combined for their own dark purposes to cheat me, to +induce me to believe that the one I love so well is dead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But, alas no! The Abbé had left, inclosed in his own, the brief note +which he had received from Paris, announcing the event, and that note +bore every appearance of being an ordinary matter of business, passing +regularly through the post-office of the capital. Could the song that +she had heard, she asked herself, again--could it have been +accidental; could it have been sung at that moment through one of +those strange combinations, which sometimes arise out of entirely +indifferent circumstances, to give zest to our joy, or poignancy to +our sorrow? She determined, if possible, to ascertain; and raising her +voice a little above its ordinary tone, she said, "Who is there? To +whom do you sing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not seem to have made herself heard, however, for a moment +after the same voice demanded, "Is there any one that listens?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, eagerly, "I listen; speak on!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, hearken," said the voice, and again a new air and a new +song began.</p> +<div class="poem2"> + +<br> +<p class="t8">SONG.</p> + +<p class="t0">He goes away to a far distant land,<br> +With cross on his shoulder and lance in his hand;<br> +And news soon comes how his lightning brand</p> +<p class="t5">Has scattered the hosts of paninrie.</p> +<p class="t0">His beautiful Lady sits weeping and lone,<br> +And wishes she were where her Knight has gone;<br> +But she grieves not his absence with angry moan,</p> +<p class="t5">For her spirit is full of his chivalry.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">But what are the tidings come next to her ear?<br> +Oh! tidings dark and heavy to hear;<br> +How her fearless warrior, her husband dear,</p> +<p class="t5">Has fallen 'neath the lance of the Moslema.</p> +<p class="t0">How, gallantly staking his life, to save<br> +From infidel hands, the Redeemer's grave,<br> +He has fought for the righteous and sleeps with the brave,<br> +<p class="t5">'Neath the walls of Hierosolima!</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">'Tis true, oh, 'tis true!--yet she will not believe,<br> +"Ah, no! e'en in dying he would not deceive;<br> +And he promised, if spirit such power could receive,</p> +<p class="t5">And he fell in his holy chivalry.</p> +<p class="t0">To visit my side in the watches of night,<br> +To comfort my heart, and to gladden my sight,<br> +And call me to join him in countries of light,</p> +<p class="t5">And dwell in his breast through eternity."</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Years pass; and he comes not. Nor yet she believes!<br> +'Tis his absence, but 'tis not his death that she grieves.<br> +Hope strong in affection, her heart still deceives,</p> +<p class="t5">Lo! she watches yon Palmer how eagerly,</p> +<p class="t0">To ask him some tidings of Syria to say--<br> +But what is thy magic, oh, thou Palmer gray?<br> +She is clasped in his arms! she has fainted away!</p> +<p class="t5">And he kisses her fair cheek how tenderly.</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">As the song had gone on, Marie de Clairvaut could no longer doubt +that, though allegorical, those words were applicable to herself. +Joy--joy beyond all conception took the place of grief; all that she +had suffered, all that she had endured in the past, she now felt, +indeed, to be nothing to what she had lately undergone. But the +extatic delight which the last words of that song gave, the sudden +dissipation of grief was too much for her to endure. It was like the +light that blinds us when we suddenly rush from the darkness into the +sunshine; and she who had gone through dangers, and horrors, and +perils of many a kind, firm and unshaken, fell fainting under the +sudden effect of joy. How long she remained so she knew not; but at +all events it was not long enough to attract the attention of the +people of the house, from the windows, of which she was screened by a +thick alley of trees. Some one, however, had been near her, for there +were the prints of small feet in the grass, extending from the wall to +the spot where she lay, and immediately under her hand was placed a +small packet addressed to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fearful of discovery, she hid it instantly in her bosom, and, as soon +as she could, rose, and with a step far slower than her wishes, sped +back again to the house to read the paper she had received, in secret.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was written in a bold, free hand; the date was that very morning; +and the first words, "My beloved."</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut laid the letter down and gasped for breath. It was +sufficient, it was altogether sufficient; every doubt, every fear that +had remained was now at an end, and she once more burst into tears; +but, oh, how sweet were those tears! how happy! how unlike the past! +Soon she took up the letter again, and through the dazzling drops that +still hung in her eyes read the bright assurance, that he lived for +her who loved him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have feared," the letter said, "I have feared, that a report of my +death which has been current in this city of Paris should have reached +my beloved Marie, and the more especially as, by the counsel and +earnest entreaty of the Duke of Guise, I have myself contributed to +the spread of the rumour, and have taken every means to suffer it to +be confirmed. The object of this, however, was to deliver you alone by +throwing those who so unjustly detain you off their guard; and some +days ago I came on into this neighbourhood--where my brother, the Abbé +de Boisguerin, and the Duke of Epernon, all are, and to which we have +traced Villequier several times--in the confident belief that you were +not far distant from Angoulême. It might have been some time ere I +discovered your abode, but accident has befriended me, and my page, +who bears you this, and undertakes positively to deliver it to you, +saw you yesterday morning by a most extraordinary but fortunate +chance. I dare not venture near you in the early part of the morning, +but ere night has closed in, I will find some means to see and speak +with you. As far as possible, dearest Marie, be prepared for any thing +that it may be necessary to undertake. I fear that you have already +suffered much; but I will not doubt that even the rash and violent men +who have dared every crime to withdraw you from those that love you +best, have treated you with tenderness and kindness. I too have +suffered much, but far more from knowing that you were at the mercy of +those who persecute you while I was lying stretched upon the bed of +sickness, than from the very wounds that brought me there. I am now +well: I am near you; and that is enough to enable me to say that I am +happy, although there may be perils and dangers before us, as we are +still in the midst of our adversaries, and must once more attempt to +pass through a long track of country with obstacles at every step."</p> + +<p class="normal">The letter ended with every expression of affection and of love; and +again and again Marie de Clairvaut read it and wept, and fell into +fits of deep thought, and could scarcely believe that the joyous +tidings were true.</p> + +<p class="normal">She next asked herself what she could do to favour her lover's +efforts. The two or three women who had been appointed to wait upon +her, as well as the male attendants by whom she was surrounded, were +all strangers to her, and she felt that they were her gaolers. There +was one of them, however, who had looked upon her during the preceding +day with evident compassion, had watched her tears with sorrowful +eyes, and had spoken a few words of consolation. At one time she +thought of speaking to that woman, and trying to gain her to her +interests for the purpose of facilitating any thing that Charles of +Montsoreau might do to effect her liberation. She hesitated, however, +and judging that if he succeeded in seeing her that evening it would +be by passing over the wall at the spot where she had heard the boy +singing in the evening; she lingered about during the whole of the +evening, listening for the least sound. None was heard, however, and +at length the bell at the gates of the enclosure was heard to ring.</p> + +<p class="normal">Agitated and anxious, fearing that every moment might bring Charles of +Montsoreau to the spot, at the very time that other persons were near, +she came out from behind the trees, and walked slowly on by the side +of the river. Just at that moment a small boat pushed slowly up the +current by a country boy, passed by the spot where she stood; but the +boy whistled lightly on his way, as he went, and took no notice of +her; and in a minute after, she heard steps approaching from the other +side, and turned with some anxiety to see who it was that approached.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the servant girl we have before mentioned, who came towards her +quickly, saying, "You have been very sad these two days, lady, and I +wish you would take comfort. Here is a good man, one of the preaching +friars just called at the gate, and I'm sure, if you would but listen +to him, he would give you consolation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "he could give me no consolation, +my good girl. My own thoughts just now are my best companions."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke, however, to her dismay, she saw the monk coming across +the green from the side of the gates, and she determined at once to +reject all his proffered advice and consolation, fearing that the +precious minute for seeing him she loved might be lost by this +unwonted intrusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do listen to him, dear lady," said the girl. "When I told him how sad +you were, he said he was sure that he could give you comfort."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean time the friar approached with a slow step, with his cowl +drawn over his head, and his hand supported by his staff. Marie de +Clairvaut trembled from anxiety and apprehension, and only returned +the friar's benedicite by an inclination of the head and an assurance +that she did not stand in need of the consolation he offered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yet listen to me, daughter," he said, without withdrawing the cowl +from his head. But the first tones of that full rich voice proved +sufficient nearly to overpower the fair girl to whom he spoke. "If you +will hear me but for five minutes, my daughter," he said, "I think and +I believe, that I can suggest to you consolations that you may take to +heart; and if not, the few words I have to speak can do you no harm at +least."</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut bowed her head, and took a step or two nearer to +the water, while the woman withdrew for a short space, so as to be out +of ear shot. But still she remained watching the two, as if she were +either afraid of having done wrong in admitting the friar at all, or +had suddenly conceived some suspicion of his purpose. The eyes of +Marie de Clairvaut and of Charles of Montsoreau turned that way, and +both saw that they were watched. Could they have followed the dictates +of their own hearts, they would have cast themselves into each other's +arms; but now they were forced to stand, ruling every look and every +gesture, and assuming the demeanour of strangers, even while the words +of love and affection were bursting from their lips. The young +nobleman, however, gave but brief course to his feelings.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This night, Marie," he said, after a few words of passionate +tenderness, "this very night at twelve, a boat shall be ready for you +underneath that bank, and means prepared for you to descend. It has +already passed up the river in order that we may descend swiftly with +the stream, for the current is too rapid to permit of our passing up +without the risk of being stopped at every moment. At Jarnac, however, +all is prepared for our escape, and though our journey thence may be +longer, it will be more secure. Can you be here at that hour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can," she said, "and will, and, oh! may God grant, Charles, that +this time we may not only come within sight of the haven, as we have +twice done before, but reach it altogether; and never, never again +will I suffer them to separate me from you, as I did on that awful day +in Paris."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even yet, neither I nor the Duke know how it happened," said Charles +of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I was following the Queen," replied Marie, rapidly, "some one +pulled me by the sleeve, and on turning to see who it was, the crowd +closed in between me and Catherine. The person who had touched me was +dressed in the colours of the house of Guise, and he said, 'The Duke +expects you Mademoiselle. If you will come round this way, I will lead +you to the other gate where there is no crowd.' I followed willingly, +and nothing doubting; and he led me round into one of the streets +behind, when suddenly I was seized by the arms on either side, and +hurried along without the power of resistance. I cried for help as +loud as I could, indeed, but they bore me rapidly into the house +opposite, where I saw the Abbé de Boisguerin, and could hear your +brother's voice talking to Monsieur de Villequier. They then put me +into a chair, the blinds of which I could not undraw, and carried me +rapidly to another house, where I remained for some time, till +Villequier and the rest again appeared. I did all that woman could do, +Charles, to make them set me free; but what could I do? what means had +I to use?--entreaties, to which they were deaf; menaces, at which they +laughed. Your brother, indeed, said something that he intended for +kindness, and the Abbé looked gloomy and sad. But Villequier only +smiled for all answer; till at length tidings were brought them that +they were discovered, and that people were coming rapidly in pursuit +of them. I was then once more borne away by Villequier, after a few +words between him and your brother; and I heard your brother say as +they parted, 'I will delay them as long as possible.' Where they took +me I know not well, but I believe it was the Hôtel de Villequier.--But +see, the woman is coming near! We must part, dear Charles; I fear we +must once more part."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing more could be said, for the girl now approached; and Charles +of Montsoreau, assuming the tone of the friar, bade Marie remember his +words, and take them to heart; and then, giving her his blessing, +departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Shortly before midnight, wrapt in a cloak of a dark colour, in order, +as far as possible, to pass unobserved if any eye should be watching, +Marie de Clairvaut passed through one of the lower windows of the +château, and with a light step, sprang into the little cloister that +ran along one side of the building, at no great depth from the window. +The moon was shining bright and full, and every object around, except +where the shadow of the cloister fell, was as clear as if the sun had +been in the sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused and listened with a beating heart. There was no sound but +the murmur of the quick Charente; and then, putting her ear to the +open window, she listened there to ascertain that all was quiet in the +house. Nothing stirred; and, knowing how important it was to leave no +trace of the manner in which her flight had been effected, she closed +the casement carefully, and prepared to go forth into the moonlight.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something, however, in the stillness, and the clearness, and +the calmness of every thing that was in itself fearful; and she +hesitated for a moment before she went out. At length, however, she +ventured across the green and shining turf, and with a quick step +approached the edge of the water. Looking down upon it from above, she +could see nothing in the deep shadow of the bank; but, suddenly, a +bright ripple caught some stray rays of moonlight, and chequered the +dark bosom of the water with quick lines of silver.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you there?" said the voice of Charles of Montsoreau from below.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," she said. "How shall I descend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But, even as she spoke, a figure glided out from the shrubs beside +her, and, uttering a low cry, Marie de Clairvaut perceived the girl +who had given admittance to the supposed friar on the preceding +evening. The sound which she had uttered had instantly caught the +attention of Charles of Montsoreau; and, springing up the bank, he +found the girl with her hand clasped round the Lady's wrist, but +holding up the other hand as if enjoining silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are unkind," said the girl, in a low tone, "when I was kind to +you. I have already been bitterly reproached for letting in the monk; +and now, if you fly, what will become of me? They will say that I did +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear not, fear not!" answered Charles of Montsoreau, "and attempt not +to detain the Lady, my good girl; for go she must and will; and, as +there is no other boat here, any attempt to pursue us will be vain. +All you can do by endeavouring to detain her will be useless, and but +injure yourself. Here is money for you," he continued.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl put it away with her hand, replying, "I want no money, sir; +but if she goes, I will go with her. I will not stay here in the power +of that dark Abbé. I will come with her if she will let me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Willingly, willingly," replied Charles of Montsoreau; "but say not a +word, and come quick; and remember, till the Lady is safe under the +protection of the Duke of Guise, we pause for no one, so there must be +no pretences of fatigue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear not," replied the girl; "I can bear more than she can. But how +can we get down the bank?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a short ladder," said the young Count. "Come quick!" And in +a moment after he aided Marie de Clairvaut to descend. It was all done +in a moment. The girl followed the Lady, the ladder was taken into the +boat, and, with joy and satisfaction beyond all conception, the fair +girl, whose days had lately passed so sorrowfully, felt the little +vessel fluctuating beneath her feet as she seated herself in it; while +Charles of Montsoreau, with a man who had been waiting therein, pushed +the boat away from the bank, and a boy seated at the stern guided it +into the deeper parts of the water. There were but a few words spoken +by any one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are sure, Ignati," said the young Count, "that you marked every +rock and shoal as you came up?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite sure," replied the boy; and, leaving the current, which was +rapid and powerful, to bear them on, without disturbing its smooth +surface by the splash of oars, they glided along quickly down the +stream: now in moonlight, now in shade, with the high rocky banks and +promontories filled with holes and caverns, which border the valley of +the Charente, now seen in bright clear light--now rising up against +the silvery sky wrapped in deep shadows and obscurity.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hand of Marie de Clairvaut lay clasped in that of her lover as +they sat side by side. Their hearts were full, though their lips were +silent; and the eyes of both were raised towards the sky, filled with +thankfulness, and hope, and trust. Thus they went on for about two +hours, saying but little, and that little in low and murmured tones; +but as they went, Charles of Montsoreau found occasion to tell her +that he had luckily effected a new arrangement, and that he had +procured means of landing and proceeding on their journey before they +reached Jarnac.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, after a voyage of about two hours and a half, as the moon +was beginning to decline, a rushing sound was heard over the bow of +the boat, and the waters of the river were seen fretting against a +dyke, which had been built to confine it in its proper course. A +couple of houses, sheltered by two sloping hills which swept down to +the very bank of the river, appeared upon the left hand, with what +seemed a number of living objects gathered about them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie de Clairvaut turned her eyes to Charles of Montsoreau with some +apprehension, but he pressed her hand tenderly, saying, "Fear not, +fear not. They are my own people, waiting for our arrival."</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy guided the boat safely up to the landing place, and the +question, "Who comes here?" was demanded, as if at a regular warlike +post.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A friend," replied Charles of Montsoreau, and gave the word Château +Thierry. The man grounded his arms, and Charles of Montsoreau, +springing to the shore, led Marie de Clairvaut and the girl who had +followed her, to one of the houses, where every thing seemed prepared +for their reception.</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused for a moment to gaze upon the face of the girl who had +accompanied them, and to ask her name, which he found to be Louise. +The countenance was good, and frank, and gentle, and the natural +spirit of physiognomy, which is in every one's brain, gave a pleasant +reading of that face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen to me," he said, speaking to her. "As you have preferred the +service of this lady to remaining behind where I found you, depend +upon it every attention and devotion that you show to her by the way +will be taken note of and well rewarded; and do not forget, that, if +possible, you are never to leave her, but to do every thing in your +power, under all circumstances, to enable her to reach the Duke of +Guise, who is her near relation, and whom we expect to find at Blois +or Chartres."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she so great a lady?" said the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is the niece and ward of the great Duke of Guise," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; "and the time is rapidly coming when those who +have injured and offended her will be severely punished, and those who +have assisted and befriended her rewarded far beyond their +expectations."</p> + +<p class="normal">Having said this, he left them to see that all was properly prepared; +and in a few minutes more Marie de Clairvaut, with the girl who +accompanied her, were placed in one of the rude but roomy chaises of +the country, and with six horses to drag it through the heavy roads, +was rolling away in the direction of Limoges, followed by Charles of +Montsoreau, and a party of five or six servants on horseback.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">CHAP. VIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The autumn was far spent, an early winter had set intensely in, frost +once more covered the ground, the last leaves had fallen from the +trees, and looking round upon the thick tapestry that covered the +walls, and the immense logs of wood which blazed in the deep arched +fire-place, the tenant of a splendid room in the old château of Blois +smiled when he thought of where he had last passed a similar frosty +day: in arms in the open field against the enemies of the land.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, however, the appearance of Henry Duke of Guise was in some degree +different from that which it had ever been before. Loaded with honours +by the King, adored by the people, gratified in every demand, ruling +almost despotically the state, the height to which he had risen had +impressed itself upon his countenance, and added to that expression of +conscious power, which his face had ever borne, the expression also of +conscious success. His dress, too, was more splendid than it had ever +been--not that he had adopted the silken refinements of Epernon or +Joyeuse; not that his person was loaded with jewels, or that his ear +hung with rubies: but every thing that he wore was of the richest and +most costly kind; and as he now stood ready dressed to go down to hold +the table of grand master of the King's household and generalissimo of +the armies of France, at which Henry himself, and all the great nobles +of the Court were that day to be present, it would have been +difficult, throughout all Europe--nay, it would have been impossible, +to match his princely look, or to excel in taste his rich apparel. One +single star gleamed upon his bosom, the collars of manifold orders +hung around his neck, the hilt of his sword was of massy gold, and +thin lines of gold embroidery marked the slashings of his green velvet +doublet, where, slightly opening as he moved with easy dignity, the +pure white lining below appeared from time to time. There were no +jewels on his hands, but one large signet ring. He wore no hat, and +the brown hair curling round his forehead was the only ornament that +decked his head. There was a jewel in his belt, indeed, a single +jewel of high price, and the pommel of the dagger, which lay across +his loins, was a single emerald.</p> + +<p class="normal">From time to time, while he had been dressing;--indeed we might say +almost every minute, some messenger, or page, or courier appeared, +bearing him news or letters from the various provinces of the realm. +His secretary stood beside him, but every line was read first by the +Duke's own eye; and then he handed them to Pericard, either with some +brief comment or some direction in regard to the answer to be +returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" he said, smiling, after reading one epistle. "There is a curious +letter from good Hubert de Vins. Hubert loves me as his own brother, +and yet to read that letter one would think he respected me but +little. There is no bad name he does not give me down to Maheutre and +Huguenot, because I trust in King Henry, who, he says, is as +treacherous as a Picardy cat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think with Monsieur de Vins, your Highness," said Pericard, who had +been reading the letter while the Duke spoke, "'that trusting in the +semblances of the King's love, you expose your life every hour as if +it were neither a value to yourself or your friends or your country.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mistake, Pericard," replied the Duke; "I trust not in Henry's +love at all. Whether it be feigned or whether it be real for the time, +matters not a straw. If it be feigned, it does me no harm, but, on the +contrary, daily gives me greater power; if it be true, I receive the +benefits thereof for the time, well knowing that to-morrow or the next +day it will change completely into hate. I'll tell you what it is I +trust to, Pericard: not to the King's love, but to his good sense; for +were I dead to-morrow he could be ten times worse than he is to day. I +am he who stands between him and destruction!--Ah! who have we hear?" +he continued, as the door again opened. "From Provence;"--and taking +the letter from the hand of a dusty courier, he read it over +attentively and threw it to Pericard, saying, "That is good news +surely, Pericard! In the room of the two deputies who were so +difficult to manage that we were obliged to stuff them with carp and +truffles till they both fell sick and fled, we have got two steady +Leaguers not to be shaken by threats or moved by choice meats. If we +could dislodge that viper, Epernon, from Angoumois, all would be clear +before us till we reached the confines of Henry of Navarre. But +Epernon is raising troops, I hear----" he added, although he saw that +some one had entered the room and was approaching him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which he will soon disband. Monsieur de Guise," said the stranger, +"as I am charged by the King to set out to-morrow morning to give the +Duke his commands to that effect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By my life, Monsieur Miron," said the Duke, "you will have soon to +lay aside altogether the exercise of your esculapean powers, at least +upon his Majesty's person. You show yourself so skilful in healing the +wounds of the state, and curing the sickness of the body politic."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness is good unto me," replied the King's physician, looking +humble; "but I came to pay my respects to your Highness now, not +having seen you since the exile of Villeroy, Pinar and the rest. I +hope your Highness does not think that their disgrace is likely to +affect your interests at court."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least, Monsieur Miron," replied the Duke: "far from it. I +seek to exercise no influence amongst the King's ministers. Those who +are good for the state are good to me. On the King's good feeling and +good sense I firmly rely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some body," said the physician, "informed his Majesty that you were +grieved at the dismissal of Villeroy. I may tell him, then, that such +is not the case, for he was pained to hear it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell him so, I beseech you," replied the Duke. "I know the King would +not wish without some good reason to dismiss any one that I especially +esteemed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most assuredly," replied Miron; "but might I give your Highness one +slight warning as a friend, and a most sincere one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most gratefully will it be received," replied the Duke. "Speak +freely, my learned sir," he continued, seeing that the physician had +fixed his eyes upon Pericard. "Our good Pericard is as silent as your +friend death, Monsieur Miron, who tells no tales you know to those on +this side the grave, whatever he may do to those on the other. What is +it you have to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is this, my Lord," replied Miron. "I should tell you first, that I +do believe the King sincerely loves you, and that if you deal but +politicly with his humours, there is none in whom he will place such +confidence. But my good lord the King's temperament is a strange +one.--I speak as a physician. It is indeed injured by some excesses, +but though by nature full of the mercurial character, there was always +much of the saturnine in it. The balance between these has been +overthrown by many circumstances, and in certain conjunctions of the +planets he is strangely and variably affected. Such also is the case +in the time of these hard frosts. In soft and genial weather he may be +easily dealt with: you will then find him but as a thing of wax in +your hands. But I beseech you, my Lord, remember that, when the pores +of the earth are shut up and filled with this black and acrid frost, +'tis then that all the humours of the body are likewise congealed, and +Henry is at that time filled with black and terrible vapours, which +are dangerous not alone to himself, but to every one who approaches +him unprepared. I say it advisedly, my good Lord. Any one who urges +the King far, at such moments, is in peril of his life.<a name="div3Ref_06" href="#div3_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a> But I must +say no more, for here comes a messenger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you most sincerely," replied the Duke. "Who is this packet +from? I must speedily descend to supper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From his Highness of Mayenne," replied the messenger. "He said it was +matter of life and death, and commanded me to ride post haste."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" said Guise, as he opened the packets and saw the contents. "Our +cousin of Savoy in arms in France. This shows the need of unanimity +amongst ourselves. He shall find himself mistaken, however, if he +thinks Guise will forget his duty to his country. Write Charles of +Mayenne word, Pericard, to bring his troops into such a position that +they can act against Savoy at a moment's notice, and tell him that he +shall have orders to do so ere three days be over. Send, too, to +Rouen, thanking them for their attachment; and see that our agent at +the court of Rome have full instructions regarding the Count de +Soissons. Ha! here comes our brother of the church. My good Lord +Cardinal, we will descend together. We shall scarcely reach the hall +before the King arrives."</p> + +<p class="normal">The person who entered bore a strong family likeness to the Duke, but +was neither so tall nor so powerful in person. He was dressed in the +crimson robes of a prince of the church of Rome; and his countenance, +which had much shrewdness and some dignity, accorded well with his +station, Miron had retired quietly while the Duke spoke; a sign had +dismissed the messenger from the Duke of Mayenne, and none but +Pericard remained in the room. But yet the Cardinal spoke in a whisper +to his brother, who merely smiled, replying, "Come, come; we have no +time now to jest." And thus saying, he led the way down to a hall, +where supper was prepared at the table of the Grand Master for all the +most distinguished guests then resident at Blois.</p> + +<p class="normal">The table was covered, as was then much the custom, with jewelled +plate of many kinds, and various fanciful devices. The room was in a +blaze of light, and all the guests, but the King and his particular +train, had already arrived. They were standing back from the table, +and gathered together in the magnificent dresses of that period, +formed splendid groups in different parts of the chamber, while sewers +and other attendants, hurrying backwards and forwards, brought in the +various dishes, and set them in their regular order.</p> + +<p class="normal">The appearance of the Duke and his brother, the Cardinal de Guise, +occasioned an instant movement amongst the guests, and the proudest +there bowed lowly to the gallant Prince, whose fortunes hitherto had +gone on from height to height. Nobles and generals of the highest +distinction eagerly sought a word with him, and bishops and prelates +of many a various character crowded forward, but to touch the hand of +one who had stood forth so prominently in defence of the church.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few minutes the table was covered with the various dishes, and +intimation that supper was served was immediately given to the King, +who appeared the moment after, while the Duke of Guise advanced to the +door to receive him, and with every testimony of lowly respect led him +to the raised seat appointed for him. The King was followed by six +gentlemen, for whom places had been reserved, and amongst them the eye +of Guise rested upon Villequier. That eye flashed for a single moment +as it saw him; but the next instant all was calm, and the Duke noticed +him especially by an inclination of the head.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the King had taken his seat, saying, "Sit, my Lord Duke, I +pray you; stand upon no further ceremonies," Guise and the rest seated +themselves at the table, and the monarch and his princely officer bent +forward to say some complimentary nothing to each other, each at the +same time unfolding the napkin that lay before them. As they did so, +from the napkin of the Duke of Guise fell out upon his plate a folded +letter; and Henry, who was all gaiety and condescension at that +moment, exclaimed aloud with a light laugh, "Some letter from his +lady-love, upon my honour. Read, read, my Lord Duke! Read, read! +Carvers, touch not a dish till the Duke has read."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke opened the letter smiling, while the King bent a little +towards that side, as if jestingly, to see the contents. All eyes +round the table were fixed upon those two; and it was seen that the +colour mounted into the cheek of the Duke of Guise, that his brow +gathered into a frown, and his lip curled with a scornful smile. As +far as the paint on the King's countenance would admit, he appeared to +turn pale at the same moment. But Guise, crushing the letter together +in his hand, threw it contemptuously under the table, saving aloud, +"They dare not!"<a name="div3Ref_07" href="#div3_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">None but the King around the table knew to what those words alluded: +but Henry had seen the words, "Beware, Duke of Guise, your life is in +danger every day. There are those round you from morning to night, who +are ready to spill your blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke seemed to forget the matter in a moment, and by the graces of +his demeanour soon caused it to be forgotten also by all those around. +Henry resumed his gaiety and tranquillity; wine and feasting did their +part; and some short time after the King, with his glass filled with +the most exquisite wine of France, exclaimed, "Let us drink to some +one, my Lord Duke. To whom shall it be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is for your Majesty to command," replied the Duke gaily. "Let us +drink to our good friends the Huguenots!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Willingly, willingly," cried Henry laughing. "To the Huguenots, +cousin of Guise: ay, and to our good barricaders, too; let us not +forget them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King smiled, and many around smiled also, at what they thought +would be a mortification to the Duke. But Guise answered immediately, +after drinking the toast, "It is well bethought of your Majesty, while +you give us the health of your bitter enemies, to give us that of your +most faithful servants, who will never cease to defend you against +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke with such an air of good humour, that none could see he had +taken any offence, and this matter was also forgotten in a few +moments. Shortly before the dessert was placed upon the table, a page +slipped a small scrap of paper with a few words written upon it into +the hands of the Duke, who gathered the meaning at a single glance, +while his whole countenance brightened with satisfaction. "Come, +Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "honour me by drinking with me to a +mutual relation of ours. Here is to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, as +sweet, as good, as fair a lady as any in France. Let us drink her +health, and a gallant husband to her soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Willingly, willingly, my Lord," replied Villequier; "and I wish your +Lordship would let me name that husband. But here is to her health." +And he drank the wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay," answered Guise, "that cannot be, Monsieur de Villequier, for I +have named him myself already."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" exclaimed Villequier, with no slight surprise in his look. +But he instantly overcame the first emotion, adding, "I suppose, then, +that the young Lady is under your protection at the present moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At which you can neither be displeased nor surprised. Monsieur de +Villequier," replied the Duke, still bearing a courteous and affable +look. "As you know you swore upon the mass some weeks ago that she was +not under your protection, and that you knew not where she was, it +must be a relief to your mind to find that she is well cared for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my good Lord of Guise," replied Villequier in the same courteous +tone, "no one ever doubts that his Highness of Guise cares for every +one that comes within his influence. Have we not an instance of it +here, when no sooner is one of the good Duke's friends, and the +allotted husband of his fair niece, dead, than another of his friends +is raised to the same happy prospect. But, pray, may I ask if the +young Lady herself is well pleased with this rapid substitution of +lovers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Delighted, I believe," replied the Duke with a smile full of meaning. +"Though I have had no particular communication with her yet, inasmuch +as, it having been discovered that she had escaped from the hands of +some base persons who unjustly detained her, the worthy and +respectable governor of Angoumois took pains to guard the country all +round, in order to stop her on her journey to Blois. This has much +delayed her coming, and would most likely have delayed it still +longer, had she not taken refuge with Monsieur and Madame Montmorin, +till I sent a force sufficient to open the way for her through all the +La Valettes in France. It is thus only this night--nay, this very +moment, that I hear of her arrival in Blois."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my Lord," answered Villequier with a laugh, "it is evident that +he who attempts to strive with the Duke of Guise, either in stratagem +or in force, must be a bold man, and should be a clever one. As I told +your Highness, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was not in my hands, but how +she was set free from the hands in which she was placed must remain a +mystery rather difficult to solve. A servant girl, it seems, became +the immediate instrument; but the skill with which every trace of her +path was concealed, and even the manner in which her flight itself was +effected, bespeaks a better brain than that of a peasant of Angoumois. +Is it permitted, my Lord, to ask the name of the favoured gentleman +you destine for her husband?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"His Majesty receives his Court to-night, I think," replied the Duke, +"and then, Monsieur de Villequier, I shall have much pleasure in +presenting that gentleman to you. But, Monsieur de Villequier, if, as +your words imply, you have suffered yourself to be out-manœuvered +in this business, I will mortify your pride in your own skill by +telling you that you have been foiled and frustrated by no efforts of +mine, but by the wit of a girl and the courage and stratagem of a mere +youth. My Lord the King, may I humbly beseech your Majesty to let us +drink better policy to Monsieur de Villequier."</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry laughed lightly and drank the wine; and the rest of the supper +passed off gaily, though Villequier from time to time fell into a +momentary fit of thought, from which he was twice roused to find the +eye of the Duke of Guise upon him. At length, as the hour for the +reception of the Court in the King's own apartments approached, Henry +rose and retired, followed by Villequier and the rest of the gentlemen +who had accompanied him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise paused for a moment after, speaking rapidly to +several of those around him; and then, calling a page, he whispered +to him, "Go with speed to Monsieur Chapelle Marteau. Tell him to let +me see him at midnight. I should also like to see Monsieur de Magnac, +one of the Presidents of the Nobles. You will very likely find him +in his cabinet at the Palais de Justice. I would fain see them +both.--Gentlemen, the King will soon be in the hall, where you had +better meet his Majesty. I must be absent for a few moments, and you +will therefore pardon me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying the Duke left them, and followed by one or two attendants, +proceeded to the apartments assigned especially to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean while the rest of the nobles hurried from the château to +various parts of the town, in order to accompany their wives and +daughters to a great assembly of the Court, which was to be held that +night in the grand hall of the castle. In the same hall the meetings +of the States-General of the kingdom usually took place, when the +three orders assembled together; but, as it was considered probable +that they would deliberate separately for some days to come, the hall +had been arranged that night, as we have said, for the reception of +the Court; and in it soon appeared almost all the splendid nobility of +France brought into Blois by the meeting of the States. The Duke of +Guise, however, had not yet arrived when the King appeared, and much +was the surprise and wonder of all that he did not show himself. In +about ten minutes after, however, there was a whisper near the great +doors of "The Duke! the Duke is coming! He is in the corridor speaking +to Brissac:" and after the pause of an instant, the two wings of the +door were thrown open, and Guise, followed by a long and brilliant +train, and himself decorated with the collars and jewels of all the +first orders in Europe, entered the great hall and advanced towards +the King. With him appeared the lovely form of Marie de Clairvaut, +leaning on his left arm, while, dressed with all that splendour to +which the fashion of the day lent itself, appeared upon his right the +young Count of Logères, somewhat thinner and somewhat paler than he +had been when he before presented himself at the Court of France, but +with his head high, and proud with the best kind of pride, the +consciousness of rectitude, and his eye bright with the excitement of +the moment and the scene. The eyes of Marie de Clairvaut were bent +down, and there was a slight but not ungraceful embarrassment in her +manner, from the consciousness that many late events which had +befallen her would attract more than usual attention to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Advancing straight towards the King and Queen, the Duke of Guise took +Marie's hand in his, saying, "Allow me to present to your Majesties my +dear niece and ward. Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and permit me also to +present to you my friend----;" and he laid particular emphasis on the +word, "the Count of Logères, whom, with your Majesty's permission, and +this fair Lady's consent, I destine to be her husband. Were it +possible to give him a higher treasure than herself, I should be bound +to do it, as if it had not been for him, and for his skill, courage, +and determination on two occasions, my head would have been now in the +dust, and I should not now have had the hope of serving your Majesty +well, faithfully, and successfully, as I trust to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">From his first entrance, and while he spoke, a low murmur had run +through the whole Court, some inquiring who the gentleman was that +accompanied him, the few who knew Charles of Montsoreau whispering his +name, and all, as it passed round, expressing their surprise at the +re-appearance of one supposed to be dead. The Duke of Guise in the +mean time turned to Villequier, who had at first become pale at the +sight of Charles of Montsoreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur de Villequier," said the Duke, "you were desirous of knowing +the name of the friend for whom I destine my niece. Allow me to +present him to you in the person of the Count of Logères, whom I trust +you will soon congratulate upon their marriage." And while he spoke he +ran the finger of his right hand gently down his baldric towards the +hilt of his sword, with a gesture significant enough, but which could +only be seen by Villequier.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having said this, the Duke and his party retired to a space left for +them on the King's right hand, and the various entertainments of the +evening commenced, the King, who had been rather amused than otherwise +at the reappearance of Charles of Montsoreau, giving himself up to one +of those bursts of gaiety, which occasionally ran into somewhat +frantic excesses.</p> + +<p class="normal">We cannot pause here to describe the scene. All was splendour and +amusement; and in the light Court of France the circumstances in +which Marie de Clairvaut was placed were sufficient to draw around her +all the gay, and the gallant, and the idle. Unaccustomed to such +scenes--less accustomed, indeed, than even she was--the eye of Charles +of Montsoreau turned towards her from time to time, with perhaps some +anxiety, to see how she would bear the homage that was paid to her; +whether, in short, it would be the same Marie de Clairvaut in the +midst of flattery and adulation and that bright and glittering scene, +that it had been with him in the calm quiet of country life, in more +than one solitary journey, and in many a scene of peril, danger, and +distress. Whenever he looked that way, however, he saw the same sweet, +calm, retiring demeanour; and more than once he found her eyes seeking +him out in some distant part of the hall, and her lips light up with a +bright smile as soon as their glances met. He felt, and he felt +proudly, that there was none there present who could doubt that her +guardian's choice was her own also.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the irregularity which marked all Henry's conduct at that period, +after remaining for half an hour with the appearance of the utmost +enjoyment, the King suddenly became sombre and gloomy; and, after +biting his lip and knitting his brow for a few minutes, turned and +quitted the hall. All was immediately the confusion of departure, and +Charles of Montsoreau made his way across to where the Duke of Guise +was seen standing, towering above all the rest. The young Count had +remarked, that in the course of the evening the Duke had been speaking +long and eagerly with a lady of extraordinary beauty, who stood at +some distance from the royal party; and he had heard her named as the +Marchioness of Noirmontier, with a light jest from more than one +tongue at her intimacy with the Duke. When he now reached the side of +that Prince she had passed on, and was bending over Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut, and speaking to her with a look of tenderness and +admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come on Count, come on," said the Duke, in a low but somewhat sharp +tone, as soon as his young friend joined him. And they advanced to the +side of the two ladies at the moment that Madame de Noirmontier was +urging Marie to spend a few days with her at her beautiful château +some way down the Loire. The Duke, however, did not suffer his ward to +reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear, dear Madam," he said in a decided and somewhat stern tone, +"that it cannot be."</p> + +<p class="normal">The colour rushed violently up into the cheeks of Madame de +Noirmontier, and the tears seemed ready to spring into her eyes. But +the Duke added, "Logères, escort Marie back to my apartments. If you +will permit me, Madam, I will be your attendant to your carriage, and +explain why my young ward cannot have the extreme pleasure and honour +you intended for her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It needs no explanation, your Highness," replied the Marchioness, +raising her head proudly. "I intended to have staid some days longer in +this neighbourhood; but as she cannot come to me, I shall return at +once to Paris."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke looked mortified, but still offered her his hand; and when he +rejoined his own party in the apartments assigned to him, he was +somewhat gloomy and abstracted.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">CHAP. IX.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"His Highness, Sire," said one of the attendants to Henry III. on the +following day, "His Highness of Guise is not to be found this morning. +His servants say that he has gone forth on horseback, followed only by +two grooms: but whither he has turned his steps, no one seems rightly +to know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seek him with Madame de Noirmontier," said Villequier, who stood +beside the King.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Henry, however, who was in no mood for jesting at that moment, +replied sharply, "He is playing with me! He is playing with me! He +mocks me! He will repent it some day! And I think you mock me too, +Villequier, to talk of Madame de Noirmontier at this moment. Have you +not heard this business of Savoy? He knew it last night, and said +nothing of it; and I'll tell you what more he has done, Villequier, +which you may like as little as I like the other. He has fixed the day +for the marriage of his niece with that bold young Logères. But this +business of Savoy is terrible, and these mutinous States will be the +ruin of the realm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Villequier, "your Majesty must remember that I am +somewhat in darkness, in twilight at least. I have heard a rumour that +the Savoyard is in arms in France. But what of the States?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, they are even now discussing," exclaimed the King, "whether +there shall be war or not, even to defend our invaded territory. There +are the Clergy now arguing it at the Jacobins, the Nobles in the +Palais de Justice, and the Third Estate in the Hôtel de Ville,--all, +all showing a disposition to hesitate at such a moment; and Guise, the +Generalissimo of my armies, and Grand Master of my household absent. +Heaven knows where!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil knows best, most likely," replied Villequier with a calm +smile. "But, perhaps, the secret may be, that the Duke of Savoy is +son-in-law of the King of Spain. Now, the King of Spain has been a +good friend to the Duke of Guise, and the good Pope used always to say +that a Guise never jumped higher than the King of Spain liked."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By my faith!" replied the King, "I sometimes think that this same +gloomy Philip is more sovereign in France than the King thereof. But +here come tidings from the Tiers Etats. Come, Monsieur Artau, how have +gone the deliberations of the States? What say our good Commons to war +with Savoy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They go against it altogether, Sire," replied the officer who now +entered. "Chapelle Marteau spoke against it vehemently, declared that +it was but a plundering excursion of some light troops, who had +carried off a few thousand crowns, while it would cost many millions +to carry on a war with Savoy: and then, up got another, and talked of +imposts and taxes and the poverty of the state, and said that millions +and hundreds of millions had been lost in peculation and extravagance. +If your Majesty indeed, he said, would bear two-thirds of the expense +out of your domain, and would cut down your tall trees, or mortgage a +part of the royal forests, the Commons would see what could be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Heaven!" exclaimed Henry stamping his foot, "when they keep me +here, a throned beggar, without a crown in my pocket, to give a jewel +to a mistress or a friend, they expect me to carry on the defence of +the country at my own expense! On my soul! I have a great mind to cast +away the sceptre, to go down into the ranks of a private gentleman, +and name my rule-loving mother to govern in my stead: or faith, I care +not if it were Guise himself. He would teach these surly citizens what +it is to have an iron rod over their heads. By the Lord! he would not +spare the backs of the porkers. Hie thee, good Artau to the Clergy at +the Jacobins; see what they say to the matter. And what say you, +Villequier, to my scheme of abdicating?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Sire," replied Villequier calmly, "I think it is an excellent +good one. But I hope, in the first place, that you will give a few +thoughts to what I told you concerning the young Marquis de Montsoreau +and the hundred thousand crowns he promised on the day of his marriage +with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You know your Majesty has claimed the +lion's share; and seventy-five thousand crowns at the present moment, +or any time between this and Christmas, might serve to give your +Majesty a new lace to your doublet, or a new doublet to your lace, for +to my mind both are plaguy rusty. Now, though the re-appearance of +this young Count of Logères will cut down the amount of his brother's +estates most terribly, yet that affects me more than you, Sire; and by +having made inquiries I find, to a certainty, that he is quite capable +of paying the money the moment the marriage is concluded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seventy-five thousand crowns!" repeated the King thoughtfully. +"Seventy-five thousand crowns! Why, my friend, I think that neither +you or I have heard of such a thing since we had beards. But how does +all this square with my giving the crown to Guise, which you approved +so highly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, extremely well, Sire," replied Villequier. "The crown I would +have you give him is neither the crown of France nor of Poland: I +would give him an immortal crown, Sire. You will fit him better, +depend upon it, that way than with a terrestrial one. His aspiring +spirit seeks the skies, and, could I deal with him, should very soon +find them. However, you will remember that your royal word, as well as +mine, is pledged to the young Marquis de Montsoreau."</p> + +<p class="normal">A dark smile came over the King's face. "We will see, Villequier; we +will see," he said. "My word must be kept and shall not be broken. The +morning of Christmas-day the Duke has fixed for the marriage. Who +knows what may happen between this and then, Villequier. She is then +absolutely your ward failing the Duke of Guise, and we will have no +hesitation or delay, when we have the power to compel obedience. But +we must be very cautious, Villequier; we must be very cautious. We +must neither seem pleased with this business of the marriage, for then +he would suspect us of some concealed design; nor must we oppose him +strongly, because that would put him on his guard; and I fear me, that +all the crowns in France could not do me so much good as the Duke of +Guise could do me harm if he were offended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Without being slain," replied Villequier in a low tone. "Oh no, my +Lord, I know well, a wounded boar is always the most dangerous."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King smiled again in the same dark and sinister manner, but he +made no reply to Villequier's insinuation--perhaps still doubtful of +his own purposes, perhaps prevented from speaking openly by the return +of Monsieur D'Artau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! so soon come back?" exclaimed Henry. "You cannot judge of the +tone of the assembly, D'Artau. You should have heard more of their +deliberations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was no more to hear, Sire," replied D'Artau. "The Clergy were +all agreed; every body had become wonderfully pacific in a moment. +There had not been one voice raised for war, and fifty or sixty were +raised against it; so their deliberations, as I have said, were almost +concluded at the time I entered. They went to no vote, indeed, upon +the subject, but agreed to pass on to another question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The villains! the crows!" exclaimed the King. "What did they give us +as reasons, did you hear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, they said, Sire," replied the officer, "that they had taxed +themselves, time after time, for the purpose of carrying on the war +with the Huguenots; that they had now again taxed themselves to the +utmost of their means, and would not consent that any part of the sum +thus raised should be diverted to make war upon their fellow +Catholics, while nothing had yet been done against the enemies of +their faith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The specious hypocrites!" exclaimed Henry. "But what said they all to +the absence of the Duke of Guise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was said, Sire, as I heard, by several people, that he had +evidently absented himself from policy, not wishing to oppose your +Majesty, and yet unwilling to go to war with Savoy. Some said, indeed, +Sire," he continued, "that Chapelle Marteau had acknowledged that this +was the case. But that could not be so either, for the Duke sent for +the President of the Tiers Etats last night, without being able to +find him. That I know from the servants, so that what Chapelle said +must have been out of his own head; while, on the contrary, I hear +that Monsieur Magnac and the Count de Brissac, who were with the Duke +for more than an hour last night, spoke vehemently against the Duke of +Savoy amongst the Nobles at the Palais de Justice. Thus the Nobles +were as unanimous for the war, as the other two States were against +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That should be the foot-fall of a Guise in the antechamber," said the +King. "Who is without there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duke of Guise, your Majesty," said a page entering almost as the +King spoke, "craves audience for a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Admit him," said the King; "admit him:" and the next instant the Duke +of Guise entered hastily in a riding dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Majesty's gracious pardon," he said, "for presenting myself +before you thus: but I heard tidings, as I came along, which I +believed might give you great and exceeding pain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well may it give me pain, cousin of Guise," replied the King. "Well +may it give me pain, to find that my subjects are so insensible to +their own honour or to mine, as to suffer a foreign enemy to encamp +upon our native soil, without doing what best we may to drive him +forth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may, indeed, Sire," replied the Duke of Guise. "But the matter has +not been properly explained; and neither the Tiers Etats nor the +Clergy have seen it in its true light."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where was the Duke of Guise to explain it?" demanded Henry. +"Where was the Generalissimo of my armies, the Lieutenant-general of +my kingdom, the Grand Master of my household, the man whose voice is +only second to my own in France--ay, and by Heavens! whose voice is +sometimes first likewise? Where was he, I say; and how came he not to +be present?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From the simplest of all possible causes, Sire," replied the Duke. +"The business regularly appointed for this morning's discussion by the +States was a mere trifling matter of some petty impost. I had not told +your Majesty last night of this affair of Savoy, because I thought it +would spoil the pleasure of your evening, and perhaps disturb your +rest. I myself, however, neglected nothing. I instantly dispatched +orders, in your Majesty's name, to my brother of Mayenne, to advance +towards Piedmont with troops from Lyons. Before I rested, I sent for +the Presidents of the Nobles and of the Tiers Etats. The latter, +however, was not to be found; but I told Brissac and Magnac what had +occurred, and begged them to prepare all minds for vigorous measures +against Savoy, without disclosing the actual fact of aggression, that +fact having only reached me by the excessive speed of my brother's +courier. I felt perfectly certain that the news could not be known +till to-night or to-morrow morning; and how it happened that your +Majesty was informed of it so early, as to send down a message thereon +to each of the three Estates, I really do not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very simply, my good cousin of Guise," replied the King, whose face +had now relaxed from the harsh and acrid aspect it had borne +throughout the morning; "it was Miron told me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had forgotten, I had forgotten," replied the Duke. "He was in the +room when the packet arrived, and I must have given vent to my +thoughts aloud."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, under such circumstances," replied the King, "I suppose I must +pardon, cousin of Guise, your having gone to pay your homage somewhere +else, as Monsieur de Villequier insinuates, when the King much wanted +your presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur de Villequier is, as usual, wrong," replied the Duke of +Guise frowning upon him. "Where he seeks for or finds such abundance +of evil motives to attribute to other men, I do not know. May it not +be in his own bosom? I went, for your Majesty's service, to inspect a +body of three thousand men, about to march early this morning from +Laucome to join the army of the Duke of Nevers, and it was only as I +returned that I heard of this unfortunate business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps his Highness thinks," said Villequier, not unwilling to +increase any feeling of ill-will between the King and the Duke, +"perhaps his Highness thinks that your Majesty would have done more +wisely to have waited till his return, and not to have communicated +the news from Savoy at all to the States, till you had consulted him +upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier had almost said, "till you had asked his permission;" but +he feared that a part of the King's anger might fall back upon +himself. The Duke of Guise, however, saw through all his purposes in a +moment, and replied, "Far from it, Monsieur de Villequier! I think, on +the contrary, that I should have done more wisely if, instead of +inspecting the troops at all--although Nevers, who is my enemy, might +have reproached me for neglect--I had waited till the King had risen, +to convey the expression of his will in person to the States-General, +Sire, I humbly crave your Majesty's pardon for this one instance of +neglect; and, to prove how sorry I am that it has occurred, I will +undertake to show the Clergy and the Commons such good motives for +changing their decision, that your Majesty's name and honour shall not +suffer by the invasion of your territories unresisted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will refuse you, Guise; they will refuse you," replied the King. +"I know them well. You think to rule them, Guise; but the first time +you speak of money to Commons or to Clergy, you will find that +cabalistic word, money, acts on them as the sign of the cross upon the +fiends we read of, and makes the seeming angels resume their shapes of +devils in a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Sire, well," exclaimed the Duke of Guise, tossing his lofty +head with a proud smile, "if they refuse us, we will shame them. You +and I together will put our lances in the rest, as in days of old: we +will call the nobility of France about us; and I will promise, at my +own expense, without craving these penurious Commons for a sol, with +my own men and your Majesty's good help, in three weeks' time to drive +the Savoyard back to his mountain den. But no, Sire, no! They will not +refuse me; and I pledge myself before this hour to-morrow to bring you +such tidings from both clergy and commons as you could wish to hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you do, cousin," cried the King eagerly, "if you do, you are my +best of friends and counsellors for ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear not. Sire; fear not," replied the Duke of Guise; "I will be bold +to undertake it. But I must see the presidents and some of the +deputies speedily, to know what are the vain and idle notions on which +they have hesitated in regard to a step imperatively necessary. I will +therefore humbly take my leave, beseeching you to think well of me +during my absence, even though my good Lord of Villequier be at your +Majesty's right elbow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying the Duke retired, and the King, turning to Villequier, +asked with some anxiety "Think you, Villequier, that he will succeed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not, Sire," replied Villequier; "but I should judge not. They +have too far committed themselves to retract, let the question be what +it would, but are not at all likely to retract where money is +concerned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the King; "I will hope the best. And now, +Villequier, we must think of what can be done, in order not to lose +the seventy-five thousand crowns. Mort Dieu! What a sum! In the very +first place, we must call hither your young friend, wherever he may +be, without loss of an hour. We must not have him appear at the Court, +however. He must lie concealed, but be ready at a moment's notice. Let +him bring what men he can with him. But above all, do not let him +forget the crowns, Villequier. Let them be prepared.--Nay, smile not, +I have a scheme for the purpose, which will mature itself in time. But +no good plan should ever be hurried, and it should always be formed of +elements as ductile as warm wax, that it may fit itself into the mould +of circumstances. It will mature itself in time, Villequier; it will +mature itself in time. But now to this other terrible business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, Sire, what is that?" demanded Villequier with some alarm, for +since his arrival at Blois Henry had shown so much more activity and +application to serious matters, that even his favourite had forgotten +his character. "Pray, what terrible business does your Majesty speak +of?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you not heard," exclaimed the King, "have you not heard, that +the boat was upset in coming down the Loire--the boat with the parrots +and monkeys; and my great beautiful black ape, Ridolin-din-din, was +nearly drowned, and has caught such a cold, that it is feared he will +die!--Sweet creature, he is a beauty, and in his woollen nightcap and +long gown is not at all unlike my mother. Poor fellow, have you not +heard him coughing in the room beyond? I must go and give him some +confection of quinces."</p> + +<p class="normal">During a considerable portion of the day Henry devoted himself to his +ape, but towards evening his anxiety in regard to the States and to +the eruption of the Duke of Savoy seized upon him again. This was +terribly increased by the arrival of a new courier, bearing more ample +particulars than the former. The king slept ill at night, and rose +early the next morning; but still all the reports brought him of the +disposition of the States made him imagine that no means would be +taken to curb the enemy, and that he himself would be left by his +subjects the mockery and by-word of Europe, unable to repel the +outrages of even the pettiest of all the neighbouring princes. The +sneers of many of his favourites and courtiers at the Duke of Guise, +too--their ironical smiles at the very idea of his being able to +change the announced determination of two great bodies in the State, +tended to irritate the King still more, and to drive him almost to +madness.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this state of mind he was walking up and down his chamber between +eleven and twelve o'clock on the succeeding day, when suddenly hearing +the bustle of many feet without, he himself threw open the door and +beheld the Duke of Guise approaching with his usual train and several +other persons.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was in the noble countenance of the Duke the glad consciousness +of success; but Henry, eager for confirmation, exclaimed, "What is it, +cousin of Guise? What is it? Uncertainty drives me wild."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Health to your Majesty," replied the Duke. "These gentlemen who +follow me. Messieurs Brissac and Magnac, the Presidents of the +Nobility, the Archbishop of Lyons representing the Clergy, and my good +friend, Chapelle Marteau, President of the Third Estate, humbly +approach your Majesty with a petition, that as the Duke of Savoy has +committed a wanton infringement upon the territories of France, you +would be graciously pleased to pronounce a declaration of war against +that Prince, in which your dutiful subjects will aid and support your +Majesty to the best of their ability."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King's joy knew no bounds, and throwing his arms around the Duke +of Guise, he kissed him on both cheeks. Recovering himself, however, +in a few minutes, he received the deputies from the States with some +degree of dignity. His joy, however, was still exuberant; and, in +dismissing the petitioners, he said that the declaration should be +immediately issued, and that he would trust to his best friend and +wisest counsellor, pointing to the Duke of Guise, to repel speedily, +with that unconquerable hand which had won so many victories, this new +aggression upon the territory of France.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the deputies were gone, he burst forth again in the same +strain, vowing to the Duke that he loved him beyond every thing on +earth, that his attachment should be unalterable and inviolate, and +that whatever might be said or urged against the Duke, he would never +believe it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin of Guise," he exclaimed, "there are people who would fain +persuade me that you aim at my crown, and perhaps there are others who +may try to persuade you that I aim at your liberty or life, I know +there are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire, we neither of us believe them," replied the Duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us never believe them," answered the King; "let us never believe +them. Let us swear, Guise, let us swear to hold good faith and +undoubting sincerity and true friendship to each other for ever! Let +us swear it upon the altar even now! Let us swear it by the Holy +Communion, by which we dare not swear falsely, and then the +insinuations of our enemies will be as empty air!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most willingly, Sire," replied the Duke; "I am ready this moment. It +is near the hour of mass, and having nothing in my heart but good +towards your Majesty, I am ready this very moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come then, come to the chapel," cried the King. And taking the Duke +of Guise by the hand he led the way, followed by only the two +attendants who were in the anteroom. In ten minutes more the King and +the Duke might be seen kneeling before the same altar, calling down +the wrath of God upon their heads if they ever did one act of enmity +towards each other, drinking of the same consecrated cup, and dividing +the host between them.<a name="div3Ref_08" href="#div3_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a></p> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">CHAP. X.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was a bright clear frost, all the ancient houses and streets of +that most curious and interesting old town, called Blois, were seen +clear and defined, without the slightest thin particle of smoke or +haze, and from the high windows of the chamber of Catherine de Medici +the servant, who sat and gazed out, might see the slightest object +that passed along the road below.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she thus sat and gazed, her eyes fell upon a glittering troop of +cavaliers who issued forth from the castle gates, and took their way +through the town, and she could see the princely form of the Duke of +Guise, and the strong frame of Brissac, and the graceful person of +Charles of Montsoreau, riding nearly abreast at the head of the troop.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duke has gone forth, may it please your Majesty," said the woman, +turning to the bed on which lay Catherine de Medici, sick in body and +uneasy in mind. "The Duke has gone forth, and a large train with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the King will soon be here," replied the Queen-mother. "Go into +the further chamber, good Bridget, and wait there till he leaves me. +If Madame de Noirmontier arrives from Paris before he is gone, bid her +wait there too. I will see her after, and be glad to see her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The attendant had scarcely retired, when Henry III. himself entered +with a slow step, a dull frowning brow, and lips turned down, giving +his countenance a diabolical expression of sneering malice, which +contrasted strongly with the white and red paint which he had used, +and the gay foppery of his apparel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You sent for us, good mother," he said. "How goes it with you? Has +the fever left you, or do you still suffer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My sufferings are of no moment," replied Catherine de Medici. "They +will soon pass, Henry, and I shall be well again. But the illnesses of +states pass not so soon, my son; and upon your acts, at the present +moment, depends the welfare of France for centuries."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it, madam," replied Henry sullenly. "But may I ask upon what +particular occasion your Majesty has thus resumed the maternal rod?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The occasion is this, my son," replied the Queen: "I find that you +are opposing Guise, when you have no power to oppose him; and you are +opposing him in things where your opposition will not increase your +power, but will increase his. Were you to oppose him firmly but +stedfastly on points where reason, and right, and the welfare of the +State were upon your side, however blind they might be for a time, the +people would come over to your side in the end. But if you oppose him +in things where your pride, or your vanity, or your selfishness is +concerned, depend upon it his party will every day increase; for Guise +having identified himself with the people and the Catholic Church, his +foibles will be treated far more leniently by both church and people +than yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guise!--Guise!--Guise!" cried the King in a bitter tone. "For ever, +Guise! I am sick to death of the very name. What would you have, +Madam? Have I not yielded almost every thing to him? Have not all his +demands been granted, till they become so numerous that I have not +wherewithal to stop their mouths? Did I not sign the decree of July? +Did I not declare old scarlet Bourbon next heir to the Crown? Did I +not satisfy the cravings of Nemours and of Mayenne? Did I not banish +Epernon; give the Duke all sorts of posts; yield him up towns and +cities? Did I not render him king of one half of France? What is it +that I have refused him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In many points you mistake, my son," replied the Queen. "You have +yielded more than one of these things, not to him, but to the League. +You refused to him, too, the sword of Constable; and in that perhaps +you were right. At all events he himself seemed to think that you were +so, for he has not pressed the demand: but after promising to the +League, as one of their towns of surety, the city of Orleans, which +both you and I know was promised, you would now persuade Guise and the +League that it was inserted in the edict by mistake, and that the town +promised was Dourlans, a heap of hovels on a little hill, as if you +thought that, by such a trumpery evasion, you could deceive the keen +wit of a Lorraine. Guise, of course, set his foot upon the small +deception. But what are you doing now? Quarrelling with him because he +demands that which has been recognised as a right of every +generalissimo in the kingdom; namely, the right of having his own +prevôt and guards. Such has ever been the case, as you well know. The +matter is a trifle, except to your own jealous disposition; and even +were he not right, it would still be but a trifle. But when he is +right, and you are wrong, the refusal is an insult, and the matter +becomes of importance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam," said the King bitterly, "in spite of all you say. Guise shall +not absolutely be King of France. Has he not here, within these three +days, refused me an impost necessary to maintain my dignity as a King, +and to provide for the safety of the State? Does he not try to keep me +a beggar, that I may have no means of asserting my own rights and +dignity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied the Queen; "No, Henry! He did not refuse you the impost; +it was the States. If I heard rightly, he spoke in favour of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, spoke!" cried the King. "But how did he speak? +Lukewarmly--unwillingly. The States soon saw which way his wishes +turned. Had he not been playing the hypocrite, he would have commanded +it in a moment. Did he not show how he could command in that business +of Savoy? Four-and-twenty hours were sufficient for him to make every +man in Clergy and in Commons eat their words. This is something very +like sovereign power, madam. It is power such as I never possessed +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, and then you were grateful to him for its exercise," replied +Catherine; "and swore eternal friendship to him on the altar!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, but his ambitious views have become far more outrageous +since then," replied the King angrily. "Has he not exacted that Henry +of Navarre shall be excluded by name from the succession? Has he not +forced the Count de Soissons to receive absolution from the Pope? Has +not he blazed abroad, throughout all the world, the letters of the +Pope himself, thanking him for his efforts to put down heresy, and +exhorting him to persevere, as if he and none other were King of +France? And now he must have guards, must he! now he must have guards! +When will the crown be wanted? His leading staff is already the +sceptre, for it sways all things; his chair is already the throne, for +from it emanates every movement of the States-General of France. Yes, +madam, yes! the throne and sceptre he has gained; and I see the leaves +of his ducal coronet gradually changing themselves into fleurs-de-lis, +and the bandlets of the close crown ready to meet above his head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But to the guards which he demands," said Catherine de Medici, "he +has a right, as Lieutenant-general of the kingdom; and why should you +oppose him on a point where he is right?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, the guards! the guards!" cried Henry. "Let him have them, madam; +let him have them. But nevertheless, in a few days, all this will be +over." And so saying, without waiting for further reply, the King +turned and quitted his mother's chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">Following a private staircase, which had been so constructed as only +to afford a means of communication between the various apartments of +the royal family, the King descended to a large chamber, or sort of +hall, with a deep window looking out towards the Loire. He found +already in that chamber several of his most intimate and confidential +friends and favourites, who, notwithstanding the high degree of +confidence which the King placed in them, viewed the gloomy sullenness +of his countenance with some sort of apprehension. In truth, when the +fit was upon him, it could never be told where the blow would fall; +and he often thus deprived himself of counsel and assistance in his +moments of greatest need.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were some, however, then present, whose purpose it was to +exasperate the irritation which he suffered, even at the risk of +injuring, in some degree, themselves; and the Maréchal d'Aumont, who +had been waiting there for his return, advanced, and though the King +addressed not one word to him, but walked on sullenly till he had +almost touched him, he began the conversation first, speaking in a low +tone. At length the King stopped abruptly, and, gazing in his face, +exclaimed, "What, without my veto; without my consent and approbation? +Do the States propose that their determinations be law without the +King?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do, Sire," replied the Maréchal d'Aumont; "and I doubt not they +would consider that the approbation of the Duke of Guise would be +quite sufficient. They have already made him feel that such is the +case, Sire; for one of his creatures offered me not long ago, if I +would attach myself to him, to make me Governor of Normandy, declaring +that the States, at a word from the Duke, would make your Majesty take +it from the Duke of Montpensier, to whom you had given it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King paused for a moment, with his hands clasped, and his eyes +gazing on the ground. At length he raised them suddenly, saying, "Hark +ye, D'Aumont!" and then spoke a few words in a whisper, as the Marshal +bent down his ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Aumont turned somewhat pale as he listened; his brows knit, and a +certain degree of wildness came into his eyes; but he answered, the +moment the King had done, "I have not rightly understood your Majesty. +But it seems to me, that the only way a sovereign can deal with +rebellious subjects and traitors, is to cause them to be arrested, and +deliver them over to their natural judges, to be tried according to +law."</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry waved his hand with a look of contemptuous disappointment, and +then added, looking fixedly in D'Aumont's face, "You will be silent!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"On my honour, Sire," replied D'Aumont; and bowing low, but with a +face still pale, he quitted the chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without noticing the other gentlemen who were standing at the farther +corner of the room, Henry called to a page, and descended by the +staircase into the gardens. He looked up for a moment at the bright +and cheerful sunshine, and then upon the clear wintry scene around; +but the sight seemed only to plunge him in deeper gloom than ever; and +turning to the boy he said, "Run back to the hall, and bid Monsieur +Crillon come here alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then stood with his arms crossed upon his chest, gazing upon the +ground beneath his feet, and when Crillon approached he took him by +the arm, and walked slowly on with him to the other side of the +gardens. He was silent for some moments; but then turning to Crillon +he said, "You are colonel of my French guards, Crillon, and there is a +service which I want you and them to perform."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak, Sire," replied Crillon with his bluff manner. "If there be any +thing that a soldier and a man of honour can do for you, I am ready to +do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are not kings the highest magistrates in their realm, Crillon?" said +the King, gazing in his face; "and have they not a right to judge +their own subjects, and pass sentence upon them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to Heaven I were a lawyer, Sire," replied the old soldier, +"and then I would give your Majesty an answer. But on my honour, at +present, I have not considered the subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, Crillon," continued the King, "to put it in another shape: +I have a subject who is more king than myself; who stands between me +and the sun; who grasps at all the power in the realm; and who, day by +day, is increasing in ambition and insolence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Majesty means the Duke of Guise," said Crillon; "I know him in a +minute by the description."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," said Henry. "But this must not continue long, +Crillon. Methinks a small body of my guards, with a brave and +determined commander, might rid me of this enemy, of this viper. The +most learned lawyers of my realm have assured me that law and justice +and right authorise me to cause this deed to be done. Will you +undertake it, Crillon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Crillon, "I beg your Majesty's pardon for reminding +you, that there is a public executioner appointed by law, and I must +not interfere with any other man's office. As to my becoming an +assassin, that your Majesty does not conceive possible for a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry looked bitterly down upon the ground, and then said, in a tone +between wrath and anguish, "My friends desert me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Sire, they don't," replied Crillon. "There is a way of settling +the matter, which your Majesty has forgotten, but which suits my +feelings and habits better than any other way. I will now humbly take +leave of your Majesty, and going up to the cabinet of his Highness of +Guise, I will insult him before his people, tell him that he has +wronged his King and his country, and bid him accompany me to the +field with equal arms. The Duke, bad as he is, is not a man to refuse +such an invitation; and I think I can insure your Majesty, that you +shall not be troubled with the Duke of Guise for a long time to come."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King smiled; "Alas! Crillon," he said, "you deceive yourself. You +forget what you undertake. Remember, you purpose to strive with, hand +to hand, the most powerful man in Europe--the most dexterous and +skilful in the use of every weapon upon the face of the earth,--the +most fearless, the most active, the most prompt, whose hand never +trembles, whose eye never winks, whose foot never slips. He would slay +thee, Crillon; he would slay thee in a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it, Sire," replied Crillon calmly; "but not before I have slain +him. If I choose to make my body a sheath for his sword, I will make +his body a sheath for mine, while my hand holds tight against my +breast the hilt of his weapon, to keep in my own spirit till I see his +fled. This can be done, Sire, and it shall be done within these two +hours. I give your Majesty good day, for there is no time to spare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, Crillon, stay!" said the King, "I command you not to think of +it. If you attempt it, you will ruin all my plans. I thank you for +your willingness. I owe you no ill-will for your refusal. You will +find the page at the door: tell him to send Monsieur de Laugnac to +me--Montpizat Laugnac, you know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I know him, Sire," replied Crillon. "He is a man of small +scruples. I will tell the page as your Majesty bids me." And he +retired from the presence of the King with a quick step.</p> + +<p class="normal">The manner in which the King dealt with Laugnac formed a strange +contrast with his manner towards Crillon. The moment that the former, +who was first gentleman of his chamber, and captain of the famous band +of Quarante-cinq, joined him in the garden, the King seized him by the +hand, saying, "Laugnac, the Duke of Guise must die!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, Sire," replied Languac, as if it were a thing perfectly +natural. "I have thought so some time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you undertake it, Laugnac," demanded the King. "You and your +Quarante-cinq?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must have more help than that, Sire," said Laugnac, "if it is to be +done out in the streets, in the open day, which I suppose must be the +case, as he is seldom out at night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no, no, no! that will never do!" exclaimed the King. "We must have +no rashness, Laugnac. He never rides but with a train, which would set +you at defiance; and, besides, the town is filled with Guisards. You +would have men enough upon you to slay you all in five minutes. We +must put him off his guard; we must lull him into tranquillity, and +then draw him to some private place, where you and your good fellows, +posted behind the arras, can strike him to the heart before he is +aware."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is an excellent good plan, Sire," exclaimed Laugnac +enthusiastically. "I will speak with my good friend, Larchant, who is +a bold man and strong, a mortal enemy of the Guise, and a most devoted +servant of your Majesty. We will soon arrange a plan together which +cannot fail."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Swear him to secrecy," cried the King; "and remember to-morrow must +not pass without its being done. If you can find Villequier too, who +ought to be returned by this time, for we have much to do together +to-morrow, consult with him, for in a matter of poisoning or of the +knife you know, Laugnac, he has not his equal in France."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King smiled, and Laugnac smiled too, at the imputation which they +cast on another of the dark deeds exactly similar to those they were +both plotting themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not think, your Majesty," said the latter, "that it could be +done just about the time of the Duke's coming to the Council +tomorrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent, good," said the King, "for that will cut him off, just ere +this marriage that is talked of. But go quick, Laugnac, and make all +the arrangements, and let me know the plan to-night; for look where +the very man comes:" and he pointed down the alley that led to the +château, where the Duke of Guise was seen approaching alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is alone," said Laugnac. "Could it not be done now? I and another +could make sure of it, if your Majesty would detain him here till I +seek aid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On no account," said the King, grasping his wrist tight. "On no +account, Laugnac. You forget all the windows of the château see us. +The rest of his creatures would escape, and I must have not a few of +them in prison. No! we will be tender with him. He shall be our sweet +cousin of Guise, our well-beloved counsellor and friend. Greet him +gracefully as you pass by him, and tell the page to seek, high and +low, for Villequier, and bring him to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laugnac bowed low, and walked away, and as he went he left the Duke of +Guise the whole of the path, pulling off his hat till the plumes +almost swept the ground, but without speaking. Guise bowed to him +graciously; but, evidently in haste, passed on towards the King, whom +he saluted with every demonstration of respect, and on whom in return +Henry smiled with the most gracious expression that he could assume.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What seeks our fair cousin of Guise?" said the King. "I know this is +a busy hour with him in general, and therefore judge that it must be +matter of some importance brings him now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly so, Sire," replied the Duke. "There is but little +business of importance stirring now, when so many of the multitude, +lately collected in Blois, have returned to their own homes for the +approaching festival. I came, however, to beseech your Majesty to +grant me permission to absent myself for a few days on the same joyful +occasion. All business for the time ceasing, my presence will not be +necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assuredly, assuredly!" replied Henry, turning pale at the very idea +of the Duke escaping from his hands. "But do you go soon, fair cousin. +I thought that you proposed the marriage of your fair ward for +to-morrow; indeed, I heard that every thing was prepared, and I myself +intended to be one of the guests."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have not forgotten your Majesty's gracious promise," replied the +Duke. "Every thing is prepared, and half an hour before high mass we +shall all be waiting for your Majesty in the revestry of the chapel. +Never yet have I seen two young beings so happy in their mutual love; +and as we have broken through some cold forms, in consideration of the +many services which the lover has rendered to his future bride, they +are always together, and clinging to each other, as if they fancied +that something would yet separate them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry smiled, but there was a certain mixture in it, which rendered it +difficult to say whether the expression was gracious or ironical. +"Well then, good cousin," he said, "as you have such mighty business +toward, we had better hold our council as early as possible to-morrow, +and not wait till the usual hour. Let it be as near day-break as +possible. The god of day does not open his eyes too soon at this +season of the year. And yet I fear that the business of various kinds, +that we have before us, will occupy more time than one council can +afford. Thus we may be obliged to detain you at Blois, fair cousin, +longer than you expect, I fear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not intend to go, Sire," replied the Duke, "till somewhere +about twelve on Christmas-day, which would give me the opportunity of +being present at two councils; and I shall be also absent so short a +space of time--certainly not longer than three whole days--that the +interruption will not be great."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, be it so; be it so," replied the King. "We know that your +activity makes rapidly up for time lost. As to the marriage, I will +sign the contract in the revestry, where I meet you; and I think that, +notwithstanding the poverty of my treasury, I have a jewel yet of some +price to give the bride."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beseech your Majesty think not of it," replied the Duke of Guise. +"She and her good husband will be equally devoted to your service +without such a mark of your condescension."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few more words of the same kind, the Duke took leave, and +Henry remained in the garden walking to and fro, and growing every +moment more and more impatient for the arrival of Villequier.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where can he be?" he muttered to himself. "He promised to be back +before nine o'clock this morning. What can detain him? By Heavens! he +will lose the best part of our enterprise if he stays. Can he have met +with some mishap by the way--or has some lady poisoned him with +champignons or with Cyprus wine--or tried cold steel upon him--or shot +him with a silver bullet in honour of his great master. No steel would +touch him, I should think, if all tales are true. But here he comes; +here he comes, alive and well, with the eye of a wolf and the footfall +of a cat.--He is a handsome animal notwithstanding, even now, if he +would but paint his lips a little, for they are too pale. Something +has gone wrong. He seems agitated; and to see Villequier moved by any +thing is indeed a wonder. Why, how now, dear friend? What is it that +affects you? I declare your lip quivers, and your cheek is red. What +is the meaning of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I just met the Duke of Guise in the +hall of the château, and he not only tells me that the marriage of his +niece goes forward, but that your Majesty has promised to sign the +contract, and to be present at the ceremony. How you intend to +withdraw yourself, I do not know: but to throw, at least, some +obstacle in the way, I said that my signature had not been asked; and +while my application was before the Parliament of Paris, the marriage +could not take place without that signature. He answered haughtily, +Sire, not by requesting, but by commanding, me to be in the revestry +of the chapel at the hour of half-past eleven; and he added, with a +significant tone, that he would teach me the use of pen and ink."</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry showed no wrath: his mind was made up to his proceedings; his +dark determination taken; and utterly remorseless himself, he sported +in his own imagination with the idea of Guise's death, and only smiled +at his conduct to Villequier, as the skilful angler sees amused the +large trout dash at the gilded fly, knowing that a moment after he +will have the tyrant of the stream upon his own hook, and panting on +the bank.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall be in the revestry, Villequier," said the King; "you shall +sign the marriage contract, for the King commands you as well as the +Duke of Guise; and surely two such potent voices must be obeyed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier paused for a minute or two ere he replied, calculating what +might be the King's motives in his present conduct. He knew Henry +well, and knew his vacillating changeable disposition; and he +suspected that he was determined to violate his promise to Gaspar de +Montsoreau upon some inducement, either of hope or fear, held out to +him by the Duke of Guise. He was well aware, however, that if the +means taken had been disagreeable, the King, though he might have +endured them smilingly in the presence of the Duke, would have burst +forth into passion, almost frantic, when conversing with him. He +therefore replied straightforwardly, "I suppose, Sire, the younger +brother has outbid the elder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wrong, wrong, good friend," replied the King. "Your hawk has missed +its stroke, Villequier. The Duke of Guise wills it so! Is not that +quite sufficient in France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope it will not be so long, Sire," replied Villequier, now +beginning, though indistinctly, to catch the King's meaning. "I hope +it will not be so long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha, René! Do you understand me now?" said Henry. "Hark ye! Are you +not this girl's guardian beyond all doubt, were the Duke out of the +way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indubitably," answered Villequier; "for the only thing that affects +my right, even now, is her father's will, appointing this same Henry, +Duke of Guise to be her guardian: the other brothers are not named."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then," said Henry, "have a contract of marriage in due and +proper form drawn out, this very night, in the names of Marie de +Clairvaut and Gaspar, Marquis of Montsoreau. Be in the revestry at the +hour named, and bring with you your gay bridegroom with all his golden +crowns. You shall sign the contract, and I will sign the contract, and +we will find means I think to make the fair Lady sign the contract +too, while the Duke of Guise's bridegroom discovers his way into a +dungeon of the château. You have been so long absent, I feared you +would not come in time to hear all this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I was forced to be absent; for +although your Majesty seems to have forgotten a certain paper given to +the Abbé de Boisguerin, I have not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" said the King, "I had forgotten indeed. We must suppress that, +Villequier; we must suppress that, if he will not consent to our +plans; which, I see by your face, it is not your opinion that the +worthy Abbé will do. You must get it from him and suppress it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Villequier smiled at the very thought. "He will never give it up to be +suppressed, Sire," replied the Marquis. "Your Majesty little knows the +man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, suppress him!" said the King with a laugh; "suppress him, +Villequier, and the paper with him. Under the great blaze made by this +business of the Guise, his affair will be but as one of the wax tapers +that a country girl, with a sore eye, buys for half a denier to hang +up before St. Radigonde. Suppress him, Villequier; suppress him. I +know no one so capable of sweeping the window clear of such flies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Sire," replied Villequier; "but he is a wasp, not a fly. He has +antidotes for poison, and sureties against the knife. He has, besides, +more powerful friends, it seems, than any of us believed, or at least +more powerful means of gaining them. The Pope has been induced to set +him free of his vows. I find, too, that Epernon sent for him +immediately after that business of the attempt upon his life at +Augoulême, and they are now sworn friends and comrades, levying forces +together, holding counsel every other hour; and here is the former +Abbé now disporting himself as Seigneur de Boisguerin; and, just like +a butterfly that has cast its slough, he arrives in Blois last night +in gilded apparel, with a train of twenty horse behind him, and a +number of sumpter mules. I saw him in his gay attire near Augoulême, +and find that he aspires to the hand of the fair heiress himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is to be done, Villequier?" said the King smiling. "It seems +to me that all the world are seeking her. Suppose we send for an +auctioneer, and set her up <i>aux enchères</i>. But, to speak seriously, +what will you do with this cidevant Abbé?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have done with him something already," replied Villequier, "that +with all his art he could not prevent nor know. I found this young +Marquis of Montsoreau somewhat stubborn to counsel. He loved not the +plan of coming and lying concealed at Blois. Though he is politic and +artful at seasons himself, yet now he was all passion and fury. +Nothing would serve him but he must come to Blois in open day, with a +hundred lances at his back. He would fight his brother, it seemed, and +cut his throat. He would beard the Guise; and he would compel your +Majesty and me to fulfil our promise to the letter. That the girl had +escaped he attributed to my connivance; and, by Heavens! I almost +feared he would have laid violent hands upon me. In short, Sire, by a +little skilful teazing, I found that this same Abbé de Boisguerin, +whose credit I had once greatly shaken, had resumed the mastery, and +was urging on his former pupil to every sort of rash and violent act, +probably with the hope of getting him killed out of his way. I soothed +the good youth down, however, and told him I would give him proof of +his friend's regard. I hid him where he could hear all that passed, +and then entrapped the Abbé into talking of the paper that we had +signed for him. I told him that the person for whom your Majesty and I +destined this fair Helen, was the young Marquis of Montsoreau. I +reminded him that he had obtained that paper with an absolute and +direct view to that marriage; at least, that he had told me so; and I +asked him immediately to sign his consent to the alliance. Your +Majesty may imagine his answers; and the youth's rage was such that +most assuredly he would have broken in upon us, if I had not stationed +two men to stop him. However, he became afterwards as docile as a +lamb, was convinced, by what passed, that we had throughout been +dealing sincerely with him, and will be ready at the hour to-morrow. +When the good Abbé, perhaps, hears that the whole affair is concluded, +that Guise is gone, and your Majesty powerful, he may judge it more +wise to be silent and resigned. We can tempt him, first, with some +post; we can alarm him, if that will not do, with some peril; and +lastly, if we fail in both, then we must find some way of putting an +end to the matter altogether."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That will be easily done," replied the King, his mind reverting to +the Duke of Guise. "But come, Villequier, let us go and consult with +Laugnac. I told him, before you came, to seek for you and consult with +you. We must trust as few as possible in this business, and I must see +to the whole myself, for this is a step on which, if we but slip, we +fall to inevitable perdition."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">CHAP. XI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Was the Duke of Guise unconscious of the dangers that surrounded him? +Was he unaware that the power which he assumed, and the power which +the States also put upon him, could not but render him obnoxious in +the highest degree to the King, who, though weak and indolent, was +jealous of that authority which he failed himself to exercise for the +benefit of his people? Was the Duke ignorant that the Monarch was as +treacherous as feeble, was as remorseless as vicious? Was it unknown +to him, that to all the creatures who surrounded the King he was an +object of hatred and jealousy; and that there were ready hands and +base hearts enough to attempt any thing which the royal authority +might warrant?</p> + +<p class="normal">He was not so ignorant, or so unaware: he had been warned +sufficiently, days and weeks before; but even had that not been the +case, on that very night he received sufficient intimations of his +danger to put him on his guard.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had presided at the supper-table as Grand Master of the King's +household, and he had received his guests with easy courtesy. The meal +was over somewhat sooner than usual; and, the business of the State +being considerably slackened, in consequence of the approaching +festival of Christmas, he sat in his cabinet with Charles of +Montsoreau and Marie de Clairvaut only, enjoying an hour of +refreshment in calm and tranquil conversation upon subjects, which, +however agitating to them, was merely a matter of pleasant interest to +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau sat by his side making some notes of various +little things that the Duke told him, and Marie de Clairvaut was +seated on a stool at his feet, while he looked down upon her, from +time to time, with the sort of parental tenderness which he had +displayed towards her from her infancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">A pleasing sort of melancholy had come over him,--a sadness without +grief, and mingling even occasionally with gaiety. It was that sort of +present consciousness of the emptiness of all worldly things, which +every man at some moment feels, even the ambitious, the greedy, the +zealous, the passionate. Perhaps that which had brought such a mood +upon him, was the contrast of all the arrangements for his fair ward's +marriage and the deep and intense feelings which that event excited in +the bosom of herself and Charles of Montsoreau, with the eager and +fiery struggles in which he had been lately taking part, while engaged +in the dark fierce strife of ambition, or tossed in the turbid +whirlpool of political intrigue. And thus he sat, and thus he talked +with them of their future prospects and their coming happiness, +sometimes speaking seriously, nay gravely--sometimes jesting lightly, +and smiling when he had made Marie cast down her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he thus sat there was a tap at the door of his cabinet, and the +Duke knowing it to be the page, bade him enter; when the boy Ignati +appearing, informed him that the Count de Schomberg was without.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bid him come in," replied the Duke, keeping his seat, and making a +sign for his companions not to stir. "Welcome, Schomberg," he said; +"you see that I am plotting no treason here. What do you think of my +two children? Joinville will be jealous of my eldest son. But, jesting +apart, I think you know the Count de Logères. My niece, Marie, I know +you have had many a time upon your knee in her infancy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Schomberg bowed to each, but gravely; and replied to the Duke, who +held out his hand to him, "My dear Duke, I wish every body were as +well persuaded that you are plotting no treason as I am. But I come to +speak to your Highness upon a matter of business. I have a warning to +give you," he added in a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! speak it aloud; speak it aloud," replied the Duke. "If it +concerns myself, you may well speak it before these two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Schomberg, apparently hesitating, and running his eyes +over the tapestry, as if calculating how he had best proceed. "My good +Lord Duke," he said, at length, "I believe you know that there are few +who love you better than myself, though I neither am nor affect to be +a zealot, but rather what your people call one of the Politics."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know Schomberg, what you mean," said the Duke; "you are my friend, +but not my partisan. I can make the distinction, Schomberg, and love +the friend no less. What have you to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why this, my Lord," replied Schomberg. "Look up above the door +there, just before your eyes. Do you see how beautifully they have +carved in the black oak the figure of a porcupine, and how all the +sharp and prickly quills stick out, ready to wound the hand that +touches it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I see," replied the Duke. "But do you know the history of that +porcupine, Schomberg?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," answered the Count, "I know it well, my Lord of Guise. Both in +the stonework and the woodwork of this castle, there are many such. +They were placed there, I think, my Lord--am I not right?--by an old +monarch of France, as a sort of device, to signify that whoever grasps +royalty too rudely, will suffer injury in consequence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke smiled in the same placid mood as before, but replied, "In +the next chamber, Schomberg, which is my own bedchamber, you may see +the device of Francis the First too,--a salamander unhurt in the midst +of flames; which may be interpreted to mean, that strong courage is +never more at ease than in the midst of perils."</p> + +<p class="normal">A grave smile came over the face of Schomberg, to find the figures in +which he involved his warning so easily retorted by the Duke of Guise. +"I have heard of your Highness," he said, without noticing the Duke's +reply, "that not very many years ago you were known to swim against +the stream of the Loire armed at all points. You are a strong man, my +Lord Duke; but there are other streams you cannot swim against, depend +upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will try to go with the current, Schomberg," replied the Duke. +"As long as that is with me, it will bear me up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it may dash you against a rock, Duke," replied Schomberg; "and I +see one straight before you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke sternly and impressively, and Guise listened to him with more +attention. "Speak, Schomberg, he said; speak; you may speak clearly +before them. But sit, good friend; pray thee sit. Standing there +before me, with your sad aspect and warning voice, you look like a +spectre."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my Lord," said Schomberg, seating himself, "I have certain +information that there are evil designs against you, ripe, or almost +ripe, for execution. Your life is in danger. Guise; I tell you truly, +I tell you sincerely, and I beseech you to hear me. Your life is in +danger, and you have no time to lose if you would place it in safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, what would you have me to do, Schomberg?" said the Duke in a +tone not exactly indifferent, but still showing no great interest in +the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would have you mount your horse this night," replied Schomberg, "or +at day-break tomorrow. I would have you gather your train together, +take these two young people with you, and retiring to Paris, inform +the King that you had proof your life was not safe at Blois."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke of Guise meditated for a moment, and then replied, +"Schomberg, I cannot grasp this fear. Brought up to arms from my +youth, cradled in the tented field, with death surrounding me at every +hour of life, I cannot feel as other men might feel in moments of +peril to myself. Neither will I ever have it said of me, that I +willingly fled from my post under the apprehension of any personal +danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By our old friendship. Guise," replied Schomberg, "by our +companionship in the fields of other days, I beseech you to consider +and to judge wisely. Remember, if the vengeance of a monarch, or the +instigation of villanous courtiers, were to have success, and you were +to fall beneath the blow of an assassin, what would become of your +children, all yet in their youth? what would become of your relations +and your friends, placed, as you have placed them, on a high pinnacle, +to be aimed at by a crowd of idle minions with their bird-bolts? What +would become of your son?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Joinville must make his own fame," replied the Duke, "and guard his +own rights with his own sword. I was left earlier than he is without a +parent's care; with a host of enemies around me; with my father's +name, giving me a heritage of envy and hatred; and with no support but +my own sword. With that sword I have bowed those enemies to the dust, +and Joinville must show himself worthy to bear it too."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and meditated for a moment or two, and then added, "After +all, Schomberg, I do not see that there can be much danger. Here, in +the castle, I am as strong or stronger than the King. When I go forth, +I am so well accompanied, that it would be difficult to surprise me, +if they attacked me with numbers. A single assassin might dog my +steps, it is true; but I do not know that man upon the face of the +earth, who, hand to hand with me, would not have more than an equal +share of fear and danger. However, I will think of what you have said, +and will take good care to be more upon my guard than ever. At the +same time, Schomberg, I thank you most sincerely, and look upon your +regard as one of the best possessions that I have."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guise," said Schomberg, rising and approaching the door, "I have +failed with you. But I yield not my point yet. I will send those to +you who may have more influence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, Schomberg, stay!" cried the Duke; but his friend passed through +the door and would not return.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles of Montsoreau then raised his voice in the same cause as +Schomberg, and Marie de Clairvaut entreated anxiously that he would +yield to what had been proposed. But at them the Duke only laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, hush!" he said. "Logères, you do not know what you say. There, +kiss her and be gone. To-morrow she shall be yours, no more to part. +Say no more, silly girl; say no more. You, a child of a Guise, talk to +me of fear! Call thy maidens, get thee to thy bed, and rise to-morrow +with bright eyes and blooming cheeks. Fare thee well, sweet one. I +long to be quit of thy guardianship."</p> + +<p class="normal">Remonstrance was useless, and they parted; and the Duke of Guise +sitting down for a moment, gave himself up to thought. His eyes were +fixed upon the dark tapestry opposite, where was depicted a woody +scene, the particulars of which could not be well distinguished by the +dim light of the lamp.</p> + +<p class="normal">After he had gazed for a moment or two, however, his eyes assumed a +peculiar expression, a fixed, intense, and somewhat bewildered stare. +He passed his hand twice before them, as if he felt them dim or +dazzled; then clasped his hands together and gazed, still muttering to +himself, "Strange, very strange! It is there still!" And starting up +from the table, he seized the lamp, and advanced directly towards the +side of the room on which his eyes had been fixed, still gazing +stedfastly on the same spot. At length, as he approached close to the +wall, his features relaxed, and he said with a smile, "It is gone! +These delusions of the sight are wonderful!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not yet returned to his seat, when the door on his right hand +opened gently, and the form of a woman glided in. It was that of the +beautiful being with whom he had parted in some anger at the King's +ball, and she gazed at him, evidently surprised to see him standing +with the lamp in his hand close to the wall, on a side where there was +no exit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of Heaven, Guise! what is the matter?" she said. "I heard +you speaking as I came in. You are pale; your lip quivers!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is nothing; it is nothing," replied the Duke, putting down the +lamp, and taking her hand. "This is, indeed, dear and kind of you, +Charlotte. I trusted, I was sure, that your anger for a light offence +would not last long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would have lasted long, Guise," she said, "or at least its effects +would not have passed away, had it not been for the warning that I +have received concerning you. Guise, you would not have seen me +now--you would never have seen me in these rooms again----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay," interrupted the Duke, "traduce not so your own nature. Say +not that a few unthinking words would render her so harsh, who is so +gentle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were not unthinking words, Henry of Guise," replied the Lady. +"They were words of deep meaning, to be read and understood at once. +Think you that I could misunderstand them? Think you that I could not +read that Guise would not suffer the pure to dwell with the impure? +However," she added quickly, seeing that the Duke was going to +interrupt her, "let me speak of other things. I was about to say that +you would not have seen me this night, you would never have seen me in +these chambers again, had I not learned that your life was in danger; +and then my fears for you showed me that my love was unchanged, and I +came, at all risks, to warn you, and to beseech you to be gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay," replied the Duke. "How can I be gone when you are here, +Charlotte? And, besides, there is no real danger. It is Schomberg has +frightened you, I know. He came here with the same tale; but I showed +him there was no danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not from Schomberg!" said Madame de Noirmontier vehemently. "I +have never seen Schomberg since I have been here. It was from the +Queen; it was from Catherine herself that I heard it. She told me to +tell you; she told me to warn you. Her son, she said, had not divulged +to her his scheme; but from her knowledge of the man, and from the +words he used, she was certain that he would attempt your life within +three days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then his attempt will fail, dear Charlotte," said the Duke, holding +her hand tenderly in his. "Fear not for me; I am fully upon my guard; +and in this château, and this town, am stronger than the King +himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh Guise, Guise, you are deceiving yourself," she said, bursting into +tears. "Twice I have been at your door this night, but the page told +me there was some one with you; and now I have come determined not to +leave you, till I see you making preparations to depart. Let me +entreat you, let me beseech you," she continued, as Guise wiped away +her tears. "Nay, Guise, nay; in this I will take no refusal. If not +for your own sake, for my love you shall fly. You shall treat me ill, +as you did before, again and again. You shall make a servant of me--a +slave. You will not surely refuse me, when you see me kneeling at your +feet." And she sunk upon her knees before him, and clasped her fair +hands in entreaty. The Duke was raising her tenderly, when the page's +knock was heard at the door; and before he could well give the command +to enter, the boy was in the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lord," he said, "there is Monsieur Chapelle Marteau, and several +other gentlemen, desiring earnestly to speak with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame de Noirmontier looked wildly round the room, and seemed about +to pass through the door by which the page had entered. "Be not +alarmed," said the Duke, "you cannot pass there, Charlotte. These men +will not be with me above a few minutes. Pass into that room, and wait +till they are gone. I have a thousand things to say to you, and will +dismiss them soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a moment's hesitation she did as he directed, and turning to the +page, the Duke bade him admit the party who were waiting without. It +consisted of Chapelle Marteau, the President de Neuilli, a gentleman +of the name of Mandreville, the Duke's brother the Cardinal de Guise, +and the Archbishop of Lyons.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke received them with that winning grace for which he was +famous, and soon learned from them that their visit was owing to the +information received from the Count de Schomberg. Every one then +present, but the Archbishop of Lyons, urged him strongly to quit Blois +immediately. They had come in a body, they said, in hopes that their +remonstrances might have the greater effect. Each had heard in the +course of the evening those rumours which generally announce great +events; some had been told that the Duke was arrested; some that he +had been absolutely assassinated in the gardens of the château; and +some that the act was to be performed that night by a number of +soldiers, who had been privately introduced into the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Guise listened silently and with great attention, displaying in +demeanour every sort of deference and respect for the opinions of +those who showed such an interest in his fate. He replied, however, +that he trusted and hoped that both the rumours they had heard, and +the intelligence given by Schomberg, originated in nothing but +mistaken words, or in those idle and unfounded reports which always +multiply themselves in moments of great political agitation and +excitement. Besides this, he said, even if the King were disposed to +attempt his life, the execution of such an act would be very +difficult, if not impossible; and that, considering before all things +his duty to his country, the very fact of the King seeking such a +thing ought to be the strongest reason for his stay, inasmuch as the +Monarch's animosity could only be excited towards him out of enmity to +the Catholic Church, and a disposition to repress and tyrannise over +the States.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If such be his feelings," continued the Duke, "we must consider +ourselves as two armies in presence of each other, and the one that +retreats of course awards the victory to his adversary."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Archbishop of Lyons, perhaps, was the person who decided the fate +of the Duke of Guise; for had the party which came to him been +unanimous and urgent in their remonstrance, there is a probability +that he would have yielded; but the Archbishop seemed doubtful and +undecided. He said that he thought, indeed, it might be well the Duke +should go; at least for a time. But they had to consider, also, the +probabilities of the King making any attempt upon the Duke. Though +weak, timid, and indolent, Henry was shrewd and farseeing, he said. +The only result that could follow an attempt upon a person so beloved +by the whole nation, and especially by the States, as the Duke of +Guise, would be to arm the people of France in an instant against the +sovereign authority. This the King must well know, he continued; and +that consideration made him less eager upon the subject, though he +thought it might be as well that his Highness should retire for a +time.</p> + +<p class="normal">His speech more than counterbalanced the exhortations of all the rest; +and from that moment the resolution of the Duke became immovable. His +dauntless mind, which might have yielded had he stood absolutely alone +in opinion, came instantly to the conclusion, that if there were a +single individual who doubted whether he should fly or not, he himself +ought to decide upon remaining. He made no answer to the Archbishop's +speech, but suffered Mandreville to combat his arguments without +interruption. That gentleman replied that Henry, far from being the +person represented, though cunning, was any thing but prudent. Had +they ever seen, he demanded, the cunning of the King, even in the +least degree, restrain or control him? Had the self-evident risk of +his throne, of his life, and of the welfare of his people, ever made +him pause in the commission of one frantic, vicious, or criminal act? +He was no better, the deputy said, than a cunning madman, such as was +frequently seen, who, having determined upon any act, however absurd +or evil might be the consequences, even to the destruction of his own +self, would arrive at it by some means, and go directly to his +purpose, in despite of all obstacles. He contended that they had good +reason to know that the King devised evil against the Duke; and they +might depend upon it that no consideration of policy, right, or +religion, would prevent him from executing his purpose by some means.</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke truly, and with more thorough insight into the character of +the King than any one previously had done; but the resolution of the +Duke of Guise, as we have said before, was already taken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My good friends," he said in conclusion, "I thank you most sincerely, +and I shall ever feel grateful for the interest that you have taken in +me, and for your anxiety regarding me on the present occasion. But my +resolution is taken, and must be unalterable. I cannot but acknowledge +that the view of Monsieur de Mandreville may have much truth in it; +but, nevertheless, matters are now at such a point, that if I were to +see death coming in at that window, I would not seek the door."</p> + +<p class="normal">Against a determination so forcibly expressed, there was, of course, +no possibility of holding further argument; and after a word or two +more on different subjects of less interest--the Duke of Guise +replying as briefly as possible to every thing that was said--the +party took their leave and retired.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">CHAP. XII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There was at that time a large open space round the church of St. +Sauveur, in Blois, where the people from the country used occasionally +to exhibit their fruits and flowers for sale; and exactly opposite the +great door of the church stood a large and splendid mansion, with an +internal court-yard, part of which had been let to some of the +deputies for the States-General. The principal floor, however, +consisting of sixteen rooms, and several large passages and corridors, +had been left untenanted, in consequence of the proprietor asking an +exorbitant rent, till two or three days before the period of which we +speak. Then, however, the apartment was taken suddenly, a number of +attendants in new and splendid dresses appeared therein; and, as we +have seen from the account of Villequier to the King, the Abbé de +Boisguerin arrived in Blois, with a splendid train of attendants, and +took up his abode as the master of that dwelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">About the same time that the conversations which we have detailed in +the last chapter were going on in the cabinet of the Duke of Guise, +the Abbé was seated in one of the rooms, which he had fixed upon for +his own peculiar saloon. It was very customary in those days, and in +France, for every chamber, except a great hall of reception, to be +used also as a bed-room. But that was not the case in this instance; +for the chamber, which was small, though very lofty, had been used by +the former occupants as a cabinet, and had been chosen by the Abbé +probably on account of its being so completely detached from every +other chamber, that no sound of what was done or said therein could be +overheard by any one.</p> + +<p class="normal">He sat in a large arm-chair, with his feet towards the fire, and with +his right elbow resting on a table covered with various sorts of +delicacies. Those delicacies, however, were not the productions of the +land in which he then lived, but rather such as he had been accustomed +to in other days, and which recalled former habits of life. There were +fine dried fruits from the Levant, tunny and other fish from the +Mediterranean; and the wines, though inferior to those of France, were +from foreign vineyards.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before him was standing a man whom we have had occasion to mention +more than once--that Italian vagabond named Orbi, from whom, it may be +remembered, Charles of Montsoreau delivered the boy Ignati. He was now +dressed in a very different guise, however, from that which he had +borne while wandering as a mere stroller from house to house. His +shaggy black hair was trimmed and smooth; his beard was partially +shaved and reduced to fair proportions, with a sleek mustachio, well +turned and oiled, gracing his upper lip; his face, too, was clean; and +a suit somewhat sombre in colour, but of good materials, displaying in +the ruff and at the sleeves a great quantity of fine white linen and +rich lace, left scarcely a vestige of the fierce Italian vagabond, +half bravo, half minstrel, which he had appeared not a year before.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation which was going on between him and the master he now +served, was evidently one of great interest. The Abbé's wine remained +half finished in the glass; the preserved fruits upon his plate were +scarcely tasted; and he exclaimed, "So, so! Villequier sends me no +answer to my letter! A bare message, by word of mouth, that the Duke +of Guise wills it to be so; and that the Duke's will is all powerful +at the Court of France! The King sets at nought his own royal word, +does he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said something, sir," said the Italian, "about his knowing, and +the King also, that they must pay a penalty; but that no sum was to be +grudged, rather than offend the Duke at this time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sum!" cried the Abbé de Boisguerin, starting up and pushing the chair +vehemently from him. "What is any sum to me?" And with flashing eyes, +and a countenance all inflamed, he strode up and down the chamber for +a moment or two, with his heart swelling with bitterness and +disappointed passion. "A curse upon this bungling hand," he cried, +striking it upon the table, "that it should fail me at such a moment +as that! I thought the young viper had been swept from my way for +ever!--My aim was steady and true, too! His heart must be in some +other place than other men's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! my Lord," joined in the Italian in the tone of a connoisseur, +"the arquebus is a pretty weapon, I dare say, in a general battle, but +it is desperate uncertain in private affairs like that. You can never +tell, to an inch or two, where the ball will hit. But, with a dagger, +you can make sure to a button-hole; and even if there should be a +struggle, it is always quite easy so to salve the point of your blade, +that you make sure of your friend, even if you give him but a scratch. +Now the attempt to poison a ball is all nonsense, for the fire +destroys the venom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At what hour said you, Orbi?" demanded the Abbé, without attending to +his dissertation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Half an hour before high mass," replied the man, "the marriage is to +take place."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the Abbé de Boisguerin burst into a vehement fit of passion, and +strode up and down the room cursing and blaspheming, till accidentally +his eyes fell upon a small Venetian mirror, and the aspect of his own +countenance, ordinarily so calm and unmoved, now distorted by rage and +disappointment, made him start. A smile of scorn, even at himself, +curled his lip; and calming his countenance by a great effort, he +again seated himself, and mused for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This must not, and shall not be," he said at length. "Orbi, you are +an experienced hand, and doubtless dexterous. Will you stop this going +forward?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man smiled, stroked back his mustachios, and replied, "I thought +you would be obliged to take my way at last. Well, Monseigneur, I have +no objection; but the time is short. I told you what I expected for +such an affair when I offered to do it in Paris."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have it! you shall have it!" replied the Abbé. "But if you +do it, so that no suspicion ever falls on me, you shall have as much +again this day two years; for nothing but the lives of these two young +men stands between me and immense wealth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The worst of it all is," said the Italian, "that there is so short a +time. It is to take place in the castle chapel; so there will be no +going through the streets. To find him alone will be a matter of +difficulty; and though I went over the passages, thinking it might +come to this, yet I saw no one place, but at the door of the room +called the revestry, where one could strike easily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have seen the place," said the Abbé, "long ago; but I do not +remember it so perfectly as to give you any aid. I know that the +window of the room you mention looks into the court and gardens, and +under the garden wall shall be a swift horse to bear you away. That is +all I can do for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must do the rest for myself," replied the man, "and will find some +means, depend upon it. Perhaps he may not wait for the other if he be +eager, but may come first by himself, and then it will be easily done. +However, I will now go and get the dagger ready, and I can undertake +that the least scratch shall not leave an hour's life in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé de Boisguerin nodded his head and smiled as the other +departed. "They know not," he said to himself, "they know not the man +they have to deal with. These mighty men, these haughty Guises, may +find that every man of strong determination and unflinching courage +may thwart, if he cannot master, them; may destroy their plans, if he +cannot accomplish his own. But there is another still to be dealt +with. There is this proud, unfeeling, contemptuous girl; she who +has been rejoicing in the reappearance of this crafty fair-faced +boy.--There is now no going back; and why should I not risk life to +win her too, and gratify both my love and my revenge?--Yet that seems +scarcely possible," he continued. "Closely watched within the castle, +never going out but strongly accompanied, she is put, it would seem, +entirely out of my power, now that Villequier has fallen off from +me.--And yet," he continued meditating, "and yet, there is nothing +impossible to the dauntless and the daring.--Could I not bring her to +the postern gate of the garden an hour before this marriage is to take +place, and then, with swift horses and a carriage ready, convey her +once more far away?--We have done as bold and difficult a feat before; +and methinks, if I could tell her that I have news to give her +concerning her uncle's safety--for rumours of his danger must have +reached her ears--she will not fail to come, and come alone.--Oh! if I +once more get her in my power, she shall find no means to fly again, +till, on the contrary, she shall be more inclined to kneel at my feet, +and beseech that I would wed her.--So it shall be! I will write to her +that, if at ten o'clock she will be alone at the postern gate of the +castle, she will hear news that may save her uncle's life. Then, with +the swiftest horses we can find, a few hours will take us far from +pursuit!--I will carry her into Spain! Epernon is with me and the +way open!--It shall be done!" he said aloud; "it shall be done! But, +then, this boy's death is scarcely needful! Why should I mind his +living?--It will be but the greater torture to him to know that she is +mine!--And yet, it were better he should die. All the tidings, and the +rumours, and the bustle of his violent death in the castle will too +much occupy the minds of men to let them notice our flight; so that we +shall gain an hour or two. There is an eager and a daring spirit, +also, within him--a keen and active mind--which might frustrate me +once more in the very moment of hope. He must die! I have set my own +life upon the chance; and what matters it whether one or two others +are swept away before me? He must die! and then, without protection, +she is mine. Once into Tourraine, and I am safe!--Ha! you are back +again quickly, my good friend Orbi. Is all ready?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything, sir," replied the man; "and if I could but get into the +château, and stumble upon the youth alone, I might be able to +accomplish the matter to-night. Could you not furnish me with a billet +to this Villequier, or some one? It matters not what; any empty words, +just to make them admit me at the gates."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not to Villequier," said the Abbé; "not to Villequier. But I will +write a few words to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut herself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That will do well! that will do well!" replied the man. "I am more +likely to find him hanging about her apartments than any where else; +and then one slight blow does the deed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bring me paper and pens from the next room," cried the Abbé. "It +shall be done this moment." And as soon as implements for writing were +procured, he wrote a subtle epistle to Marie de Clairvaut, beseeching +her to speak for a moment, at the postern gate of the château gardens +early on the following day, to a person who would communicate +something to her, which might save the life of her guardian the Duke +of Guise. It was written in a feigned hand, and under the character of +an utter stranger to her. Some mistakes too were made in the +orthography of her name, and in regard to other circumstances, for the +purpose of rendering the deception complete. When this was concluded +and sealed, he placed it in the hands of Orbi, and after a few more +words they parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">While the Abbé busied himself in causing a carriage to be bought for +the proposed enterprise of the following day, and in ordering the +swiftest horses that could be found, to be obtained--not from the +royal post, by which his course might have been tracked, but from one +of the keepers of <i>relais</i>, as the irregular posting houses were +called, which were then tolerated in France; the Italian proceeded on +his task, with feelings in his heart which might well have been +received as a reason for abating the price of the deed he was about to +perform.</p> + +<p class="normal">To tell the truth it might be considered fully as much his own act as +that of the Abbé, for the same malevolent feelings were in the hearts +of each; and he went not there merely as the common hired assassin, to +do the work of his trade, as a matter of course; but he went also to +avenge a long remembered blow, which still rankled in his heart, with +the same bitterness that he had felt at the moment that it was +received.</p> + +<p class="normal">He met with some difficulty in obtaining entrance to the château at so +late an hour of the night; but the letter addressed to Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut enabled him to effect that object at length, and he was +directed towards the suite of apartments assigned to the Duke of Guise +and his family. When he had once passed the two first gates, he met +with no obstruction, but wandered through the long dimly lighted +corridors, scarcely encountering a waking being on his way, and +certainly none who seemed inclined to speak to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had reached that part of the building to which he had been +directed, he looked round for some one to give him farther +information, not absolutely intending to seek the apartments of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and deliver the note, but merely to obtain +a general knowledge of how the different chambers were allotted. After +passing on some way, without meeting any one or hearing a sound, he +saw a door half open, with the light streaming out, and quietly +approaching he looked in.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a boy in the dress of a page, sitting before a large +Christmas fire reading a book; but though he walked stealthily, the +first step which the Italian took in the room caught the youth's quick +ear, and starting up he showed the Italian the face of his former +bondman, Ignatius Marone. The man started when he saw him; but +recovering himself instantly, he went up and endeavoured to soothe the +boy with fair and flattering words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, my little Ignati," he said, "here thou art then, and doubtless +well off with this young Lord of thine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I <i>am</i> well off, Signor Orbi," was the boy's brief reply; and seeing +that the man paused and kept gazing round him, the boy added, "But +what is your business here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am only looking about me," replied the man in somewhat of a +contemptuous tone, which he could not smother, although it was his +full intention to cajole the boy into giving him all the information +he wanted, and perhaps even to induce him unconsciously to aid his +purpose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come, Signor Orbi," replied the boy, "I know you well, +remember; and I know, that though you may have changed your doublet, +you cannot have changed what is within it. If you do not say +immediately what you want, I will call those who will make you." And +he approached one of the other doors which the room displayed, and +raised his hand towards the latch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hist, hist, Ignati!" cried the Italian. "By Heavens! if you do, you +shall never hear what I have got to tell you,--something that would +make your heart beat with joy if you knew it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is that?" said the boy, still standing near the door, and +looking at his fellow-countryman with a face of scorn and doubt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come hither, and I will tell you," said the Italian; but the boy +shook his head, and Orbi added in a low tone, "You know who your +mother was, Ignati; but do you know your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy gazed at him bitterly and in silence, without making any +further answer; and the man added, "He is now in Blois."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ignati instantly sprang forward towards him, exclaiming, "Where? +Where? Where can I find him? I have still the letter from my dead +mother. I have still all the proofs given me by the Marone. Where is +he? where is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, let us sit down by the fire," said the man, "and I will tell +thee more;" and finding the boy now quite willing to do what he +wished, the man sat down by the fire with him, calculating the various +results of particular lines of conduct open before him, but without +suffering any one good principle or feeling to mingle at all with his +considerations.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had spoken the words which had called Ignati to him simply as a +matter of impulse, and the first question he asked himself was, +whether he should tell the boy more of the truth or not. Various +considerations, however, induced him to go on, for he had a little +scheme in his head which rendered it expedient for him to embarrass +the proceedings of the Abbé de Boisguerin, on the following morning +after the deed proposed was done, as much as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, Ignati," he said, "that I always loved you, my good youth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You gave me bitter proofs of it," replied Ignati.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay; it was my way," replied the Italian. "If you had been my +own son, it would have been the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say," replied Ignati, "you would have murdered your own son +almost as readily as you tried to murder me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, boy, I tried not to murder thee," rejoined the man. "I was not +such a fool; that would never have answered my purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did it by halves," said the boy. "But come, Master Orbi, tell me +more about this matter you spoke of; and tell me too what brings you +here? Where is my father to be found, if, as you say, he is here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is to be found," said Orbi, "in the great house by the church of +St. Sauveur. I remember him well, for when your mother fled out of +Rome before you were born, and was glad to get what assistance she +could, she sent me three times back into the city to speak with the +Abbé of Laurans, as he was then called."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is he called now?" exclaimed Ignati eagerly. "What is he +called now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is called the Abbé de Boisguerin," replied the man, "or the +Seigneur de Boisguerin, as it now is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I have seen him," cried Ignati. "Then I have seen him; and he +called her----" But the boy suddenly checked himself, "And now, what +is it you want here?" he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No harm, Master Ignati," replied the man, with a look half sneering, +half dogged. "You seem as grateful as any one else, and as soon as you +get all you want, you turn upon one. I suppose you are waiting for +your young master coming back from some gay revel, for the whole place +seems as silent as if every body were gone to bed but you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no," answered Ignati. "There are six of the Duke's men sitting up +in the next room; and all I fear is, that the gentlemen who are with +the Duke himself should come out and find you here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, I suppose, your master is with them," said the Italian.</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy smiled. "My master is with them," he said, "for my master is +the Duke of Guise; but if you mean the young Count who took me from +you, he has been gone to bed an hour ago. Ay, Master Orbi, and has two +stout men sleeping across his door. I hav'n't forgot that he struck +you a blow one day; nor you either, it seems."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are out there, Sharp-wits," said the Italian. "I bear the boy no +grudge. I got his money, if he gave me a blow into the bargain; so we +are quits."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt you," muttered Ignati to himself; but the man went on without +attending to him, saying, "No, no; what I came for really, if you want +to know, was to give a letter to a young lady here, from an old +gentleman at the other side of the castle. Here it is! Ma'mselle de +Clairvaut is the name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, she is gone to bed long ago too," replied the page. "Let me look +at the letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is of no great consequence, I believe," replied the Italian, who +fancied the letter a mere pretext. "It is of no great consequence; all +about a Persian cat, I believe. So you may take it and give it her +to-morrow, if she is gone to bed now. There it is. But how is it you +are not with the young Count now? The Duke of Guise!--Page to the Duke +of Guise! Why, that is a step, indeed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" cried Ignati, hearing the door of the Duke's cabinet open +behind the arras. "Hush! get you gone with all speed! They are coming +out; and if they find you here, I would not answer for your ears, or +my own either."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man started up, and ran out of the door by which he had entered, +as fast as possible. But he had scarcely made his escape, when the +tapestry which covered the doorway into the Duke's cabinet was drawn +aside, and the Cardinal de Guise, with the Archbishop of Lyons, and +the rest of Leaguers, came forth from their conference with the Duke.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">CHAP. XIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It is now necessary to turn to other apartments in the château +of Blois: namely, a suite inhabited by the King himself. It +comprised--besides several others both above and below--the King's +bed-room, into which opened four doors--one communicating with the +Monarch's private staircase, which we have already spoken of--one to +the right entering into a small dressing-room--one to the left, which +gave admittance to a chamber called the old cabinet--and one +communicating by a short and narrow passage with the large chamber, +which, during the residence of the King at Blois, was employed as a +council-room. The walls of the council-room were bare; but those of +the King's chamber and the two cabinets were lined throughout with +rich old tapestry.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before five o'clock on the morning of the 23d of December, Henry had +risen from his bed and dressed himself in haste, and as soon as his +toilet was completed, one of his valets was dispatched with all speed +to bear a message, which had already been entrusted to him. The King +then passed out of his dressing-room into his bed-chamber, holding a +light in his hand, and approached the door which led to the private +staircase. There was eagerness and much anxiety in his countenance, +and his eyes were fixed upon the top of the stairs with an intense +gaze, which seemed to strain them from their orbits.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length a heavy foot was heard ascending, and then several more, and +in a moment after the head and shoulders of an armed man, carrying a +light, appeared at the mouth of the staircase.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Laugnac, this is well!" cried the King, as soon as he saw him. +"You are punctual and prepared, I see. Whom have you with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nine of my most determined fellows, Sire," replied Laugnac. "There is +not one, indeed, of the Forty-five that would not shed his life's +blood for your Majesty. But these gentlemen I know well for men who +would kill the devil himself, I believe, if you were to bid them."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, half a dozen steps behind him appeared, man after man, +nine of the Gascon band, called the "Quarante-cinq," in whose +countenances might be read that sort of remorseless determination, +which was suited to the moment and the deed, and whose frames +displayed the strength requisite to execute whatever violent act was +entrusted to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is well; this is well," said the King, as they entered. "But +where is Larchant, Laugnac?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He remained behind, Sire," replied the other, "as it will be +necessary to secure the doors of the council-chamber. Whenever the +enemy has entered, he will come round and join your Majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should like to have some one with me in the cabinet," said the +King. "Run and tell Ornano, Bonnivet, and la Grange, to come to me," +he continued, speaking to a valet. "Bring them by the back staircase."</p> + +<p class="normal">The valet went away with a pale countenance, feeling all the agitation +which such events might well produce; and while he was gone, the King, +after asking Laugnac if he had explained to his companions what was +the task in which they were about to be employed, addressed them all +in a short speech, not without eloquence and fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had concluded, he made Laugnac open one of the large chests +which formed the window-seats of his bed-room, and taking thence a +number of long, sharp, and well-pointed knives, he gave them with his +own hands to the assassins, saying, "Here, gentlemen, are the avengers +of your liberty and mine! and I command and authorise you to use them +for the punishment of the greatest criminal in my kingdom. Every law, +divine and human, requires his death; and where power prevents the +ordinary course of justice from taking place, it is a right and a +privilege of the sovereign to execute judgment by any means that +present themselves! Now, follow me, gentlemen!" And leading them on to +the other side of the chamber, he posted them himself,--the principal +part of them in the old cabinet, and the rest behind the arras round +the door of the bed-room itself. Most of those even who were in the +cabinet were concealed also behind the arras near the entrance, and +the door was left open.</p> + +<p class="normal">By the time this had been arranged a page had entered the King's +bed-room, and now informed him that the gentlemen he had sent for had +arrived, adding, "Monsieur de Nambu is there also, Sire, saying you +told him last night to come at this hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did, I did," said the King. "Bid them all come up;" and greeting +the others briefly, he took Nambu by the arm and led him into the +passage which conducted to the council-chamber. Through the door which +led thither voices were heard speaking beyond.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay there, Nambu," he said in a whisper, "and let no one pass +without my especial order. The council cannot have begun its sitting +yet, for it is still dark, I see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I passed by I saw into the room," said Nambu, "and there were none +but ushers and such people: but I heard that the Duke had been sent +for according to the commands your Majesty gave last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King then left him, and returned into his room, where he found +Laugnac and the rest of the gentlemen, whom he led towards the door of +his dressing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have taken off my head-piece and cuirass, Sire," said Laugnac, "as +I intend to remain here at the door of your Majesty's dressing-room +till the matter is settled, and the sight of arms might scare the +prey."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Right, right, Laugnac!" replied the King. "Bid the page send for +Revol by the back staircase. We shall want him to fetch the Duke." +And, this said, he retired into his cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The page ran round at once to the door of the council-chamber, where +he found Revol just about to enter; and whispering a word to him, the +Secretary of State gave the bag of papers which he had in his hand to +one of the ushers, bidding him hold it till he returned, and followed +the King's domestic, forbidding the servants, who had accompanied him +thither, to go any farther. The spot where they remained was the large +open space at the top of the great staircase, and a number of other +persons were there collected, while the company of the King's guard +might be seen at the foot of the staircase, not, indeed, under arms, +or drawn up in regular order, but waiting apparently for the arrival +of some one to give them directions.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the departure of Revol, the statesmen who had been summoned to +the council arrived rapidly one after the other. The Cardinal of +Vendôme was amongst the first, and then followed the Marshals de Retz +and d'Aumont. Some other members of the council came next, and then +the Archbishop of Lyons. But still neither the Cardinal de Guise nor +the Duke had made their appearance. Time was now wearing on, and +occasionally a page, or valet-de-chambre, known to belong to the King, +was seen to come and speak with some of the people at the top of the +staircase, and then return suddenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">While this was going on, a boy, bearing the habiliments of a page of +the Duke of Guise, passed along at the foot of the staircase; and, +seeing a number of archers of the guard collected there, he ran +lightly up the steps and mingled with the various persons collected. +He passed rapidly along from one to another, as if he was looking for +some person, spoke to two or three of those whose faces he knew, and +then hurrying away down the stairs, passed with a step of light to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise. He found that Prince just quitting +his cabinet and entering the antechamber. A number of gentlemen and +officers followed him, but the boy advanced straight towards him with +a degree of familiarity, neither insolent nor ungraceful, and kissing +his hand said, with his slight Italian accent, "May so humble a being +as I am detain your Highness for one moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, Ignati? Speak!" said the Duke of Guise, "I am already +late for the council, my good boy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Highness promised to grant me any favour I asked," replied the +boy, "and as the greatest at this moment, I ask to speak with your +Highness alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" said the Duke somewhat impatiently; "what is it?" And he +drew him a little on one side, motioning the rest to remain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lord," said Ignati, "there is danger going forward, I am sure. +All the archers of the guard are at the foot of the staircase; +there are many strange faces, not usually seen at the door of the +council-chamber. Twice I saw a servant of the King's come and speak to +Henville, and hearing you had not arrived, go round again, as if by +the back staircase, to the King's apartments. I am sure, sir, there is +something wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke smiled, but it was somewhat thoughtfully. "Thank you, my good +boy," he said. "I know rumours often precede the act; but I cannot +pause to consider such things now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, sir, think!" the boy ventured to exclaim; "think how the welfare +of the State and the welfare of a thousand individuals depend entirely +upon your safety. What would become of me? What would become of the +young Count and his bride, if----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, well bethought," replied the Duke. "Bring me here paper and the +ink-horn;" and when the boy brought them, Guise bent down over a large +coffer that stood near, and wrote a few lines.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take that to the Count," he said, as soon as he had finished writing. +"Quick, Ignati: but, after all, these warnings are but nonsense. There +is nobody in France dares do it. Look, I have delayed too long. Here +comes a messenger from the King."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I find your Highness coming," said the usher, approaching the +Duke, "it is needless, perhaps, to deliver the King's message: but I +was directed to say to your Highness that the council waited, and that +His Majesty was extremely anxious that the business of the day should +go on, as he wished to proceed to Clery in time for dinner. If your +Highness were not well, he said, perhaps you would not object to the +council being held without you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see!" said the Duke in a low voice, turning towards Ignati with a +smile, "you see!" And following the usher, he walked on upon his way +towards the council-chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the bottom of the staircase he found Larchant and the whole body of +archers of the guard, who now pressed round him somewhat closely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, Larchant? what is it, my good friend?" said the Duke. +"Your presence here is unusual, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are here, your Highness," replied Larchant, "to solicit in a body +your mediation with the King. You promised me yesterday, my Lord, that +you would present our petition to his Majesty, and advocate our cause +in the council. These poor fellows have not received any pay for +months; I might almost say years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did advocate your cause, yesterday," said the Duke, "and his +Majesty graciously sent an order upon the treasurer by one of the +ushers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the treasurer ungraciously told us, sir, that there was not a +sous in his coffers," replied Larchant; and the Duke taking the paper +out of his hand, began to mount the stairs, saying, "I will see to it, +Larchant; I will see to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Larchant and the archers followed him up the steps, still pressing +close upon him; and he heard a low deep voice say from the midst of +them, "Look to yourself, my Lord Duke, there are bad men abroad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke passed on, however, without notice and entered the hall of +the council, the ushers drawing back with low bows as he appeared, and +throwing open the doors for him to go in. The moment after those fatal +doors had closed behind him, the archers drew up across them at the +head of the stairs. Larchant hurried away towards the chamber of the +King, and Villequier, passing rapidly by, said in a low voice to one +of the attendants, "Go down to Monsieur de Crillon, at the Corps de +Garde; tell him to shut and guard the gates, as the Duke has gone in."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though he spoke low, he seemed little to heed who listened to the +words; and they were heard by the boy Ignati, who, with the painful +conviction that some great evil was about to befall the Duke, had +followed him step by step to the council-chamber. The boy put his hand +to his brow with a look of painful anxiety, and darted away once more +towards the apartments of the Duke of Guise. The first person he met +with there was Pericard, the Duke's secretary; and grasping his arm, +he exclaimed, "They will murder him! they will murder him! They are +closing the gates of the castle and guarding them!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pericard rushed to one of the windows that looked out into the court. +"Too true, indeed!" he exclaimed. "Too true, indeed! It may be yet +time to save him though. Run quick, Ignati, and get one of the +Duke's handkerchiefs while I write." And with a rapid hand he wrote +down,--"My Lord, your death is resolved. They are barring and guarding +the gates. I beseech you come out from the hall of the council to your +own apartments. We can make them good against all the world, till the +town rises to protect you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before he had done, the boy was back again with the handkerchief; and +enveloping the note therein, Pericard gave it to him, exclaiming, +"Fly, fly with that to the door of the council-chamber, Ignati. The +ushers will let you in, surely, to give it to the Duke, if you say +that he has forgotten his handkerchief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have let me in before," said Ignati; "but I doubt it now. I will +try and make my way at all events."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he flew to the top of the staircase, and, as if a matter of +course, pushed up towards the door, endeavouring to force his way +through the archers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stand back, saucy spright," cried one of the men; "you cannot pass +here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I must pass," cried the boy, turning upon him with a fierce air +of authority. "I am the Duke of Guise's page, and bring him his +handkerchief, which he forgot. Make way, saucy archer, or I will teach +you to whom you speak."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen to the insolence of these Guisards," said the man. "But their +day is over. Stand back, fool, or I'll knock you down with my +partisan."</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy laid his hand upon his dagger, still striving to push forward; +and the man, without further words, struck him a blow over the head +with the staff of his halbert, which laid him prostrate upon the +ground. For a moment he seemed stunned, but then, starting up, he +turned away, and went down the stairs, bursting into tears ere he +reached the bottom, not with the pain of the blow he had received, but +with the bitter conviction that the last effort had failed, and the +fate of Guise was sealed.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the Duke of Guise entered the council-room, carrying +in his hand the petition of the guards. Every one rose at his +approach; and as the greater part of those present were personally +friendly towards him, he went round and spoke to them with his usual +grace and suavity, and then laying the petition on the table, +approached the fire, saying, "It is awfully cold this morning! Has not +his Majesty yet appeared?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet," replied the Cardinal de Guise, "though we expected him +before, for he sent down to hasten our coming. But what is the matter +with your Highness? there is blood trickling over your mustachio."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The cold has made my nose bleed twice this morning," replied the +Duke, and putting his hand in his pocket he said, "My people have been +negligent; they have forgotten to give me a handkerchief. St Prix," he +continued, turning his head to one of the King's valets-de-chambre, +who stood on the inside of the door communicating with the King's +apartments. "I wish you would send to my rooms for a handkerchief. You +will find some of my people at the door."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are plenty, my Lord, belonging to the King," replied St. Prix, +"in this little cabinet:" and crossing the hall of the council, he +took one out and gave it to the Duke, who thanked him graciously, and +still sitting by the fire fell into a deep fit of thought. Suddenly, +however, he turned pale; his eyes assumed the same expression as they +had done the night before, when he had fancied he saw a figure in the +room with him, and taking a small silver bonbonnière from his pocket, +he opened it, as if seeking for something that it usually contained, +saying at the same time, "I feel very faint!--My people have neglected +every thing," he added, "this morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">Several members of the council gathered round him, and St. Prix, the +valet, brought him from the cabinet where the handkerchief had been +found, some of the dried plums of Brignolles, which were then held as +a restorative. The Duke took one of them and ate it, and placed the +others in the bonbonnière. After a little, his colour returned, and he +said, "I am better now. How strange these attacks are, and how +fortunate that one never feels them on occasions of battle or danger!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment or two after, he took a turn or two up and down the room, and +seemed perfectly recovered; and as he was about to resume his seat, +the door of the passage leading to the King's chamber was opened, and +the Secretary of State, Revol, entered, saying, "Monseigneur, his +Majesty wishes to speak a word with your Highness before the business +of the council commences. You will find him in the old cabinet to the +left."</p> + +<p class="normal">Revol was as pale as death. But the Duke of Guise took not the +slightest notice; and, passing through the door, which St. Prix held +open for him and closed after him, he advanced towards the chamber of +the King.</p> + +<p class="normal">On entering it he saw Laugnac seated upon the coffer at the farther +end of the room; and he remarked, with an angry frown, that the King's +attendant did not rise when he entered. He said nothing, however, but +turned towards the door of the old cabinet, which was too low to +suffer him to pass without bowing his head. He accordingly stooped for +the purpose; and, raising the tapestry with his left hand, while he +held his hat in the right, he passed on.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had scarcely taken a step into the cabinet, however, when he at +once saw several men in arms standing round. At the same moment there +was a sound close to him; and, springing from behind the arras, a +fierce and powerful man, named St. Malines, rushed upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Duke dropped his hat, and moved his hand towards his sword; but at +the same moment some one seized the hilt with both hands, and St. +Malines struck him a blow with a knife over the left shoulder, burying +the weapon in his bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another and another blow succeeded from the hands of those around him: +the blood rushed up into his mouth and throat; but still, with +prodigious power, he seized two of those who were assailing him, and +dashed them headlong to the ground, exclaiming at the same time, "Ah, +traitors!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Rushing towards the door, he dragged another along with him into the +chamber of the King; and seeing Laugnac still there, and marking him +as the instigator of his murder, with a brow awful in the struggle of +the strong spirit against the power of death, with hands clenched, and +teeth set, he darted towards him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ere he had taken two steps, however, his brain reeled, his eyes lost +their sight, and Laugnac starting up saw, by the fearful swimming of +those visionless orbs, that the terrible deed was fully accomplished, +that the life of Guise was at an end; and though the Duke still rushed +forward upon him with the convulsive impulse of his last sensation, +the Captain of the Quarante-cinq did not even unsheath his sword, but +merely struck him a light blow with the weapon in the scabbard, and +Guise fell headlong on the carpet by the King's bedside.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sound of that deep heavy fall was enough, and Henry, coming forth +from his cabinet, gazed for several minutes earnestly upon the dead +man, while the dark blood rushed forth, and formed a pool round the +Monarch's feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The countenance of every one there present, lips and cheek alike, were +as white as parchment; and for two or three minutes not a word was +spoken, till at length the King exclaimed, "What a height he was! He +seems to me taller even dead than living!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then setting his foot upon the dead man's neck, he cruelly repeated +the cruel words which Guise himself had used at the death of Coligny, +"Venomous beast, thou shalt spit forth no more poison!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">CHAP. XIV.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">From the door of the council-chamber the boy Ignati flew back to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise, and the tidings which he brought +spread confusion and terror through the whole of the Duke's domestics: +but Ignati was of a clinging and affectionate disposition, and after +the Duke, his master, his next thoughts turned to Charles of +Montsoreau. To his apartments then the boy proceeded with all possible +speed, having in his hand the note from the Duke of Guise, which he +had almost forgotten in the agitation of the late events. He found the +young nobleman already dressed, and concluding with his attendants +various arrangements for his approaching union with her he loved--an +union, indeed, entirely dependent upon the life of him who was at that +very moment falling under the blows of assassins.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the natural hopefulness of youth and of high courage, Charles of +Montsoreau, though still somewhat anxious, had nearly forgotten the +apprehensions of the night before. But the terrified countenance of +Ignati, and the cut upon the boy's brow from the blow he had received, +showed the young Count at once that something had gone wrong; and +demanding what was the matter, but without waiting for an answer, he +opened the billet of the Duke of Guise, and read.</p> + +<p class="normal">The words which he found there written were as follows:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have had many warnings, Logères, which personally, it does not +become me to attend to. However, should these warnings prove to have +been justly given, and you see Henry of Guise no more, take your fair +bride with you at once; fly to my brother of Mayenne; be united as +soon as possible, without waiting for any ceremony but the blessing of +the priest; and, to the best of your power, avenge the death of him +who was your friend to the last."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the Duke, Ignati?" demanded the young Count, eagerly. "Has +he yet gone to the council?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is gone! he is gone!" replied the boy; "and he will never return!" +And in a rapid manner he told him all that had taken place, as far as +he himself yet knew it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fly to the apartments of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut instantly," said +the Count. "Ask if I can speak with her, and give her that note. If +she is not in her own apartment, she is in that of the Duchess of +Nemours, which is by the side of it. Quick, Ignati; tell her there is +not a moment to be lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy sped away. The Count then gave a few rapid orders to Gondrin, +bidding him discover if there was any means of issuing forth from the +castle; and then turned his steps, as speedily as possible, towards +the chamber of Marie de Clairvaut.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the narrow passage, however, which led towards the apartments of +the Duchess of Nemours, he was passed by Pericard, the Duke's +secretary, who slackened not his pace for an instant, but said, "Fly, +sir! Fly! The Duke is dead!" and rushed on. The next moment, Charles +met the fair girl herself, coming towards him with as swift a pace as +his own, and followed by the boy Ignati, who from time to time turned +back his head, as if to see that they were not pursued. Marie was as +pale as death.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Charles," she said, "I fear we cannot obey my uncle's commands. +What has happened to him, I know not; but the guards have just +arrested the Duchess de Nemours and my poor cousin Joinville. It is +impossible to pass in that direction, and I fear all the gates are +guarded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Run to the chapel," said the boy. "Run to the chapel by the back +staircase and the little corridor behind the Duke's room. There will +be no one in the chapel in this time of confusion, and there is a way +from the chapel into the gardens. The postern may be left unguarded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellently bethought," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Speed on, +Ignati; speed on before us, and see that there is no one on the watch. +If you find Gondrin, send him to the chapel without a moment's delay. +We must fly, sweet Marie; we must fly, as your uncle has ordered. It +is clear--though it is terrible to say--it is clear that he is dead. +They would not have dared to arrest his son and mother had he been +living. But we must find you some cloak or covering, sweet girl. You +cannot go forth in all this bridal array."</p> + +<p class="normal">Marie bent down her head and wept, for though she had suffered much +within the last few months, it had not been with that withering kind +of suffering which dries up the fountain of our tears. She hurried on +with her lover, however, and in his apartments a mantle was speedily +found to cover the bright and happy attire which she had that morning +put on with feelings of hope and joy. In few but distinct words +Charles of Montsoreau told the two servants, whom he found there, to +get out, if possible, by any means into the town, and to bring round +the rest of his train and his horses to the farther side of the +gardens; and then hurrying on by the way which the boy had suggested, +he led Marie de Clairvaut towards the chapel, where they were to have +been united.</p> + +<p class="normal">The little corridor which they followed entered at once into a small +room, called the revestry, by the side of the chapel itself, and as +Charles of Montsoreau approached, he heard voices and paused to +listen. He then plainly distinguished the tones of Gondrin and the +page; and though another deep voice was also heard, he hurried on, +feeling certain that they would have come to give him warning had +there been danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door was partly open, and throwing it back, the Count beheld a +scene which made all his blood run cold, while the fair girl whom he +was leading forward recoiled in terror and dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stretched upon the floor, with his sword half drawn from the sheath, +and a deep wound in his left breast, lay Gaspar de Montsoreau. +A pool of blood surrounded him, and the expression of his whole +countenance showed in a moment that the spirit had departed some time. +Scattered--some upon the ground, some upon the table in the midst of +the room, some even in the midst of the blood itself--were a number of +pieces of gold; and two leathern bags, one open and half empty of its +contents, were seen upon the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the further side of the room, near the door leading into the +chapel, was standing Gondrin, with his sword naked, and his foot upon +the chest of the Italian Orbi; while the boy Ignati knelt beside the +assassin, and with his drawn dagger held over him, seemed putting to +him some quick and eager questions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I tell you true," answered the man, as Charles of Montsoreau entered; +"I tell you true. It was he who set me on and paid me: the Abbé de +Boisguerin, and no one else."</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy sprang up and moved away on the young Count's appearance; and +a few words from Gondrin explained to him, that coming from the +gardens--where he had found all solitary, the key in the lock of the +postern gate, and the way clear--he had heard a low cry from the side +of the chapel, and on entering that room had discovered the unhappy +Marquis de Montsoreau weltering in his blood, and the Italian Orbi +gathering up some of the gold pieces, which seemed to have fallen to +the ground in a brief struggle between him and the Marquis.</p> + +<p class="normal">During this account, Marie de Clairvaut, pale as death and terribly +agitated, supported herself by one of the high-backed chairs, and +turned her eyes from the horrible sight which that room exhibited; and +Charles of Montsoreau gazed for a moment on the dead form of his +brother, with those feelings of fraternal love which no unkindness or +ill treatment had been able to banish.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every instant, however, was precious; and recovering himself as +speedily as possible, he turned to Gondrin, bidding him disarm the +Italian who had still his sword, though the weapon with which he had +committed the murder had been dropped beside the dead body.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I kill him, sir?" said Gondrin, pressing the man down more +firmly with his foot, as he found him make a slight effort to escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, in pity, in pity, Charles," cried Marie, clasping her hands +towards him, "do not; do not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!" replied Charles of Montsoreau; "cut that rope from the +window, Ignati. Bind him hand and foot, Gondrin, and leave him to the +justice of those who come after."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was done in a moment; and Charles of Montsoreau only pausing once +more for a moment to gaze on his brother's corpse, exclaimed with +sincere sorrow, "Alas, poor Gaspar!" and then with a quick step led +Marie de Clairvaut from that terrible chamber into the gardens and +towards the postern gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">All was clear, and Charles of Montsoreau turned the key and threw the +gate back. The moment that it was opened, two men darted forward from +the other side, as if to seize the person coming out, and in one of +them, though entirely changed in dress and appearance, Charles +instantly recognised the Abbé de Boisguerin, who, before he saw that +any one had accompanied Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, had caught her +violently by the arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">The memory of a thousand wrongs flashed upon the young Count's mind in +a moment; his sword sprung from the sheath, glittered for a single +instant in the air, and then passed through the body of the base man +before him, piercing him from side to side.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Abbé uttered a shrill and piercing cry, and, when the Count +withdrew his weapon, fell instantly back upon the ground, quivering in +the agonies of death. The other man who had stood beside the Abbé fled +amain; but on the road, about fifty yards from the garden wall, stood +a carriage with six horses and their drivers, with a group of some +nine or ten men on horseback.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the Abbé's first cry the horsemen began to ride towards the spot, +but the appearance of Gondrin coming through the low door behind the +Count, and then the page, made them pause, hesitate, and seem to +consult. In another moment or two the sound of horses coming from the +side of the town caused them to withdraw still farther from the spot; +and with joy that is scarcely to be expressed, Charles of Montsoreau +saw his own colours in the scarfs of the horsemen that approached. In +a moment after, he was surrounded by at least twenty of his own armed +attendants: led horses, too, were there in plenty; and he now +whispered words of hope that he really felt to Marie de Clairvaut, who +clung almost fainting to his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop the carriage, Gondrin!" he exclaimed, seeing the drivers in the +act of mounting, as if to hasten away after the horsemen, who, on +their part, had taken flight at the first sight of the young Count's +followers. "We must make use of it, whether they will or not; but +promise them large rewards. There is a mystery here I do not +understand; but it is evidently some new villany. Come, dear Marie, +come; we must not pause." And leading her forward to the carriage, he +spoke to the drivers himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of them was the master of the horses which the Abbé had hired, and +he was found not at all unwilling to enter into any arrangement that +the Count chose to propose. Marie de Clairvaut was placed in the +carriage, the horsemen surrounded it, and Charles himself was about to +mount his horse, when he perceived that the boy Ignati had not +followed him, but remained kneeling by the side of the Abbé de +Boisguerin. Turning quickly back, to his utter surprise he found the +youth weeping bitterly; and when he urged him to rise and come with +the carriage, Ignati shook his head saying, "No, no! I cannot leave +him like dead carrion for the hawks and ravens.--He was my father! Go +on, my Lord Count, and God speed you!--I must see him buried, and +masses said for his soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Count was moved, but he could not remain; and giving the boy some +money, he said, "Spend that upon his funeral, Ignati; and then follow +me with all speed to Lyons. I grieve for you, my boy, though I +understand not how this can be."</p> + +<p class="normal">Only one more difficulty existed, which was, to pass through that part +of the town leading to the bridge over the Loire. But the servants who +had made their escape from the castle, and brought round their fellows +to his assistance, assured the Count that the news of the Duke of +Guise's murder had already spread through the city, and that every +thing was in such a state of confusion and dismay, he might pass with +the greatest security.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such he found to be the case; all the guard of the King was within the +walls of the château; the gates of the bridges, and of the town +itself, were in the hands of the faction of the League; and no +questions were asked of one who was known to have been the dear and +intimate friend of the murdered Duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Taking his way through a part of the country devoted to the League, +Charles of Montsoreau and his fair companion found no difficulty in +reaching Lyons, where the history of all that had taken place was soon +told to the Duke of Mayenne, and the last lines which the hand of +Henry of Guise ever traced were shown to him, who was destined +thenceforth to be the great head of the League.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had the words and the wishes of his brother not been sufficient for +Mayenne, the necessity of binding to his cause for ever one whose aid +was so important as that of Charles of Montsoreau, would have been +enough to decide the Duke's conduct towards him: and as soon as +possible, after all the anguish, difficulty, and danger, which they +had undergone together, the fate of the young Count of Logères and +Marie de Clairvaut was united for ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">In regard to them it need only be said that they loved each other to +the last hours of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy Ignati followed the young Count to Lyons, but he would not +remain with the man who had taken his father's life. He subsequently +devoted himself to the church, and in the end rose high, by the great +interest that was exercised on his behalf.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wars of the League succeeded: but the feelings of Charles of +Montsoreau were greatly changed by the death of the Duke of Guise; and +though he waged war, as zealously as any body could possibly do, +against the murderer of his lost friend, yet, when Henry III. himself +fell under the blow of an assassin, the young Count of Logères would +no longer contend against a monarch so generous, so noble, and so +chivalrous, as the King who next ascended the throne.</p> + +<p class="normal">He sheathed the sword then, after the accession of Henri Quatre, and +the rest of his days passed in peace and calm retirement, in the +society of her whom he loved ever, and loved alone.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_01" href="#div3Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: I have given the Duke's own words without variation.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_02" href="#div3Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: This extraordinary fact reminds us of days not long +passed.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_03" href="#div3Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: This is historically true in regard to one of the +dispatches to the Duke of Guise; and in representing Henry and his +courtiers as occasionally acting the part of low and mercenary +swindlers, first fleecing and then laughing at a dupe, I am also borne +out by facts.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_04" href="#div3Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: Such were the arms of the Villequier family.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_05" href="#div3Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Such is the account given by the most credible +historians. The author of the life of the Duke, M. Girard, who was +nearly contemporary, gives a different version: acknowledges that the +Duke fled into his cabinet, but adds that he there defended himself +like a lion.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_06" href="#div3Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: Such, and in such terms, strange and fantastic as they +may seem, was undoubtedly the warning given by the physician Miron to +the Duke of Guise not many days before the catastrophe of Blois.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_07" href="#div3Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: Some of the Duke's historians say, that he did not speak +the words aloud, but merely wrote at the bottom of the note, "On +n'oseroit," and then threw it under the table.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div3_08" href="#div3Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: This awful fact is but too certain.</p> + + + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>London:<br> +Printed by A. Spottiswoode,<br> +New-Street-Square.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 39413-h.htm or 39413-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/1/39413/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + + + + diff --git a/39413.txt b/39413.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5f1da4 --- /dev/null +++ b/39413.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7474 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3) + or, The States of Blois + +Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +Release Date: April 9, 2012 [EBook #39413] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://archive.org/details/henryofguiseorst03jame + (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE; + + OR, + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + VOL. III. + + + + + + + London: + Printed by A. Spottiswoode, + New-Street-Square + + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE + + + + OR, + + + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + + + + BY + + + + G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "THE ROBBER," "THE GENTLEMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL," + ETC. ETC. ETC. + + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + + + + + LONDON: + + PRINTED FOR + LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, + PATERNOSTER-ROW. + + 1839. + + + + + + HENRY OF GUISE; + + OR, + + THE STATES OF BLOIS. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The convent of the Black Penitents was a very different building +indeed, and a very different establishment altogether from that which +the imagination of the reader may have raised up from the images +furnished by dark and mysterious tales of Italian superstition. It was +certainly intended to be, and was, in some degree, a place of +voluntary penitence for women who conceived that they had led a +peculiarly sinful life: but there were two classes of nuns confined +there by their own good will,--one of which consisted of persons who +had mingled long with the world, and really led an irregular life +therein; while the other comprised a number of young women of high +rank, who had never known any thing, either of the pleasures or the +vices which the others now fled from, but who, either by a natural +feeling of devotion, or the urgency of relations, had devoted +themselves at an early period to the cloister. + +In point of diet, fasts, prayers, and penances the order was certainly +very strict; but the building in itself was any thing but a gloomy +one, and a considerable portion of it, attached to the dwelling of the +superior, was set apart for the occasional boarders, who took up their +abode there, or for such ladies of high rank and station as might wish +to absent themselves for a time from the cares and vanities of the +world, and retire to a more intimate communion with God and their own +heart, than they could enjoy in such a capital as that of France. + +Such was the original intention of these apartments, and the +destination of the institution altogether; but we well know how every +thing entrusted to human management here is corrupted in process of +time. The rooms which at first had been furnished simply, were soon +decked with every sort of ornament; the visiter's table, as it was +called, was separated from the ordinary board of the refectory; cooks +and wine-growers did their best to gratify the palate; and, with the +exception of the vowed nuns, those who sought shelter in the convent +of the Black Penitents were condemned to but little abstinence, and +knew only this difference from the world in general, that they had an +opportunity of escaping obtrusive society when they thought fit. + +It was in one then of the handsomest apartments of the building--to +speak truth, one far handsomer than that occupied by the Queen-mother +herself--that Marie de Clairvaut made her abode during the time she +was confined in that building. No great restraint, indeed, was put +upon her; but the word confinement was justified by the measures taken +to prevent her quitting the convent, or holding communication with any +one but the nuns themselves. + +To this apartment the Prioress led her back again, after putting an +end to her interview with Charles of Montsoreau, and though the good +lady herself was by no means entirely weaned from the affections of +this world, she thought it but befitting to read Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut a brief lecture on the necessity of attaching herself to +higher objects, and an exhortation to abandon earthly attachments, and +dedicate herself to the service of Heaven. She hinted, indeed, that +there could not be an order more worthy of entering into than the one +of which she was an unworthy member; nor, indeed, one in which so many +of the little pleasures of life could be combined with deep devotion. + +Marie de Clairvaut was, at that moment, far more inclined to weep than +smile; but it was scarcely possible not to feel amused at the +exhortation of the Prioress; and certainly the greater degree of +knowledge which the young lady had lately acquired of conventual life +would have banished from her mind all desire to take those irrevocable +vows which she had once looked forward to with pleasure, even if love +had not long before driven all such purposes from her mind. + +Glad to be freed from importunity, and left to her own thoughts, she +replied nothing to the good mother's words; and, as soon as she was +gone, gave up her whole mind to the recollection of the interview +which she had just had with him she loved. To her, too, that interview +was a source of deep gratification; every memory of it was dear to +her; every word that Charles of Montsoreau had spoken came back to her +heart like the voice of hope, and giving way to the suggestions of +that bright enchantress, she flattered herself with the expectation of +seeing him again and again, even if the presence of the Duke of Guise +in Paris failed to restore them both to liberty. + +Previously to that period, she had been accustomed to see the Queen +almost every day, and indeed more than once during the day; but, +during the whole of that evening she saw her not again, and though she +eagerly asked the next morning to be admitted to the presence of +Catherine de Medici, the only answer that she obtained was, that +though the Princess was expected again in the evening, she had not yet +returned from the palace. + +The second day passed as the first had done, but during the morning of +the third the excitement of the city had communicated itself even to +the inmates of the convent. The portress, the lay sisters, the +visiters, obtained the news of the hour from those without, and +communicated it to the nuns within. Nor did two of those nuns, who had +entered into some degree of intimacy with the fair prisoner, fail to +bring her, every half-hour, intelligence of what was passing without. + +The first news brought was that the guards in the streets of Paris had +been all changed and doubled during the preceding night, and that the +Holy League and the Court were in continual agitation, watching each +other's movements. One of the nuns whispered that people said, it had +been proposed by the Duke of Epernon, to murder the Duke of Guise at +the very door of that convent, as he came to visit the Queen-mother; +and others declared, she added, that the Duke had vowed he would not +rest till he had taken the crown off Henry's head, and put it on that +of the Cardinal de Bourbon. + +Then came intelligence that a large body of the Swiss guards had just +entered Paris, and were seen marching rapidly down the Rue St. Honore, +with their fifes silent, and their drums still. Hourly after that came +the news of fresh troops entering the city, and fresh rumours of +manifold designs and purposes against the life of the Duke of Guise. +His house was to be attacked by the French and Swiss guards, and his +head to be struck off in the Place de Greve: he was to be shot by an +assassin, placed at one of the windows of an opposite house, the first +time he came out; and some said that Villequier had found means to +bribe Lanecque, his cook, to poison him that night at supper, as well +as all who were with him. + +The various scenes, and the dangers and difficulties which she had +lately encountered, had given Marie de Clairvaut a far greater +knowledge of the world, and of how the important events of the world +take place, than was possessed by any of her companions; and she +assuredly did not believe a thousandth part of all the different +rumours that reached her. The reiteration of those rumours, however, +gave her some apprehensions for her great relation; and when towards +the evening she was visited by the Prioress, and found that, beyond +all doubt, every gate of the city, except the porte St. Honore, was +closed, her fears became much greater, seeing plainly that it was the +design of the Court to hem the Duke in, within the walls of Paris, +deprived, as they believed him to be, of all assistance from his +friends without. + +The night passed over, however, in tranquillity; and when, at an early +hour, the young lady rose, she was informed, as she had expected, that +a great part of the rumours of the preceding day were false or +exaggerated. No Swiss, it was now said, had arrived, except a very +small body; the Duke of Guise had been seen on horseback with the +King; and the mind of Marie de Clairvaut became reassured in regard to +her uncle. The Prioress herself--though somewhat given to fear, and +like many other persons, absolutely enjoying a little apprehension in +default of other excitement--acknowledged that all seemed likely to go +well. + +But this state of security was soon changed. The report regarding the +arrival of the Swiss had only forerun the event by a few hours, for +the sound of drums and trumpets heard from the side of the Cemetery of +the Innocents towards seven o'clock in the morning, announced to the +Parisians that a large body of troops had been introduced in the +night, without the city in general knowing it; and in a few minutes +after the movements of these forces evidently showed that some grand +stroke was to be struck by the Court against its enemies. The Place de +Greve was next occupied by a considerable force of mixed Swiss and +French guards, favoured in their entrance by the Prevot des Marchands, +and led by the notorious Marquis d'O. Various other points, such as +bridges and market-places, were seized upon by the troops; and the +greatest activity seemed to reign in the royal party, while that of +the Duke of Guise and the League, remained perfectly still and +inactive, as if thunderstruck at this sudden display of energy. + +News of all these proceedings reached Marie de Clairvaut in the +convent, accompanied with such circumstances of confirmation, that she +could not doubt that the intelligence was partly true. But for a short +time after the troops were posted, every thing seemed to relapse into +tranquillity, except that from time to time reports were brought to +the convent parlour, of citizens, and especially women, being treated +with great insolence and grossness by the soldiery. Crillon himself +was heard to swear that any citizen who came abroad with a sword +should be hung to his door-post, while worse was threatened to the +wives and daughters of the burghers, if the slightest resistance was +made to the troops. The portress brought news that all the houses and +shops in the Rue St. Denis and the Rue St. Honore were closed; and the +Prioress herself thought it was high time to cause the convent gates +to be shut and barred, and even that door which led into what was +called the rector's court, and which usually stood open, to be closed +and fastened with large chains. + +At length tidings were brought that the first open resistance of the +people had commenced; that blood had been shed; and it was rumoured +that Crillon himself, attempting to take possession of the Place +Maubert with two companies of Swiss and one of French guards, had been +opposed by the scholars of the University and the citizen guard, and +forced to retreat without effecting his object. + +The terror of the Prioress was now extreme; the sound of horses +galloping here and there with the most vehement speed, could be heard +even in the parlour of the convent, and towards nine o'clock the roll +of distant musketry borne by the wind completed the terror of the poor +nuns. + +It was evident now to Marie de Clairvaut that a struggle had commenced +between the Monarch and the people of the capital, on which depended +the safety, perhaps the life, of the Duke of Guise, and, in a great +degree, her own fate and happiness. In that struggle she could take no +part; and, situated as she was, she could gain no relief even from +hearing any exact account of how it proceeded from time to time. + +The fears of the good superior of the convent had driven her by this +time to the resource of prayer. All the nuns were ordered to assemble +in the chapel; and Marie de Clairvaut, feeling that none at that +moment had greater need of heavenly protection than herself, prepared +to follow, after listening for a few minutes, alone in her chamber, to +the distant roll of musketry which still went on; when suddenly the +Prioress returned in great haste with a paper in her hand, and +apparently in much agitation and alarm. + +"There, there," she said, thrusting the paper into Marie de +Clairvaut's hands, "that is from the Queen! Do what you like! Act as +you like! I would not go out for the whole world, for just through the +grating I have seen a Swiss officer carried by, all dropping with +blood as they bore him along the streets. I will go to prayers; I will +go to prayers!" + +The note from the Queen-mother was very brief. + +"You know, mademoiselle," it said, "that you have not been kept where +you are by my orders. I would fain have set you free two nights ago by +any means in my power, if meddling fools on the one side, and cowardly +fools on the other, had not frustrated my plan. I have now taken the +responsibility upon myself of ordering the gates to be opened to you. +The man who brings you this is brave and to be trusted; and what I +have to entreat of you is, if I have shown you any kindness, to go +with all speed to the hotel of my good cousin of Guise, and beseech +him to do his best to allay the tumult, so far, at least, that I +myself may come to him with safety. The scenes that you will meet with +may be terrible, but you have that blood in your veins which does not +easily shrink from the aspect of danger." + +Marie de Clairvaut might be more timid than Catherine de Medici +believed; but, when she thought of freedom, and of being delivered +from the power of those whom she detested, to dwell once more with +those she loved, she felt that scarcely any scene would be so terrible +as to deter her from seeking such a result. She remarked, however, +that the Queen did not once mention the name of Charles of Montsoreau, +or allude to his fate. "What," she asked herself, "is he still to be +kept a prisoner, while I am set at liberty? If so, liberty is scarcely +worth having." + +She paused, and thought for a moment, and then the hope crossed her +mind of setting him at liberty herself. + +"Surely," she said, "I could trace my way back to his apartments. I +remember every turning well; and then, by bringing him through here, +in the confusion and terror that now reign in the convent, I could +easily give him his liberty too." + +The more she thought of it, the more feasible the scheme seemed to be; +and catching up an ordinary veil to throw over her head, she ran down +into the apartments of the Queen, which she found, as she expected, +quite vacant. She had no difficulty in discovering the corridor that +led towards the rector's court. At the end there was a door which was +locked, but the key was in it, and she passed through. Another short +passage led her to the room where she had waited for the Queen, and +where she had listened to Charles of Montsoreau singing; and then with +a beating and an anxious heart she hurried on rapidly to the chamber +where she had seen him last. + +All the bolts were shot, showing her that he was still there; but +exactly opposite was an open door at the top of a small staircase, +which seemed to lead to a waiting-room below, for she could distinctly +hear the tones and words of two men of the lower class talking over +the events that were taking place without. + +Gently closing the door at the top of the stairs, Marie de Clairvaut +locked and bolted it as quietly and noiselessly as possible. Her heart +beat so violently, however, with agitation, that she could scarcely +hear any thing but its pulsation, though she listened breathlessly to +ascertain if the slight noise of the lock had not attracted attention. +All was still, however, and she gently undid the fastenings of the +opposite door. + +Charles of Montsoreau was seated at the table, and lifted his eyes as +she entered with a sad and despairing look, expecting to see no one +but the attendant. Marie was in his arms in a moment, however, and +holding up her finger to enjoin silence, she whispered, "Not a word, +Charles; but come with me, and we shall be safe! Every one is in the +chapel at prayers; orders are given for my liberation; and in five +minutes we may be at the Hotel de Guise." + +"What are all those sounds," demanded her lover in the same tone, +"those sounds which I have heard in the streets? I thought I heard the +discharge of firearms." + +"I fear," she answered, "that it is my uncle's party at blows with +that of the King. I know but little myself, however; only that we may +make our escape if we will. I will lead you, Charles; I will lead you +this time." + +"Alas!" said Charles of Montsoreau as he followed her rapidly, "they +have taken my sword from me;" but Marie ran on with a step of light, +taking care however to lock the doors behind them as she passed to +prevent pursuit. + +As she had never been in the courtyard since the day of her first +arrival, she met with some difficulty in finding her way thither from +the Queen's apartments: haste and agitation indeed impeding her more +than any real difficulty in the way. At length, however, it was +reached, and was found vacant of every one but the old portress, who +stood gazing through a small iron grating at what was passing without. + +"Open the door, my good sister," said Marie de Clairvaut touching her +arm. "Of course the Prioress has given orders for you to let me pass." + +"Yes, to let you pass, my sister," replied the portress, "for I +suppose you are the young lady she meant; but not to let any body else +pass." And she ran her eye over the figure of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"Why, surely," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "you would not stop the +gentleman who is going to protect me through the streets." + +"Why, I do not know," replied the portress, still sturdily setting her +face against their passage; "there was another person waiting on the +outside to show you the way, till just a minute ago. Where he's gone, +I don't know, but he seemed the fitter person of the two, for he was +an ecclesiastic. I have heard, too, of some one being confined up +above, by Monsieur Villequier's orders, and as the rector's court +belongs to him, they say I must take care what I am about; so I'll +just ring the bell and inquire." + +"I will save you the trouble of doing that, my good lady," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; and stepping quietly forward, he put her gently +but powerfully back with his left hand, while with his right he turned +the key in the great lock of the wicket, and threw it open. The +portress made a movement of her hand to the bell; but then thinking +better of it, did not ring; and Marie and her lover, without further +opposition, passed at once into the streets of Paris. + +There were very few people in the Rue St. Denis, but on looking up and +down on either side, there were seen a party of horsemen, apparently +halted, at the farther end of the street, on the side nearest to the +country, and a number of persons farther down, passing and repassing +along one of the cross streets. Some way farther up, between the +fugitives and the party of horsemen we have mentioned, were two +figures, one of which was evidently dressed in the robes of an +ecclesiastic, and both gazing down towards the convent, as if watching +for the appearance of some one. + +The moment the young Count and Marie de Clairvaut appeared, the two +figures walked on rapidly in a different direction, and were lost +immediately to their sight by turning down another street. There was +nothing apparent that could alarm the fugitives in any degree, and +though distant shouts and cries were borne upon the air, yet the sound +of musketry had ceased, which gave greater courage to Marie de +Clairvaut. She needed indeed some mitigation of her apprehensions, for +the success which she met with in rescuing her lover had been far from +increasing her courage in the same proportion that it had been +diminished by the very agitation she had gone through. Drawing the +thick veil over her face, and as far as possible over her person, she +clung to Charles's arm, and hurried on with him, directing him as far +as her recollection of the city of Paris would serve. It was long, +however, since she had seen it; and although the general direction +which she took was certainly right, yet many a turning did she +unnecessarily take by the way. + +Still, however, they hurried on, till turning suddenly into one of the +small streets which led round into the Rue St. Honore itself, the +scene of fierce contention which was going on in the capital was +displayed to their eyes in a moment. + +Across the street, within fifty yards of the turning, was drawn an +immense chain from post to post, and behind it was rolled an immense +number of barrels filled with sand and stones, and rendered fixed and +immovable, against the efforts of any party in front at least, by +carts taken off the wheels, barrows, and paving-stones. Behind this +barrier again appeared an immense multitude of men armed with various +sorts of weapons snatched up in haste. The front row, indeed, was well +furnished with arquebuses, while pistols, swords, daggers, and pikes +gleamed in abundance behind. Several of the persons in front were +completely armed in the defensive armour of the time; and in a small +aperture which had been left at the corner between the barricade and +the houses, sufficient only for two people to pass abreast when the +chain was lowered, an officer was seen in command, with a page behind +carrying his plumed casque. + +The lower windows of all the houses throughout Paris were closed, and +the manifold signs, awnings, and spouts, as well as the penthouses +which were sometimes placed to keep off the rain and wind from some of +the principal mansions, had all been suddenly removed, in order that +any bodies of soldiery moving through the streets might be exposed, +without a place of shelter, to the aim of the persons above, who might +be seen at every window glaring down at the scene below. There too +were beheld musketoons, arquebuses, and every other sort of implement +of destruction; and where these had not been found, immense piles of +paving-stones had been carried up to cast down upon the objects of +popular enmity. + +Between the two fugitives and the barricade were drawn up two +companies of Swiss and one of French infantry; and though standing in +orderly array, and displaying strongly the effects of good military +discipline, yet there was a certain degree of paleness over the +countenances of the men, and a look of hesitation and uncertainty +about their officers, which showed that they felt not a little the +dangerous position in which they were placed. No shots were fired on +either side however, and the only movement was amongst the people, who +were seen talking together, with their leaders stirring amongst them, +while from time to time those who were below shouted up to those in +the windows above. + +Without the slightest apparent fear of the soldiers, who were thus +held at bay, two or three people from time to time separated +themselves from the populace, and coming out under or over the chain, +passed completely round the guards to the opposite corner of the +street, and appeared to be laying a plan for forming another barricade +in that quarter, so as completely to inclose the soldiery. + +At the sight of all these objects Marie de Clairvaut naturally clung +closer to the arm of her lover, and both paused for a moment in order +to judge what was best to do. An instant's consideration however +sufficed, and Charles of Montsoreau led her on to that part of the +barricade where the chain was the only obstacle to their further +progress, passing as he did so along the whole face of the French and +Swiss soldiers, not one of whom moved or uttered a word to stop them +as they proceeded. At the chain, however, they met with a more serious +obstacle. The officer whom they had seen in command at that point +had now turned away, and was speaking to some people behind, and a +rough-looking citizen, armed with a steel cap and breastplate, dropped +the point of his spear to the young Count's breast saying, "Give the +word, or you do not pass!" + +"I do not know the word," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "But I pray +you let me pass, for I am one of the friends and officers of the Duke +of Guise." + +"If you were you would know the word," replied the man. "Keep back, or +I will run the pike into you." + +"I could not know the word," answered the young Count, "if I had been +long absent from the Duke, as I have been, and were hastening to join +him, as I now am." + +"Keep back, I say," cried the man who was no way fond of argument. +"You will repent if you do not keep back." + +Charles of Montsoreau was about to call to the officer he saw before +him, but at that moment the other walked on amidst the people, and was +seen no more. + +"Let us try another street," cried Marie de Clairvaut; "let us try +another street, Charles." And following this suggestion they hurried +back, and took another street farther to the left. + +They now found themselves in a new scene; no soldiers were there, but +dense masses of people were beheld in every direction, and barricades +formed or forming at every quarter. Where they were not complete the +lady and her lover passed without difficulty, and almost without +notice. One of the young citizens, indeed, as he helped her over a +large pile of stones, remarked that her small feet ran no risk of +knocking down the barricade; and an old man who was rolling up a tun +to fill a vacant space, paused to let her pass, and gazing with a sort +of fatherly look upon her and her lover, exclaimed, "Get ye gone home, +pretty one; get ye gone home. Take her home quick, young gentleman; +this is no place for such as she is." + +These were all the words that were addressed to them till they again +reached another barrier; but there again the word was demanded with as +much dogged sullenness as ever, and the young Count, now resolved to +force his way by some means, determined rather to be taken prisoner by +the people and to demand to be carried to the Hotel de Guise, than be +driven from barrier to barrier any longer. He remembered, however, the +degree of civility which had been shown to him by Chapelle Marteau +some time before, and he demanded of the man who opposed him at the +chain if either that personage or Bussi le Clerc were there. The man +replied in the negative, but seemed somewhat shaken in his purpose of +excluding him, by his demand for persons so well known and so popular. + +At that moment, however, Charles of Montsoreau caught the sight of a +high plume passing amongst the people at some distance, and the +momentary glance of a face that he recollected. + +"There is Monsieur de Bois-dauphin," he cried; "in the name of Heaven +call him up here, that he may put an end to all this tedious +opposition." The man did not seem to know of whom it was he spoke, but +pointing forward with his hand, the young Count exclaimed, "That +gentleman with the plume! that gentleman with the tall red plume!" + +The word was passed on in a moment, and the officer approached the +barrier, when Charles of Montsoreau instantly addressed him by the +name of Bois-dauphin, begging him to give them admittance within the +barricade, and then adding in a low voice, that he had with him the +Duke's ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, who had just made her escape +from the enemies of the House of Guise, and was so terrified that she +could scarcely support herself any longer. + +"You mistake, sir," replied the officer; "I am not Bois-dauphin, but +Chamois: but I remember your face well at Soissons; the Count of +Logeres, if I am right." + +The Count gave a sign of affirmation, while Marie de Clairvaut looked +up in his face with an expression of joy and relief, and the officer +immediately added, "Down with the chain directly, my good friends. You +are keeping out the Duke's best friends and relations." + +The men round the chain hastened eagerly to obey, but some difficulty +was experienced in removing the chain, as the barrels--or barriques, +as they are called in France, and from which the barriers called +barricades took their name--pressed heavily upon it, and prevented it +from being unhooked. + +Charles of Montsoreau was just about to pass under with his fair +charge as the most expeditious way, when there came a loud cry from +the end of the same street by which they had themselves come thither, +of "The Queen! the Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!" And +rolling forward with a number of unarmed attendants came one of the +huge gilded coaches of the time, passing at great risk to itself and +all that it contained, through or over the yet incomplete barriers +farther up in the street. + +At the barricade where Charles of Montsoreau now was, however, the six +horses by which the vehicle was drawn were brought to a sudden stop, +and notwithstanding her popularity, which, at this time, was not +small, the citizens positively refused to remove the barricade, +although the Queen entreated them in the tone of a suppliant, and +assured them that she was going direct to the Hotel de Guise. Some +returned nothing but a sullen answer, some assured her it was +impossible, and would take hours to accomplish; and Monsieur de +Chamois, who apparently did not choose to be seen actually aiding or +directing the people in the formation of the barricades, retreated +amongst the multitude, and left them to act for themselves. + +At that moment the eye of Catherine de Medici fell upon Charles of +Montsoreau, and she beckoned him eagerly towards her. + +"You are here, of course," she said, "upon the part of the Duke." + +"Not so indeed, madam," he replied; "I have but this moment made my +escape from that place where I have been so long and so unjustly +detained." + +"Your escape!" she exclaimed in a tone that could not be affected. +"Villequier has betrayed me. He promised you should be set at liberty +yesterday morning. And you too, Marie," she said looking at the young +Count's fair companion. "You surely received the order for your +liberation that I sent." + +"Safely, madam," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "and thank your Majesty +deeply. But they have refused to let us pass at several barriers, +otherwise I should certainly have executed your Majesty's commands." + +"This is most unfortunate," said the Queen. But pray. Monsieur de +Logeres, exert your influence with these people as far as possible. +The welfare, perhaps the very salvation of the state, depends upon my +speaking with the Duke of Guise directly." + +"I will do my best, madam," replied the young Count; "but I fear I +shall not be able to do much. I will leave her under your protection, +madam, and see." + +The Queen made him place Marie de Clairvaut in the carriage beside +her: and having done this, he turned to the barrier and spoke to those +who surrounded that point where the chain had been lowered to let him +pass, with far more effect than he had anticipated. To remove the +barricade, the people said, was utterly impossible; but if her Majesty +would descend and betake herself to her chair which was seen carried +by her domestics behind her, they would do what they could to make the +aperture large enough for her to pass. + +With this suggestion Catherine de Medici, who had no personal fears, +complied at once, and seated herself in the rich gilt-covered chair +which followed her. She was about to draw the curtains round her and +bid the bearers proceed, but her eye fell upon Marie de Clairvaut; and +after a moment's hesitation between compassion and queenly state, she +said, "Poor child, thou art evidently like to drop: come in here with +me; there is room enough for thee also, and the Queen is old enough +not to mind her garments being ruffled. Quick, quick," she added, +seeing Marie hesitate; and without further words the fair girl took +her place by the Queen. + +Although the chairs of those times were very different in point of +size from those which we see (and now alas! rarely see) in our own, +yet Mademoiselle de Clairvaut felt that she pressed somewhat +unceremoniously on her royal companion; but Catherine de Medici, now +that the act was done, smiled kindly upon her, and told her not to +mind; and the bearers taking up the chair carried it on, while the +populace rolled away one of the tuns to permit its passing through the +barricade. The Queen's train of attendants pressed closely round the +chair, and Charles of Montsoreau followed amongst them as near as he +could to the vehicle, the people shouting as they went, "Long live the +Queen! Long live the good Queen Catherine!" + +At all the barriers a way was made for her to pass, but still the +multitudes in the streets were so thick, and the obstacles so many, +that nearly three quarters of an hour passed, and the Hotel de Guise +was still at some distance. + +At length Catherine de Medici drew back the curtains of gilt leather, +and beckoned the young Count to approach, saying, as soon as he was +near, "Pray, Monsieur de Logeres, go on as fast as possible, and let +the Duke know that I am coming. I fear that with all these delays he +may have gone forth ere I reach his hotel. And hark. Monsieur de +Logeres," she continued, "if out of pure good will I once afforded you +one hour of happiness that you did not expect, remember it now; and +should chance serve, speak a word to the Duke in favour of my +purposes. You understand? Quick--go on!" + +Charles of Montsoreau hastened on at the Queen's bidding, and having +now heard the pass-word often repeated amongst the citizens, met with +no opposition in making his way to the Hotel de Guise. The only +difficulty that he encountered was in the neighbourhood of the mansion +itself, for the street was so thickly crowded with people and with +horses, that it was scarcely possible to approach the gates. Every +thing was hurry and confusion too, and the dense mass of people +collected in that spot was not like an ordinary crowd, either fixed to +one place around the object of their attention, or moving in one +direction in pursuit of a general object; but, on the contrary, it was +struggling and agitated, by numbers of persons forcing their way +through in every different direction, so that it was with the greatest +possible labour and loss of time that any one advanced at all. The +great bulk of those present were armed, and amidst corslets, and +swords, and brassards, heavy boots and long spurs, Charles of +Montsoreau, totally unarmed as he was, found the greatest possible +difficulty in forcing his way, although, probably, in point of mere +personal strength he was more than equal to any one there present. + +Long ere he could reach the gate of the hotel, there was a loud cry +of, "The Queen! the Queen! long live Queen Catherine!" And the crowd +rolling back, as if by common consent, swept him away far from the +spot which he had gained, and nearly crushed him by the pressure. At +some distance he caught a sight of the Queen's chair, but it stopped +at the edge of the crowd, and the movements that he saw in that part +of the mass made him believe that Catherine was descending from the +vehicle, intending to proceed on foot. + +He doubted not that the Queen's attendants, who were very numerous, +would keep off the multitude; and even the rolling back of the people +upon himself evinced that they were inclined to show her every +respect. But still feeling that all he loved on earth was there, he +naturally strove to see over the heads of the people. It was in vain +that he did so, however, for between him and the line along which the +Queen was passing was a sea of waving plumes of every height and +colour, and all that he could discover was, how far she had proceeded +on her way to the gates, by the rush of the people closing up behind +her as soon as she had passed. + +Just as she was entering the mansion a considerable degree of +confusion was created in the crowd by one of the horses, held not far +from the place where Charles of Montsoreau stood, either frightened by +the noise, or pressed upon by the people, beginning to kick violently. +The man whom he first struck was luckily well covered with defensive +armour; but he was knocked down notwithstanding, and all the rest +rushed back, pressing upon the others behind them in confusion and +dismay. + +Charles of Montsoreau, however, took advantage of the opportunity to +make his way forward; but just as he was so doing he was encountered +by the Marquis de Brissac hurrying eagerly forward through the crowd. +He was dressed in his ordinary clothes, and armed with nothing but his +sword; but there was fire and eagerness in his eyes, and he seized the +young Count by the hand, exclaiming, "I am delighted to have found +you, Logeres. I wanted a man of action and of a good head. Come with +me! come with me quick! or we shall have more mischief done than is at +all needful. They have begun firing again! There!--Don't you hear?" + +"I hear now," replied the Count, "but I did not pay attention to it +before. I would come with you willingly. Monsieur de Brissac, but I +wish to see the Duke. He does not know yet that I am at liberty: +neither have I a sword." + +"The Duke cannot see you now," cried Brissac, still holding the Count +by the arm. "The Queen and her people are with him. I will get you a +sword. Come with me, come with me. Here, fellow, give the Count your +sword." And taking hold of the baldric of one of the men near, he made +him unbuckle it, and threw it over the Count's shoulders. + +For Brissac, who was well known to almost every body there, the people +now made way at least in some degree; and followed by the young Count +he hurried on, till they both could breathe somewhat more at liberty. + +In the mean time the sound of the musketry was heard increasing every +moment, and Brissac after listening for a moment exclaimed, "It comes +from the Marche Neuf. By Heavens! Logeres, we must put a stop to this, +or they will take up the same music all over the town, and we shall +have those poor devils of Swiss slaughtered to a man. Who is that +firing at the Marche Neuf?" he demanded at the first barrier they +reached. + +"Our people," replied the captain of the quarter, "are firing upon the +soldiers in the market-place I hear." + +"Quick, Arnault; quick!" cried Brissac. "Get the keys of the +slaughter-house and bring them after me with all speed! Come on, +Logeres, come on!" he continued, unable to refrain from a joke even in +the exciting and terrible scene that was going on. "The King will +find, I am afraid, that he has brought these _pigs_ to a bad _market_, +as the good ladies of the halle say. We must save as many of them from +being butchered as we can, however." And running on, followed by two +or three persons from the different barriers that they passed, they +soon reached the corner of the Marche Neuf, where an extraordinary and +terrible scene was exposed to their eyes. + +The market, which was somewhat raised above a low street that passed +by its side, was a large open space, having at that time neither +booths nor penthouses to cover the viands, usually there exposed, from +the sun: each vendor that thought fit spreading out his own little +canvass tent over his goods when he brought them. On the side by which +Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau approached, there was a low wall, +not a yard high, separating the market from the street which passed by +the side, with some steps up to the former, as well as two or three +open spaces to give ingress; and on the other side was a long low +range of covered slaughter-houses, with tall buildings overtopping +them beyond. + +In the midst of this open space, cooped in by barricades on every +side, and surrounded by tall houses with innumerable windows, was a +body of about eight hundred Swiss. They were standing firm in the +midst of the place, forming a three-sided front, with their right and +left resting on the slaughter-houses; and while their front rank +poured a strong and well-directed but ineffectual fire upon the two +barricades opposite, the second rank endeavoured to pick off their +assailants at the different windows. + +In the meanwhile, however, from those windows and barricades was +poured in upon the unhappy Swiss a tremendous fire, almost every shot +of which told. The people at the barriers rose, fired, and then bent +down again behind their defences, while the men at the windows kept up +a still more formidable, but more irregular discharge, sometimes +firing almost altogether, as if by common consent, sometimes picking +off, here and there, any of their enemies they might fix upon; so that +at one moment, the whole sweeping lines of the tall houses were in one +blaze of fire and cloud of smoke; and the next, the flashes would drop +from window to window, over each face of the square, like some +artificial firework. + +Such was the scene of confusion and destruction which burst upon the +eyes of Brissac and Charles of Montsoreau when they entered the square +of the Marche Neuf. The fire of the barrier which they passed was +instantly stopped, but in other places it was still going on and +Brissac, without the slightest hesitation, jumped at once upon the low +wall we have mentioned, and waved his hat in the air, shouting loudly +to cease firing. Some cessation instantly took place, but still not +altogether; and Charles of Montsoreau, rapidly crossing the +marketplace to command the men at the opposite barricade to stop, was +slightly wounded in the arm by a ball from one of the windows. + +It luckily happened that the baldric which had been procured for him +by Brissac bore the colours of the League and the cross of Lorraine +embroidered on the front; and the defenders of the barrier stopped +instantly at his command. When that was accomplished, he turned to +rejoin Brissac, and as he went, called to the people at the lower +windows of the houses to stop firing in the name of the Duke of Guise, +and to pass the same order up to those above them. The Swiss had +ceased immediately, very glad of any truce to an encounter in which +fifty or sixty of their number had already fallen, while many more +were seriously wounded. + +The keys which Brissac had sent for had by this time arrived; and, +accompanied by the young Count, he advanced, hat in hand, to the +officer in command of the Swiss, who met him half way with a sad but +calm and determined countenance. + +"You see, sir," said Brissac, "that it is perfectly impossible for you +to contend against the force opposed to you." + +"Perfectly," replied the officer; "every street is a fortress, every +house a redoubt. But we never intended to contend, and indeed had +received orders to retire, but could not do so on account of the +barricades, when suddenly some shot was fired from behind those +buildings; and whether it was a signal to commence the massacre, or +whether the people thought that we had fired, I know not, but they +instantly began to attack us; and here are more than sixty of my poor +fellows butchered without cause." + +"There is only one plan to be pursued, sir," replied Brissac, "in +order to save you. You must instantly lay down your arms." + +"Were the people opposed to me soldiers, sir," replied the officer, "I +would do so at a word; but the people seem in a state of madness, and +the moment we are disarmed they might fall upon us all, and butcher us +in cold blood--yourself and all, for aught I know." + +"I have provided against that, sir," replied Brissac. "Here are the +keys of those buildings, which will shelter you from all attack, I +must not put in your hands a fortress against the citizens of Paris; +so that while you retain your weapons you cannot enter; but the moment +you lay down your arms, I will give you that shelter, and pledge my +word for your protection." + +The joy which spread over the officer's countenance at this offer +plainly showed, what neither word nor look had done before, how deeply +he had felt the terrible situation in which he was placed. + +"It shall be done this instant," he said; and returning to his men, +while Brissac unlocked the gates, he made them pile their arms in the +market-place, amidst a deafening shout from the people on all sides. +The Swiss then marched, rank by rank, into the place of shelter thus +afforded them; and Brissac, bowing low to the commander, who entered +the last, said with a smile, which the other returned but faintly, "In +name, my dear sir, the exchange you are just making is not an +agreeable one; but I am sure you will find that this slaughterhouse is +rather a more comfortable position than the one from which I have just +delivered you." + +The Marquis then caused a guard of the citizens to be placed over the +arms of the Swiss; and turning to Charles of Montsoreau, he said, +"Come, let us quick to the new bridge. The King used to say of me, +Monsieur de Logeres, that I was good for nothing, either on the sea or +on the land. I think he will find to-day that I am good for something +on the pavement." + +Thus saying he led the way back through the barrier; and Charles of +Montsoreau, having more leisure now than before to observe the +countenances and demeanour of the different people around, could not +help thinking that older and more skilful soldiers than the citizens +of Paris could boast were busy in directing the operations of the +populace in different parts of the city. The scene was a strange and +extraordinary one altogether; the streets were absolutely swarming +with people, and crowds were hurrying hither and thither through every +open space, but were still kept in dense masses by the constant +obstruction of the barricades. + +Hastening on through the midst of these masses with Brissac, the young +nobleman's eye ran hastily over all the crowds that he passed, when +suddenly, at the end of one of the largest streets, which rose between +the dark gigantic houses on either side, with a gentle acclivity from +the spot where he then stood, he saw amongst the various groups which +were moving rapidly along or across it, one which attracted his +attention more particularly than the rest. It was at that moment +coming down the street, but proceeding in a somewhat slanting +direction towards the corner of another small street, not fifty yards +from the spot where he then was. There were two figures in it, in +regard to which he could not be deceived: the one nearest him was the +Abbe de Boisguerin, the second was his own brother, Gaspar de +Montsoreau; and he could not help imagining that another whom he saw +leading the way was that personage who had first called upon him on +his arrival in Paris, named Nicolas Poulain. + +Before he could recollect himself, an exclamation of surprise had +called the attention of Brissac; but remembering how much his brother +had excited the indignation of the Duke of Guise, and that his very +life might be in danger if taken in the streets of Paris at that time, +Charles of Montsoreau only answered in reply to Brissac's questions, +that he had fancied he saw somebody whom he knew. + +"There goes worthy Master Nicolas Poulain," said Brissac, "and the +good Cure of St. Genevieve, as zealous in our cause as any one; but we +can't stop to speak with them just now." And he was hurrying on, but +Charles of Montsoreau stopped him, saying, + +"For my part, Monsieur de Brissac, I shall return to the Hotel de +Guise. The Duke, I dare say, has concluded his interview with the +Queen by this time, and I much wish to speak with him." + +"Well, you cannot miss your way," cried Brissac. "Take that first +turning to the left, and then the third to the right, and it will lead +you straight to the Porte Cochere." + +Charles of Montsoreau nodded his head, and hurried on, with manifold +anxieties and apprehensions in his bosom, which twenty times he +pronounced to be absurd, but which, nevertheless, he could not banish +by any effort of reason. + + + + + CHAP. II. + + +We must now return to mark what was passing at another point in the +capital, an hour or two earlier than the events narrated in the end of +the last chapter. The Duke of Guise sat in a cabinet in his hotel, +with his sword laid upon the table before him, which also bore a pen, +and ink, and paper, and some open letters. His foot was resting on a +footstool, his dress plain but costly, and not one sign of any thing +like preparation for the stirring events, which were to take place +that day, apparent in either his looks, his apparel, or his demeanour. + +Beside him booted, and in some degree armed, stood the Count of St. +Paul; while Bois-dauphin, who had just had his audience, was leaving +the cabinet by a low door, and the Duke, bending his head, appeared +listening with the utmost tranquillity to what his friend was telling +him. + +"Then the matter is done," he said, as soon as St. Paul had concluded. +"The Place Manbert is in the hands of the people, and may be made a +Place d'Armes. Bois-dauphin tells me that the soldiers under +Tinteville, at the Petit Pont, are barricaded on all sides and cannot +move. You give me the same account of the Marche Neuf, the same is the +case with the Greve, the French guard under the Chatelet are hemmed in +all round, the Cemetery of the Innocents is invested on all sides, and +Malivaut, I understand, has been driven from his post in great +disorder. This being done, St. Paul, you see these troops of the +King's are not exactly in fortresses, but in prisons; and how Biron, +or Crillon, or the King himself, could have committed the +extraordinary error--all of them being men of experience--how they +could have committed the extraordinary error, I say, of dividing their +soldiery in the narrow streets and squares of such a city as Paris, +sending them far from the palace, and leaving them without +communication with each other, I cannot conceive. However, they are +all in our hands, and what we must think of is, to make a moderate use +of our success. Try to keep the people from any active aggression, St. +Paul; let them stand upon the defensive only, spread amongst them +different parties of those whom we have collected, who may give them +direction and assistance if needful. But keep the principal part of +our own people in this neighbourhood, that we may direct them on any +point where their presence may be necessary." + +"Might it not be as well, your Highness," said the Count, "to take one +measure more? We have far more people than enough to guard all the +barricades. I can undertake to draw ten or even twelve thousand from +different spots, and march them out of the Porte Neuve." + +"To lead them where?" demanded the Duke of Guise, lifting his eyes to +the countenance of St. Paul with a meaning expression. + +"To the Tuilleries and to the Louvre," replied the Count. "Every point +of importance," he added in a low and meaning voice, "will then be +invested." + +The Duke of Guise waved his hand. "No, St. Paul, no!" he said, "that +step would instantly require another. No; if the enemy misjudge our +forbearance, and attempt aught towards shedding the blood of the +citizens of Paris, we must then act as God shall direct us. In the +mean time I say not, that the barricades may not be carried up to the +very gates of the Louvre, for that is for our own defence; but at +present, St. Paul, at present, it must be on the defensive that we +stand. I beseech you, however, to see that no ground is lost in any +part of the city, for you know how soon an advantage is gained. Should +it be needful send for me, but not till the last extremity." + +The Count of St. Paul turned to obey, but paused for a moment before +he had reached the door. The Duke of Guise by this time was gazing +fixedly upon the hilt of his sword, as it lay on the table before him, +and seemed perfectly unconscious that the Count had not quitted the +room. A slight smile curled that gentleman's lip, as he saw the +direction that the Duke's eyes had taken, and he opened the door and +passed out. + +For several minutes the Duke of Guise continued to gaze in deep +thought; and his bosom at that moment was certainly full of those +sensations which never, perhaps, occur to any man but once in his +lifetime--even if Fate have cast him one of those rare and memorable +lots, which bear down the winner thereof, upon the stream of fame and +memory, through a thousand ages after his own day is done. The fate of +his country was in his hands; he had but to stretch out his arm and +grasp the crown of France: and what temptations were there to do so to +a mind like his! + +It must not be forgotten that the Duke of Guise, by every hereditary +feeling, by every prejudice of education, as well as by many strong +and peculiar points in his own character, was in truth and reality a +strenuous and zealous supporter of the Roman Catholic Church. His +veneration for that great and extraordinary institution had descended +to him from his father, and had formed the great principle of action +in his own life. Even had he merely assumed that devotion for the +church during so many years, the very habit must have moulded his +feelings into the same form; and he must have been by this time, more +or less a zealous advocate of the Catholic cause, even if he had set +out with caring nothing in reality about it. But such was not the +case: his father had educated him in principles of strict and stern +devotion to the faith in which they were born; and though in the +gaieties and the frivolities of youth, or the eager struggles of +manhood, he might have appeared in the ordinary affairs of life any +thing on earth but the zealot, yet still his zeal would have been far +more than a pretence, had it only been the effect of early education +and constant habit. + +There was something still more, however, to be said. The spirit of the +Catholic Church was consonant to, and harmonious with, the whole tone +of his own feelings, at once deep, powerful, imaginative, +enthusiastic, politic, and commanding. Chivalry, feudalism, and the +Church of Rome, went hand in hand: all three were, indeed, in their +decay; but if ever man belonged to the epoch of chivalry, it was Henry +Duke of Guise; and he clung to all the other institutions that were +attached to that past epoch, of which he in spirit was a part. + +Attached therefore sincerely, deeply, and zealously to the Catholic +Church--far, far more than his brother the Duke of Mayenne ever was or +ever could be--Guise beheld a weak monarch, whom he despised and hated +from the very bottom of his heart, wasting the whole energies of the +Catholic party in France in a mere pretence of opposing the Huguenots, +and, in fact, caring for nothing but so to balance the two religious +factions as to be permitted to remain in luxurious indolence, +swallowed up with the most foul, degrading, and abhorrent vices; +setting an example of low and filthy effeminacy to his whole court; +and only chequering a life of soft and unmanly voluptuousness by +bursts of frantic debauchery, or moments of apparent penitence and +devotion, so wild and extravagant as to betray their own affectation, +by the absurdities which they displayed. + +The church to which Guise was attached was thus betrayed; his own +especial friends and relations were neglected, insulted, or +maltreated; all that were great or good in the nobility of France were +shut out from the high offices of state, trampled upon by the minions +of the King, and plundered by insolent and fraudulent financiers; the +course of public justice was totally perverted; every thing in the +government was venal and corrupt; the exertions of commerce and +industry totally put to a stop; assassination, poison, and the knife, +of daily occurrence; and bands of audacious plunderers tearing the +unhappy land from north to south. + +The Duke of Guise might well think, as he sat there gazing upon the +hilt of that renowned sword which had never been drawn in vain, that, +were he to say the few short words which were all that was necessary +to bring the crown to his head and the sceptre to his hand--he might +well think that he could obtain for France thereby those great +objects which he conceived were, beyond all others, necessary to her +well-being. He might well conceive too that the cost of so doing would +but be little: civil war already raged in the land; the whole south of +France was one scene of contention; it already existed in the capital; +and would, in all probability, be shortened rather than prolonged by +his striking the one great and decisive blow. + +The King, who was absolutely at his mercy, and whom he could cast down +from his throne at a single word, was no obstacle in his way; the +Epernons, the d'Aumonts, the Villequiers, he looked upon, +notwithstanding all their favour, and the semblance of power which had +been cast into their hands, as a mere herd of deer, to be driven +backwards and forwards, like beasts of the chase, between himself and +Henry of Navarre. And then again, when he looked to the great and +chivalrous Huguenot monarch, what were the feelings with which he +regarded the struggle that might take place between them? His breast +heaved, his chest expanded, his head was raised, his eye flashed with +the thought of encountering an adversary worthy of the strife, a rival +of powers equal or nearly equal to his own. When he thought of army to +army, and lance to lance, against Henry of Navarre, with the crown of +France between them as the golden prize of their mighty strife, his +spirit seemed on fire within him, and he had well nigh forgotten all +his resolutions, in order to do the daring act which might bring about +that glorious result; and then, when fancy pictured him returning +triumphant over his rival, with peace restored, and civil war put +down, and commerce flourishing, and the rights of France maintained on +every frontier, an uniform religion, a happy people, and the strong +truncheon of command in a hand that could wield it lightly, the +prospect was too bright, too beautiful, too tempting; and he pressed +his hand tight upon his eyes, as if he could so shut it out from his +mental vision. + +What was it that deterred him? There was much reason on his side; +there was little if any risk; there was the object of the church's +safety; there was the gratification of vengeance upon those who had +insulted and injured him; there were the exhortations of the King of +Spain; there was almost the universal voice of the people in the north +of France; there was his own ambition; there was the certainty that +all he did would be absolved, sanctioned, confirmed by the head of the +Catholic Church; there was already in his favour the solemn and +decided declaration of the highest theological authority in France; +and there was many a specious argument, which no one could expect that +he should sift and refute against himself. + +What was it deterred him? Was it that there is a majesty which hedges +in a King, sufficiently strong to overawe even the Duke of Guise +himself? Was it that the habitual reverence, which he had been +accustomed to show towards the kingly office, veiled or shielded from +his eyes the real weakness of him who exercised it? Was it that he +feared himself?--Or was it that he felt the act of usurpation must be +confirmed by murder? + +It cannot be told! Certain it is that he dreamt grand visions; that he +saw mighty prospects of fair paths leading to honour, and glory, and +high renown, and his country's good, and his church's safety; and that +he banished the visions and would not take the only step which would +have over-passed every barrier to his forward way. + +The words of Catherine de Medici rung in his ears--the words which had +warned him against the growth of ambition in his own heart; he heard +the shouts of the people without, and her warning voice again came +back in tones that seemed well nigh prophetic. Almost, it would +appear, without a cause, the vanity of all things seemed to press upon +his mind at that moment with stronger effect than he had ever +experienced before. There was a leaden weight upon his spirits he knew +not why. He seemed to feel the hand of Fate, the tangible pressure of +a directing arm, selecting for him the path he was to pursue, and +forcing him thereon at the very moment when supreme command appeared +given to him without a check. + +The sun seemed to dazzle his eyes as he gazed from the window, vague +figures passed before him, and crossed the dancing motes, picturing, +like shadows, the persons of whom he had been thinking. He saw Henry +the Third distinctly before him, and fierce faces and bloody knives, +and figures weltering in their blood upon the ground. He felt that he +had indulged fancy too far, that he had given way to thought at the +moment of action, that his course must be shaped as he had +predetermined it in calmer hours; and waving his hand, as if to dispel +the visions that still haunted his sight, he rose from his chair, +leaning heavily on the table, pushed the sword away from him, and +murmured to himself, "No, no! I will never be an usurper! Ho, without +there!" he continued. "Who waits? What is that sound of musketry?" + +"Erlan has just arrived, my Lord," replied the attendant, "to bear +your Highness word, that the citizens have driven Malivaut down into +the market, and that is the firing we hear." + +"Tell Erlan to speed back as fast as possible," replied the Duke, "and +bid them cease directly. Let them content themselves with hemming in +the enemy without attacking them. But I hear more firing still; I +shall be obliged to go forth myself." + +"Monsieur de Brissac has just gone out on one side, your Highness," +replied the attendant, "and Monsieur de St. Paul on the other; both +with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. But they have not had time +to get to the spot yet." + +"It has ceased now," said the Duke listening. "It has ceased now +towards the Chatelet: but on the other side it is fierce. Go down and +see what are those shouts, and let me know! Surely Henry," he added, +"would not venture into such a scene as this. Alas, no! He would +venture nothing--dare nothing, either for his own sake or his +country's." + +A moment after the attendant returned saying, "It is the Queen, my +Lord; her Majesty Queen Catherine. The crowd of people prevents the +chair from coming up to the gates; but she has descended and is coming +on foot." + +The Duke instantly started up and approached the head of the staircase +for the purpose of hurrying down to receive his royal visitor; but +Catherine was by this time upon the stairs, with Madame de Montpensier +and a number of other ladies, who had passed the morning at the Hotel +de Guise, surrounding her on all sides. The Duke advanced and gave her +his hand to aid her in ascending the stairs; and perhaps the aspect of +Catherine at that moment taught him more fully than any thing else, +how tremendous was the scene without, and how completely the capital +of France was at his disposal. + +Habituated for more than twenty years to control all her feelings, and +to repress every appearance of fear or agitation, Catherine de Medici +was nevertheless on the present occasion completely overcome. Her lip +quivered, her head shook, and there was a degree of wild apprehension +in her eyes, which it was some moments ere her strongest efforts could +conquer. + +"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as she had drawn her breath, "I +must speak with you for a few moments alone; I must beseech you to +give me audience, even if it be but for half an hour." + +"Your Majesty has nothing to do but command," replied the Duke. "My +time is at your disposal." + +The Queen smiled slightly at feeling how easily the empty words of +courts may be retorted upon those that use them. It has been said that +it costs nothing to use civil language and say courtly things, even +when insincere: but it costs much; for, sooner or later, we are sure +to be paid in the same coin to which we have given currency, perhaps +even more depreciating than when we sent it forth. She answered only +by that smile however; and the Duke led her forward to his cabinet, +all the rest of those who crowded the staircase remaining behind. + +With every sign of ceremonious reverence the Duke of Guise led his +royal guest to a seat, and stood before her; but she paused for a +moment, and hesitated ere she spoke. "My Lord," she said at length, +"this is a terrible state of things." + +"Your Majesty knows more of it than I do," replied the Duke calmly, +"for I have not gone forth from the house to-day; but I hear there is +some tumult in Paris." + +"Henry of Guise!" replied the Queen, fixing her eyes upon him. "Henry +of Guise, be sincere!" + +"Madam," replied the Duke, "one must adapt one's tone to +circumstances. With those who are sincere with us we may be as candid +as the day; but when we are sadly taught the fallacy of words, and the +fragility of promises, we must, of course, shelter ourselves under +some reserve." + +"Your Highness's words imply an accusation," said Catherine somewhat +sharply. "In what have I dealt insincerely with you?" + +"Your Majesty promised me," replied the Duke of Guise, "that my noble +friend, the young Count of Logeres, should be set at liberty not later +than yesterday morning; and that my ward, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, +should be immediately replaced under my protection." + +"You have done me wrong, your Highness," replied the Queen; "and +attributed to want of will what only arose from want of power. +Villequier has formally claimed the guardianship of Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut; his application is before the parliament at this hour; and +orders have been given on all hands for the young Lady to remain under +the protection of the King till the question is decided." + +"I will cut his cause very short," replied the Duke of Guise frowning, +"if she be not within my gates ere six hours be over." + +"She is within your gates even now, my Lord," replied the Queen. "Your +Highness is too quick. I sent an order myself for the liberation of +the Count de Logeres, for that only depended upon the King my son. +Some one, however, diverted it from its right course, and he was only +set free this morning. He ought to have been here before me, for I +sent him on; but I suppose he has not been able to pass the mass of +people round your doors. As to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I have +risked every thing to restore her to you; and notifying to Villequier +and Epernon that I would no longer countenance her being detained, I +liberated her on my own authority and brought her here in my own +chair. She would have been freed two nights ago, for I wished to +effect the matter by a little stratagem, and have her carried from the +convent and brought hither without any one knowing how or by whom it +was done; but the meddling burgher guard came up and drove the people +that I sent away. But let us, oh let us, my Lord, discuss more serious +things. Have I now been sincere with you?" + +"You have, madam," replied the Duke, "and I thank your Majesty even +for doing an act of justice, so rare are they in these days. But may I +know what are now your Majesty's commands?" + +"You cannot affect to doubt, cousin," replied the Queen, "that Paris, +the capital of my son's kingdom, is in revolt from end to end. Can you +deny that you are the cause of it?" + +"Though no man is bound to accuse himself, madam," replied the Duke, +returning the Queen's searching glance with a calm, steady gaze, "yet +I will answer your question, and sincerely. I have in no degree +instigated this rising. His Majesty is the cause and not I. We see, +without any reason or motion whatsoever, or any expression of the +King's displeasure, large bodies of troops introduced into the city, +during the night, without drums beating or colours flying, and +altogether in a clandestine manner. We see them take possession +of various strong points, and we hear them using menacing +language--Monsieur de Crillon himself passing through the streets, +breathing nothing but menaces and violence; and if your Majesty can +wonder that in these circumstances the citizens of Paris fly to arms +for the defence of their property, of their lives, and of the honour +of their women, it is more than I can do. In truth, I know not what +the King expected to produce, but the very result which is before us. +I assure your Majesty, however, that it is not at my instigation that +this was done; though, even if I had done this, and far more, I should +have held myself completely justified." + +"Justified," said the Queen, shaking her head mournfully. "What then +becomes of all your Highness said upon ambition but three days ago?" + +"Ambition, madam, would have nothing to do with it," replied the Duke. +"It would have been merely self-defence. Who had so much cause to fear +that the rash and despotic proceedings which have taken place were +aimed at him as I have had? Who had so much cause to know that the +object of all this military parade, was not the hanging of some half +dozen miserable burghers in the Place de Greve, but the arrest, and +perhaps massacre, of Henry of Guise and all his kind and zealous +friends? Can you deny, madam, that such was the cause for which these +soldiers were brought hither? Can you deny, madam, that only +yesterday, when the King assuming friendship towards me, invited me to +ride forth with him--can you deny that it was debated in his council, +whether he should or should not order his guards to murder me as we +went? Confident in my own conscience, madam, and believing that the +King, though misinformed, entertained no personal ill-will against one +who had served him well, I came to Paris, walked through the royal +guards, and presented myself at Court, in the midst of my enemies, +with only eight attendants; and ever since that day, there has not +been an hour in which my life and liberty have not been in danger, +in which schemes for my destruction have not been agitated in the +Cabinet of the King; and I say that, under these circumstances, I +should have been perfectly justified in raising the people for my own +defence. But, madam, I did not do so; and I am not the cause of this +rising.--What is it, Monsieur de Bois-dauphin?" he added, turning to +a gentleman who had just entered, and who now answered a few words in +a low tone. The Duke retired with him into the window, and after +speaking for a moment or two in whispers, Guise dismissed him and +returned, making apologies to the Queen for the interruption. + +It may be said, without noticing it again, that the same sort of +occurrence took place more than once--different officers and +attendants coming in, from time to time, speaking for a moment with +the Duke in private, and hurrying out again. Though Catherine de +Medici felt this to be somewhat unceremonious treatment, and though it +evidently showed her, that whatever share the Duke had had in raising +the tumult at first, he assuredly now guided all its proceedings, and +ruled the excited multitudes from his own cabinet; yet, in other +respects, she was not sorry for time to pause and think ere she +replied, knowing that she had to deal with one whose mind was far too +acute to be satisfied with vague or unsatisfactory answers. + +"My Lord," she said, as soon as the conversation was resumed, "I did +not mean exactly to say that you are the active cause of these +proceedings, or that you have excited the people. What I meant was, +that your presence in Paris is the occasion of this emotion. You +cannot doubt that it is so; and therefore, being in this respect the +cause, it is only yourself who can provide the remedy." + +"Pardon me, madam," replied the Duke of Guise; "I do not see how that +can be. In the first place, I have all along denied that I am the +cause, either inert or active. The people have risen for their own +defence, though, certainly, my defence and my welfare is wrapped up in +that of the people. In the next place, I know not what remedy can be +provided in the present state of affairs. What have you to propose, +madam?" + +"What I came to propose, my fair cousin," replied the Queen, "and +what, I am sure, is the only way of quieting the tumult that now +exists, is, that you should quit Paris immediately.--Nay! nay! hear me +out. If I propose this thing to you, it is not without being prepared +and ready to offer you such inducements and recompences, both for +yourself and all your friends, as may show you how highly the King, my +son, esteems you, and at what a price he regards the service you will +render him. Look at this paper, good cousin of Guise, signed with his +own name, and see what perfect security and contentment it ought to +give you." + +The Duke of Guise, however, put the paper gently and respectfully from +him, replying, "Madam, what you propose is impossible. Either the +people of Paris have risen in their own defence, in which case my +leaving the city would have no effect upon the tumult, or else they +have risen in mine, when it would be base to abandon them. I believe +the first of these cases is the true one, and that, therefore, by +staying in Paris, I may serve the King far more effectually than I +could by quitting the city." + +Catherine de Medici had nothing directly to reply to the reasoning of +the Duke; but she answered somewhat warmly, "By my faith, your +Highness, I think some day you will logically prove that the best way +to serve the King is to take the crown off his head." + +"Madam," replied the Duke drily, "Messieurs d'Epernon, Villequier, +Joyeuse, D'O., and others, have long been trying to prove the +proposition which your Majesty puts forth; but they have not yet +convinced me of the fact,--nor ever will. They, madam, are or have +been those who have put the King's crown in danger; and, as far as +regards myself, I have but to remind you that if I had any designs +upon the King's person, five hundred men sent out this morning by the +Porte de Nesle, and five hundred more by the Porte Neuve, would be +quite sufficient for all the purposes your Majesty attributes to me." + +Catherine de Medici turned deadly pale, seeing how easily the palace +itself might be invested. At that instant one of the Duke's officers +again entered, and spoke to him for a moment or two apart. The Queen +quietly took up a pen from the table, wrote a few words on a slip of +paper, and opening the door of the cabinet demanded in a low voice, +"Is Pinart there?" + +A gentleman instantly started forward, and putting the paper in his +hands, she spoke to him for a moment in a whisper, ending with the +words, "Use all speed!" Then re-entering the cabinet, she took her +seat while the Duke was yet speaking with his friend. + +"Cousin of Guise," she said, as soon as he had done, and the stranger +had departed, "you have certainly given me strong proof that you have +no evil intentions; but such power is, alas! very dangerous to trust +one's self with. Read that paper, I beseech you, and tell me if there +be any other thing you can demand--any other condition which will +induce you to quit Paris even for a few days?" + +"It were useless for me to read it, madam," replied the Duke. "Nothing +on earth that could be offered me would induce me to quit Paris at +this moment. But believe me, madam, my being here has nothing to do +with the continuance of the tumult. I have sent out all my friends and +officers and relations already to calm the disturbance. But it is the +King who is the cause of it, or, rather, the King's evil advisers. As +he has occasioned it, he must put a stop to it." + +"What would you have him do?" demanded Catherine de Medici quickly. +"How would you have him act?" + +"In the first place," replied the Duke, "let him recall his troops; +let them be withdrawn from every post they occupy! Their presence was +the cause of the people's rising, and as soon as they are gone, the +emotion will gradually subside." + +"He has sent the order of recall already," replied Catherine; "but it +is impossible to execute it. Hemmed in by barricades on every side, +how can they retire, or take one step without danger?" + +"That I trust," replied the Duke, "can soon----" + +But he was interrupted in the midst of what he was saying by the +sudden entrance of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"I beg your Highness to pardon me," he said. "Your Majesty will, I am +sure, forgive me, when I ask if you know what has become of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?" + +There was anxiety and apprehension in every line of Charles of +Montsoreau's countenance, and the Queen's brow instantly gathered +together with a look of mingled surprise and apprehension. + +"She followed me into the hotel; did she not?" exclaimed the Queen. "I +got out of the chair first, and she came immediately after. Surely I +saw her upon the stairs!" + +"The porter, madam, declares, that there was no lady entered with your +Majesty; that two or three gentlemen came in; and that it was some +time before your chair, and the rest of your male attendants could +come up, on account of the crowd. I have ventured to ask Madame de +Montpensier and the rest of the ladies in the house, before I intruded +here: but no one has seen Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and she is +certainly not in the house." + +"Is this the way I am treated?" exclaimed the Duke of Guise, his brow +gathering into a tremendous frown. "Is this the way that I am sported +with at the very moment----" + +"Nay! nay! nay! Cousin of Guise," exclaimed Catherine de Medici, +rising from her seat and clasping her hands. "So help me, Heaven, as I +have had no share in this! I descended from my chair in the midst of +the crowd--knowing terror and agitation, such as, indeed, I never knew +before--and I thought that this poor girl had followed. I was too much +engrossed with the thought of my son's throne tottering to its +foundation to pay much attention to any thing else; but Monsieur de +Logeres himself can tell you, that I treated her with all kindness, +and that mine was the order for her liberation." + +"Indeed it was, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Her Majesty +displayed every sort of kindness, and Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was in +the same chair with her when I left her, scarce a hundred yards from +these gates. I fear, my Lord, however, that there are machinations +taking place, which I must explain to you. And in a low voice he told +the Duke what he had seen while returning from the Marche Neuf. + +"This Nicolas Poulain is a villain," exclaimed the Duke after he had +listened. "I have received the proofs thereof this very morning. Ho! +without there!--Madam, by your leave," he continued, turning to the +Queen, "I would fain speak with these attendants of yours, but dare +not presume to command them hither in your presence." + +The Queen immediately directed all those who had followed her chair, +or had borne it, to be called in, and the Duke questioned them +sharply, in a stern and lofty tone, regarding what they had seen of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut after the Queen had passed on. + +The answer of each was the same however, namely, that none of them had +seen any thing of her. Some had accompanied the Queen and kept the way +clear, and two others who, had remained with the chair, as well as the +bearers themselves, declared that the young Lady, after having +descended from the Queen's chair had gone on; that there was an +immediate rush of the people, which separated them from the rest of +the royal train; and that what between the pressure and confusion that +immediately took place, and the kicking of one of the chargers, which +made the people run back with cries and affright, they had seen +nothing more of the party to which they had belonged, till they had +made their way up to the Hotel de Guise and obtained admission. + +The Duke paused with a gloomy and anxious brow. "Go, some one," he +said at length, "go up to Philibert of Nancy, who was placed above, to +watch what was taking place from the top of the house. Ask him what he +saw after the Queen's arrival, and bring me down word." + +"May I go, my Lord?" demanded Charles of Montsoreau. + +The Duke nodded his head, and the young nobleman sprang up the stairs, +and guided by one of the servants found the watchman, who had been +placed at the top of the house to report from time to time whatever +occurrences of importance he might perceive in the neighbouring +streets. All the information the man could give, however, was, that he +had seen a party separate from the rest of the people, almost +immediately after the Queen's entrance; that they seemed to be taking +great care of some person in the midst of them, who, he fancied, had +been hurt by the kicking and plunging of a horse which he had remarked +hard by. The party had turned the corner of the street without +attracting his attention farther; but, he added, that a moment or two +afterwards he thought he had heard a shrill cry coming from the +direction which they had taken. + +With such tidings only, and with his heart more agonised than ever, +Charles of Montsoreau returned to the Duke, who was still standing +gloomily by the Queen, who, on her part looked up at his dark and +frowning countenance with a degree of calmness which did not seem +quite so natural as she could have wished. + +"Whatever has happened, my Lord Duke," she said, after listening to +the young nobleman's report, "whatever has happened, on my honour, on +my salvation, I have had no share in it; and I promise you most +solemnly, not to rest a moment till I have discovered what has become +of your ward, and have made you acquainted therewith. If she be in the +Court of my son, I make bold to say, that she shall be instantly +restored to you: but I cannot believe that it is so, as it is +impossible for Villequier to have passed those barriers without being +torn to pieces by the people." + +Still the Duke remained thinking gloomily without making any answer. +"Logeres," he said at length, "I must trust you with this business, +for I have more matters to deal with than I can well compass. From +what you said just now, and from what the boy Ignati told me, I know +how you stand with our poor Marie. You know what I said, and what I +promised long ago. Seek her, find her, and wed her! Monsieur de St. +Paul will tell you where your own men are; take her, wherever you find +her: by force, if it be necessary; and if any man, calling himself a +gentleman, oppose you, cleave him to the jaws. I will bear you out in +whatever you do: there is my signet: but stay; you had better see +Marteau Chapelle and Bussi about it. They know every house in Paris, +and I can spare them now from other affairs: bid them go with you and +aid you; and tell Chapelle---- What is it now, Brissac? You look +confounded and alarmed." + +"The news I have will confound your Highness also, I am sure," replied +Brissac; "to alarm you is not possible, I fancy. I have just received +intelligence from the Porte de Nesle, my Lord, that the King has +quitted Paris, and taken the road to Chartres!" + +The Duke of Guise turned towards Catherine de Medici, and gazed upon +her sternly, saying, "You have done this, madam! You amuse me, while +you destroy me!"[1] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 1: I have given the Duke's own words without variation.] + +--------------------- + + +"I _have_ done this, cousin of Guise," replied the Queen, "and I have +done wisely for all parties. I have removed from you a great +temptation to do an evil action--a temptation which I saw that you +yourself feared; and while I have removed that danger from you, my +advice has put my son in safety." + +"Madam," replied the Duke, "I felt no temptation: my resolution was +firm, positive, and unshaken; and had I chosen to compromise the +King's safety, or do wrong to his legitimate authority, the Louvre +would have been invested six hours ago, for the people were already on +their march, if I had not stopped them. I wonder that he escaped in +safety, however, for they are very much infuriated at the sight of +these soldiers." + +"He walked from the Louvre," replied Brissac, "on foot to the +Tuilleries, I hear, followed by some half dozen gentlemen; he then +mounted his horses in the stables, and rode out suddenly; but it is +said that they fired at him from the Porte de Nesle. The people, +however, as they hear it, are becoming quite furious, and I fear that +we shall not be able to keep them from massacring the soldiery." + +"You see, madam," replied the Duke of Guise, still thinking alone of +the King's escape, "you see, madam, to what danger the King has +exposed himself. Had he remained in Paris no evil could have befallen +him. He was safe, on my life, and on my honour. + +"I believe you, cousin of Guise; I believe you;" replied the Queen, +who thought she saw that the tone of the Duke of Guise was not quite +so peremptory as it had been, while the King had seemed entirely in +his power. "But now, in order to prove your good will entirely, let me +beseech you to exert yourself to save the unhappy men who have been +placed in such a situation of danger." + +"That shall soon be done, madam," replied the Duke; "and as soon as +this is done, I too must take means for finding my ward. In the +meantime, madam, I will beseech you to use such measures at the Court, +as may insure that the people of Paris, and of the realm in general, +shall not be driven again to such acts as these, remembering, that as +you warned me not long ago, popularity is the most transient of all +things, and that mine may not last long enough to save the state a +second time from the dangers that menace it." + +"I understand you, cousin of Guise; I understand you;" replied the +Queen. "It may not last long enough, or it may not be willingly +exerted: but I give you my promise, that every thing shall be done to +content you; and with that view I have already demanded that the +insolent, greedy, and ambitious Epernon shall be banished from the +Court, and stripped of his plundered authority.--But hark!" she +continued, "I hear the firing recommence. Wait not for further words, +or for any ceremonies; I will find my way back to the Louvre without +difficulty. Go, my Lord, go at once, and save the poor Swiss from the +fury of the people!" + +The Duke bowed low, took up his hat and sword, and without other arms +walked out into the streets. + + + + + CHAP. III. + + +Passing out by the rooms belonging to the porter, instead of by the +Porte Cochere, the Duke of Guise, followed by a number of his +officers, presented himself to the people on the steps which we have +already noticed. The moment he appeared, the whole street rang with +acclamations, a path was instantly opened for him through the midst of +the people, and mounting his horse he rode on, the barricades opening +before him, as if by magic, wherever he came, and the people rending +the air with acclamations of his name. + +From time to time he stopped as he went, either bending down his proud +head to speak to some of those whom he knew, or addressing the general +populace in the neighbourhood of the different barriers, exhorting +them to tranquillity, and beseeching, commanding, and entreating them +to desist from all attacks upon the soldiery. His words spread like +lightning from mouth to mouth; and though he went in person to several +of the different points where the unequal contest was actively going +on, the assault upon the troops was stopped in other quarters also, by +the mere report of his wishes. + +Thus, as it were in triumph, totally unarmed amidst the armed +multitude, he went ruling their furious passions, as if by some +all-powerful charm. The most violent, the most exasperated, the most +sullen, uttered not one word in opposition to his will, and showed +nothing but promptness and zeal in executing his commands. Before he +reached the Place de Greve even, towards which his course was +directed, the screams, the cries, the shouts, the firing, had ceased +in every part of Paris, and nothing was heard throughout that wide +capital but the rending shouts of joy, with which the multitude +accompanied him on his way. + +On entering the Place de Greve the Duke looked sternly up at the +windows of the Hotel de Ville, but did not enter the building. He +said, however, speaking to those immediately surrounding him, "A week +shall not have elapsed before we have cleared that house of the vermin +that infest it; and the people shall be freed from those who have +betrayed them." + +Then dismounting from his horse, and ascending the steps leading to +the elevated space, called the Perron of the Hotel de Ville, he lifted +his hat from his head for a moment, as a sign that he wished to +address the people. All was silent in an instant; and then were heard +the full rich deep tones of that eloquent voice, pouring over the +heads of the multitude, and reaching the very farthest parts of the +square. + +"My friends and fellow-citizens," he said. "You have this day acquired +a great and glorious victory. You have triumphed over the efforts of +despotic power, exerted, I am sure, not by the King's own will and +consent, but by the evil counsels, and altogether by the evil efforts, +of minions, peculators, and traitors. The real merit of those who win +great victories and achieve great deeds, is ascertained more by the +way in which they use their advantages, than by the way in which those +advantages have been gained. Were you a mean, degraded, unthinking +race of men, who had been stirred up by oppression into objectless +revolt, you would now content yourselves with wreaking your vengeance +on a few pitiable and unhappy soldiers, who in obedience to the +commands which they have received, have been cast into the midst of +you, like criminals of old, given up naked to a hungry lion. But you +are not such people; you have great objects before you; you know and +appreciate the mighty purposes for which you have fought and +conquered; and though driven by self-defence to resist the will of the +King, you are still men to venerate and respect the royal authority; +and even while you determine, for his sake as well as for your own, +never to rest satisfied till the Catholic Church is established beyond +the power of heretics to shake; till the Court is freed from the +minions and evil counsellors that infect it; till the finances of the +state are collected, and administered by a just and a frugal hand; and +till the whole honours, rewards, and emoluments of the country are no +longer piled upon one man--though you are determined to seek for and +obtain all this, nevertheless, I know, you are not men to trench in +the least upon the royal authority, farther than your own security +requires, or to injure the royal troops whom you have conquered, when +they are no longer in a situation to do you wrong. You will remember, +I am sure, that they are our fellow-christians and our fellow-men, and +you will treat them accordingly. I have therefore," he said, +"requested my friends and fellow-labourers in your cause, Monsieur de +Brissac and Monsieur de St. Paul, to conduct hither in safety the +French and Swiss troops from the different quarters in which they have +been dispersed. Their arms will be brought hither by our own friends, +and in the manner which we shall deal with these two bodies of +soldiery, I trust that we shall meet still with the approbation of our +brethren." + +While thus speaking, the Duke of Guise had been interrupted more than +once by the applauses of the people, and in the end loud and +reiterated acclamations left no doubt that all he chose to do would +receive full support from those who heard him. + +While he was yet speaking--according to the orders which he had given +as he came along--the arms of the Swiss and French guards were brought +in large quantities, by different bodies of the citizens: some +carrying them in hand-barrows, some bearing them upon their shoulders; +and it was a curious sight to see men and boys, and even women, loaded +with morions, and pikes, and swords, and arquebuses, bringing them +forward through the crowd, and piling them up before the princely man +who stood at the top of the steps, surrounded by many of the noblest +and most distinguished gentlemen in France. + +This sight occupied the people for some minutes, and then a cry ran +through the square of "The Swiss! the Swiss!" The announcement caused +some agitation amongst the populace, and some forgetting that the +soldiery were disarmed, unslung their carbines, or half drew their +swords, as if to resist a new attack. The discomfited soldiers, +however, came on in a long line, two abreast, now totally disarmed, +and seeming by their countenances yet uncertain of the fate that +awaited them. With some difficulty a space was made for them in the +Place de Greve, and being drawn up in two lines, the Duke commanded +them to take their arms, but not their ammunition. Two by two they +advanced to the pile; and each man, as far as possible, selected his +own, when it appeared, to use the words of the Duke of Guise himself, +when recounting the events of that day to Bassompiere, that there +never had been such complete obedience amongst so agitated a +multitude; for not one sword, morion, pike, or arquebuse, of all the +Swiss and French there present, was found to be wanting.[2] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 2: This extraordinary fact reminds us of days not long +passed.] + +--------------------- + + +When all was complete, the Duke of Guise turned to the soldiery, +saying in a loud and somewhat stern tone, "The people of Paris +considering that you have acted under the commands of those you have +sworn to obey, permit you for this once to retire in safety from the +perilous situation in which you have been placed; but as there are +points which make a considerable difference between the Swiss troops +in the pay of France and the French troops themselves, there must be a +difference also in their treatment. The Swiss, as foreigners, could +have no motive or excuse for refusing to obey the commands imposed +upon them; the French had to remember their duty to their country and +to their religion. The Swiss, therefore, we permit to march out with +colours flying and arms raised; the French will follow them, with +their arms reversed and their colours furled." + +A loud shout from the people answered this announcement; for +throughout the course of that eventful day, the Swiss had acted with +moderation and discipline, whereas the licentious French soldiery had +during the early morning, while they thought themselves in possession +of the capital, displayed all the brutal insolence of triumphant +soldiery. + +The Duke of Guise spoke a few words to Brissac and to St. Paul, and +those two officers put themselves at the head, Brissac of the Swiss, +and St. Paul of the French guards. Each held a small cane in his hand, +and with no other arms they led the two bands from barrier to barrier +through the city, till they were safe within the precincts of the +Louvre. + +Scarcely had these two parties quitted the Place de Greve, however, +drawing a number of people from that spot, when information was +brought to the Duke, that there were still two bands of soldiers in +the city, one in the Cemetery of the Innocents, and one under the +Chatelet, but both threatened by the people with instant destruction. + +"We must make our way thither quickly," said the Duke; "for, if I +remember right, it is the band of Du Gas which is at the Chatelet, and +the people are furious against him." + +He accordingly lost not a moment on the way; but turning to +Bois-dauphin, who accompanied him, he said in a low tone, as they +went, "I would have given my left hand to stay and examine the +interior of the Hotel de Ville, in order to punish some of the +traitors who, I know, are lurking there. Perhaps it is better, +however, to let them escape than that any mischief should be done; and +in these popular movements, if we once begin to shed blood, there is +no knowing where it will end." + +"I fear there is bloodshed going on at present," said Bois-dauphin, +hearing a shot or two fired at no great distance. "They are at it +under the Chatelet now." + +"Hurry on! hurry on!" said the Duke, speaking to some of those behind. +"Run on fast before, and announce that I am coming. Command them, in +my name, to stop." + +Two or three of his followers ran forward, and no more shots were +heard; but scarcely two minutes after, just as the Duke had passed one +of the barricades, he saw two or three men hurrying up to him, led by +Chapelle Marteau, who approached him with no slight expression of +grief and apprehension in his countenance. + +"I fear I have bad news for you, my Lord," he said. + +"What is it?" demanded the Duke calmly. "Such a day as this could +hardly pass over without some alloy." + +"I fear," replied the Leaguer, "that your Highness' friend. Monsieur +de Logeres, is mortally wounded. He brought me your signet and orders, +which I immediately obeyed. We gained information which led us to +suppose that the persons we sought for, were concealed in a house in +the Rue de la Ferroniere here hard by. We proceeded thither instantly +and demanded admission; but they, affecting to take us for a party of +soldiery, fired upon us from the window, when two shots struck the +Count, one lodging in his shoulder, and the other passing through his +body. He is yet living, and I have ordered him to be conveyed to the +Hotel de Guise at once, where a surgeon can attend upon him. Our +people were breaking into the house to take the murderers prisoners, +when, hearing of your approach, I came away to tell you the facts." + +The Duke of Guise paused, and gazed sadly down upon the ground, +repeating the words, "Poor youth! poor youth! so are his bright hopes +cut short! He shall be avenged at least! Show me the house, Chapelle." + +And he followed rapidly upon the steps of the Leaguer, who led him to +a small house, with the entrance, which was through a Gothic arch, +sunk somewhat back from the other houses. There were two windows above +the arch, and a window which flanked it on either side; but the +followers of the young Count of Logeres and of Chapelle Marteau had by +this time broken open the doors, and rushed into the building. + +"This is part of the old priory of the Augustins," said the Duke of +Guise as they came up. "They exchanged it some fifty years ago for +their house further down. But there are two or three back ways out, I +know; and if you have not put a guard there, they have escaped you." + +It proved as the Duke anticipated. The house was found completely +vacant, and though strict orders were sent to all the different gates +to suffer no one to pass out without close examination, either the +order came too late, or those against whom it was levelled proved too +politic for the guards; for none of those whom the Duke of Guise +wished to secure, except Pereuse, the Prevot des Marchands, were taken +in the attempt to escape. + +The shots, the sound of which, Guise had heard, proved to be those +which had struck the unfortunate Count de Logeres, and no difficulty +was found in inducing the people who surrounded the soldiery near the +Chatelet, to suffer them to depart, as their companions had done. + +On entering the Cemetery of the Innocents, however, the Duke instantly +saw that the danger of the troops was greater; for, shut up within, +those walls, together with the Swiss, he found the famous Baron de +Biron and Pomponne de Bellievre, while the people without were loudly +clamouring for their blood. They both advanced towards him as soon as +he appeared; and the Duke, gazing around him, said with a sigh, "Alas, +Monsieur de Biron! those who stirred up this fire should have been +able to extinguish it." + +"I say so, too, my Lord," replied Biron sadly. "Evil be to those who +gave the counsel that has been followed. God knows I opposed it to the +utmost of my power, and only obeyed the King's absolute commands in +bringing these poor fellows hither, who, I fear, will never be +suffered to pass out as they came." + +"For the soldiery I have no fear," replied the Duke, "and as for you, +gentlemen, I must do the best that I can. But the people look upon you +as partially authors of the evil, and they will not be easily +satisfied." + +The Duke of Guise, however, succeeded, though not without difficulty, +in his purpose of saving all. The people yielded to him, but for the +first time showed some degree of resistance; and he returned to the +Hotel de Guise feeling more sensibly, from that little incident, the +truth of the warning which Catherine de Medici had given him, +regarding the instability of popularity, than from all the arguments +or examples that reason or history could produce. + +We may easily imagine the reception of the Duke in his own dwelling: +the joy, the congratulations, the inquiries; and we may imagine, also, +the passing of that busy night, while messengers were coming to and +fro at every instant, and couriers were dispatched from the Hotel de +Guise to almost every part of France. + +Henry of Guise was well aware, that whatever deference and humility he +might assume in his words towards the King, or whatever testimonies of +forgiveness and affection Henry might offer to him, his own safety +now, for the rest of his life, depended on his power, and that his +armour must be the apprehensions of the King, rather than his regard. + +Up to a very late hour, notwithstanding all the fatigues and +agitations of the day, he sat with his secretary Pericard, writing +letters to all his different friends in various parts of the country, +demanding their immediate assistance and support, even while he +expressed the most devoted attachment to the King; and thus, in the +letter we have already cited to Bassompiere, he makes use of such +expressions as the following:-- + +"Thus it is necessary that you should make a journey here to see your +friends, whom you will not find, thank God! either wanting in means or +resolution. We must have good intelligence from Germany, however, that +we be not taken by surprise. We are not without forces, courage, +friends, nor means; but still less without honour, or respect and +fidelity to the King, which we will preserve inviolably, doing our +duty, as people of worth, of honour, and as good Catholics." + +It was about twelve o'clock at night, when Reignaut, the surgeon, +entered the cabinet of the Duke, and bowing low said, "I come, +according to your Highness's order, to tell you the state of the young +Count of Logeres. Soon after I saw you about six to-day, we extracted +both balls. He bore the operation well, and has slept since for +several hours." + +"Is he sleeping still?" demanded the Duke. + +"No," replied the surgeon. "He awoke about a quarter of an hour ago, +and seems anxious to see your Highness. He questioned me closely as to +his state, when I told him the truth." + +"You did right, you did right," replied the Duke. "He is one that can +bear it. What is your real opinion, Reignaut, in regard to the +result?" + +"I can hardly tell your Highness," replied the surgeon. "Two or three +days more are necessary, before we can judge. The wound in the +shoulder is not dangerous, though the most painful. The shot which +passed through his body, and lodged in the back, is one which we +generally consider mortal; but then, in ordinary cases, death either +takes place almost immediately, or indications of such a result are +seen in an hour or two, as to leave no further doubt on the subject. +No such indications have appeared here, and it may have happened that +the ball has passed through without touching any vital part. We must +remember, also," he continued, "that the wound was received when the +moon was in her first quarter, which is, of course, very favourable; +and we shall also, if there be any chance of life being saved, have +made some progress towards recovery before any crisis is brought on by +the moon reaching the full." + +The Duke listened attentively, for though such things may appear to +us, in the present day, mere foolishness, that was not the case two +centuries and a half ago, and the power of the moon, in affecting the +wounded or sick, was never questioned. "Stay, Reignaut," said the +Duke, "I will go with you, and see this good youth. I love him much; +there is a frankness in his nature that wins upon the heart. Besides, +he has saved my life, and has come to my aid on all occasions, as if +there were a fate in it; and I believe, moreover, that he loves me +personally as much--nay, perhaps more, than any of my own family and +relations." + +Thus saying the Duke rose, and, followed by Reignaut, passed through +the door of his cabinet into the anteroom. His pages instantly +presented themselves to light him on his way, and traversing some of +the long corridors of the vast building be inhabited, he reached the +chamber where his unhappy friend lay stretched upon the bed of pain +and sickness. The boy Ignati sat beside him, tending him with care and +affection; and at the foot of the bed, with his arms crossed upon his +chest, stood his faithful servant Gondrin, with tears in his eyes. + +The Duke seated himself by the young Count, and remained with him for +nearly an hour; and knowing well what effect the mind has upon the +body, spoke to him cheerfully and hopefully of the time to come, +talked of his recovered health as a thing certain, and mentioned his +union with Marie de Clairvaut as beyond all doubt. + +"It is upon that subject, my Lord," said the young gentleman, "that I +wished particularly to speak with your Highness. I have not had either +time or opportunity of telling you all that has occurred since I left +you at Soissons. But from all I have heard, I now judge better in +regard to the situation of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut than even you +can. Nay, Monsieur Reignaut, I must speak a few words, but I will be +as brief and as prudent as possible. In this business, my Lord, +suspect not the Queen. It is not in her hands that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut will be found. Neither is she with Villequier, depend upon +it; nor in the power of the King. I grieve to say it, but I feel sure +my own brother has something to do with the events of this day as far +as they affect her so dear to me." + +"But you surely do not think," exclaimed the Duke, "that it is your +brother's hand which inflicted these wounds upon you!" + +"The ball would be poisoned, indeed, my Lord," replied Charles of +Montsoreau, "if I did believe such to be the case. But I trust it is +not so; most sincerely do I trust--ay, and believe--it is not so. +There is another hand, my Lord Duke; and not long ago I could as well +have believed that my own father's would have been raised against me +as the one of which I speak. But still there is another hand, my Lord, +which--actuated by motives dark and evil--I believe to have been +raised against my life. That hand is in general unerring in its aim; +and the moment before the shot was fired, I saw the calm cold features +which I know so well, at the window just above me." + +"But whose is the hand?" exclaimed the Duke. "Whose are the features +that you mean?" + +"I mean those of the Abbe de Boisguerin, my Lord," replied the Count; +"and to him, to him, I think, your Highness must look even rather than +to my brother. I believe Gaspar but to be a tool in his hands, and +that he uses him for his own dark and criminal designs." + +"Have I not heard you say he was your tutor?" demanded the Duke. "What +then are his motives? what can be his inducements?" + +"Love, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I have the word of +that sweet girl for his having dared to use words towards her, for +which he deserves and must meet with punishment. Him I would point out +to your Highness as the person to be watched, and sought for, and made +to account for all his actions; for, depend upon it, his are the +machinations which are ruling these events." + +"He shall not be forgotten!" replied the Duke. "He shall not be +forgotten! But now, Logeres, speak no more, except indeed only to +answer me one question. I have heard that the county of Morly has +lately fallen to you by the death of the old Count. These, with the +estates of Logeres, if properly conducted, may afford me great +assistance. You are incapable for the time of directing them at all. +Do you authorise me to fill your post, and give orders in your name +till you are better?" + +"Most willingly, my Lord," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "I had +already thought of it. But your Highness talks of my becoming better: +I have thought of that matter too, but in a different light; and +considering what may take place in case of my own death, I have +requested Monsieur Reignaut here to cause a will to be drawn up, +leaving the whole that I possess to the person whom I love best on +earth, with your Highness for her guardian. There are a few gifts +bestowed on those that love me, and a provision for all old servants: +but----" + +"But it will not be wanted, Logeres," said the Duke, pressing his +hand. "I see it in your eye; I hear it in the tone of your voice. You +will recover and strike by my side yet--perhaps, in many a well-fought +field. Silence and perfect quiet, I know, are Monsieur Reignaut's best +medicines; but I shall come to you, from time to time, when I have got +any pleasant tidings to bear." + + + + + CHAP. IV. + + +We must now pass over a considerable lapse of time without taking any +note of the political intrigues with which it was occupied, and lead +the reader at once from the month of May to the end of summer, and +from the city of Paris to the distant town of Augouleme. + +Under the high hill on which that city stands, at the distance of +about a league from the base, was in those days a beautiful park with +a pavilion of four towers; and in one of these towers, on a fine +summer day towards the end of July, sat the young Marquis of +Montsoreau together with the Abbe de Boisguerin: not exactly in +conversation, for the Marquis had not spoken a word for nearly an +hour; but in dull companionship. + +The young nobleman's back was turned towards the light, his eyes were +bent down upon the ground, his head drooped forward in a desponding +attitude, the nostril was painfully expanded, as if he drew his breath +with difficulty, and the teeth were tight shut, as it were to keep +down some struggling emotions that swelled for utterance. An open +letter lay upon the table, and another much more closely written, and +written in cypher, was in the hand of the Abbe de Boisguerin. The +Abbe's brow too was a good deal contracted, and his lip was somewhat +pale, though it quivered not; but from time to time he addressed the +young nobleman with words of consolation, regarding some afflicting +tidings just received. + +Those words, however, though well chosen, appropriate and elegant, +were not of the words that console, for they were not of the heart. He +reasoned logically on the inutility of human grief, and still more on +the vanity of regretting that which could not be recalled. He spoke +lightly of all deep feelings for any earthly thing, and he talked of +every deed upon the face of the earth being justified by the +importance of the objects to be obtained. + +When he had talked thus for some time without obtaining any answer, he +was going on to justify the past; but Gaspar de Montsoreau suddenly +started up, and interrupted him with a vehemence which he had never +displayed before. + +"Abbe de Boisguerin," he said, "talk not to me of consolation and of +comfort. Is not my brother dead? Is not my brother dead, killed by my +own hand? Can you tear that from the book of fate? Can you blot it out +from memory? Can you rase it for ever from the records of crimes done? +Can you find me a pillow on all the earth, where I can lay my head in +peace?" + +"Your brother, indeed, is dead," said the Abbe de Boisguerin, without +in the least degree trying to relieve the mind of his young companion +from the crime with which conscience charged him. "Your brother, +indeed, is dead; and it is not to be denied that your hand, my dear +Gaspar, took his life; but yet you were in a city where war was +actually going on between two parties, one of which you served, and +the other your brother. These things have happened every day in civil +wars, and always will happen. They are to be grieved at, but who can +help them?" + +"But I was engaged in no civil wars," exclaimed the young Marquis. "My +men were at the Louvre. I was not fighting on the part of the King: I +was not engaged in trampling down the people. But what was I busied +with, Abbe de Boisguerin? I was engaged in a scheme for carrying +off--from him she loved, and from those who had a right to protect +her--one whom I had no title to control, whom I was bound by honour to +guard and to defend. I was injuring her; I was preparing to injure +her. If I had not lied to her myself, I had caused her to be deceived +and lied to; and all that I had previously done made the act itself +which I had committed, but the more hateful. Speak not to me of +consolation, Abbe; speak not to me of hope or comfort. You of all men, +do not venture to mention to me a word like happiness or confidence." + +"And why not, my Lord?" demanded the Abbe somewhat sternly. "What have +I done to merit reproach in the matter?" + +"Has it not been you that have prompted me throughout?" demanded the +Marquis. "Was it not you who devised the scheme, prepared the means, +got possession of the Queen's letter by corrupting her servants. Was +it not your tool, that, upon pretence of assisting her to the other +gates of the hotel, got her into our power; and was it not you, when +her prayers and entreaties and agitation would have made me yield--was +it not you that resisted, and remorselessly bade the men carry her on? +Did you not yourself stand by me when the shot was fired; and was it +not your warning, that disgrace and death must follow hesitation, +which winged the ball that took my brother's life?" + +"It is all true, Gaspar," replied the Abbe de Boisguerin in a sad but +no longer a harsh tone. "It is all true; and from you I meet the +reward, which all men will meet and well deserve who love others +better than themselves, and who do for them things that they would not +do for themselves. Nevertheless, I still think that there was not that +evil on our side with which you seem to reproach yourself. Shocked and +mourning for your brother's death, you see all things in dark and +gloomy colours. Those things which you regarded before as light, have +now become to you heavy and sombre as night. But all this is but mood, +and let me call to your remembrance what sense and reason say. You and +your brother loved the same person,--you vehemently, warmly, +devotedly; he coldly, and by halves. You, as the elder brother and as +lord of the dwelling in which she was received, had, if any thing, the +first claim upon her; and he himself rendered that claim still greater +by leaving her entirely to you, and absenting himself from her. You +had every right, therefore, to seek her hand by all means; and when +you found that, though he affected generous forbearance, he had gone +covertly to forestall your demand, and gain the promise of her hand +from her guardian, surely you were bound to keep no measures with him. +All I did subsequently was to serve you in a cause that I thought was +right, and it is but a few days ago that you were grateful to me for +so doing. I said at the time, and I say again, that if at the moment +when your brother commenced his attack upon the house in the Rue de la +Ferroniere, either you or I had been taken, death and eternal disgrace +would have been the consequence. We acted but in our own defence, and +those who assailed us cannot accuse us for so acting." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him in sullen silence, his dark eyes +rolling from side to side beneath his heavy eyebrows. In his dealings +with the Abbe de Boisguerin he had by this time learned fully how +artful and politic was the man who led him. He saw it, and he could +not doubt it, even while he shared in the things at which his better +spirit revolted. But that very knowledge taught him to doubt, whether +the art and the policy were used for his service, and out of affection +to him, or whether they were all directed in some secret way to the +benefit of him who wielded them so dexterously. The suspicions which +Villequier had instilled rose fresh in his mind at this very time; and +as his only answer to the Abbe's reasonings, he demanded with a keen +glance and a sharp tone, "Tell me. Abbe, was it, or was it not, you +who brought the reiters upon us, and who gave the King's forces notice +of our passage?" + +"I did the one, but not the other," replied the Abbe calmly. "I dealt +not with the reiters, Gaspar de Montsoreau, for that would have been +dangerous to me, to her, and to you. But I did inform the troops of +the King, because I already had learned how deeply the Duke of Guise +was pledged to your brother; because I knew that no reasoning would +prevent either you or this fair girl from going on to Soissons; and +because I saw that there was no earthly chance of your obtaining her +hand, but by placing her under the charge of her father's nearest male +relation, from whom the Duke of Guise unjustly withholds the +guardianship. I own it, I acknowledge it, I am proud of it." + +The way in which the Abbe replied was not such as Gaspar de Montsoreau +had expected; but dissatisfied with himself, and of course with every +thing else, Gaspar de Montsoreau still gazed sullenly on the floor, +and then raised his eyes to the open window of the pavilion, where the +warm sun was seen streaming through the green vines, with the birds +still singing sweetly in the woods without. But it was all to him as +the face of Eden to our first parents after the fall; a shade seemed +to come over his eyes when he looked upon the loveliness of nature; +the very sunshine seemed to him darkness; and the fair world a desert. + +"Can you give me back my delight in that sunshine?" he said, after a +pause. "Can you make the notes of those birds again sound sweet to my +ear? Can you remove the heavy, heavy burden of remorse from this +heart? Can you ever, ever prove to me, that for this unrequited love I +have not made myself a guilty wretch, bearing the sign of Cain upon +his brow, the curse of Cain within his bosom?" + +"If such be your feelings," replied the Abbe, "if such--contrary to +all justice and reason--is the state in which your mind is to remain, +there is one way that will alleviate and soothe you, that may seem in +your eyes some atonement, and put your conscience more at rest. Cast +off this love which you believe has led you into evil, yield the +pursuit of this fair girl, renounce the object for which you did that +whereof your heart reproaches you, and by that voluntary punishment +and self-command, do penance for aught in which you may have failed. +Doubtless, that penance will be severe and terrible to endure; but the +more it is so, the greater is the atonement." + +The Marquis gazed him in the face thoughtfully while the Abbe spoke, +and then fell into a long reverie. His brow was raised and depressed, +his teeth gnawed his nether lip, his hand clenched and opened with the +struggle that was going on within, and at length, stamping his heel +upon the ground, he exclaimed, "No, no, no! I have paid a mighty +price, and I will save the jewel that I have bought with my soul's +salvation! That fiery love is the only thing now left me upon +earth.--She shall be mine, or I will die! What is there that shall +stop me now? What is there that shall hinder me? Have I not wealth, +and power, and courage, and strength, and daring, and determination? +The fear of crime! the fear of crime! that weak barrier is cast down +and trampled under my feet. Have I not broken the nearest and the +dearest ties of kindred and affection, murdered the brother that +hung on the same breast, dimmed the eyes that looked upon me in +infancy, frozen the warm heart that was cradled in the same womb with +mine?--Out upon it! What is there should stop me now? The lesser +crimes of earth, the smaller violences, seem ground into unseen dust +by this greater crime. Abbe, I will buy her of Villequier!--I know how +to win him!--I will force her to love me, or she shall hate her +husband! What is there shall stop me now? I will buy the priest as +well as the ring, or the wedding garment; and she shall be mine, +whether her heart be mine or not!". + +While he spoke the Abbe de Boisguerin gazed upon him with one of his +calm dark smiles; but upon the present occasion that smile upon the +lip was at variance with a slight frown upon his brow. He replied +little, however, saying merely, "It is so, Gaspar! It is so, that men +seek to enjoy the fruit, and yet regret the means. They will never +find happiness thus, however." + +"Happiness!" exclaimed the Marquis, with a look of agony upon his +face. "Is there such a thing as happiness? Oh yes, there is, and I +once knew it, when together with that brother who is now no more, and +you also, my friend, undisturbed by stormy passions, content with that +I had, blessed with the only friendship and affection that was needful +to content, I passed the sunny hours in sport and joy, and scarcely +knew the common pains incident to man's general nature. And you have +aided to destroy this state, and you have helped to drive me forth +from happiness, to blot it out so entirely, that I could almost forget +it ever existed." + +"No, no, Gaspar of Montsoreau!" exclaimed the Abbe quickly, "I have +not done any of these things you talk of. I have not aided in any one +degree to take from you the happiness you formerly had. There is but +one secret for the preservation of happiness, Gaspar. It matters not +what is the object of desire, for any thing that we thirst for really +may give us happiness in nearly the same portion as another. Happiness +is gained by the right estimation of the means. If a man ever uses +means that he regrets, to obtain any object that he desires, he loses +the double happiness which may be obtained in life, the happiness of +pursuit and the happiness of enjoyment. Every means must, of course, +be proportioned to its end; where much is to be won, much must be +risked or paid: but the firm strong mind, the powerful understanding, +weighs the object against the price; and, if it be worthy, whatever +that price may be, after it is once paid and the object attained, +regrets not the payment. It is like an idle child who covets a gilt +toy, spoils it in half an hour, and then regrets the money it has +cost, ever to sorrow over means we have used, when those means have +proved successful. Say not, Gaspar, that I disturbed your happiness! +While you were in your own lands, enjoying the calm pleasures of a +provincial life, knowing no joys, seeking no pleasures but those +which, like light winds that ruffle the surface and plough not up the +bosom of the water, amuse the mind but never agitate the heart, I +lived contented and happy amongst you, believing that, but once or +twice at most in the life of man, a joy is set before him, which is +worthy of being bartered against amusement. I joined in all your +sports, I furnished you with new sources of the same calm pleasures; +and as long as I saw the passions were shut out, I sought no change +for myself or for you either. But when the moment came, that strong +and deep passions were to be introduced; when I saw that your heart, +and that of your brother, like the moulded figure by the demigod, had +been touched with the ethereal fire, and woke from slumber never to +sleep again, then it was but befitting that I should aid him who +confided in me, in the pursuit that he was now destined to follow. If +the object was a great and worthy one, the means to obtain it were +necessarily powerful and hazardous. No man ought to yield his repose +for any thing that is not worth all risks; but having once begun the +course, he must go on; and weak and idle is he who cannot overleap the +barriers that he meets with, or, when the race is won, turns to regret +this flower or that which he may have trampled down in his course." + +"You are harsh, Abbe," replied the Marquis thoughtfully, somewhat +shaken by his words--for though the wounds of remorse admit no balm, +they are sometimes forgotten in strong excitement. "You are harsh, but +yet it is a terrible thing to have slain one's brother." + +"It is," replied the Abbe; "but circumstances give the value of every +fact. It is a terrible thing to slay any human being; to take the life +of a creature, full of the same high intelligences as ourselves: but +if I slay that man in a room, and for no purpose, it is called murder; +if I slay him in a battle-field, in order to obtain a crown, it is a +glorious act, and worthy of immortal renown." + +The Marquis listened to his sophistry, eager to take any theme of +consolation to his heart. But any one who heard him, would have +supposed that the Abbe de Boisguerin thought his companion too easily +consoled. Perhaps it might be that the Abbe himself sought to defend +his share in the transaction, rather than to give any comfort to his +unhappy cousin. At all events, after a brief pause, during which both +fell into thought, he added, "What I grieve the most for is, that +Charles was kind-hearted and generous, frank and true, and I believe +sincerely that, but for this unhappy business, he loved us both." + +"Ay, there is the horror! there is the horror!" exclaimed the Marquis, +casting himself down into a chair, and covering his eyes with his +hands. "He did love me, I know he did; and I believe he sought to act +generously by me." + +The Abbe suffered him to indulge in his grief for a moment or two, and +then replied, "But the misfortune is, that, with all this, your object +is not yet secured; that though you have once more snatched her from +the power of the Guises, you have not contrived to keep her in your +own." + +The Marquis waved his hand impatiently, saying, "I cannot--I will not +talk of such things now. Leave me, Abbe, leave me! I can but grieve; +there is no way that I can turn without encountering sorrow." + +The Abbe turned and left him; and descending the steps into the +gardens, he walked on in the calm sunshine, as tranquilly as if purity +and holiness had dwelt within his breast. "I must bear this yet a +while longer," he said to himself. "But now, if I could find some +enthusiastic priest, full of wild eloquence, such as we have in Italy, +to seize this deep moment of remorse, we might do much with him to +make him abjure this pursuit; perhaps abjure the world! The foolish +boy thinks that it was his hand that did it, and does not know that I +fired at all, when his hand shook so that he could not well have +struck him. Perhaps there may be such a priest as I need up there," he +continued, looking towards Augouleme, "perhaps there may be such a +priest up there, of the kind I want. Epernon has his fits of devotion +too, I believe. At all events, I will go up and see. The madder the +better for my purpose." + +Thus saying he called some servants, ordered his horse, and, as soon +as it was brought, rode away towards Augouleme. + + + + + CHAP. V. + + +Gaspar de Montsoreau remained in the same position in which the Abbe +had left him for nearly an hour, and the struggle of the various +passions which agitated his heart, were perhaps as terrible as any +that had ever been known to human being. His situation, indeed, was +one which exposed him more than most men are ever exposed, to the +contention of the most opposite feelings. He had not been led +gradually on, as many are, step by step, to evil; but he had been +taken from the midst of warm and kindly feelings, from the practice of +right, and an habitual course of calm and tranquil enjoyment, and by +the mastery of one strong and violent passion had been plunged into +the midst of crimes which had left anguish and remorse behind them. + +Still, however, the passion which had at first led him astray, existed +in all its fierceness and all its intensity; and, like some quiet +field--from which the husbandman has been accustomed to gather yearly, +in the calm sunshine, a rich and kindly harvest--when suddenly made +the place of strife by contending armies, his heart, so tranquil and +so happy not a year before, had now become the battle-place of remorse +and love. + +Sometimes the words of the Abbe came back upon his ear, urging him to +abandon for ever, as a penance for his crime, the pursuit which had +already led him to such awful deeds; but then again the thought of +Marie de Clairvaut, of never beholding that beautiful being again, of +yielding her for ever, perhaps, to the arms of others, came across his +brain, and almost drove him mad. + +Then would rush remorse again upon his heart, the features of his +brother rose up before him, his graceful form seemed to move within +his sight; the frank warm-hearted, kindly smile, that had ever greeted +him when they met, was now painted by memory to his eye; and many a +trait of generous kindness, many a noble, many an endearing act, the +words and jests of boyhood and infancy, the long remembered sports of +early years, the accidents, the adventures, the tender and twining +associations of youth and happiness, forgotten in the strife of +passion and the contention of rivalry, now came back, as vividly as +the things of yesterday--came back, alas! now that death had ended the +struggle, rendered the deeds of the past irreparable, thrown the pall +of remorse over the last few months, and left memory alone to deck the +tomb of the dead with bright flowers gathered from their spring of +life. + +It was too much to bear: he turned back again to the words, not of +consolation but of incitement, which the Abbe had spoken to him. He +tried to think it was folly to regret what had been done; he tried to +recollect that it was in a scene of contention, and in moments of +strife, that his brother had fallen; he strove to persuade himself +that Marie de Clairvaut had been under his care and guidance and +direction, and that his brother Charles had had no right even to +attempt to take her out of his hands. He laboured, in short, to steel +his heart; to render it as hard iron, in order to resist the things +that it had to endure. He sought anxiously to rouse it into activity; +and he tried to fix his mind still upon the thoughts of winning Marie +de Clairvaut. He resolved, at whatever price, by whatever sacrifice, +to gain her, to possess her, to make her his own beyond recall: with +the eagerness of passion and the recklessness of remorse, he +determined to pursue his course, trusting, as many have idly trusted, +that he should induce the woman, whose affections and feelings he +forced, to love the man to whose passions she was made a sacrifice. + +The struggle was still going on, the voice of conscience was raising +itself loudly from time to time, memory was doing her work, and +passion was opposing all, when, without hearing any step, or knowing +that any one had arrived at the house, he felt a hand quietly laid +upon his arm, and starting up with a feeling almost of terror, which +was unusual to him, he beheld the dark and sinister, though handsome, +countenance of Villequier. + +The courtier grasped his hand with enthusiastic warmth, and gazed in +his face with a look of deep interest. "You are sad, Monsieur de +Montsoreau," he said; "I grieve to see you so sad. I fear that the +news which I came to break to you has been told you, perhaps, in a +rash and inconsiderate manner. You are aware then that your brother is +no more. I hoped to have been in time, for I only heard it the day +before yesterday, in the evening, from the Duke of Guise, who is now +with the King, and, as you know, all powerful." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau heard him to an end, and then merely bowed his +head, saying, "I have heard all, Monsieur de Villequier." But although +he saw that his companion--who had more than once witnessed the +fierceness of his feelings towards his brother regarding Mademoiselle +de Clairvaut--was surprised at the deep grief he now betrayed, he +dared not let him know how much that grief was aggravated by remorse, +from the belief that his own hand had cut the thread of his brother's +life. + +"I am sorry. Monsieur de Montsoreau," added Villequier, "to see you so +deeply affected by this matter. Pray remember, that though Monsieur de +Logeres was your brother, he was struggling with you for the hand of +the person you love, and that his being now removed, renders your hope +of obtaining the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut no longer doubtful +and remote, but certain and almost immediate." + +"I see not the matter in the same cheering light that you do, Monsieur +de Villequier," replied Gaspar de Montsoreau thoughtfully. "You say, +and I hear also that it is so, that the Duke of Guise is now all +powerful with the King; if such be the case, what results have we to +anticipate? Do you think that the Duke of Guise will ever consent to +the union of his ward with me? Do you think that, prejudging the +question as he has already done, he will give me the bride that he +promised to my brother? Have I not heard from those who were present, +that he has sworn by all he holds sacred, that never, under any +circumstances, should she be mine?" + +"The Duke of Guise is not immortal," replied Villequier drily; "and +his death leaves her wholly in my power. Should such an event not take +place, however, and the period of her attaining free agency approach, +we must risk a little should need be, and employ a certain degree of +gentle compulsion to drive or lead her to that which we desire." + +"When will it be?" demanded Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Why should we +pause? why should we risk any thing by delay?" + +"She becomes a free agent by the law," replied Villequier, "on the +morrow of next Christmas. If that day passes, it is true, prayers and +supplications will be all that can be used, for the Parliament will +extend its protection to her, and not the King himself can force her +to wed any one she does not choose. Before that period her guardian +can, for such is the feudal law of this realm, that she can be forced +either to resign her lands or produce some one in her stead to lead +her retainers in the King's service. The law has been somewhat +stretched, it is true; but on more than one occasion, with the consent +of the King, the guardian of a young lady difficult to please, has +compelled her to make a choice, and the Parliament has sanctioned the +act." + +"Are you not her lawful guardian, then?" demanded the young Marquis, +"that you should hesitate, in hopes of the Duke of Guise's death." + +"I maintain that I am her guardian," replied Villequier, "and my suit +is before the Parliament; but I should be much more certainly her +guardian, if the Duke of Guise were dead." + +"The Duke of Guise dead!" said Gaspar de Montsoreau sullenly. "A thing +improbable, unlikely, not to be counted upon. If that be all my hold +upon you, Monsieur de Villequier, the hopes that you have held out to +me are but slight in fabric and foundation." + +"Hear me, my good young friend," replied Villequier. "They are not so +slight as you imagine. In the first place, we have for some time held +in France that rash and troublesome persons who oppose our progress, +or thwart our desires, are to be encountered for a certain time by the +arts of policy and by every soft and quiet inducement we may hold out +to them. When we have been patient as long as possible, and find that +they are not to be frustrated by any ordinary means, it becomes +necessary to put a stop to their opposition, and to remove them from +the way in which we are proceeding. Now, the Duke of Guise has been +very busily teaching a number of persons, both high and low, that his +prolonged life would be extremely inconvenient to them. Biron does not +love him, D'Aumont abominates him, D'O. has good cause to wish him a +step beyond Jerusalem; Henry of Navarre has in him a bitter enemy; the +rash, vain, Count of Soissons an obstacle and a stumbling-block; and +though I am his humble servant, and the King his very good friend, yet +both Henry and myself could do quite as well without him. Besides +these, there are at least ten thousand more in France who would walk +with their beavers far more gallantly, if there were a Guise the less +in the world; so that I say, on very probable reasoning, that I would +fully as soon reckon upon the life of a man of eighty, as I would upon +the robust, powerful existence of Henry of Guise even for an hour. But +putting all that aside. Monsieur de Montsoreau, taking it for granted +that he lives, what can I do but what I propose? You have the King's +promise and mine in writing; we can do no more. The cause is before +the Parliament, and Henry, restrained in his own court, at war with +his own subjects, and driven from his own capital, depend upon it, +will never sign your contract of marriage with Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut till every other hope has failed; ay, and what is more, till +he sees before him a very very great object to be gained by so doing." + +"A fresh object you mean, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar de +Montsoreau. "I know that this is the way in which kings and statesmen +deal with men less wise than themselves. There must be always one +object secured to obtain the promise, and another to obtain the +performance. Pray, what is the new object, Monsieur de Villequier? and +is it sure, that if an object be held out of sufficient worth and +importance, the King will not find some specious reason for drawing +back, or that some new irresistible obstacle does not present itself?" + +"Consider the King's situation. Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied +Villequier, "with the Duke of Guise constantly at his side, dictating +to him all his movements, with the question, of guardianship even now +lying before the Parliament, he would run the very greatest risk at +this moment if he were to do as we both wish, and forcibly hurry on +this business to a conclusion. But the aspect of affairs is changing +every day,--the Count of Soissons has come to join him; Henry of +Navarre himself has sent him offers of assistance and support; +Epernon, roused into activity, is levying forces in all parts of the +country; every day the King may expect to make some way against the +party of his adversaries; and therefore every day is something gained. +But even were it not so very hazardous to attempt any thing of the +kind at present, you could not expect the King to risk much, and +embarrass his policy for your sake, without some individual motive. +That this business should take place, is your strong and intense +desire. It is very natural that it should be so; but neither the King +nor myself have any such feelings, passions, or wishes. Let us each +have our advantage, or our gratification, in that which is to ensue, +and I will undertake, and pledge myself in the most solemn manner, +that Mademoiselle de Clairvaut shall be your wife before next +Christmas-day." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau paused, and thought carefully over all that had +been said. "I thank you. Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "for +speaking freely in this matter. Let us cast away all idle delicacy. +Things have happened to me lately which have taught me to hold all +such empty verbiage at naught. Let us look upon this business as a +matter of dealing, a matter of merchandise." + +"Exactly!" replied Villequier raising his eyes slightly, but not +seeming in the least degree offended. "Let us consider it in such a +light. Every matter of policy is but trade upon a large scale." + +"Well then," continued Gaspar de Montsoreau in the same bold tone, "I +will look upon you and the King, Monsieur de Villequier, as two +partners in a mercantile house. Now, what sort of merchandise is it +that you would prefer to have in barter for your signature to my +marriage contract with this young Lady. Shall it be money?" + +"Money!" exclaimed Villequier, with a slight ironical smile playing +about the corners of his mouth. "Have you any money? It is indeed a +surprising thing to hear any one talk of money except the Duke of +Guise, or the Duke of Epernon. Why, Bellievre assures me, upon his +honour, that the very dispatch which he was ordered to send to +Soissons, to forbid positively the Duke of Guise coming to Paris, was +stopped, for what reason think you? Because, when he took it down to +the treasury, there was not found fifty livres to pay the courier's +expenses. The courier would not go without the money, Bellievre had +none to give him, so between them both they carried the King's +dispatch to the post, and put it in with the common letters. The +letters went to Rheims before they were sent to Soissons, and the Duke +of Guise was in Paris, while the order to forbid him was on the +road.[3] Money? Oh certainly, money above all things! But pray do not +let it be a large sum, lest, like an apoplectic epicure, the King's +treasury and my purse die of sudden repletion." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 3: This is historically true in regard to one of the +dispatches to the Duke of Guise; and in representing Henry and his +courtiers as occasionally acting the part of low and mercenary +swindlers, first fleecing and then laughing at a dupe, I am also borne +out by facts.] + +--------------------- + + +"Well then, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, after taking +one or two turns up and down the room, "I will tell you what I will +do, to show you how dearly I hold the gift that is promised me. On the +day of my marriage with Marie de Clairvaut, when it is all completed, +the benediction said, the contract signed, your name as guardian, and +the King's in confirmation attached, I will place in your hands the +sum of one hundred thousand crowns of the sun." + +"Heavens and earth!" exclaimed Villequier in the same tone in which he +had spoken before, "I did not know that there was such a sum in +France. If I were to tell it to Monsieur d'O. he would not believe +me." + +"But remember, Monsieur de Villequier," replied Gaspar of Montsoreau, +not quite liking the levity of his companion's speech, "this is no +jesting matter with me, whatever it may be with you; and I must have +such sure and perfect warranty that you will not betray my hopes +again, or ask for even the slightest further delay, that there cannot +be a doubt rest upon my mind; otherwise----" + +"Otherwise what, Monsieur de Montsoreau?" demanded Villequier. "If we +do not keep our words, you know we shall lose the great advantage that +we hope to gain from you. That is the surest bond! Let the matter +stand thus, sir: if this marriage do take place, as I have promised +you it shall, the hundred thousand crowns of gold are paid; if not, we +are the losers. I see no alternative beyond this." + +"By Heavens! but there is, and there shall be one," answered Gaspar de +Montsoreau impetuously. "I see that Monsieur de Villequier, who is +supposed to count upon every chance and circumstance collateral and +direct, has forgotten one or two points, although he has not forgotten +that I am heir of my brother's lands, both of Logeres and Morly. But I +will only put him in mind of what might take place on either side. The +King and Monsieur de Villequier might find obstacles of great import +rise up against my wishes, or they might find greater advantages in +some other quarter; they might think it worth while to keep me +trifling in inactivity, or employ me in their service against the +enemy. They might do all this, and then forego the sum named for a +greater. I, on the other hand. Monsieur de Villequier, might see +wavering and hesitation; I might grow tired of waiting and dependence; +I might say to-morrow I have no certainty in this business, and I +might give my banner to the wind, broider the cross of the League upon +my breast, or assume the double cross of Lorraine, and either range +the spears of Montsoreau and Logeres in the ranks of the army of +Mayenne, or marching to Chartres, Tours, or Blois, might bow me lowly +to my Lord of Guise, and begging him to forget the past, swear myself +his faithful servant." + +Villequier gazed on him for a moment with certainly not the most +friendly expression of countenance, and was about to speak; but the +young Marquis, conscious of his own importance, waved his hand, +saying, "Nay, nay, Monsieur de Villequier! on all and on every account +the plan I am about to propose is the only one that can be followed. +Of course, in dealing with his Majesty, I cannot treat as crown to +crown;" and he smiled somewhat bitterly. "But I must treat with you as +gentleman to gentleman, and leave you to entreat his Majesty--urgently +and zealously, as I doubt not you will do it, to accede graciously to +our views. Thus then shall it be, that you and the King shall enter +into a bond with me, by which you shall engage that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut shall, with the full consent of both parties expressed by +their signature to our marriage-contract, become my wife on or before +next Christmas-day, and in default shall be subject to amercement in +whatsoever amount the Parliament of Paris may judge that I am damaged +by the want of performance. This is merely to secure that the matter +be explicit; and in the same bond may be placed my engagement to pay +the sum named, upon the fulfilment of the contract. This is fair, and +only fair; and you know my last resolve." + +"In truth, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "if you knew +but the state of our finances, you would see that we are far more +likely to be so eager in concluding this business as even to risk +dangerous consequences, than to trifle with you in any degree." + +He remembered the curious engagement that he had entered into with the +Abbe de Boisguerin, and he paused a moment, in hopes that Gaspar de +Montsoreau might show even the slightest sign of hesitation: but, so +far from it, the frown deepened on the young nobleman's brow, and he +replied sharply, "I will trust to no contingencies. Monsieur de +Villequier. These are changing times, as you well know. The cross +Fleurdelisee in your arms[4] may well be changed, by the golden +billets dropped around it, into the cross of Lorraine. If what I have +offered be as good as you say, there is no earthly reason why his +Majesty of France or yourself, Monsieur de Villequier, should object +to enter into the engagement with me that I propose." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 4: Such were the arms of the Villequier family.] + +--------------------- + + +"Well," answered Villequier; "well, I must do my best with the King; +but I dare say, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he said in a lower voice, "I +dare say you are well aware that a little compulsion, perhaps, must be +used in this instance." + +He thought he saw hesitation, and he went on the more eagerly, for he +wished to avoid the written engagement. "I must be permitted to use +what means I think fit to wring consent from the young Lady herself. +Nor must I have one word of objection on your part, whatever you see +or hear--no asking for delay!--no yielding to her tears. One word of +such a kind, remember, vitiates the engagement upon our part, but +leaves you as strictly bound as ever." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau gazed down upon the ground sternly for several +moments, with his brows contracting, till his eyes were nearly hid +beneath them. His fingers were seen to clasp into the palms of his +hands, as if the nails would have buried themselves there. But after a +short and terrible struggle, the evil spirit maintained its +ascendancy, and he exclaimed, "Be it so! Be it so! But in the +meantime, sir," he continued abruptly, "there is one thing I have to +demand. How have I been led with hopes, and meeting nothing but +disappointments, for the last two months. I who dared all, and +underwent all, to snatch her once more from the power of the Guises. +When forced to fly, it was under your power and in your charge I left +her; and yet, though this is the fourth or fifth time that you and I +have met, I have never been able to see her, or to learn distinctly +where she is. This must be no longer, Monsieur de Villequier. I need +consolation; I need comfort; the only comfort or consolation I can +find is in her presence and in her society. Where is she?--I demand to +know where she is. I was brought to Augouleme by information that she +was in the neighbourhood; but I cannot discover her, and I will be +trifled with no longer." + +"By all I hold sacred," exclaimed Villequier, not a little surprised +by the bold and daring tone and decided manner, which the young +nobleman had so suddenly put on, "By all I hold sacred----" + +"What is that, sir?" demanded Gaspar de Montsoreau. + +Villequier smiled. "Oh many things, Monsieur de Montsoreau," he +answered; "I hold many things sacred. But with any oath or abjuration +that you think most convenient, I assure you that Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut is not under my charge, or in my power at this moment." + +"But was so how long ago?" demanded the Marquis. + +"About a fortnight," replied Villequier coolly. "The fact is, Monsieur +de Montsoreau, that his high and mighty Highness, the Duke of Guise, +having come to pay a humble visit to his Majesty--to congratulate him, +I suppose, on being driven out of Paris,--gave significant notice to +the King, on their first interview at Chartres, that he believed +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut to be in my hands, and that he would have +her instantly delivered up. I was not present, you know, but every +thing passed as the Guises wished. I dare say you have heard all the +rest; Epernon was banished, and fled to Augouleme here, stripped of +his high posts and manifold emoluments; Guise was created +generalissimo of the King's armies; in fact, Guise dictated the law to +the King, and Henry was fain to forget all the past, or to cover the +bitter memory with a jest." + +"But to the point; to the point, Monsieur de Villequier," said the +Marquis de Montsoreau. "What of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut?" + +"Why, the King told me," replied Villequier, "that the Duke demanded +her at all events till the Parliament of Paris had decided our cause. +The next day the Duke and I had an interview on the subject; but ere +that, I had placed her in the hands of a friend, and begged him to +remove her for a time from the house where she then was. The Duke was +as imperious and unceremonious as an executioner. He vowed that I +should give her up to him at once; and though we did our best to +deceive him, exactly as we had done with your wild thoughtless +brother, the Duke did not so easily believe us; and both I and the +King were obliged to swear upon the mass that she was not in our +power, and that we knew not where she was. That was easily done; but +Henry's low laugh had nearly betrayed the whole; and the Duke swore +loudly, and menaced high, that if he were deceived, he would have +vengeance." + +"And now, Monsieur de Villequier," said the Marquis, "where is she +now? And who is the friend in whose hands you have placed her?" + +Villequier paused for a single moment, as if to consider whether he +should tell him or not. But a moment after he answered with a smile, +"The friend in whose hands she is placed, Monsieur de Montsoreau, is +one in whom at that time you yourself placed great confidence. I trust +the same feelings exist still towards him. I mean the Abbe de +Boisguerin." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau started at the intelligence with feelings of +angry dissatisfaction, which he could hardly account for to himself, +but which he instantly strove to conceal from the keen eyes of the +artful man with whom he was dealing. The exclamation of "Indeed!" +however, which broke from his lips, was uttered in a tone which +instantly showed Villequier that the tidings were by no means +pleasing; and while he suffered the young Marquis to digest them at +leisure he laid out in his own mind a plan for keeping the Abbe and +his former pupil at variance, not with any clear and definite object, +indeed, but for the purpose of having a check upon the young Marquis +at any future moment, in case of necessity. Villequier felt, too, that +the clear, artful, and unscrupulous mind of the Abbe de Boisguerin was +far better fitted to deal with, and frustrate him in any purpose that +he might entertain, than that of the young Marquis, which, though not +deficient either in acuteness or policy, was constantly misled by +inexperience, or by the impetuosity of strong passions. He felt that +the counsels of the Abbe might under many circumstances, if given +sincerely, be a safeguard to Gaspar de Montsoreau against his arts; +and he therefore saw no slight advantage in encouraging feelings of +doubt and dissatisfaction in the mind of his young companion. + +"It is surprising," said the Marquis, "that the Abbe did not +communicate to me the facts which you have mentioned, Monsieur de +Villequier; but I suppose that you bound him down to secrecy." + +"To general secrecy," replied Villequier, "as was absolutely +necessary. But you, of course, as my friend, and as the person most +interested--you, of course, were excepted. No, Monsieur de Montsoreau, +no! In this business the Abbe has acted upon his own judgment. He was +then at Blois, you know. I was in great haste, knew no other person to +whom I could apply, and therefore entrusted him with the task, +thinking him also, at that time, you must remember, sincerely, truly, +and devotedly your friend." + +"And have you any cause. Monsieur de Villequier," demanded the +Marquis, "have you any cause to suppose now that he is not my friend?" + +"Nay, Monsieur de Montsoreau!" replied Villequier. "If you are +satisfied, I have nothing to say. I only thought you seemed +dissatisfied, and----" + +"And what, Monsieur de Villequier?" demanded the Marquis, seeing that +he paused. + +"I was going to say," replied Villequier, "that it might be as well +for you to be upon your guard. We are living in troublous times, +Monsieur de Montsoreau. We are both of us placed in a delicate +situation; every word and action ought to be guided by policy and +forethought; and though I do not wish to wound the delicacy of your +friendship towards your relation and friend, Monsieur de Boisguerin, +yet we all know that he is a skilful politician, and that when, some +years ago, even as a young man he appeared at the Court of France, her +Majesty the Queen-mother was heard to say, she was glad when he was +gone, for she was confident that he would outwit Satan himself, and +therefore might go far to outwit her." + +"I should not mind his policy," replied the Marquis. "I should not +mind his policy, if you had not insinuated doubts as to whether he was +at heart my friend." + +Villequier answered nothing, but gazed down upon the ground with his +brow somewhat contracted, and then stirred the rushes on the floor +with the point of his sword, as if determined not to make any reply. + +"You are silent, Monsieur de Villequier," said Gaspar of Montsoreau; +"and yet there is hanging a cloud of much thought upon your brow, as +if there were intelligence in your breast which you could give, but +would not. I beseech you, if you are really friendly to me--or to +speak more plainly--if our interests in this business are in some +degree linked together, I beseech you to let me know fully and fairly +what you think, and what you know, of the Abbe de Boisguerin." + +"Thus adjured, Monsieur de Montsoreau," replied Villequier, "I can but +answer you, that I do not think Monsieur de Boisguerin is as friendly +to you as you suppose. Depend upon it, he has his own purposes to +answer first, and you are but a secondary consideration, if not, +perhaps, a tool." + +"These are grave charges, sir," said Gaspar de Montsoreau, somewhat +angry at the term tool. "I should like to have some proofs to sustain +them." + +"See! you are angry already," cried Villequier. "However, at the +present moment I have no proofs to give. At some future time--ay, +before the period of your marriage with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, I +may give you such proof of what is the Abbe's real character and real +feelings towards you, that you will say I am well justified. In the +meantime I have warned you sufficiently to put you on your guard. That +is enough for the present moment: you must act as you think fit; but +still you will be prepared. Farther, I have only to say, that it is +not I that keep you from seeing Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You have my +full will and consent to see her whom you will. I would not, indeed, +have you visit her too often, lest discovery should ensue, and Guise +obtain possession of her at once. But your own discretion must be your +guide. I will now leave you, Monsieur de Montsoreau; and, depend upon +it, you will not find that I will fail you in any of the promises I +have made, and will very soon return to you with the business arranged +by the King, in the manner that you desire. We must then wait until +further delay be judged dangerous: then if nothing occurs to relieve +us from the other obstacles, we must in the end step over them; and, +forgetting a little law, conclude your marriage, whether the +Parliament awards me the guardianship or not. When once she is made +your wife, they cannot easily unwife her." + +Gaspar de Montsoreau, full of thoughts rather than words, did not +pursue the conversation further. "I have but shown you scanty +courtesy, Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "in not asking you to make +your home of my poor house. It is not, indeed, such as I could wish to +offer you, having been taken from its bankrupt lord in some slight +haste. But still----" + +"I thank you most humbly, Marquis," replied Villequier. "But I am +bound farther to the city on the hill there. I must lodge with Epernon +to-night, for I have messages to him from the King." + +Thus saying, after various more such ceremonious speeches as the age +required, Villequier took his departure, and mounting his horse, which +he had ordered to be kept still saddled in the court-yard, he rode on +towards Augouleme, followed by his train. As he did so, he once more +thought over the alliance between Gaspar de Montsoreau and Marie de +Clairvaut. "If I can bring it about," he thought, "I not only gain +this sum he promises, but bind him to me for ever. I am her nearest +male relation, and I could not well find such an alliance in France. +Montsoreau, Morly, Logeres; it is a wonderful combination! But even, +were it not for that--were it half as good, where should I get the man +in France who would give a hundred thousand golden crowns for the +possession of such a cold piece of pretty marble as that." + + + + + CHAP. VI. + + +While the conversation just narrated was taking place, and the +character and views of the Abbe de Boisguerin were being commented +upon in a manner which he could but little have wished, he himself was +pursuing his way towards the town of Augouleme, with feelings and +purposes varying at every step; though in his case it was not the +slightest sting of remorse or regret which occasioned this vacillation +of purpose. + +Probably there never was a man on earth who wholly and entirely +stilled the voice of conscience, and there might be moments when the +Abbe's own heart reproached him for things which he had done. But the +habit of his thoughts was different. He had been brought up in a +school where right and wrong were so frequently confounded for the +purpose of maintaining the temporal dominion of the church that, at a +very early period of his life, he had arrived at that conclusion, +which the sceptical followers of Pyrrho arrive at by a more lengthened +process, namely, that on earth there is no absolute and invariable +right and wrong. + +The Jesuits had taught him, that what was wrong under some +circumstances, and marked by the reprobation both of God and man, was +right under other circumstances, and even praiseworthy; and forgetting +the cautious restrictions under which the wiser and the better members +of the order attempted, though vainly, to guard the doctrine, his keen +and clear mind at once determined, that if fraud could ever be pious, +virtue of any kind could be but a name. If there were no invariable +and universal standard: if his thoughts and his actions were to be +governed by the opinions, and directed to the purposes of men, the +only rule of virtue, he saw, must be the approbation of others like +himself; and as every course of action must have an end and object to +secure energy in pursuing it, he readily fell into the belief that +gratification was the great object, and men's good opinion but to be +sought as a means to that end. + +It may be easily conceived how far he went on upon such a course of +reasoning. It naturally ended in the disbelief of every thing that +other men hold sacred: yet he put on all the semblances of religion; +for as he believed in no hereafter, to do so, did not seem to him an +impious mockery, but merely an unmeaning ceremony required by society. +Every thing had become with him a matter of calculation; any thing +that was to be obtained, was to be obtained by a certain price; and, +as he himself declared, he never regretted giving any price, provided +the object was attained, and was of equal value. + +It was his passions alone that led him wrong, and made him calculate +falsely. They had done so more than once in life, but yet not +frequently; not indeed that he sought to subdue them, but that they +were not naturally easily roused. + +It was no remorse then, or regret, that moved him in the varying state +of his thoughts as he rode on. It was doubt as to the means that he +was employing; It was doubt as to whether the strong passion, which he +felt within his breast, was not blinding his eyes, and misleading his +judgment, as to the choice of paths and instruments. He felt that on +the present occasion he calculated not so coolly as he was accustomed +to do; he felt that the object he had proposed to himself--or rather +which passion, and rash passion had suggested--was one so great and so +little likely to be obtained, that the means employed must be great +and extraordinary also; and that no single false step could be taken +without the loss of every hope. His sensations were all strangely +complicated, however. He felt and reproached himself for feeling that +the passion in his heart had grown up so powerful, so overwhelming, +that when he thought of staking life itself upon the issue, not a +hesitation crossed his mind, and that he was ready to say, like a +love-sick boy, "Let me die, if she be not mine!" But with that +passion, he had mingled ambition, both as a means and as an end; +prospects had opened before his eyes which had roused in his heart +aspirations, which he thought he had put down; and not only to succeed +in his love, but to gild that love with pageantry and state and power, +had now become his object. + +Still, however, he remembered that in grasping at these high things, +he might overlook matters which would prevent him reaching them; and +after riding on quickly for some time, he drew in his rein, to think +more calmly, to review his situation, and to calculate exactly all the +important, the critical steps which were now to be taken. + +"What am I next going to do?" he thought. "To seek for a priest, who +may work upon that impetuous, weak-minded boy, to yield the object of +his passion, because, in the pursuit thereof, he has shed his +brother's blood. And yet, is it likely that he will yield it? No! I +fear not! and yet stronger minds than his have been bowed down by +superstition to greater sacrifices. He may, it is true; and it may be +as well to secure that chance: but then, even then, only one small +step is gained. If one could get him to yield all his great +possessions at the same time, that were something! But he will not do +that! Two centuries ago we would have sent him to the holy land: but +those good times are past. What then is to be done?--To hurry him on +into some rash enterprise, and sharing his danger, take the equal +chance of which shall live and which shall die?--That were a +gamester's policy indeed.--No! we must find more easy means than +that." + +"However," continued the Abbe, after a pause "in the meantime, I must +strike for myself alone. She hates and abhors him evidently. I myself +have been too rash and rough with her. My passion has been too +impetuous--too fiery. I know that those women who seem so cold and +circumspect are often like AEtna, icy above but with fire at the heart. +But I have been rash. She will easily forgive that offence, however, +and forget it too, when I can woo her as one unbound by the clerical +vows, and companion of the high and great. I must lose no time, +however, for events are drawing clearly to a mighty issue. Here is the +party of Henry, and the party of the League. I must choose between the +two without delay. And yet the choice is soon made. In the first +place, it would be long ere Guise would trust me: in the next, he +would never love me: in the next, he himself is not long lived. As I +have seen a bird, when hit by a skilful fowler, tower high into the +air before it falls, so Guise is soaring up with mighty effort, which +will end but in his own destruction. I will away to Epernon at once. +He is the man whose fortunes will yet rise; his unconquerable spirit, +his courage, determination, and activity, his gross selfishness, his +insolence, his very weakness, will all contribute to support him +still. This is a world in which such things thrive! Epernon must be +the man; and if I show him such cause as I can show him, he may well +be glad to attach me to himself, as increasing his power and enhancing +his importance with the King. It is to him I will go! Doubtless his +reverses have humbled him somewhat, otherwise it were no light task to +deal on such subjects with Epernon." + +In judging of Epernon the Abbe judged by mankind in general, for in +almost every breast pride is a cowardly quality, and once depressed +sinks into grovelling submission. Epernon, however, was the exception +to the general rule, and seemed rather to rise in haughtiness under +adversity. + +With thoughts like those which we have just detailed, the Abbe spurred +on towards Angouleme; but as he began to climb the steep ascent, he +saw several indications of popular emotion, which made him hesitate +for a moment, as to whether he should proceed or not. There were two +or three groups of citizens all speaking eagerly together, and in low +tones; and at the gates of the city he remarked a man whom he had seen +before, and knew to be the mayor of the place, conversing in a low +tone, but in what seemed an anxious manner, with the soldiers of the +Corps de Garde. The Abbe contrived to make his horse pass as near them +as possible, but at the same time affected to be deeply busied with +his own thoughts while really listening attentively to their +conversation. He could only catch, however, the end of one sentence +and the beginning of a reply:-- + +"This Duke--a proud insufferable tyrant," said the voice of the mayor. + +"Get along; if you were not what you are, I would put my pike into +you," replied the soldier; and went on with some observations upon his +companion's conduct, not very complimentary, the whole of which the +Abbe de Boisguerin did not hear. + +As he advanced into the town, however, his keen eye remarked many more +signs and symptoms of the same kind, from all of which he drew his own +deductions; and on entering the castle, which was then inhabited by +the Duke of Epernon, he dismounted in the court of the guardhouse, as +it was called, where there were a considerable number of the Duke's +soldiery loitering about. Though it was not the usual place for +visitors to dismount, they suffered him to attach his horse to one of +the large iron hooks in the wall, and in a few minutes after he was in +the presence of the Duke of Epernon. Not a trace of humiliation or +abasement was to be seen in the Duke's countenance or demeanour. He +was as proud, as fierce, as fiery as ever; and although he received +the Abbe, having seen him more than once in Paris during the late +events, and entertaining that degree of consideration for him which a +keen and powerful mind almost always commands, he nevertheless seemed +to doubt whether he should ask him even to sit down, and did it at +length with an air of condescension. + +"Well, Monsieur de Boisguerin," he said at length, "to what do I owe +this visit?" + +"I come, my Lord," replied the Abbe without a moment's hesitation, "to +offer your Lordship my poor services." + +The Duke smiled. "They are of course," he said, "welcome. Monsieur de +Boisguerin. But the time of offering them is somewhat singular, when +all men think my fortunes on the decline, or, perhaps, I should say, +utterly down." + +"Such it may seem to them, my Lord," replied the Abbe; "but such it +seems not to me. There are sciences, my Lord, which teach us what the +future is destined to produce; and I own that I am quite selfish in my +present act, seeking to attach myself to one who is yet destined to +uphold the throne of France, to affect the fortunes of the times, to +triumph over all his enemies, and to outlive most of them now living." + +"Indeed!" said the Duke thoughtfully; "and am I to believe this +prophecy seriously?" + +"Most seriously, my Lord," replied the Abbe. "I myself believe it and +know it, as I believe and know the great fortunes that are likely to +attend myself--otherwise, perhaps, you might not have seen me here +to-day." + +"That is candid, at all events," said the Duke; "and to say truth, I +think that your prophecy, in some things, may be right; for I feel +within my breast that undiminished power, that sense of my own +strength, that confidence in my own destiny, which surely never can be +given to a falling man. But you spoke of your own future high +fortunes, sir. What may they be?" + +The Abbe paused and looked down for a moment, but then replied, "I +tell not the prophecy to every one, my Lord; but to you, to whose +services I hope to dedicate those high fortunes, I fear not to relate +it. It was pronounced long ago, in the city of Rome, when I was there +studying, and as a rash young man had entangled myself in an affair +with a fair girl of the city, who suffered our intercourse to be +discovered, and consequently well nigh ruined all my prospects. I +thought indeed it was so, and was turning my back upon Rome for ever, +when I met with an old monk, who from certain facts I told him drew my +horoscope, and assured me that I should find my fate in France; that +my fortune would be brought about by the death of two relations far +younger than myself; and that I should suddenly take a share in great +events, and rule the destiny of others when I least expected it. Such +was the old man's prophecy now many years ago; and I have seen no sign +of its accomplishment till the present time." + +"And what signs have you seen now?" demanded Epernon. + +"That I have been suddenly led, my Lord," replied the Abbe, "from the +calm and tranquil quiet of a provincial life, without my own will or +agency, into scenes of activity and strife; and that one, out of the +two lives which lay between me and the great possessions of +Montsoreau, Logeres, and Morly--lives, which in their youth and +healthfulness seemed to cut me off from all hope--has already lapsed, +and left but one." + +"How is that?" exclaimed the Duke. "What life has lapsed?" + +"That of the young Count of Logeres," replied the Abbe. + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon in a tone somewhat sorrowful. +"I had not heard that. He was a bold, rash youth; but yet there was in +him the seeds of great things. He was fearless, and proud, and firm: +virtues, the parents of all dignity and greatness.--You say then that +there is but one life between you and all these lordships." + +"But one," replied the Abbe; "that of Gaspar of Montsoreau, in regard +to whom you took some slight interest, at the time his marriage with +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was talked of." + +"Was talked of?" said the Duke. "Is it not talked of still?" + +"Why, my Lord," replied the Abbe, "the Lady's evident detestation of +the young Marquis has rendered the matter hopeless. You yourself +remarked it, when you spoke with her at Vincennes; and he is now +convinced of it himself. The grief and depression thus produced have +impaired his health; and, indeed, it would seem as if ten years had +gone over him, instead of a few months, since all this affair began." + +"I hope, Monsieur de Boisguerin," said the Duke of Epernon with a +bitter smile, "I hope that you have not been taking too deep lessons +of our friend Villequier. I would rather be a prisoner on a charge of +high treason, and with Guise for my enemy, than I would be next akin +to Villequier, and between him and lands and lordships." + +The Abbe's brow grew as dark as night. "My Lord," he said, "I will not +affect to misunderstand you; but I am sure that fate will work out its +own will without any aid of mine; and had I been disposed to clear the +way for myself, who should have stopped me, or who could have +discovered any thing I did, when these two youths have been under my +care and guardianship ever since their father's death?" + +"I did but jest, Abbe," replied the Duke. "But supposing that the +events which you anticipate were really to occur, what would be your +conduct then?" + +"So sure am I, my Lord," replied the Abbe, "that they will occur, that +my conduct has been put beyond doubt. I have already demanded of the +Court of Rome to be freed from this black dress; and my last letters +from the eternal city announce to me, that the dispensation is already +granted, and, drawn up in full form, is now upon the road." + +"Ha!" exclaimed the Duke of Epernon. "Is it so, indeed? You must have +powerful protectors in the conclave." + +"I have," replied the Abbe; "and though his Holiness is not fond of +relaxing the vows of any one without some puissant motive; yet, when +there is a strong one, he does not let the opportunity of unbinding +slip, lest his key should grow rusty. But however, my Lord, supposing +these things done away, and I Marquis of Montsoreau and Lord of +Logeres, my first aim and object would be to raise what power and +forces I could, and with my sword, my wealth, and my life, were it +necessary, serve his Majesty the King, under him whom I hope soon to +see directing the state, namely, the Duke of Epernon, if----" + +"Ay, there is still an _if_," replied the Duke. "Well, sir, what is +the condition?" + +"It is, my Lord," said the Abbe after a pause, in which it was evident +that he considered the way he was to put his demand, "It is, that the +Duke of Epernon will pledge me his princely word, that as far as his +power and influence go, he will support my claim to the hand of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut." + +The Duke actually started back with surprise; and, forgetting +altogether the splendid future with which the Abbe had been +endeavouring to invest his pretensions, he exclaimed, in a tone of +anger and contempt that chafed and galled the spirit of the ambitious +man with whom he spoke, "Yours,--yours? Abbe de Boisguerin? you, a +poor preceptor in your cousin's house, an insignificant churchman, +unbeneficed and unknown--you, to lay claim to the heiress of +Clairvaut, a niece of the Guise, a lady nor far removed from a +sovereign house? On my soul and honour, I mind me to write to +Villequier at once, and bid him marry his cousin to this young Marquis +out of hand, in order to save your brains from being cracked +altogether!" + +"Villequier can marry his cousin to no one," answered the Abbe, +"without my full consent. No, nor can the King either!" + +"Mort-bleu!" exclaimed Epernon with a scornful laugh. "Vanity and +ambition have driven the poor man mad. Get you gone, Monsieur de +Boisguerin; get you gone! I shall not trust with any mighty faith to +your fine prophecies." + +Though the Abbe de Boisguerin felt no slight inclination to put his +hand into his bosom, and taking forth the dagger that lay calmly +there, to plunge it up to the hilt in the heart of Epernon, he showed +not in the slightest degree the wrath which internally moved him. Nay, +the great object that he had in view made him in some degree conquer +that wrath, and he replied, "Well, my good Lord, I _will_ get me gone. +But, before I go, you shall hear another warning, which may enable you +to judge whether my divinations are false or not. It is destined that, +in the course of today or to-morrow, you should encounter a great +peril. Remember my words! be upon your guard! and take measures to +ensure yourself against danger! Go not out into the streets scantily +attended----" + +"Oh no!" replied the Duke with a sneer. "I do not trust myself alone +in the streets and high roads without a footboy to hold my horse, like +the noble aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. I am not +so bold a man, nor so loved of the people; and as to chance perils, I +fear them not." + +"Your acts on your own head, my Lord Duke!" replied his companion. "I +give you good day." And turning away abruptly, he passed out of the +room through the long corridor, and part of the way down the stairs +which led to the court of the guard. + +He was scarcely half way down, however, when some sounds which he +heard coming from the other side of the building made him suddenly +stop, listen, and then turn round; and, with a step of light, he +retrod his way to the chamber where he had left the Duke. + +Epernon was busy writing, and looking up fiercely, demanded "What +now?" + +"Fly, my Lord, fly quick!" exclaimed the Abbe. "I come to give you +time to save yourself, for the mayor and his faction are upon you. +They have come in by the great court, and I think have killed the +Swiss at your gate. Believe me, my Lord, for what I say is true! Fly +quickly, while I run down to send the guard to your assistance." + +His words received instant confirmation, even as the Duke gazed +doubtfully in his face; for a door on the opposite side of the room +burst open, and a terrified attendant rushed in, while eight or nine +fierce faces were seen pursuing him quickly. + +The Duke darted to a staircase, which led to a little turret, and the +first steps of which entered the room, without any door, just behind +his chair. He sprang up eagerly towards the small dressing-room above, +and the mayor and his armed companions pursued as fiercely, leaving +the Abbe to make his escape towards the court of the guard, without +giving any heed to his proceedings. Before the Abbe had passed the +door, however, he heard a loud crash, and turned his head to see by +what it was occasioned, when, at a single glance he perceived that the +very eagerness of his pursuers had saved the Duke of Epernon. Ten or +twelve heavily armed men had all rushed at once upon the old and crazy +staircase which led to the Duke's dressing-room. The wood work had +given way beneath them, precipitating one or two into the story below, +and the greater part back into the room itself, but leaving a chasm +between them and the Duke, which it was impossible for them to +pass.[5] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 5: Such is the account given by the most credible +historians. The author of the life of the Duke, M. Girard, who was +nearly contemporary, gives a different version: acknowledges that the +Duke fled into his cabinet, but adds that he there defended himself +like a lion.] + +--------------------- + + +Without pausing to make any farther remark, the Abbe ran down hastily +and alarmed the guard; and while the soldiers rushed tumultuously up +to defend a commander whom they all enthusiastically loved, the Abbe +de Boisguerin mounted his horse and rode quietly out of the town. He +doubted not, as indeed it happened, that the soldiery would arrive in +time to save their Lord, and to compel the mayor and his comrades to +make a hasty retreat. + +It was not, however, towards the Chateau of Islay, where he had left +Gaspar de Montsoreau, that the solitary horseman took his way; but, on +the contrary, crossing the Charente, he rode rapidly onward by the +banks of the river, in the direction of that field of Jarnac, where, +in his early days, Henry III. had given such striking promises of +heroism and conduct which his after life so signally failed to fulfil. + +As he rode along, he thought with somewhat of a smile upon his +countenance, that his last prophecy to the Duke of Epernon had met +with a speedy fulfilment; and he pondered with some bitterness over +the parting words which that nobleman had spoken to him. + +"The aspirant to the hand of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said to +himself, "without a single footboy to hold his horse! That may be in +the present instance policy rather than any thing else, my good Lord +Duke. But still we may learn wisdom, even, from such bitter words as +those. I had forgotten how much all men value the gilded exterior. But +it shall be so no longer. This that I aim at must be soon lost or won. +I have staked life upon the pursuit, and all that makes life valuable. +And why should I not stake fortune also? 'Fortune buys fortune,' says +the old adage; and as the stake is great, so shall my game be bold." + +His resolution was instantly taken. He possessed, as we have said +before, sufficient wealth to give him competence, and to enable him to +mingle with decent splendour in the society in which he was born. But +he calculated that the same fortune which put him at ease for life, +might afford him the means of magnificence and display, if he resolved +to expend the whole within a few years. He did so resolve, saying to +himself, "I shall either be at the height of fortune and enjoyment ere +two years be over, or I shall be no more. It suits me not to go on +playing stake after stake, as many men do, beaten, like a tennis-ball, +from prosperity to ruin, and from ruin to prosperity. I have bent +myself to one great purpose, and I will attain it or die. That is +always within one's power, to shake off life when it is no longer a +source of happiness." + +As he thus thought, his horse slowly descended a gentle hill by the +side of the river, with a meadow down to the Charente on the one side, +and a bank crowned with the wall of a vineyard on the other. Built up +against the wall was a little shrine, with a virgin and child behind a +net-work of iron, and the votive offering of a silver lamp burning +below. + +Sitting on the little green spot which topped the bank at that +place--after having apparently said his prayers at the foot of the +shrine--was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years of age; and as +the Abbe came slowly near, the youth took a pipe out of his pocket and +began playing a wild plaintive Italian air, full of rich melody and +deep feeling. The music was not new to the Abbe; he had heard it +before in other lands, when the few pure feelings of the heart which +he had ever possessed had not been crushed, like accidental flowers +blossoming on a footpath, by the passing to and fro of other coarser +things. + +He drew in his horse and paused to listen, and then gazed at the boy, +and thought he had seen him somewhere before. The eyes, the features, +the expression of the countenance, seemed to be all connected with +some old remembrances; and the air which he played too, brought his +memory suddenly back to early scenes, and a land that he had loved. As +he gazed at the boy, who went on with the air, the recollection of his +person again connected itself with different events; and, though now +he was clothed in simple grey, he fancied he recognised in him the +youth who had been seen with Charles of Montsoreau when he attacked +and defeated the small body of reiters near La Ferte, and whom he had +also beheld more than once in Paris, when he was watching the +proceedings of the young Count in the capital. + +This conviction became so strong, that he went up and spoke to him, +and found that it was as he suspected. After conversing with him for a +few moments, he told him that if he would pursue that road for nearly +a league, he would meet with some buildings belonging to a farm; and +then, turning again down a road to the left, he would find him at a +chateau upon the banks of the river. The boy promised to come, and the +Abbe rode on, while Ignati putting up his pipe followed as fast as +possible, and soon arrived at the gates of the dwelling to which he +had been directed. + +He was brought into the presence of the Abbe by an attendant wearing +the colours of no noble house in France, and found him with some fruit +and wine before him. But in regard to the subject on which the boy +expected to be questioned most closely, namely, the death of Charles +of Montsoreau, the Abbe spoke not one word. Notwithstanding all his +firmness of purpose, notwithstanding the remorseless character of his +mind and of his habitual thoughts, he loved not to touch upon the +subject of his young cousin's death, unless forced on to do so by +circumstances. He spoke of Paris and of the Duke of Guise; and where +he had first met with the young Count of Logeres, and of all the +accidents that had befallen him while in company with Charles of +Montsoreau. But he spoke not one word in regard to the day of the +barricades, or the young nobleman's death. + +From time to time, while he talked with the boy, Ignati saw that the +Abbe's eyes fixed upon his countenance, and at length he asked him, +"You are an Italian by birth, are you not?" + +"I am," replied the boy; "that is, I am a Roman." And he said it with +that pride which every person born within the precincts of the ancient +queen of empires feels, although glory has long departed from her +walls, and the memory of past greatness is rather a reproach than an +honour. + +"And what is your name?" demanded the Abbe sharply. + +"My name is Ignati," answered the youth. + +"Ignati!" said the Abbe, "Ignati!" But you have some other name. What +was your father's?" + +"I do not know," answered the boy, with his cheeks and his brow +glowing. "Why do you ask?" + +"Your mother's then?" said the Abbe, without replying to his question. +"Your mother's? what was your mother's name?" + +"Her name was Laura Pandolfini," replied the boy, gazing upon the Abbe +with a degree of sternness in his look. "Did you know her?" + +The face of the Abbe changed from deadly pale to glowing red in a +moment; and after a pause he replied angrily and abruptly, "I know +her?--I know her? I know a common strumpet?" + +The boy's eyes flashed fire; and his hand was in his bosom in a moment +seeking the knife that lay there. But he had put the pipe in the +breast of his doublet also, and ere he could reach a weapon, which, as +we have seen, he was able to use with fatal effect, the form of a lady +passing across the two open doors on the other side of the room made +him suddenly pause; and after a moment's thought, he drew back his +hand and said, "What you say is false! She deserved not the name you +have given her!" + +He was turning towards the door, when the Abbe cried "Stay!" +and as the boy turned, he put his hand to his head and mused +thoughtfully. Then starting suddenly he added, "No, no! It would be +discovered!--Come hither, boy!" he added; and taking out his purse he +counted out some pieces of gold, to no light amount; and giving them +to the boy, he said, "There, you have lost your master and seem to be +poorly off. Take those, and get thee into some reputable employment." + +But the boy gave one fierce glance at his countenance, dashed down the +gold upon the pavement, and exclaiming, "I will have no liar's money!" +quitted the chamber and the house. + +The Abbe gazed after him for a moment or two, fell into deep thought, +and ended by pressing his hands over his eyes and exclaiming, "I am a +fool!" + +After pausing for a few moments more, he said to himself, "Well, I +must wait no longer here. This girl seems pleased with my new +demeanour towards her. Of my past language which frightened her, it +seems that very soon no other impression will remain but the memory of +the deep and passionate love I testified. That is never displeasing to +any woman; and if I can lead her gently on, the matter will be soon +accomplished, now that this her first fancy is at an end, and the +grave has taken the great obstacle out of the way. Love him, she did +not, with true, womanly, passionate, love; but fond of him she was, +with the sickly fancy of an idle girl; and her grief will be +sufficient to soften her proud heart. It is a wonderful softener, +grief; and she will cling to whosoever is near her, that has skill and +power to soothe and support her. I will teach her to love better than +she has loved!--But I must write down these tidings. I must not tell +them to her with my own voice, and with her eyes upon me, lest she +learn to hate me as the bearer of evil tidings." + +And seeking for pen and ink he wrote a note, such as few others but +himself could have composed. It was tender, yet respectful,--not +lover-like, yet through every word of it love's light was +shining--sad, but not gloomy--melancholy, yet with words of hope. When +he had done he folded and sealed it, and then listening to the distant +village clock, he said-- + +"If I am absent much longer, Gaspar may suspect; and I am rather +inclined to believe that some one has roused suspicions in his mind +already. Well, we shall soon see; it is no very difficult task to rule +a light-brained youth like that." + +Thus thinking, and leaving the note behind him on the table, the Abbe +proceeded to the stables, chose a fresh horse, caused it to be saddled +and bridled, and rode back to the Chateau of Islay with all speed. +Before he proceeded to the saloon to join the young Marquis, he +questioned his own servants as to all that had taken place during his +absence; heard of the long visit of Villequier; and planned his own +conduct accordingly. + +Gaspar of Montsoreau, when he joined him, expressed some surprise that +he had not returned before, and added, in as gentle a tone as he could +assume, "I trust, nay good friend, that you have been pursuing the +inquiries which have so long frustrated us in regard to the dwelling +of that sweet girl, whom we were very wrong to place again in the +hands of Villequier, even though it might have cost us our lives had +we either remained in Paris, or attempted to take her with us." + +Though the young Marquis spoke quickly, his companion, who knew his +character to the very bottom and could instantly see the workings of +his mind when he used any of the arts he himself had taught him, +perceived at once that Villequier had betrayed the secret of Marie de +Clairvaut's abode; and he replied deliberately, "Yes, Gaspar, I have +been more successful; and I think now--tamed down as you have been by +grief, and requiring some consolation--I think now, I say, that it is +not only safe but right, to let you know both that this fair girl is +in the neighbourhood of the spot where we now stand, and that she is +under my care and guidance." + +"In the neighbourhood?" exclaimed Gaspar of Montsoreau. "Under your +care and guidance? How happened I not to hear this before, Abbe?" + +"Simply," replied the Abbe, "because the state of violence and +irritation in which you were when I last returned to you from +Blois--the period when I first became possessed of any knowledge on +the subject--would have led you into acts of impetuosity, which, in +the first place, would have terribly injured your cause with her; and, +in the next, would have discovered the place of her abode to every one +from whom we seek to conceal it. Now, however, I think you can command +yourself, and you will find the benefit of what has been done to serve +you. All I require is, that you would let me know when you visit +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut; that you would do so with prudence and +caution and forbearance; and though it is not of course necessary that +you should desist from pleading your own cause with her, yet let it be +as gently as may be." + +The Abbe de Boisguerin knew that Gaspar de Montsoreau could not do as +he asked him; that it was not in his nature to plead his own cause +gently. He felt perfectly confident that the rash impetuosity of the +young Marquis would alienate more and more the regard of Marie de +Clairvaut, and thus, perhaps, facilitate even his own views and +purposes. Could he have prevented it, he would not willingly have let +him visit her at all; but it was now impossible to exclude him; and he +knew that the secret of Charles of Montsoreau's death gave him the +power of destroying at once all his former pupil's hopes, if he saw +that he even made one step in removing the bad impressions Marie +previously had received. + +On his part, though not quite satisfied with being deceived, Gaspar of +Montsoreau believed that the Abbe had deceived him for his own good; +and the selfish purposes which were most needful for him to discover, +were still concealed in spite of the warnings of Villequier. + + + + + CHAP. VII. + + +In the gardens of the Chateau by the banks of the Charente; which the +Abbe de Boisguerin had left to return to Gaspar de Montsoreau, and in +an arbour which had been constructed, as is still ordinary with the +people of that country, by a number of vines entwined over a light +trellis work; with a soft and beautiful scene before her eyes, and the +autumn sunshine gilding the glowing waters, Marie de Clairvaut sat and +wept, with the note from the Abbe which had conveyed to her the +bitterest tidings she ever had received on earth open in her hand. A +day had passed since the events just recorded had taken place, and she +had now received the news many hours, but her grief had not in the +least subsided; and to herself it even seemed greater than it had been +at first. Her whole thoughts at first had been bent upon the one +painful fact, that he whom she had loved with all the fervour, and the +depth, and the devotion of a heart that had never loved before, was +lost to her for ever; that she should never behold again that frank +and candid countenance, beaming with looks of deep and indubitable +affection; that she should never again see those eyes poring into hers +with the intense gaze of love, and seeming at once to give and receive +fresh light; that she should never hear the tones of that musical +voice, which had so often assured her of protection and support; that +she should never cling to that arm, which had so often brought her +rescue and deliverance in the moment of danger. Then, she had felt +only that he was lost and gone, cut off in the brightness of his days, +in the glory and strength of his youth, in the full blossom of his +hopes, and ere he had yet more than lifted to his lips the cup, which, +offered to him by honour, virtue, and sincerity, ought to have been a +sweet one indeed. + +Now, however, there had grown upon her mind feelings indeed more +selfish, but which were the natural consequences of her situation, and +connected intimately with the loss of him she loved. A feeling of +desolation had come over her--of utter loneliness in all the world. It +seemed as if she had never loved or esteemed or clung to any but +himself; as if there were no one to protect her, to guide, support, +direct, or cheer her upon earth; as if life's youth were over, the +fortune of existence spent like a prodigal, the heart's treasury +empty, and nothing left for the immortal spirit on this side the grave +but penury of every rich and noble feeling, lone solitude and petty +cares, and all the dull anxieties of a being without an object. + +Desolate, desolate indeed, did she feel: and well too might she feel +desolate! for though her grief did some wrong to many who loved her as +friends and relations, and would have done much to aid and support +her; yet, oh! what is such love and esteem? what is aid and support +wrung from the midst of hours devoted to other things, and thoughts +and feelings centered upon other objects, when compared with the +entire devotion, the pure, single love of an upright, an honourable, +and a feeling heart--where the being loved is the great end and object +of every thought and every action--where all the feelings of the +spirit are hovering by day round that one object, and guarding it like +angels through the watches of the night? Oh yes, she was lonely, she +was desolate, she was unprotected and unsupported, when she compared +the present with the past! Well might she think so; well might she +grieve and mourn over her own deprivation, when she wept for him and +for his early end! + +Some comfort, perhaps, had been indeed afforded her by the change +which had taken place in the demeanour of the Abbe de Boisguerin. She +could never love him; she could never like him: his society could +never even become tolerable to her: but yet it was no slight +satisfaction to find that she was no more to hear words which she +considered as little less than sacrilegious, or to endure the eager +passion in his eye, and hear him dare to talk to her of love. She +looked upon him as her gaoler indeed, though he often denied that he +had power to liberate her; but yet she felt that peace and comfort at +least depended much upon that gaoler's will, and was not a little +pleased to find that during the three or four last visits which he had +paid, no word which could offend her had been spoken, no tone or even +look that she could take amiss was to be seen, though a certain +tenderness and melancholy seemed to have fallen upon him, which she +could well have wished removed, or not so openly displayed. + +During the very morning of which we are now speaking, he had come +there again, and his conduct towards her had been all that she could +have desired. He had not spoken directly of the cause of the deep +grief which he saw his intelligence of the former day had brought upon +her, but all his words were chosen so as to harmonise with that grief; +and the object of his visit itself, as he expressed it, was only to +see whether he could do any thing to console her, or to alleviate the +sorrow under which she laboured. She had thanked him for his courtesy +and kindness; but, ere he had left her, he said with a tone of what +seemed real regret, that he was sorry to say his own visit would be +followed by another, which he feared might, in some degree, importune +her. + +"The young Marquis of Montsoreau," he added, "will be restrained no +longer from seeing you; and you know, Madam, it is impossible for me +to prevent him, which I would willingly have done, especially as the +view he takes of the recent most lamentable event is not likely to do +aught but give you pain." + +"Oh, cannot you stay him?" exclaimed Marie de Clairvaut. "Cannot you +stay him at this terrible moment, when the very sight of him will be +horrible to me?" + +"I fear not indeed. Lady," replied the Abbe. "I would have given my +right hand to prevent his coming, but he seemed perfectly determined. +However, when I return, I will do my best once more, in the hope that +he may yet be moved." And after a visit very much shorter than usual, +he had taken his leave and departed. + +The fair girl he left had gone out into the gardens, as we have seen, +once more to weep alone over the sad and painful situation in which +she was placed, and over the dark and irreparable loss which she had +sustained; but ere she had gone out, she had taken the only precaution +in her power to insure that her solitude would remain inviolate, +directing the servants--who acted indeed the part of turnkeys--if the +Marquis of Montsoreau applied to see her, to state at once that she +was not well enough to receive him, and wished to pass some days alone +and in tranquillity. + +She wept long and bitterly; but in about an hour after she had gone +out, the sound of horses' feet reached her ear, and voices speaking at +the gateway made themselves heard. She could distinguish even the +tones of the young Marquis, and indistinctly the words of the servant +in reply. But Gaspar of Montsoreau was hurt and offended by the +message she had left, and a certain inclination to tyranny in his +disposition broke forth with his usual impetuosity. + +"Inform Mademoiselle de Clairvaut," he said, "who it is that desires +to see her, and let me have an answer quick. Say that I much wish for +a few minutes' conversation with her. What, fellow! Would you shut the +gates upon me like a horseboy? Get ye gone and return quickly. I will +walk in the gardens till you come back." And striding in he threw the +gate violently to, and advanced directly to the water's side, as if he +could have divined that the object of his search was there. + +Marie de Clairvaut was indignant, and that feeling for a moment +enabled her to throw off the overwhelming load of grief. Rising at +once she came forth, and crossed the green slope towards the chateau, +passing directly by Gaspar of Montsoreau as she did so, and intending +merely to bow her head by way of salutation. He placed himself in such +a manner, however, that she could not pass on, although he must have +seen the tears fresh upon her cheeks, and her indignation was more +roused than before. + +"I directed the servant, sir," she said, when forced to pause, "to +inform you, if you came, that I was not well enough to see you; and +that I wished for solitude and tranquillity." + +"Nay, indeed, dear Lady," said the young Marquis, conquering the +feelings of anger with which he had entered, and speaking with a calm +and tender tone, "I thought, if you knew that I was here, pity, if +nothing else, would induce you to see, but for a few moments, one +who has languished for weeks and months for a single glance of your +eyes--one who so deeply, so tenderly, so devotedly, loves you." + +Those words sounded harsh, painful, and insulting to the ears of Marie +de Clairvaut--words which, from the lips of him she loved, would have +been all joy and sweetness, but were now abhorrent to her ear; and +looking at him sternly, with her bright eye no longer dimmed, though +her lip quivered, she said, "Never let me hear such words again, +sir!--I beg that you would let me pass!--Marquis of Montsoreau, this +is cruel and ungentlemanly! Learn that I look upon myself as your +brother's widow, and ever shall so look upon myself till my dying +day." And thus saying she passed him, and entered the house. + +She listened eagerly for the sound of horses' feet after she had +entered her own apartments, and was very soon satisfied that the young +Marquis had gone back. As soon as she was assured of this, she once +more went out into the open grounds--for the load of grief ever makes +the air of human dwellings feel oppressive; and again going down to +the bank of the river, she gazed upon its tranquil current as she +walked by the side; and though her sorrow certainly found no relief, +yet the sight of the waters flowing beneath her eyes, calm, tranquil, +incessant, led, as it were, her thoughts along with them. They became +less agitated, though still as deep and powerful; they seemed to +imitate the course of the river, running on incessantly in the same +dark stream, but in quiet and in silence. The tears indeed would, from +time to time, rise into her eyes and roll over her cheeks, but no sob +accompanied them; and though a sigh often broke from her lip, it was +the sigh of deep, calm despair, not of struggling pain. + +It is wonderful how, when we are in deep grief, the ordinary sounds +and sights of joyous nature strike harsh and inharmonious upon us. +Things that would pass by unheard at other times, as amongst the +smaller tones in the great general concert of the day, then become +painfully acute. The lark that sung up in the sky above her head, made +no pleasant melody for her ear; a country boy crossing the opposite +fields, and whistling as he went, pained her so much, and made her +gentle heart feel so harsh towards him, that she schooled herself for +such sensations, saying, "He cannot tell that I am so sorrowful! He +cannot tell that the sounds which I once was fond of, are now the most +distasteful to me." + +A minute or two after a few notes upon a pipe were played immediately +beneath the garden wall--a little sort of prelude, to see that the +instrument was clear; and unable to endure it longer, Marie de +Clairvaut turned to seek shelter in her prison. + +Ere she had taken three steps, however, she paused. The air was not +one of the country; a finer hand, too, a more exquisite taste than +France could produce woke the instrument into sounds most musical, and +in a moment after, she recognised the sweet air which she had twice +before heard, and both times from the lips of Charles of Montsoreau. + +The memory of the first time that it had met her ear was sweet and +delightful; but the memory of the second time was as the memory of +hope; and, in despite of all, it woke again the feelings it had +awakened before; and an indistinct feeling of glad expectation came +across her mind, like a golden sunbeam, shining through the mist of an +autumnal morning. What was it she hoped? what was it she expected? She +knew not herself; but still there was an indistinct brightening came +over her heart, and feelings; and when the air was over, instead of +flying from the music, she listened eagerly for its renewal. + +The pipe, however, sounded not again; but in a moment after she heard +some one say, "Hark!" and the sweetest possible voice began to sing:-- + + + SONG. + + Weep not, Lady, weep not, + Grief shall pass away; + Angels' eyes that sleep not + Watch thee on thy way. + + Heavenly hands are twining + Garlands of glad flowers. + Joy and Hope combining + Wreath thy future hours. + + Diff'rent powers are near thee-- + Bright Hope, dark Despair; + Let the Goddess cheer thee-- + Fly the Fiend of Care. + + Son of Sin and Sorrow + Despair by earth was given; + Child of the bright to-morrow, + Hope was born of Heaven. + + +What could it mean? Marie de Clairvaut asked herself. The words seemed +directly addressed to her, and applicable to her own situation: yet +the voice, as far as she could judge, she had never heard before. But +still every note, every word, appeared to counsel hope. "Can I have +been deceived?" she thought. "Can the Abbe de Boisguerin and Gaspar de +Montsoreau have combined for their own dark purposes to cheat me, to +induce me to believe that the one I love so well is dead?" + +But, alas no! The Abbe had left, inclosed in his own, the brief note +which he had received from Paris, announcing the event, and that note +bore every appearance of being an ordinary matter of business, passing +regularly through the post-office of the capital. Could the song that +she had heard, she asked herself, again--could it have been +accidental; could it have been sung at that moment through one of +those strange combinations, which sometimes arise out of entirely +indifferent circumstances, to give zest to our joy, or poignancy to +our sorrow? She determined, if possible, to ascertain; and raising her +voice a little above its ordinary tone, she said, "Who is there? To +whom do you sing?" + +She did not seem to have made herself heard, however, for a moment +after the same voice demanded, "Is there any one that listens?" + +"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, eagerly, "I listen; speak on!" + +"Well then, hearken," said the voice, and again a new air and a new +song began. + + + SONG. + + + He goes away to a far distant land, + With cross on his shoulder and lance in his hand; + And news soon comes how his lightning brand + Has scattered the hosts of paninrie. + His beautiful Lady sits weeping and lone, + And wishes she were where her Knight has gone; + But she grieves not his absence with angry moan, + For her spirit is full of his chivalry. + + But what are the tidings come next to her ear? + Oh! tidings dark and heavy to hear; + How her fearless warrior, her husband dear, + Has fallen 'neath the lance of the Moslema. + How, gallantly staking his life, to save + From infidel hands, the Redeemer's grave, + He has fought for the righteous and sleeps with the brave, + 'Neath the walls of Hierosolima! + + 'Tis true, oh, 'tis true!--yet she will not believe, + "Ah, no! e'en in dying he would not deceive; + And he promised, if spirit such power could receive, + And he fell in his holy chivalry. + To visit my side in the watches of night, + To comfort my heart, and to gladden my sight, + And call me to join him in countries of light, + And dwell in his breast through eternity." + + Years pass; and he comes not. Nor yet she believes! + 'Tis his absence, but 'tis not his death that she grieves. + Hope strong in affection, her heart still deceives, + Lo! she watches yon Palmer how eagerly, + To ask him some tidings of Syria to say-- + But what is thy magic, oh, thou Palmer gray? + She is clasped in his arms! she has fainted away! + And he kisses her fair cheek how tenderly. + + +As the song had gone on, Marie de Clairvaut could no longer doubt +that, though allegorical, those words were applicable to herself. +Joy--joy beyond all conception took the place of grief; all that she +had suffered, all that she had endured in the past, she now felt, +indeed, to be nothing to what she had lately undergone. But the +extatic delight which the last words of that song gave, the sudden +dissipation of grief was too much for her to endure. It was like the +light that blinds us when we suddenly rush from the darkness into the +sunshine; and she who had gone through dangers, and horrors, and +perils of many a kind, firm and unshaken, fell fainting under the +sudden effect of joy. How long she remained so she knew not; but at +all events it was not long enough to attract the attention of the +people of the house, from the windows, of which she was screened by a +thick alley of trees. Some one, however, had been near her, for there +were the prints of small feet in the grass, extending from the wall to +the spot where she lay, and immediately under her hand was placed a +small packet addressed to herself. + +Fearful of discovery, she hid it instantly in her bosom, and, as soon +as she could, rose, and with a step far slower than her wishes, sped +back again to the house to read the paper she had received, in secret. + +It was written in a bold, free hand; the date was that very morning; +and the first words, "My beloved." + +Marie de Clairvaut laid the letter down and gasped for breath. It was +sufficient, it was altogether sufficient; every doubt, every fear that +had remained was now at an end, and she once more burst into tears; +but, oh, how sweet were those tears! how happy! how unlike the past! +Soon she took up the letter again, and through the dazzling drops that +still hung in her eyes read the bright assurance, that he lived for +her who loved him. + +"I have feared," the letter said, "I have feared, that a report of my +death which has been current in this city of Paris should have reached +my beloved Marie, and the more especially as, by the counsel and +earnest entreaty of the Duke of Guise, I have myself contributed to +the spread of the rumour, and have taken every means to suffer it to +be confirmed. The object of this, however, was to deliver you alone by +throwing those who so unjustly detain you off their guard; and some +days ago I came on into this neighbourhood--where my brother, the Abbe +de Boisguerin, and the Duke of Epernon, all are, and to which we have +traced Villequier several times--in the confident belief that you were +not far distant from Angouleme. It might have been some time ere I +discovered your abode, but accident has befriended me, and my page, +who bears you this, and undertakes positively to deliver it to you, +saw you yesterday morning by a most extraordinary but fortunate +chance. I dare not venture near you in the early part of the morning, +but ere night has closed in, I will find some means to see and speak +with you. As far as possible, dearest Marie, be prepared for any thing +that it may be necessary to undertake. I fear that you have already +suffered much; but I will not doubt that even the rash and violent men +who have dared every crime to withdraw you from those that love you +best, have treated you with tenderness and kindness. I too have +suffered much, but far more from knowing that you were at the mercy of +those who persecute you while I was lying stretched upon the bed of +sickness, than from the very wounds that brought me there. I am now +well: I am near you; and that is enough to enable me to say that I am +happy, although there may be perils and dangers before us, as we are +still in the midst of our adversaries, and must once more attempt to +pass through a long track of country with obstacles at every step." + +The letter ended with every expression of affection and of love; and +again and again Marie de Clairvaut read it and wept, and fell into +fits of deep thought, and could scarcely believe that the joyous +tidings were true. + +She next asked herself what she could do to favour her lover's +efforts. The two or three women who had been appointed to wait upon +her, as well as the male attendants by whom she was surrounded, were +all strangers to her, and she felt that they were her gaolers. There +was one of them, however, who had looked upon her during the preceding +day with evident compassion, had watched her tears with sorrowful +eyes, and had spoken a few words of consolation. At one time she +thought of speaking to that woman, and trying to gain her to her +interests for the purpose of facilitating any thing that Charles of +Montsoreau might do to effect her liberation. She hesitated, however, +and judging that if he succeeded in seeing her that evening it would +be by passing over the wall at the spot where she had heard the boy +singing in the evening; she lingered about during the whole of the +evening, listening for the least sound. None was heard, however, and +at length the bell at the gates of the enclosure was heard to ring. + +Agitated and anxious, fearing that every moment might bring Charles of +Montsoreau to the spot, at the very time that other persons were near, +she came out from behind the trees, and walked slowly on by the side +of the river. Just at that moment a small boat pushed slowly up the +current by a country boy, passed by the spot where she stood; but the +boy whistled lightly on his way, as he went, and took no notice of +her; and in a minute after, she heard steps approaching from the other +side, and turned with some anxiety to see who it was that approached. + +It was the servant girl we have before mentioned, who came towards her +quickly, saying, "You have been very sad these two days, lady, and I +wish you would take comfort. Here is a good man, one of the preaching +friars just called at the gate, and I'm sure, if you would but listen +to him, he would give you consolation." + +"Oh no," replied Marie de Clairvaut, "he could give me no consolation, +my good girl. My own thoughts just now are my best companions." + +As she spoke, however, to her dismay, she saw the monk coming across +the green from the side of the gates, and she determined at once to +reject all his proffered advice and consolation, fearing that the +precious minute for seeing him she loved might be lost by this +unwonted intrusion. + +"Do listen to him, dear lady," said the girl. "When I told him how sad +you were, he said he was sure that he could give you comfort." + +In the mean time the friar approached with a slow step, with his cowl +drawn over his head, and his hand supported by his staff. Marie de +Clairvaut trembled from anxiety and apprehension, and only returned +the friar's benedicite by an inclination of the head and an assurance +that she did not stand in need of the consolation he offered. + +"Yet listen to me, daughter," he said, without withdrawing the cowl +from his head. But the first tones of that full rich voice proved +sufficient nearly to overpower the fair girl to whom he spoke. "If you +will hear me but for five minutes, my daughter," he said, "I think and +I believe, that I can suggest to you consolations that you may take to +heart; and if not, the few words I have to speak can do you no harm at +least." + +Marie de Clairvaut bowed her head, and took a step or two nearer to +the water, while the woman withdrew for a short space, so as to be out +of ear shot. But still she remained watching the two, as if she were +either afraid of having done wrong in admitting the friar at all, or +had suddenly conceived some suspicion of his purpose. The eyes of +Marie de Clairvaut and of Charles of Montsoreau turned that way, and +both saw that they were watched. Could they have followed the dictates +of their own hearts, they would have cast themselves into each other's +arms; but now they were forced to stand, ruling every look and every +gesture, and assuming the demeanour of strangers, even while the words +of love and affection were bursting from their lips. The young +nobleman, however, gave but brief course to his feelings. + +"This night, Marie," he said, after a few words of passionate +tenderness, "this very night at twelve, a boat shall be ready for you +underneath that bank, and means prepared for you to descend. It has +already passed up the river in order that we may descend swiftly with +the stream, for the current is too rapid to permit of our passing up +without the risk of being stopped at every moment. At Jarnac, however, +all is prepared for our escape, and though our journey thence may be +longer, it will be more secure. Can you be here at that hour?" + +"I can," she said, "and will, and, oh! may God grant, Charles, that +this time we may not only come within sight of the haven, as we have +twice done before, but reach it altogether; and never, never again +will I suffer them to separate me from you, as I did on that awful day +in Paris." + +"Even yet, neither I nor the Duke know how it happened," said Charles +of Montsoreau. + +"As I was following the Queen," replied Marie, rapidly, "some one +pulled me by the sleeve, and on turning to see who it was, the crowd +closed in between me and Catherine. The person who had touched me was +dressed in the colours of the house of Guise, and he said, 'The Duke +expects you Mademoiselle. If you will come round this way, I will lead +you to the other gate where there is no crowd.' I followed willingly, +and nothing doubting; and he led me round into one of the streets +behind, when suddenly I was seized by the arms on either side, and +hurried along without the power of resistance. I cried for help as +loud as I could, indeed, but they bore me rapidly into the house +opposite, where I saw the Abbe de Boisguerin, and could hear your +brother's voice talking to Monsieur de Villequier. They then put me +into a chair, the blinds of which I could not undraw, and carried me +rapidly to another house, where I remained for some time, till +Villequier and the rest again appeared. I did all that woman could do, +Charles, to make them set me free; but what could I do? what means had +I to use?--entreaties, to which they were deaf; menaces, at which they +laughed. Your brother, indeed, said something that he intended for +kindness, and the Abbe looked gloomy and sad. But Villequier only +smiled for all answer; till at length tidings were brought them that +they were discovered, and that people were coming rapidly in pursuit +of them. I was then once more borne away by Villequier, after a few +words between him and your brother; and I heard your brother say as +they parted, 'I will delay them as long as possible.' Where they took +me I know not well, but I believe it was the Hotel de Villequier.--But +see, the woman is coming near! We must part, dear Charles; I fear we +must once more part." + +Nothing more could be said, for the girl now approached; and Charles +of Montsoreau, assuming the tone of the friar, bade Marie remember his +words, and take them to heart; and then, giving her his blessing, +departed. + +Shortly before midnight, wrapt in a cloak of a dark colour, in order, +as far as possible, to pass unobserved if any eye should be watching, +Marie de Clairvaut passed through one of the lower windows of the +chateau, and with a light step, sprang into the little cloister that +ran along one side of the building, at no great depth from the window. +The moon was shining bright and full, and every object around, except +where the shadow of the cloister fell, was as clear as if the sun had +been in the sky. + +She paused and listened with a beating heart. There was no sound but +the murmur of the quick Charente; and then, putting her ear to the +open window, she listened there to ascertain that all was quiet in the +house. Nothing stirred; and, knowing how important it was to leave no +trace of the manner in which her flight had been effected, she closed +the casement carefully, and prepared to go forth into the moonlight. + +There was something, however, in the stillness, and the clearness, and +the calmness of every thing that was in itself fearful; and she +hesitated for a moment before she went out. At length, however, she +ventured across the green and shining turf, and with a quick step +approached the edge of the water. Looking down upon it from above, she +could see nothing in the deep shadow of the bank; but, suddenly, a +bright ripple caught some stray rays of moonlight, and chequered the +dark bosom of the water with quick lines of silver. + +"Are you there?" said the voice of Charles of Montsoreau from below. + +"Yes," she said. "How shall I descend?" + +But, even as she spoke, a figure glided out from the shrubs beside +her, and, uttering a low cry, Marie de Clairvaut perceived the girl +who had given admittance to the supposed friar on the preceding +evening. The sound which she had uttered had instantly caught the +attention of Charles of Montsoreau; and, springing up the bank, he +found the girl with her hand clasped round the Lady's wrist, but +holding up the other hand as if enjoining silence. + +"You are unkind," said the girl, in a low tone, "when I was kind to +you. I have already been bitterly reproached for letting in the monk; +and now, if you fly, what will become of me? They will say that I did +it." + +"Fear not, fear not!" answered Charles of Montsoreau, "and attempt not +to detain the Lady, my good girl; for go she must and will; and, as +there is no other boat here, any attempt to pursue us will be vain. +All you can do by endeavouring to detain her will be useless, and but +injure yourself. Here is money for you," he continued. + +The girl put it away with her hand, replying, "I want no money, sir; +but if she goes, I will go with her. I will not stay here in the power +of that dark Abbe. I will come with her if she will let me." + +"Willingly, willingly," replied Charles of Montsoreau; "but say not a +word, and come quick; and remember, till the Lady is safe under the +protection of the Duke of Guise, we pause for no one, so there must be +no pretences of fatigue." + +"Fear not," replied the girl; "I can bear more than she can. But how +can we get down the bank?" + +"There is a short ladder," said the young Count. "Come quick!" And in +a moment after he aided Marie de Clairvaut to descend. It was all done +in a moment. The girl followed the Lady, the ladder was taken into the +boat, and, with joy and satisfaction beyond all conception, the fair +girl, whose days had lately passed so sorrowfully, felt the little +vessel fluctuating beneath her feet as she seated herself in it; while +Charles of Montsoreau, with a man who had been waiting therein, pushed +the boat away from the bank, and a boy seated at the stern guided it +into the deeper parts of the water. There were but a few words spoken +by any one. + +"You are sure, Ignati," said the young Count, "that you marked every +rock and shoal as you came up?" + +"Quite sure," replied the boy; and, leaving the current, which was +rapid and powerful, to bear them on, without disturbing its smooth +surface by the splash of oars, they glided along quickly down the +stream: now in moonlight, now in shade, with the high rocky banks and +promontories filled with holes and caverns, which border the valley of +the Charente, now seen in bright clear light--now rising up against +the silvery sky wrapped in deep shadows and obscurity. + +The hand of Marie de Clairvaut lay clasped in that of her lover as +they sat side by side. Their hearts were full, though their lips were +silent; and the eyes of both were raised towards the sky, filled with +thankfulness, and hope, and trust. Thus they went on for about two +hours, saying but little, and that little in low and murmured tones; +but as they went, Charles of Montsoreau found occasion to tell her +that he had luckily effected a new arrangement, and that he had +procured means of landing and proceeding on their journey before they +reached Jarnac. + +At length, after a voyage of about two hours and a half, as the moon +was beginning to decline, a rushing sound was heard over the bow of +the boat, and the waters of the river were seen fretting against a +dyke, which had been built to confine it in its proper course. A +couple of houses, sheltered by two sloping hills which swept down to +the very bank of the river, appeared upon the left hand, with what +seemed a number of living objects gathered about them. + +Marie de Clairvaut turned her eyes to Charles of Montsoreau with some +apprehension, but he pressed her hand tenderly, saying, "Fear not, +fear not. They are my own people, waiting for our arrival." + +The boy guided the boat safely up to the landing place, and the +question, "Who comes here?" was demanded, as if at a regular warlike +post. + +"A friend," replied Charles of Montsoreau, and gave the word Chateau +Thierry. The man grounded his arms, and Charles of Montsoreau, +springing to the shore, led Marie de Clairvaut and the girl who had +followed her, to one of the houses, where every thing seemed prepared +for their reception. + +He paused for a moment to gaze upon the face of the girl who had +accompanied them, and to ask her name, which he found to be Louise. +The countenance was good, and frank, and gentle, and the natural +spirit of physiognomy, which is in every one's brain, gave a pleasant +reading of that face. + +"Listen to me," he said, speaking to her. "As you have preferred the +service of this lady to remaining behind where I found you, depend +upon it every attention and devotion that you show to her by the way +will be taken note of and well rewarded; and do not forget, that, if +possible, you are never to leave her, but to do every thing in your +power, under all circumstances, to enable her to reach the Duke of +Guise, who is her near relation, and whom we expect to find at Blois +or Chartres." + +"Is she so great a lady?" said the girl. + +"She is the niece and ward of the great Duke of Guise," replied +Charles of Montsoreau; "and the time is rapidly coming when those who +have injured and offended her will be severely punished, and those who +have assisted and befriended her rewarded far beyond their +expectations." + +Having said this, he left them to see that all was properly prepared; +and in a few minutes more Marie de Clairvaut, with the girl who +accompanied her, were placed in one of the rude but roomy chaises of +the country, and with six horses to drag it through the heavy roads, +was rolling away in the direction of Limoges, followed by Charles of +Montsoreau, and a party of five or six servants on horseback. + + + + + CHAP. VIII. + + +The autumn was far spent, an early winter had set intensely in, frost +once more covered the ground, the last leaves had fallen from the +trees, and looking round upon the thick tapestry that covered the +walls, and the immense logs of wood which blazed in the deep arched +fire-place, the tenant of a splendid room in the old chateau of Blois +smiled when he thought of where he had last passed a similar frosty +day: in arms in the open field against the enemies of the land. + +Now, however, the appearance of Henry Duke of Guise was in some degree +different from that which it had ever been before. Loaded with honours +by the King, adored by the people, gratified in every demand, ruling +almost despotically the state, the height to which he had risen had +impressed itself upon his countenance, and added to that expression of +conscious power, which his face had ever borne, the expression also of +conscious success. His dress, too, was more splendid than it had ever +been--not that he had adopted the silken refinements of Epernon or +Joyeuse; not that his person was loaded with jewels, or that his ear +hung with rubies: but every thing that he wore was of the richest and +most costly kind; and as he now stood ready dressed to go down to hold +the table of grand master of the King's household and generalissimo of +the armies of France, at which Henry himself, and all the great nobles +of the Court were that day to be present, it would have been +difficult, throughout all Europe--nay, it would have been impossible, +to match his princely look, or to excel in taste his rich apparel. One +single star gleamed upon his bosom, the collars of manifold orders +hung around his neck, the hilt of his sword was of massy gold, and +thin lines of gold embroidery marked the slashings of his green velvet +doublet, where, slightly opening as he moved with easy dignity, the +pure white lining below appeared from time to time. There were no +jewels on his hands, but one large signet ring. He wore no hat, and +the brown hair curling round his forehead was the only ornament that +decked his head. There was a jewel in his belt, indeed, a single +jewel of high price, and the pommel of the dagger, which lay across +his loins, was a single emerald. + +From time to time, while he had been dressing;--indeed we might say +almost every minute, some messenger, or page, or courier appeared, +bearing him news or letters from the various provinces of the realm. +His secretary stood beside him, but every line was read first by the +Duke's own eye; and then he handed them to Pericard, either with some +brief comment or some direction in regard to the answer to be +returned. + +"Ha!" he said, smiling, after reading one epistle. "There is a curious +letter from good Hubert de Vins. Hubert loves me as his own brother, +and yet to read that letter one would think he respected me but +little. There is no bad name he does not give me down to Maheutre and +Huguenot, because I trust in King Henry, who, he says, is as +treacherous as a Picardy cat." + +"I think with Monsieur de Vins, your Highness," said Pericard, who had +been reading the letter while the Duke spoke, "'that trusting in the +semblances of the King's love, you expose your life every hour as if +it were neither a value to yourself or your friends or your country.'" + +"You mistake, Pericard," replied the Duke; "I trust not in Henry's +love at all. Whether it be feigned or whether it be real for the time, +matters not a straw. If it be feigned, it does me no harm, but, on the +contrary, daily gives me greater power; if it be true, I receive the +benefits thereof for the time, well knowing that to-morrow or the next +day it will change completely into hate. I'll tell you what it is I +trust to, Pericard: not to the King's love, but to his good sense; for +were I dead to-morrow he could be ten times worse than he is to day. I +am he who stands between him and destruction!--Ah! who have we hear?" +he continued, as the door again opened. "From Provence;"--and taking +the letter from the hand of a dusty courier, he read it over +attentively and threw it to Pericard, saying, "That is good news +surely, Pericard! In the room of the two deputies who were so +difficult to manage that we were obliged to stuff them with carp and +truffles till they both fell sick and fled, we have got two steady +Leaguers not to be shaken by threats or moved by choice meats. If we +could dislodge that viper, Epernon, from Angoumois, all would be clear +before us till we reached the confines of Henry of Navarre. But +Epernon is raising troops, I hear----" he added, although he saw that +some one had entered the room and was approaching him. + +"Which he will soon disband. Monsieur de Guise," said the stranger, +"as I am charged by the King to set out to-morrow morning to give the +Duke his commands to that effect." + +"By my life, Monsieur Miron," said the Duke, "you will have soon to +lay aside altogether the exercise of your esculapean powers, at least +upon his Majesty's person. You show yourself so skilful in healing the +wounds of the state, and curing the sickness of the body politic." + +"Your Highness is good unto me," replied the King's physician, looking +humble; "but I came to pay my respects to your Highness now, not +having seen you since the exile of Villeroy, Pinar and the rest. I +hope your Highness does not think that their disgrace is likely to +affect your interests at court." + +"Not in the least, Monsieur Miron," replied the Duke: "far from it. I +seek to exercise no influence amongst the King's ministers. Those who +are good for the state are good to me. On the King's good feeling and +good sense I firmly rely." + +"Some body," said the physician, "informed his Majesty that you were +grieved at the dismissal of Villeroy. I may tell him, then, that such +is not the case, for he was pained to hear it." + +"Tell him so, I beseech you," replied the Duke. "I know the King would +not wish without some good reason to dismiss any one that I especially +esteemed." + +"Most assuredly," replied Miron; "but might I give your Highness one +slight warning as a friend, and a most sincere one?" + +"Most gratefully will it be received," replied the Duke. "Speak +freely, my learned sir," he continued, seeing that the physician had +fixed his eyes upon Pericard. "Our good Pericard is as silent as your +friend death, Monsieur Miron, who tells no tales you know to those on +this side the grave, whatever he may do to those on the other. What is +it you have to say?" + +"It is this, my Lord," replied Miron. "I should tell you first, that I +do believe the King sincerely loves you, and that if you deal but +politicly with his humours, there is none in whom he will place such +confidence. But my good lord the King's temperament is a strange +one.--I speak as a physician. It is indeed injured by some excesses, +but though by nature full of the mercurial character, there was always +much of the saturnine in it. The balance between these has been +overthrown by many circumstances, and in certain conjunctions of the +planets he is strangely and variably affected. Such also is the case +in the time of these hard frosts. In soft and genial weather he may be +easily dealt with: you will then find him but as a thing of wax in +your hands. But I beseech you, my Lord, remember that, when the pores +of the earth are shut up and filled with this black and acrid frost, +'tis then that all the humours of the body are likewise congealed, and +Henry is at that time filled with black and terrible vapours, which +are dangerous not alone to himself, but to every one who approaches +him unprepared. I say it advisedly, my good Lord. Any one who urges +the King far, at such moments, is in peril of his life.[6] But I must +say no more, for here comes a messenger." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 6: Such, and in such terms, strange and fantastic as they +may seem, was undoubtedly the warning given by the physician Miron to +the Duke of Guise not many days before the catastrophe of Blois.] + +--------------------- + + +"I thank you most sincerely," replied the Duke. "Who is this packet +from? I must speedily descend to supper." + +"From his Highness of Mayenne," replied the messenger. "He said it was +matter of life and death, and commanded me to ride post haste." + +"Ha!" said Guise, as he opened the packets and saw the contents. "Our +cousin of Savoy in arms in France. This shows the need of unanimity +amongst ourselves. He shall find himself mistaken, however, if he +thinks Guise will forget his duty to his country. Write Charles of +Mayenne word, Pericard, to bring his troops into such a position that +they can act against Savoy at a moment's notice, and tell him that he +shall have orders to do so ere three days be over. Send, too, to +Rouen, thanking them for their attachment; and see that our agent at +the court of Rome have full instructions regarding the Count de +Soissons. Ha! here comes our brother of the church. My good Lord +Cardinal, we will descend together. We shall scarcely reach the hall +before the King arrives." + +The person who entered bore a strong family likeness to the Duke, but +was neither so tall nor so powerful in person. He was dressed in the +crimson robes of a prince of the church of Rome; and his countenance, +which had much shrewdness and some dignity, accorded well with his +station, Miron had retired quietly while the Duke spoke; a sign had +dismissed the messenger from the Duke of Mayenne, and none but +Pericard remained in the room. But yet the Cardinal spoke in a whisper +to his brother, who merely smiled, replying, "Come, come; we have no +time now to jest." And thus saying, he led the way down to a hall, +where supper was prepared at the table of the Grand Master for all the +most distinguished guests then resident at Blois. + +The table was covered, as was then much the custom, with jewelled +plate of many kinds, and various fanciful devices. The room was in a +blaze of light, and all the guests, but the King and his particular +train, had already arrived. They were standing back from the table, +and gathered together in the magnificent dresses of that period, +formed splendid groups in different parts of the chamber, while sewers +and other attendants, hurrying backwards and forwards, brought in the +various dishes, and set them in their regular order. + +The appearance of the Duke and his brother, the Cardinal de Guise, +occasioned an instant movement amongst the guests, and the proudest +there bowed lowly to the gallant Prince, whose fortunes hitherto had +gone on from height to height. Nobles and generals of the highest +distinction eagerly sought a word with him, and bishops and prelates +of many a various character crowded forward, but to touch the hand of +one who had stood forth so prominently in defence of the church. + +In a few minutes the table was covered with the various dishes, and +intimation that supper was served was immediately given to the King, +who appeared the moment after, while the Duke of Guise advanced to the +door to receive him, and with every testimony of lowly respect led him +to the raised seat appointed for him. The King was followed by six +gentlemen, for whom places had been reserved, and amongst them the eye +of Guise rested upon Villequier. That eye flashed for a single moment +as it saw him; but the next instant all was calm, and the Duke noticed +him especially by an inclination of the head. + +As soon as the King had taken his seat, saying, "Sit, my Lord Duke, I +pray you; stand upon no further ceremonies," Guise and the rest seated +themselves at the table, and the monarch and his princely officer bent +forward to say some complimentary nothing to each other, each at the +same time unfolding the napkin that lay before them. As they did so, +from the napkin of the Duke of Guise fell out upon his plate a folded +letter; and Henry, who was all gaiety and condescension at that +moment, exclaimed aloud with a light laugh, "Some letter from his +lady-love, upon my honour. Read, read, my Lord Duke! Read, read! +Carvers, touch not a dish till the Duke has read." + +The Duke opened the letter smiling, while the King bent a little +towards that side, as if jestingly, to see the contents. All eyes +round the table were fixed upon those two; and it was seen that the +colour mounted into the cheek of the Duke of Guise, that his brow +gathered into a frown, and his lip curled with a scornful smile. As +far as the paint on the King's countenance would admit, he appeared to +turn pale at the same moment. But Guise, crushing the letter together +in his hand, threw it contemptuously under the table, saving aloud, +"They dare not!"[7] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 7: Some of the Duke's historians say, that he did not speak +the words aloud, but merely wrote at the bottom of the note, "On +n'oseroit," and then threw it under the table.] + +--------------------- + + +None but the King around the table knew to what those words alluded: +but Henry had seen the words, "Beware, Duke of Guise, your life is in +danger every day. There are those round you from morning to night, who +are ready to spill your blood." + +The Duke seemed to forget the matter in a moment, and by the graces of +his demeanour soon caused it to be forgotten also by all those around. +Henry resumed his gaiety and tranquillity; wine and feasting did their +part; and some short time after the King, with his glass filled with +the most exquisite wine of France, exclaimed, "Let us drink to some +one, my Lord Duke. To whom shall it be?" + +"It is for your Majesty to command," replied the Duke gaily. "Let us +drink to our good friends the Huguenots!" + +"Willingly, willingly," cried Henry laughing. "To the Huguenots, +cousin of Guise: ay, and to our good barricaders, too; let us not +forget them." + +The King smiled, and many around smiled also, at what they thought +would be a mortification to the Duke. But Guise answered immediately, +after drinking the toast, "It is well bethought of your Majesty, while +you give us the health of your bitter enemies, to give us that of your +most faithful servants, who will never cease to defend you against +them." + +He spoke with such an air of good humour, that none could see he had +taken any offence, and this matter was also forgotten in a few +moments. Shortly before the dessert was placed upon the table, a page +slipped a small scrap of paper with a few words written upon it into +the hands of the Duke, who gathered the meaning at a single glance, +while his whole countenance brightened with satisfaction. "Come, +Monsieur de Villequier," he said, "honour me by drinking with me to a +mutual relation of ours. Here is to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, as +sweet, as good, as fair a lady as any in France. Let us drink her +health, and a gallant husband to her soon." + +"Willingly, willingly, my Lord," replied Villequier; "and I wish your +Lordship would let me name that husband. But here is to her health." +And he drank the wine. + +"Nay," answered Guise, "that cannot be, Monsieur de Villequier, for I +have named him myself already." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Villequier, with no slight surprise in his look. +But he instantly overcame the first emotion, adding, "I suppose, then, +that the young Lady is under your protection at the present moment?" + +"At which you can neither be displeased nor surprised. Monsieur de +Villequier," replied the Duke, still bearing a courteous and affable +look. "As you know you swore upon the mass some weeks ago that she was +not under your protection, and that you knew not where she was, it +must be a relief to your mind to find that she is well cared for." + +"Oh, my good Lord of Guise," replied Villequier in the same courteous +tone, "no one ever doubts that his Highness of Guise cares for every +one that comes within his influence. Have we not an instance of it +here, when no sooner is one of the good Duke's friends, and the +allotted husband of his fair niece, dead, than another of his friends +is raised to the same happy prospect. But, pray, may I ask if the +young Lady herself is well pleased with this rapid substitution of +lovers?" + +"Delighted, I believe," replied the Duke with a smile full of meaning. +"Though I have had no particular communication with her yet, inasmuch +as, it having been discovered that she had escaped from the hands of +some base persons who unjustly detained her, the worthy and +respectable governor of Angoumois took pains to guard the country all +round, in order to stop her on her journey to Blois. This has much +delayed her coming, and would most likely have delayed it still +longer, had she not taken refuge with Monsieur and Madame Montmorin, +till I sent a force sufficient to open the way for her through all the +La Valettes in France. It is thus only this night--nay, this very +moment, that I hear of her arrival in Blois." + +"Well, my Lord," answered Villequier with a laugh, "it is evident that +he who attempts to strive with the Duke of Guise, either in stratagem +or in force, must be a bold man, and should be a clever one. As I told +your Highness, Mademoiselle de Clairvaut was not in my hands, but how +she was set free from the hands in which she was placed must remain a +mystery rather difficult to solve. A servant girl, it seems, became +the immediate instrument; but the skill with which every trace of her +path was concealed, and even the manner in which her flight itself was +effected, bespeaks a better brain than that of a peasant of Angoumois. +Is it permitted, my Lord, to ask the name of the favoured gentleman +you destine for her husband?" + +"His Majesty receives his Court to-night, I think," replied the Duke, +"and then, Monsieur de Villequier, I shall have much pleasure in +presenting that gentleman to you. But, Monsieur de Villequier, if, as +your words imply, you have suffered yourself to be out-man[oe]uvered +in this business, I will mortify your pride in your own skill by +telling you that you have been foiled and frustrated by no efforts of +mine, but by the wit of a girl and the courage and stratagem of a mere +youth. My Lord the King, may I humbly beseech your Majesty to let us +drink better policy to Monsieur de Villequier." + +Henry laughed lightly and drank the wine; and the rest of the supper +passed off gaily, though Villequier from time to time fell into a +momentary fit of thought, from which he was twice roused to find the +eye of the Duke of Guise upon him. At length, as the hour for the +reception of the Court in the King's own apartments approached, Henry +rose and retired, followed by Villequier and the rest of the gentlemen +who had accompanied him. + +The Duke of Guise paused for a moment after, speaking rapidly to +several of those around him; and then, calling a page, he whispered +to him, "Go with speed to Monsieur Chapelle Marteau. Tell him to let +me see him at midnight. I should also like to see Monsieur de Magnac, +one of the Presidents of the Nobles. You will very likely find him +in his cabinet at the Palais de Justice. I would fain see them +both.--Gentlemen, the King will soon be in the hall, where you had +better meet his Majesty. I must be absent for a few moments, and you +will therefore pardon me." + +Thus saying the Duke left them, and followed by one or two attendants, +proceeded to the apartments assigned especially to himself. + +In the mean while the rest of the nobles hurried from the chateau to +various parts of the town, in order to accompany their wives and +daughters to a great assembly of the Court, which was to be held that +night in the grand hall of the castle. In the same hall the meetings +of the States-General of the kingdom usually took place, when the +three orders assembled together; but, as it was considered probable +that they would deliberate separately for some days to come, the hall +had been arranged that night, as we have said, for the reception of +the Court; and in it soon appeared almost all the splendid nobility of +France brought into Blois by the meeting of the States. The Duke of +Guise, however, had not yet arrived when the King appeared, and much +was the surprise and wonder of all that he did not show himself. In +about ten minutes after, however, there was a whisper near the great +doors of "The Duke! the Duke is coming! He is in the corridor speaking +to Brissac:" and after the pause of an instant, the two wings of the +door were thrown open, and Guise, followed by a long and brilliant +train, and himself decorated with the collars and jewels of all the +first orders in Europe, entered the great hall and advanced towards +the King. With him appeared the lovely form of Marie de Clairvaut, +leaning on his left arm, while, dressed with all that splendour to +which the fashion of the day lent itself, appeared upon his right the +young Count of Logeres, somewhat thinner and somewhat paler than he +had been when he before presented himself at the Court of France, but +with his head high, and proud with the best kind of pride, the +consciousness of rectitude, and his eye bright with the excitement of +the moment and the scene. The eyes of Marie de Clairvaut were bent +down, and there was a slight but not ungraceful embarrassment in her +manner, from the consciousness that many late events which had +befallen her would attract more than usual attention to herself. + +Advancing straight towards the King and Queen, the Duke of Guise took +Marie's hand in his, saying, "Allow me to present to your Majesties my +dear niece and ward. Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and permit me also to +present to you my friend----;" and he laid particular emphasis on the +word, "the Count of Logeres, whom, with your Majesty's permission, and +this fair Lady's consent, I destine to be her husband. Were it +possible to give him a higher treasure than herself, I should be bound +to do it, as if it had not been for him, and for his skill, courage, +and determination on two occasions, my head would have been now in the +dust, and I should not now have had the hope of serving your Majesty +well, faithfully, and successfully, as I trust to do." + +From his first entrance, and while he spoke, a low murmur had run +through the whole Court, some inquiring who the gentleman was that +accompanied him, the few who knew Charles of Montsoreau whispering his +name, and all, as it passed round, expressing their surprise at the +re-appearance of one supposed to be dead. The Duke of Guise in the +mean time turned to Villequier, who had at first become pale at the +sight of Charles of Montsoreau. + +"Monsieur de Villequier," said the Duke, "you were desirous of knowing +the name of the friend for whom I destine my niece. Allow me to +present him to you in the person of the Count of Logeres, whom I trust +you will soon congratulate upon their marriage." And while he spoke he +ran the finger of his right hand gently down his baldric towards the +hilt of his sword, with a gesture significant enough, but which could +only be seen by Villequier. + +Having said this, the Duke and his party retired to a space left for +them on the King's right hand, and the various entertainments of the +evening commenced, the King, who had been rather amused than otherwise +at the reappearance of Charles of Montsoreau, giving himself up to one +of those bursts of gaiety, which occasionally ran into somewhat +frantic excesses. + +We cannot pause here to describe the scene. All was splendour and +amusement; and in the light Court of France the circumstances in +which Marie de Clairvaut was placed were sufficient to draw around her +all the gay, and the gallant, and the idle. Unaccustomed to such +scenes--less accustomed, indeed, than even she was--the eye of Charles +of Montsoreau turned towards her from time to time, with perhaps some +anxiety, to see how she would bear the homage that was paid to her; +whether, in short, it would be the same Marie de Clairvaut in the +midst of flattery and adulation and that bright and glittering scene, +that it had been with him in the calm quiet of country life, in more +than one solitary journey, and in many a scene of peril, danger, and +distress. Whenever he looked that way, however, he saw the same sweet, +calm, retiring demeanour; and more than once he found her eyes seeking +him out in some distant part of the hall, and her lips light up with a +bright smile as soon as their glances met. He felt, and he felt +proudly, that there was none there present who could doubt that her +guardian's choice was her own also. + +With the irregularity which marked all Henry's conduct at that period, +after remaining for half an hour with the appearance of the utmost +enjoyment, the King suddenly became sombre and gloomy; and, after +biting his lip and knitting his brow for a few minutes, turned and +quitted the hall. All was immediately the confusion of departure, and +Charles of Montsoreau made his way across to where the Duke of Guise +was seen standing, towering above all the rest. The young Count had +remarked, that in the course of the evening the Duke had been speaking +long and eagerly with a lady of extraordinary beauty, who stood at +some distance from the royal party; and he had heard her named as the +Marchioness of Noirmontier, with a light jest from more than one +tongue at her intimacy with the Duke. When he now reached the side of +that Prince she had passed on, and was bending over Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut, and speaking to her with a look of tenderness and +admiration. + +"Come on Count, come on," said the Duke, in a low but somewhat sharp +tone, as soon as his young friend joined him. And they advanced to the +side of the two ladies at the moment that Madame de Noirmontier was +urging Marie to spend a few days with her at her beautiful chateau +some way down the Loire. The Duke, however, did not suffer his ward to +reply. + +"I fear, dear Madam," he said in a decided and somewhat stern tone, +"that it cannot be." + +The colour rushed violently up into the cheeks of Madame de +Noirmontier, and the tears seemed ready to spring into her eyes. But +the Duke added, "Logeres, escort Marie back to my apartments. If you +will permit me, Madam, I will be your attendant to your carriage, and +explain why my young ward cannot have the extreme pleasure and honour +you intended for her." + +"It needs no explanation, your Highness," replied the Marchioness, +raising her head proudly. "I intended to have staid some days longer in +this neighbourhood; but as she cannot come to me, I shall return at +once to Paris." + +The Duke looked mortified, but still offered her his hand; and when he +rejoined his own party in the apartments assigned to him, he was +somewhat gloomy and abstracted. + + + + + CHAP. IX. + + +"His Highness, Sire," said one of the attendants to Henry III. on the +following day, "His Highness of Guise is not to be found this morning. +His servants say that he has gone forth on horseback, followed only by +two grooms: but whither he has turned his steps, no one seems rightly +to know." + +"Seek him with Madame de Noirmontier," said Villequier, who stood +beside the King. + +But Henry, however, who was in no mood for jesting at that moment, +replied sharply, "He is playing with me! He is playing with me! He +mocks me! He will repent it some day! And I think you mock me too, +Villequier, to talk of Madame de Noirmontier at this moment. Have you +not heard this business of Savoy? He knew it last night, and said +nothing of it; and I'll tell you what more he has done, Villequier, +which you may like as little as I like the other. He has fixed the day +for the marriage of his niece with that bold young Logeres. But this +business of Savoy is terrible, and these mutinous States will be the +ruin of the realm." + +"Sire," replied Villequier, "your Majesty must remember that I am +somewhat in darkness, in twilight at least. I have heard a rumour that +the Savoyard is in arms in France. But what of the States?" + +"Why, they are even now discussing," exclaimed the King, "whether +there shall be war or not, even to defend our invaded territory. There +are the Clergy now arguing it at the Jacobins, the Nobles in the +Palais de Justice, and the Third Estate in the Hotel de Ville,--all, +all showing a disposition to hesitate at such a moment; and Guise, the +Generalissimo of my armies, and Grand Master of my household absent. +Heaven knows where!" + +"The devil knows best, most likely," replied Villequier with a calm +smile. "But, perhaps, the secret may be, that the Duke of Savoy is +son-in-law of the King of Spain. Now, the King of Spain has been a +good friend to the Duke of Guise, and the good Pope used always to say +that a Guise never jumped higher than the King of Spain liked." + +"By my faith!" replied the King, "I sometimes think that this same +gloomy Philip is more sovereign in France than the King thereof. But +here come tidings from the Tiers Etats. Come, Monsieur Artau, how have +gone the deliberations of the States? What say our good Commons to war +with Savoy?" + +"They go against it altogether, Sire," replied the officer who now +entered. "Chapelle Marteau spoke against it vehemently, declared that +it was but a plundering excursion of some light troops, who had +carried off a few thousand crowns, while it would cost many millions +to carry on a war with Savoy: and then, up got another, and talked of +imposts and taxes and the poverty of the state, and said that millions +and hundreds of millions had been lost in peculation and extravagance. +If your Majesty indeed, he said, would bear two-thirds of the expense +out of your domain, and would cut down your tall trees, or mortgage a +part of the royal forests, the Commons would see what could be done." + +"By Heaven!" exclaimed Henry stamping his foot, "when they keep me +here, a throned beggar, without a crown in my pocket, to give a jewel +to a mistress or a friend, they expect me to carry on the defence of +the country at my own expense! On my soul! I have a great mind to cast +away the sceptre, to go down into the ranks of a private gentleman, +and name my rule-loving mother to govern in my stead: or faith, I care +not if it were Guise himself. He would teach these surly citizens what +it is to have an iron rod over their heads. By the Lord! he would not +spare the backs of the porkers. Hie thee, good Artau to the Clergy at +the Jacobins; see what they say to the matter. And what say you, +Villequier, to my scheme of abdicating?" + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier calmly, "I think it is an excellent +good one. But I hope, in the first place, that you will give a few +thoughts to what I told you concerning the young Marquis de Montsoreau +and the hundred thousand crowns he promised on the day of his marriage +with Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. You know your Majesty has claimed the +lion's share; and seventy-five thousand crowns at the present moment, +or any time between this and Christmas, might serve to give your +Majesty a new lace to your doublet, or a new doublet to your lace, for +to my mind both are plaguy rusty. Now, though the re-appearance of +this young Count of Logeres will cut down the amount of his brother's +estates most terribly, yet that affects me more than you, Sire; and by +having made inquiries I find, to a certainty, that he is quite capable +of paying the money the moment the marriage is concluded." + +"Seventy-five thousand crowns!" repeated the King thoughtfully. +"Seventy-five thousand crowns! Why, my friend, I think that neither +you or I have heard of such a thing since we had beards. But how does +all this square with my giving the crown to Guise, which you approved +so highly?" + +"Oh, extremely well, Sire," replied Villequier. "The crown I would +have you give him is neither the crown of France nor of Poland: I +would give him an immortal crown, Sire. You will fit him better, +depend upon it, that way than with a terrestrial one. His aspiring +spirit seeks the skies, and, could I deal with him, should very soon +find them. However, you will remember that your royal word, as well as +mine, is pledged to the young Marquis de Montsoreau." + +A dark smile came over the King's face. "We will see, Villequier; we +will see," he said. "My word must be kept and shall not be broken. The +morning of Christmas-day the Duke has fixed for the marriage. Who +knows what may happen between this and then, Villequier. She is then +absolutely your ward failing the Duke of Guise, and we will have no +hesitation or delay, when we have the power to compel obedience. But +we must be very cautious, Villequier; we must be very cautious. We +must neither seem pleased with this business of the marriage, for then +he would suspect us of some concealed design; nor must we oppose him +strongly, because that would put him on his guard; and I fear me, that +all the crowns in France could not do me so much good as the Duke of +Guise could do me harm if he were offended." + +"Without being slain," replied Villequier in a low tone. "Oh no, my +Lord, I know well, a wounded boar is always the most dangerous." + +The King smiled again in the same dark and sinister manner, but he +made no reply to Villequier's insinuation--perhaps still doubtful of +his own purposes, perhaps prevented from speaking openly by the return +of Monsieur D'Artau. + +"What! so soon come back?" exclaimed Henry. "You cannot judge of the +tone of the assembly, D'Artau. You should have heard more of their +deliberations." + +"There was no more to hear, Sire," replied D'Artau. "The Clergy were +all agreed; every body had become wonderfully pacific in a moment. +There had not been one voice raised for war, and fifty or sixty were +raised against it; so their deliberations, as I have said, were almost +concluded at the time I entered. They went to no vote, indeed, upon +the subject, but agreed to pass on to another question." + +"The villains! the crows!" exclaimed the King. "What did they give us +as reasons, did you hear?" + +"Why, they said, Sire," replied the officer, "that they had taxed +themselves, time after time, for the purpose of carrying on the war +with the Huguenots; that they had now again taxed themselves to the +utmost of their means, and would not consent that any part of the sum +thus raised should be diverted to make war upon their fellow +Catholics, while nothing had yet been done against the enemies of +their faith." + +"The specious hypocrites!" exclaimed Henry. "But what said they all to +the absence of the Duke of Guise?" + +"It was said, Sire, as I heard, by several people, that he had +evidently absented himself from policy, not wishing to oppose your +Majesty, and yet unwilling to go to war with Savoy. Some said, indeed, +Sire," he continued, "that Chapelle Marteau had acknowledged that this +was the case. But that could not be so either, for the Duke sent for +the President of the Tiers Etats last night, without being able to +find him. That I know from the servants, so that what Chapelle said +must have been out of his own head; while, on the contrary, I hear +that Monsieur Magnac and the Count de Brissac, who were with the Duke +for more than an hour last night, spoke vehemently against the Duke of +Savoy amongst the Nobles at the Palais de Justice. Thus the Nobles +were as unanimous for the war, as the other two States were against +it." + +"That should be the foot-fall of a Guise in the antechamber," said the +King. "Who is without there?" + +"The Duke of Guise, your Majesty," said a page entering almost as the +King spoke, "craves audience for a moment." + +"Admit him," said the King; "admit him:" and the next instant the Duke +of Guise entered hastily in a riding dress. + +"Your Majesty's gracious pardon," he said, "for presenting myself +before you thus: but I heard tidings, as I came along, which I +believed might give you great and exceeding pain." + +"Well may it give me pain, cousin of Guise," replied the King. "Well +may it give me pain, to find that my subjects are so insensible to +their own honour or to mine, as to suffer a foreign enemy to encamp +upon our native soil, without doing what best we may to drive him +forth." + +"It may, indeed, Sire," replied the Duke of Guise. "But the matter has +not been properly explained; and neither the Tiers Etats nor the +Clergy have seen it in its true light." + +"But where was the Duke of Guise to explain it?" demanded Henry. +"Where was the Generalissimo of my armies, the Lieutenant-general of +my kingdom, the Grand Master of my household, the man whose voice is +only second to my own in France--ay, and by Heavens! whose voice is +sometimes first likewise? Where was he, I say; and how came he not to +be present?" + +"From the simplest of all possible causes, Sire," replied the Duke. +"The business regularly appointed for this morning's discussion by the +States was a mere trifling matter of some petty impost. I had not told +your Majesty last night of this affair of Savoy, because I thought it +would spoil the pleasure of your evening, and perhaps disturb your +rest. I myself, however, neglected nothing. I instantly dispatched +orders, in your Majesty's name, to my brother of Mayenne, to advance +towards Piedmont with troops from Lyons. Before I rested, I sent for +the Presidents of the Nobles and of the Tiers Etats. The latter, +however, was not to be found; but I told Brissac and Magnac what had +occurred, and begged them to prepare all minds for vigorous measures +against Savoy, without disclosing the actual fact of aggression, that +fact having only reached me by the excessive speed of my brother's +courier. I felt perfectly certain that the news could not be known +till to-night or to-morrow morning; and how it happened that your +Majesty was informed of it so early, as to send down a message thereon +to each of the three Estates, I really do not know." + +"Very simply, my good cousin of Guise," replied the King, whose face +had now relaxed from the harsh and acrid aspect it had borne +throughout the morning; "it was Miron told me." + +"I had forgotten, I had forgotten," replied the Duke. "He was in the +room when the packet arrived, and I must have given vent to my +thoughts aloud." + +"Well, under such circumstances," replied the King, "I suppose I must +pardon, cousin of Guise, your having gone to pay your homage somewhere +else, as Monsieur de Villequier insinuates, when the King much wanted +your presence." + +"Monsieur de Villequier is, as usual, wrong," replied the Duke of +Guise frowning upon him. "Where he seeks for or finds such abundance +of evil motives to attribute to other men, I do not know. May it not +be in his own bosom? I went, for your Majesty's service, to inspect a +body of three thousand men, about to march early this morning from +Laucome to join the army of the Duke of Nevers, and it was only as I +returned that I heard of this unfortunate business." + +"Perhaps his Highness thinks," said Villequier, not unwilling to +increase any feeling of ill-will between the King and the Duke, +"perhaps his Highness thinks that your Majesty would have done more +wisely to have waited till his return, and not to have communicated +the news from Savoy at all to the States, till you had consulted him +upon it." + +Villequier had almost said, "till you had asked his permission;" but +he feared that a part of the King's anger might fall back upon +himself. The Duke of Guise, however, saw through all his purposes in a +moment, and replied, "Far from it, Monsieur de Villequier! I think, on +the contrary, that I should have done more wisely if, instead of +inspecting the troops at all--although Nevers, who is my enemy, might +have reproached me for neglect--I had waited till the King had risen, +to convey the expression of his will in person to the States-General, +Sire, I humbly crave your Majesty's pardon for this one instance of +neglect; and, to prove how sorry I am that it has occurred, I will +undertake to show the Clergy and the Commons such good motives for +changing their decision, that your Majesty's name and honour shall not +suffer by the invasion of your territories unresisted." + +"They will refuse you, Guise; they will refuse you," replied the King. +"I know them well. You think to rule them, Guise; but the first time +you speak of money to Commons or to Clergy, you will find that +cabalistic word, money, acts on them as the sign of the cross upon the +fiends we read of, and makes the seeming angels resume their shapes of +devils in a moment." + +"Well, Sire, well," exclaimed the Duke of Guise, tossing his lofty +head with a proud smile, "if they refuse us, we will shame them. You +and I together will put our lances in the rest, as in days of old: we +will call the nobility of France about us; and I will promise, at my +own expense, without craving these penurious Commons for a sol, with +my own men and your Majesty's good help, in three weeks' time to drive +the Savoyard back to his mountain den. But no, Sire, no! They will not +refuse me; and I pledge myself before this hour to-morrow to bring you +such tidings from both clergy and commons as you could wish to hear." + +"If you do, cousin," cried the King eagerly, "if you do, you are my +best of friends and counsellors for ever." + +"Fear not. Sire; fear not," replied the Duke of Guise; "I will be bold +to undertake it. But I must see the presidents and some of the +deputies speedily, to know what are the vain and idle notions on which +they have hesitated in regard to a step imperatively necessary. I will +therefore humbly take my leave, beseeching you to think well of me +during my absence, even though my good Lord of Villequier be at your +Majesty's right elbow." + +Thus saying the Duke retired, and the King, turning to Villequier, +asked with some anxiety "Think you, Villequier, that he will succeed?" + +"I know not, Sire," replied Villequier; "but I should judge not. They +have too far committed themselves to retract, let the question be what +it would, but are not at all likely to retract where money is +concerned." + +"Well, well," said the King; "I will hope the best. And now, +Villequier, we must think of what can be done, in order not to lose +the seventy-five thousand crowns. Mort Dieu! What a sum! In the very +first place, we must call hither your young friend, wherever he may +be, without loss of an hour. We must not have him appear at the Court, +however. He must lie concealed, but be ready at a moment's notice. Let +him bring what men he can with him. But above all, do not let him +forget the crowns, Villequier. Let them be prepared.--Nay, smile not, +I have a scheme for the purpose, which will mature itself in time. But +no good plan should ever be hurried, and it should always be formed of +elements as ductile as warm wax, that it may fit itself into the mould +of circumstances. It will mature itself in time, Villequier; it will +mature itself in time. But now to this other terrible business." + +"Pray, Sire, what is that?" demanded Villequier with some alarm, for +since his arrival at Blois Henry had shown so much more activity and +application to serious matters, that even his favourite had forgotten +his character. "Pray, what terrible business does your Majesty speak +of?" + +"Have you not heard," exclaimed the King, "have you not heard, that +the boat was upset in coming down the Loire--the boat with the parrots +and monkeys; and my great beautiful black ape, Ridolin-din-din, was +nearly drowned, and has caught such a cold, that it is feared he will +die!--Sweet creature, he is a beauty, and in his woollen nightcap and +long gown is not at all unlike my mother. Poor fellow, have you not +heard him coughing in the room beyond? I must go and give him some +confection of quinces." + +During a considerable portion of the day Henry devoted himself to his +ape, but towards evening his anxiety in regard to the States and to +the eruption of the Duke of Savoy seized upon him again. This was +terribly increased by the arrival of a new courier, bearing more ample +particulars than the former. The king slept ill at night, and rose +early the next morning; but still all the reports brought him of the +disposition of the States made him imagine that no means would be +taken to curb the enemy, and that he himself would be left by his +subjects the mockery and by-word of Europe, unable to repel the +outrages of even the pettiest of all the neighbouring princes. The +sneers of many of his favourites and courtiers at the Duke of Guise, +too--their ironical smiles at the very idea of his being able to +change the announced determination of two great bodies in the State, +tended to irritate the King still more, and to drive him almost to +madness. + +In this state of mind he was walking up and down his chamber between +eleven and twelve o'clock on the succeeding day, when suddenly hearing +the bustle of many feet without, he himself threw open the door and +beheld the Duke of Guise approaching with his usual train and several +other persons. + +There was in the noble countenance of the Duke the glad consciousness +of success; but Henry, eager for confirmation, exclaimed, "What is it, +cousin of Guise? What is it? Uncertainty drives me wild." + +"Health to your Majesty," replied the Duke. "These gentlemen who +follow me. Messieurs Brissac and Magnac, the Presidents of the +Nobility, the Archbishop of Lyons representing the Clergy, and my good +friend, Chapelle Marteau, President of the Third Estate, humbly +approach your Majesty with a petition, that as the Duke of Savoy has +committed a wanton infringement upon the territories of France, you +would be graciously pleased to pronounce a declaration of war against +that Prince, in which your dutiful subjects will aid and support your +Majesty to the best of their ability." + +The King's joy knew no bounds, and throwing his arms around the Duke +of Guise, he kissed him on both cheeks. Recovering himself, however, +in a few minutes, he received the deputies from the States with some +degree of dignity. His joy, however, was still exuberant; and, in +dismissing the petitioners, he said that the declaration should be +immediately issued, and that he would trust to his best friend and +wisest counsellor, pointing to the Duke of Guise, to repel speedily, +with that unconquerable hand which had won so many victories, this new +aggression upon the territory of France. + +As soon as the deputies were gone, he burst forth again in the same +strain, vowing to the Duke that he loved him beyond every thing on +earth, that his attachment should be unalterable and inviolate, and +that whatever might be said or urged against the Duke, he would never +believe it. + +"Cousin of Guise," he exclaimed, "there are people who would fain +persuade me that you aim at my crown, and perhaps there are others who +may try to persuade you that I aim at your liberty or life, I know +there are." + +"Sire, we neither of us believe them," replied the Duke. + +"Let us never believe them," answered the King; "let us never believe +them. Let us swear, Guise, let us swear to hold good faith and +undoubting sincerity and true friendship to each other for ever! Let +us swear it upon the altar even now! Let us swear it by the Holy +Communion, by which we dare not swear falsely, and then the +insinuations of our enemies will be as empty air!" + +"Most willingly, Sire," replied the Duke; "I am ready this moment. It +is near the hour of mass, and having nothing in my heart but good +towards your Majesty, I am ready this very moment." + +"Come then, come to the chapel," cried the King. And taking the Duke +of Guise by the hand he led the way, followed by only the two +attendants who were in the anteroom. In ten minutes more the King and +the Duke might be seen kneeling before the same altar, calling down +the wrath of God upon their heads if they ever did one act of enmity +towards each other, drinking of the same consecrated cup, and dividing +the host between them.[8] + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 8: This awful fact is but too certain.] + +--------------------- + + + + + CHAP. X. + + +It was a bright clear frost, all the ancient houses and streets of +that most curious and interesting old town, called Blois, were seen +clear and defined, without the slightest thin particle of smoke or +haze, and from the high windows of the chamber of Catherine de Medici +the servant, who sat and gazed out, might see the slightest object +that passed along the road below. + +As she thus sat and gazed, her eyes fell upon a glittering troop of +cavaliers who issued forth from the castle gates, and took their way +through the town, and she could see the princely form of the Duke of +Guise, and the strong frame of Brissac, and the graceful person of +Charles of Montsoreau, riding nearly abreast at the head of the troop. + +"The Duke has gone forth, may it please your Majesty," said the woman, +turning to the bed on which lay Catherine de Medici, sick in body and +uneasy in mind. "The Duke has gone forth, and a large train with him." + +"Then the King will soon be here," replied the Queen-mother. "Go into +the further chamber, good Bridget, and wait there till he leaves me. +If Madame de Noirmontier arrives from Paris before he is gone, bid her +wait there too. I will see her after, and be glad to see her." + +The attendant had scarcely retired, when Henry III. himself entered +with a slow step, a dull frowning brow, and lips turned down, giving +his countenance a diabolical expression of sneering malice, which +contrasted strongly with the white and red paint which he had used, +and the gay foppery of his apparel. + +"You sent for us, good mother," he said. "How goes it with you? Has +the fever left you, or do you still suffer?" + +"My sufferings are of no moment," replied Catherine de Medici. "They +will soon pass, Henry, and I shall be well again. But the illnesses of +states pass not so soon, my son; and upon your acts, at the present +moment, depends the welfare of France for centuries." + +"I know it, madam," replied Henry sullenly. "But may I ask upon what +particular occasion your Majesty has thus resumed the maternal rod?" + +"The occasion is this, my son," replied the Queen: "I find that you +are opposing Guise, when you have no power to oppose him; and you are +opposing him in things where your opposition will not increase your +power, but will increase his. Were you to oppose him firmly but +stedfastly on points where reason, and right, and the welfare of the +State were upon your side, however blind they might be for a time, the +people would come over to your side in the end. But if you oppose him +in things where your pride, or your vanity, or your selfishness is +concerned, depend upon it his party will every day increase; for Guise +having identified himself with the people and the Catholic Church, his +foibles will be treated far more leniently by both church and people +than yours." + +"Guise!--Guise!--Guise!" cried the King in a bitter tone. "For ever, +Guise! I am sick to death of the very name. What would you have, +Madam? Have I not yielded almost every thing to him? Have not all his +demands been granted, till they become so numerous that I have not +wherewithal to stop their mouths? Did I not sign the decree of July? +Did I not declare old scarlet Bourbon next heir to the Crown? Did I +not satisfy the cravings of Nemours and of Mayenne? Did I not banish +Epernon; give the Duke all sorts of posts; yield him up towns and +cities? Did I not render him king of one half of France? What is it +that I have refused him?" + +"In many points you mistake, my son," replied the Queen. "You have +yielded more than one of these things, not to him, but to the League. +You refused to him, too, the sword of Constable; and in that perhaps +you were right. At all events he himself seemed to think that you were +so, for he has not pressed the demand: but after promising to the +League, as one of their towns of surety, the city of Orleans, which +both you and I know was promised, you would now persuade Guise and the +League that it was inserted in the edict by mistake, and that the town +promised was Dourlans, a heap of hovels on a little hill, as if you +thought that, by such a trumpery evasion, you could deceive the keen +wit of a Lorraine. Guise, of course, set his foot upon the small +deception. But what are you doing now? Quarrelling with him because he +demands that which has been recognised as a right of every +generalissimo in the kingdom; namely, the right of having his own +prevot and guards. Such has ever been the case, as you well know. The +matter is a trifle, except to your own jealous disposition; and even +were he not right, it would still be but a trifle. But when he is +right, and you are wrong, the refusal is an insult, and the matter +becomes of importance." + +"Madam," said the King bitterly, "in spite of all you say. Guise shall +not absolutely be King of France. Has he not here, within these three +days, refused me an impost necessary to maintain my dignity as a King, +and to provide for the safety of the State? Does he not try to keep me +a beggar, that I may have no means of asserting my own rights and +dignity?" + +"No," replied the Queen; "No, Henry! He did not refuse you the impost; +it was the States. If I heard rightly, he spoke in favour of it." + +"Ay, spoke!" cried the King. "But how did he speak? +Lukewarmly--unwillingly. The States soon saw which way his wishes +turned. Had he not been playing the hypocrite, he would have commanded +it in a moment. Did he not show how he could command in that business +of Savoy? Four-and-twenty hours were sufficient for him to make every +man in Clergy and in Commons eat their words. This is something very +like sovereign power, madam. It is power such as I never possessed +myself." + +"Ay, and then you were grateful to him for its exercise," replied +Catherine; "and swore eternal friendship to him on the altar!" + +"Certainly, but his ambitious views have become far more outrageous +since then," replied the King angrily. "Has he not exacted that Henry +of Navarre shall be excluded by name from the succession? Has he not +forced the Count de Soissons to receive absolution from the Pope? Has +not he blazed abroad, throughout all the world, the letters of the +Pope himself, thanking him for his efforts to put down heresy, and +exhorting him to persevere, as if he and none other were King of +France? And now he must have guards, must he! now he must have guards! +When will the crown be wanted? His leading staff is already the +sceptre, for it sways all things; his chair is already the throne, for +from it emanates every movement of the States-General of France. Yes, +madam, yes! the throne and sceptre he has gained; and I see the leaves +of his ducal coronet gradually changing themselves into fleurs-de-lis, +and the bandlets of the close crown ready to meet above his head." + +"But to the guards which he demands," said Catherine de Medici, "he +has a right, as Lieutenant-general of the kingdom; and why should you +oppose him on a point where he is right? + +"Ay, the guards! the guards!" cried Henry. "Let him have them, madam; +let him have them. But nevertheless, in a few days, all this will be +over." And so saying, without waiting for further reply, the King +turned and quitted his mother's chamber. + +Following a private staircase, which had been so constructed as only +to afford a means of communication between the various apartments of +the royal family, the King descended to a large chamber, or sort of +hall, with a deep window looking out towards the Loire. He found +already in that chamber several of his most intimate and confidential +friends and favourites, who, notwithstanding the high degree of +confidence which the King placed in them, viewed the gloomy sullenness +of his countenance with some sort of apprehension. In truth, when the +fit was upon him, it could never be told where the blow would fall; +and he often thus deprived himself of counsel and assistance in his +moments of greatest need. + +There were some, however, then present, whose purpose it was to +exasperate the irritation which he suffered, even at the risk of +injuring, in some degree, themselves; and the Marechal d'Aumont, who +had been waiting there for his return, advanced, and though the King +addressed not one word to him, but walked on sullenly till he had +almost touched him, he began the conversation first, speaking in a low +tone. At length the King stopped abruptly, and, gazing in his face, +exclaimed, "What, without my veto; without my consent and approbation? +Do the States propose that their determinations be law without the +King?" + +"They do, Sire," replied the Marechal d'Aumont; "and I doubt not they +would consider that the approbation of the Duke of Guise would be +quite sufficient. They have already made him feel that such is the +case, Sire; for one of his creatures offered me not long ago, if I +would attach myself to him, to make me Governor of Normandy, declaring +that the States, at a word from the Duke, would make your Majesty take +it from the Duke of Montpensier, to whom you had given it." + +The King paused for a moment, with his hands clasped, and his eyes +gazing on the ground. At length he raised them suddenly, saying, "Hark +ye, D'Aumont!" and then spoke a few words in a whisper, as the Marshal +bent down his ear. + +D'Aumont turned somewhat pale as he listened; his brows knit, and a +certain degree of wildness came into his eyes; but he answered, the +moment the King had done, "I have not rightly understood your Majesty. +But it seems to me, that the only way a sovereign can deal with +rebellious subjects and traitors, is to cause them to be arrested, and +deliver them over to their natural judges, to be tried according to +law." + +Henry waved his hand with a look of contemptuous disappointment, and +then added, looking fixedly in D'Aumont's face, "You will be silent!" + +"On my honour, Sire," replied D'Aumont; and bowing low, but with a +face still pale, he quitted the chamber. + +Without noticing the other gentlemen who were standing at the farther +corner of the room, Henry called to a page, and descended by the +staircase into the gardens. He looked up for a moment at the bright +and cheerful sunshine, and then upon the clear wintry scene around; +but the sight seemed only to plunge him in deeper gloom than ever; and +turning to the boy he said, "Run back to the hall, and bid Monsieur +Crillon come here alone." + +He then stood with his arms crossed upon his chest, gazing upon the +ground beneath his feet, and when Crillon approached he took him by +the arm, and walked slowly on with him to the other side of the +gardens. He was silent for some moments; but then turning to Crillon +he said, "You are colonel of my French guards, Crillon, and there is a +service which I want you and them to perform." + +"Speak, Sire," replied Crillon with his bluff manner. "If there be any +thing that a soldier and a man of honour can do for you, I am ready to +do it." + +"Are not kings the highest magistrates in their realm, Crillon?" said +the King, gazing in his face; "and have they not a right to judge +their own subjects, and pass sentence upon them?" + +"I wish to Heaven I were a lawyer, Sire," replied the old soldier, +"and then I would give your Majesty an answer. But on my honour, at +present, I have not considered the subject." + +"Well then, Crillon," continued the King, "to put it in another shape: +I have a subject who is more king than myself; who stands between me +and the sun; who grasps at all the power in the realm; and who, day by +day, is increasing in ambition and insolence." + +"Your Majesty means the Duke of Guise," said Crillon; "I know him in a +minute by the description." + +"You are right," said Henry. "But this must not continue long, +Crillon. Methinks a small body of my guards, with a brave and +determined commander, might rid me of this enemy, of this viper. The +most learned lawyers of my realm have assured me that law and justice +and right authorise me to cause this deed to be done. Will you +undertake it, Crillon?" + +"Sire," replied Crillon, "I beg your Majesty's pardon for reminding +you, that there is a public executioner appointed by law, and I must +not interfere with any other man's office. As to my becoming an +assassin, that your Majesty does not conceive possible for a moment." + +Henry looked bitterly down upon the ground, and then said, in a tone +between wrath and anguish, "My friends desert me!" + +"No, Sire, they don't," replied Crillon. "There is a way of settling +the matter, which your Majesty has forgotten, but which suits my +feelings and habits better than any other way. I will now humbly take +leave of your Majesty, and going up to the cabinet of his Highness of +Guise, I will insult him before his people, tell him that he has +wronged his King and his country, and bid him accompany me to the +field with equal arms. The Duke, bad as he is, is not a man to refuse +such an invitation; and I think I can insure your Majesty, that you +shall not be troubled with the Duke of Guise for a long time to come." + +The King smiled; "Alas! Crillon," he said, "you deceive yourself. You +forget what you undertake. Remember, you purpose to strive with, hand +to hand, the most powerful man in Europe--the most dexterous and +skilful in the use of every weapon upon the face of the earth,--the +most fearless, the most active, the most prompt, whose hand never +trembles, whose eye never winks, whose foot never slips. He would slay +thee, Crillon; he would slay thee in a moment." + +"I know it, Sire," replied Crillon calmly; "but not before I have slain +him. If I choose to make my body a sheath for his sword, I will make +his body a sheath for mine, while my hand holds tight against my +breast the hilt of his weapon, to keep in my own spirit till I see his +fled. This can be done, Sire, and it shall be done within these two +hours. I give your Majesty good day, for there is no time to spare." + +"Stay, Crillon, stay!" said the King, "I command you not to think of +it. If you attempt it, you will ruin all my plans. I thank you for +your willingness. I owe you no ill-will for your refusal. You will +find the page at the door: tell him to send Monsieur de Laugnac to +me--Montpizat Laugnac, you know." + +"Oh, I know him, Sire," replied Crillon. "He is a man of small +scruples. I will tell the page as your Majesty bids me." And he +retired from the presence of the King with a quick step. + +The manner in which the King dealt with Laugnac formed a strange +contrast with his manner towards Crillon. The moment that the former, +who was first gentleman of his chamber, and captain of the famous band +of Quarante-cinq, joined him in the garden, the King seized him by the +hand, saying, "Laugnac, the Duke of Guise must die!" + +"Certainly, Sire," replied Languac, as if it were a thing perfectly +natural. "I have thought so some time." + +"Will you undertake it, Laugnac," demanded the King. "You and your +Quarante-cinq?" + +"I must have more help than that, Sire," said Laugnac, "if it is to be +done out in the streets, in the open day, which I suppose must be the +case, as he is seldom out at night." + +"Oh no, no, no! that will never do!" exclaimed the King. "We must have +no rashness, Laugnac. He never rides but with a train, which would set +you at defiance; and, besides, the town is filled with Guisards. You +would have men enough upon you to slay you all in five minutes. We +must put him off his guard; we must lull him into tranquillity, and +then draw him to some private place, where you and your good fellows, +posted behind the arras, can strike him to the heart before he is +aware." + +"It is an excellent good plan, Sire," exclaimed Laugnac +enthusiastically. "I will speak with my good friend, Larchant, who is +a bold man and strong, a mortal enemy of the Guise, and a most devoted +servant of your Majesty. We will soon arrange a plan together which +cannot fail." + +"Swear him to secrecy," cried the King; "and remember to-morrow must +not pass without its being done. If you can find Villequier too, who +ought to be returned by this time, for we have much to do together +to-morrow, consult with him, for in a matter of poisoning or of the +knife you know, Laugnac, he has not his equal in France." + +The King smiled, and Laugnac smiled too, at the imputation which they +cast on another of the dark deeds exactly similar to those they were +both plotting themselves. + +"Do you not think, your Majesty," said the latter, "that it could be +done just about the time of the Duke's coming to the Council +tomorrow?" + +"Excellent, good," said the King, "for that will cut him off, just ere +this marriage that is talked of. But go quick, Laugnac, and make all +the arrangements, and let me know the plan to-night; for look where +the very man comes:" and he pointed down the alley that led to the +chateau, where the Duke of Guise was seen approaching alone. + +"He is alone," said Laugnac. "Could it not be done now? I and another +could make sure of it, if your Majesty would detain him here till I +seek aid." + +"On no account," said the King, grasping his wrist tight. "On no +account, Laugnac. You forget all the windows of the chateau see us. +The rest of his creatures would escape, and I must have not a few of +them in prison. No! we will be tender with him. He shall be our sweet +cousin of Guise, our well-beloved counsellor and friend. Greet him +gracefully as you pass by him, and tell the page to seek, high and +low, for Villequier, and bring him to me." + +Laugnac bowed low, and walked away, and as he went he left the Duke of +Guise the whole of the path, pulling off his hat till the plumes +almost swept the ground, but without speaking. Guise bowed to him +graciously; but, evidently in haste, passed on towards the King, whom +he saluted with every demonstration of respect, and on whom in return +Henry smiled with the most gracious expression that he could assume. + +"What seeks our fair cousin of Guise?" said the King. "I know this is +a busy hour with him in general, and therefore judge that it must be +matter of some importance brings him now." + +"Not exactly so, Sire," replied the Duke. "There is but little +business of importance stirring now, when so many of the multitude, +lately collected in Blois, have returned to their own homes for the +approaching festival. I came, however, to beseech your Majesty to +grant me permission to absent myself for a few days on the same joyful +occasion. All business for the time ceasing, my presence will not be +necessary." + +"Assuredly, assuredly!" replied Henry, turning pale at the very idea +of the Duke escaping from his hands. "But do you go soon, fair cousin. +I thought that you proposed the marriage of your fair ward for +to-morrow; indeed, I heard that every thing was prepared, and I myself +intended to be one of the guests." + +"We have not forgotten your Majesty's gracious promise," replied the +Duke. "Every thing is prepared, and half an hour before high mass we +shall all be waiting for your Majesty in the revestry of the chapel. +Never yet have I seen two young beings so happy in their mutual love; +and as we have broken through some cold forms, in consideration of the +many services which the lover has rendered to his future bride, they +are always together, and clinging to each other, as if they fancied +that something would yet separate them." + +Henry smiled, but there was a certain mixture in it, which rendered it +difficult to say whether the expression was gracious or ironical. +"Well then, good cousin," he said, "as you have such mighty business +toward, we had better hold our council as early as possible to-morrow, +and not wait till the usual hour. Let it be as near day-break as +possible. The god of day does not open his eyes too soon at this +season of the year. And yet I fear that the business of various kinds, +that we have before us, will occupy more time than one council can +afford. Thus we may be obliged to detain you at Blois, fair cousin, +longer than you expect, I fear." + +"I did not intend to go, Sire," replied the Duke, "till somewhere +about twelve on Christmas-day, which would give me the opportunity of +being present at two councils; and I shall be also absent so short a +space of time--certainly not longer than three whole days--that the +interruption will not be great." + +"Well, be it so; be it so," replied the King. "We know that your +activity makes rapidly up for time lost. As to the marriage, I will +sign the contract in the revestry, where I meet you; and I think that, +notwithstanding the poverty of my treasury, I have a jewel yet of some +price to give the bride." + +"I beseech your Majesty think not of it," replied the Duke of Guise. +"She and her good husband will be equally devoted to your service +without such a mark of your condescension." + +After a few more words of the same kind, the Duke took leave, and +Henry remained in the garden walking to and fro, and growing every +moment more and more impatient for the arrival of Villequier. + +"Where can he be?" he muttered to himself. "He promised to be back +before nine o'clock this morning. What can detain him? By Heavens! he +will lose the best part of our enterprise if he stays. Can he have met +with some mishap by the way--or has some lady poisoned him with +champignons or with Cyprus wine--or tried cold steel upon him--or shot +him with a silver bullet in honour of his great master. No steel would +touch him, I should think, if all tales are true. But here he comes; +here he comes, alive and well, with the eye of a wolf and the footfall +of a cat.--He is a handsome animal notwithstanding, even now, if he +would but paint his lips a little, for they are too pale. Something +has gone wrong. He seems agitated; and to see Villequier moved by any +thing is indeed a wonder. Why, how now, dear friend? What is it that +affects you? I declare your lip quivers, and your cheek is red. What +is the meaning of this?" + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I just met the Duke of Guise in the +hall of the chateau, and he not only tells me that the marriage of his +niece goes forward, but that your Majesty has promised to sign the +contract, and to be present at the ceremony. How you intend to +withdraw yourself, I do not know: but to throw, at least, some +obstacle in the way, I said that my signature had not been asked; and +while my application was before the Parliament of Paris, the marriage +could not take place without that signature. He answered haughtily, +Sire, not by requesting, but by commanding, me to be in the revestry +of the chapel at the hour of half-past eleven; and he added, with a +significant tone, that he would teach me the use of pen and ink." + +Henry showed no wrath: his mind was made up to his proceedings; his +dark determination taken; and utterly remorseless himself, he sported +in his own imagination with the idea of Guise's death, and only smiled +at his conduct to Villequier, as the skilful angler sees amused the +large trout dash at the gilded fly, knowing that a moment after he +will have the tyrant of the stream upon his own hook, and panting on +the bank. + +"You shall be in the revestry, Villequier," said the King; "you shall +sign the marriage contract, for the King commands you as well as the +Duke of Guise; and surely two such potent voices must be obeyed." + +Villequier paused for a minute or two ere he replied, calculating what +might be the King's motives in his present conduct. He knew Henry +well, and knew his vacillating changeable disposition; and he +suspected that he was determined to violate his promise to Gaspar de +Montsoreau upon some inducement, either of hope or fear, held out to +him by the Duke of Guise. He was well aware, however, that if the +means taken had been disagreeable, the King, though he might have +endured them smilingly in the presence of the Duke, would have burst +forth into passion, almost frantic, when conversing with him. He +therefore replied straightforwardly, "I suppose, Sire, the younger +brother has outbid the elder." + +"Wrong, wrong, good friend," replied the King. "Your hawk has missed +its stroke, Villequier. The Duke of Guise wills it so! Is not that +quite sufficient in France?" + +"I hope it will not be so long, Sire," replied Villequier, now +beginning, though indistinctly, to catch the King's meaning. "I hope +it will not be so long." + +"Ha, Rene! Do you understand me now?" said Henry. "Hark ye! Are you +not this girl's guardian beyond all doubt, were the Duke out of the +way?" + +"Indubitably," answered Villequier; "for the only thing that affects +my right, even now, is her father's will, appointing this same Henry, +Duke of Guise to be her guardian: the other brothers are not named." + +"Well then," said Henry, "have a contract of marriage in due and +proper form drawn out, this very night, in the names of Marie de +Clairvaut and Gaspar, Marquis of Montsoreau. Be in the revestry at the +hour named, and bring with you your gay bridegroom with all his golden +crowns. You shall sign the contract, and I will sign the contract, and +we will find means I think to make the fair Lady sign the contract +too, while the Duke of Guise's bridegroom discovers his way into a +dungeon of the chateau. You have been so long absent, I feared you +would not come in time to hear all this." + +"Why, Sire," replied Villequier, "I was forced to be absent; for +although your Majesty seems to have forgotten a certain paper given to +the Abbe de Boisguerin, I have not." + +"Ha!" said the King, "I had forgotten indeed. We must suppress that, +Villequier; we must suppress that, if he will not consent to our +plans; which, I see by your face, it is not your opinion that the +worthy Abbe will do. You must get it from him and suppress it." + +Villequier smiled at the very thought. "He will never give it up to be +suppressed, Sire," replied the Marquis. "Your Majesty little knows the +man." + +"Well, then, suppress him!" said the King with a laugh; "suppress him, +Villequier, and the paper with him. Under the great blaze made by this +business of the Guise, his affair will be but as one of the wax tapers +that a country girl, with a sore eye, buys for half a denier to hang +up before St. Radigonde. Suppress him, Villequier; suppress him. I +know no one so capable of sweeping the window clear of such flies." + +"Yes, Sire," replied Villequier; "but he is a wasp, not a fly. He has +antidotes for poison, and sureties against the knife. He has, besides, +more powerful friends, it seems, than any of us believed, or at least +more powerful means of gaining them. The Pope has been induced to set +him free of his vows. I find, too, that Epernon sent for him +immediately after that business of the attempt upon his life at +Augouleme, and they are now sworn friends and comrades, levying forces +together, holding counsel every other hour; and here is the former +Abbe now disporting himself as Seigneur de Boisguerin; and, just like +a butterfly that has cast its slough, he arrives in Blois last night +in gilded apparel, with a train of twenty horse behind him, and a +number of sumpter mules. I saw him in his gay attire near Augouleme, +and find that he aspires to the hand of the fair heiress himself." + +"But what is to be done, Villequier?" said the King smiling. "It seems +to me that all the world are seeking her. Suppose we send for an +auctioneer, and set her up _aux encheres_. But, to speak seriously, +what will you do with this cidevant Abbe?" + +"I have done with him something already," replied Villequier, "that +with all his art he could not prevent nor know. I found this young +Marquis of Montsoreau somewhat stubborn to counsel. He loved not the +plan of coming and lying concealed at Blois. Though he is politic and +artful at seasons himself, yet now he was all passion and fury. +Nothing would serve him but he must come to Blois in open day, with a +hundred lances at his back. He would fight his brother, it seemed, and +cut his throat. He would beard the Guise; and he would compel your +Majesty and me to fulfil our promise to the letter. That the girl had +escaped he attributed to my connivance; and, by Heavens! I almost +feared he would have laid violent hands upon me. In short, Sire, by a +little skilful teazing, I found that this same Abbe de Boisguerin, +whose credit I had once greatly shaken, had resumed the mastery, and +was urging on his former pupil to every sort of rash and violent act, +probably with the hope of getting him killed out of his way. I soothed +the good youth down, however, and told him I would give him proof of +his friend's regard. I hid him where he could hear all that passed, +and then entrapped the Abbe into talking of the paper that we had +signed for him. I told him that the person for whom your Majesty and I +destined this fair Helen, was the young Marquis of Montsoreau. I +reminded him that he had obtained that paper with an absolute and +direct view to that marriage; at least, that he had told me so; and I +asked him immediately to sign his consent to the alliance. Your +Majesty may imagine his answers; and the youth's rage was such that +most assuredly he would have broken in upon us, if I had not stationed +two men to stop him. However, he became afterwards as docile as a +lamb, was convinced, by what passed, that we had throughout been +dealing sincerely with him, and will be ready at the hour to-morrow. +When the good Abbe, perhaps, hears that the whole affair is concluded, +that Guise is gone, and your Majesty powerful, he may judge it more +wise to be silent and resigned. We can tempt him, first, with some +post; we can alarm him, if that will not do, with some peril; and +lastly, if we fail in both, then we must find some way of putting an +end to the matter altogether." + +"That will be easily done," replied the King, his mind reverting to +the Duke of Guise. "But come, Villequier, let us go and consult with +Laugnac. I told him, before you came, to seek for you and consult with +you. We must trust as few as possible in this business, and I must see +to the whole myself, for this is a step on which, if we but slip, we +fall to inevitable perdition." + + + + + CHAP. XI. + + +Was the Duke of Guise unconscious of the dangers that surrounded him? +Was he unaware that the power which he assumed, and the power which +the States also put upon him, could not but render him obnoxious in +the highest degree to the King, who, though weak and indolent, was +jealous of that authority which he failed himself to exercise for the +benefit of his people? Was the Duke ignorant that the Monarch was as +treacherous as feeble, was as remorseless as vicious? Was it unknown +to him, that to all the creatures who surrounded the King he was an +object of hatred and jealousy; and that there were ready hands and +base hearts enough to attempt any thing which the royal authority +might warrant? + +He was not so ignorant, or so unaware: he had been warned +sufficiently, days and weeks before; but even had that not been the +case, on that very night he received sufficient intimations of his +danger to put him on his guard. + +He had presided at the supper-table as Grand Master of the King's +household, and he had received his guests with easy courtesy. The meal +was over somewhat sooner than usual; and, the business of the State +being considerably slackened, in consequence of the approaching +festival of Christmas, he sat in his cabinet with Charles of +Montsoreau and Marie de Clairvaut only, enjoying an hour of +refreshment in calm and tranquil conversation upon subjects, which, +however agitating to them, was merely a matter of pleasant interest to +him. + +Charles of Montsoreau sat by his side making some notes of various +little things that the Duke told him, and Marie de Clairvaut was +seated on a stool at his feet, while he looked down upon her, from +time to time, with the sort of parental tenderness which he had +displayed towards her from her infancy. + +A pleasing sort of melancholy had come over him,--a sadness without +grief, and mingling even occasionally with gaiety. It was that sort of +present consciousness of the emptiness of all worldly things, which +every man at some moment feels, even the ambitious, the greedy, the +zealous, the passionate. Perhaps that which had brought such a mood +upon him, was the contrast of all the arrangements for his fair ward's +marriage and the deep and intense feelings which that event excited in +the bosom of herself and Charles of Montsoreau, with the eager and +fiery struggles in which he had been lately taking part, while engaged +in the dark fierce strife of ambition, or tossed in the turbid +whirlpool of political intrigue. And thus he sat, and thus he talked +with them of their future prospects and their coming happiness, +sometimes speaking seriously, nay gravely--sometimes jesting lightly, +and smiling when he had made Marie cast down her eyes. + +As he thus sat there was a tap at the door of his cabinet, and the +Duke knowing it to be the page, bade him enter; when the boy Ignati +appearing, informed him that the Count de Schomberg was without. + +"Bid him come in," replied the Duke, keeping his seat, and making a +sign for his companions not to stir. "Welcome, Schomberg," he said; +"you see that I am plotting no treason here. What do you think of my +two children? Joinville will be jealous of my eldest son. But, jesting +apart, I think you know the Count de Logeres. My niece, Marie, I know +you have had many a time upon your knee in her infancy." + +Schomberg bowed to each, but gravely; and replied to the Duke, who +held out his hand to him, "My dear Duke, I wish every body were as +well persuaded that you are plotting no treason as I am. But I come to +speak to your Highness upon a matter of business. I have a warning to +give you," he added in a whisper. + +"Oh! speak it aloud; speak it aloud," replied the Duke. "If it +concerns myself, you may well speak it before these two." + +"Indeed!" said Schomberg, apparently hesitating, and running his eyes +over the tapestry, as if calculating how he had best proceed. "My good +Lord Duke," he said, at length, "I believe you know that there are few +who love you better than myself, though I neither am nor affect to be +a zealot, but rather what your people call one of the Politics." + +"I know Schomberg, what you mean," said the Duke; "you are my friend, +but not my partisan. I can make the distinction, Schomberg, and love +the friend no less. What have you to say?" + +"Why this, my Lord," replied Schomberg. "Look up above the door +there, just before your eyes. Do you see how beautifully they have +carved in the black oak the figure of a porcupine, and how all the +sharp and prickly quills stick out, ready to wound the hand that +touches it?" + +"Yes, I see," replied the Duke. "But do you know the history of that +porcupine, Schomberg?" + +"Yes," answered the Count, "I know it well, my Lord of Guise. Both in +the stonework and the woodwork of this castle, there are many such. +They were placed there, I think, my Lord--am I not right?--by an old +monarch of France, as a sort of device, to signify that whoever grasps +royalty too rudely, will suffer injury in consequence." + +The Duke smiled in the same placid mood as before, but replied, "In +the next chamber, Schomberg, which is my own bedchamber, you may see +the device of Francis the First too,--a salamander unhurt in the midst +of flames; which may be interpreted to mean, that strong courage is +never more at ease than in the midst of perils." + +A grave smile came over the face of Schomberg, to find the figures in +which he involved his warning so easily retorted by the Duke of Guise. +"I have heard of your Highness," he said, without noticing the Duke's +reply, "that not very many years ago you were known to swim against +the stream of the Loire armed at all points. You are a strong man, my +Lord Duke; but there are other streams you cannot swim against, depend +upon it." + +"Then I will try to go with the current, Schomberg," replied the Duke. +"As long as that is with me, it will bear me up." + +"But it may dash you against a rock, Duke," replied Schomberg; "and I +see one straight before you." + +He spoke sternly and impressively, and Guise listened to him with more +attention. "Speak, Schomberg, he said; speak; you may speak clearly +before them. But sit, good friend; pray thee sit. Standing there +before me, with your sad aspect and warning voice, you look like a +spectre." + +"Well, my Lord," said Schomberg, seating himself, "I have certain +information that there are evil designs against you, ripe, or almost +ripe, for execution. Your life is in danger. Guise; I tell you truly, +I tell you sincerely, and I beseech you to hear me. Your life is in +danger, and you have no time to lose if you would place it in safety." + +"Why, what would you have me to do, Schomberg?" said the Duke in a +tone not exactly indifferent, but still showing no great interest in +the subject. + +"I would have you mount your horse this night," replied Schomberg, "or +at day-break tomorrow. I would have you gather your train together, +take these two young people with you, and retiring to Paris, inform +the King that you had proof your life was not safe at Blois." + +The Duke of Guise meditated for a moment, and then replied, +"Schomberg, I cannot grasp this fear. Brought up to arms from my +youth, cradled in the tented field, with death surrounding me at every +hour of life, I cannot feel as other men might feel in moments of +peril to myself. Neither will I ever have it said of me, that I +willingly fled from my post under the apprehension of any personal +danger." + +"By our old friendship. Guise," replied Schomberg, "by our +companionship in the fields of other days, I beseech you to consider +and to judge wisely. Remember, if the vengeance of a monarch, or the +instigation of villanous courtiers, were to have success, and you were +to fall beneath the blow of an assassin, what would become of your +children, all yet in their youth? what would become of your relations +and your friends, placed, as you have placed them, on a high pinnacle, +to be aimed at by a crowd of idle minions with their bird-bolts? What +would become of your son?" + +"Joinville must make his own fame," replied the Duke, "and guard his +own rights with his own sword. I was left earlier than he is without a +parent's care; with a host of enemies around me; with my father's +name, giving me a heritage of envy and hatred; and with no support but +my own sword. With that sword I have bowed those enemies to the dust, +and Joinville must show himself worthy to bear it too." + +He paused, and meditated for a moment or two, and then added, "After +all, Schomberg, I do not see that there can be much danger. Here, in +the castle, I am as strong or stronger than the King. When I go forth, +I am so well accompanied, that it would be difficult to surprise me, +if they attacked me with numbers. A single assassin might dog my +steps, it is true; but I do not know that man upon the face of the +earth, who, hand to hand with me, would not have more than an equal +share of fear and danger. However, I will think of what you have said, +and will take good care to be more upon my guard than ever. At the +same time, Schomberg, I thank you most sincerely, and look upon your +regard as one of the best possessions that I have." + +"Guise," said Schomberg, rising and approaching the door, "I have +failed with you. But I yield not my point yet. I will send those to +you who may have more influence." + +"Stay, Schomberg, stay!" cried the Duke; but his friend passed through +the door and would not return. + +Charles of Montsoreau then raised his voice in the same cause as +Schomberg, and Marie de Clairvaut entreated anxiously that he would +yield to what had been proposed. But at them the Duke only laughed. + +"Hush, hush!" he said. "Logeres, you do not know what you say. There, +kiss her and be gone. To-morrow she shall be yours, no more to part. +Say no more, silly girl; say no more. You, a child of a Guise, talk to +me of fear! Call thy maidens, get thee to thy bed, and rise to-morrow +with bright eyes and blooming cheeks. Fare thee well, sweet one. I +long to be quit of thy guardianship." + +Remonstrance was useless, and they parted; and the Duke of Guise +sitting down for a moment, gave himself up to thought. His eyes were +fixed upon the dark tapestry opposite, where was depicted a woody +scene, the particulars of which could not be well distinguished by the +dim light of the lamp. + +After he had gazed for a moment or two, however, his eyes assumed a +peculiar expression, a fixed, intense, and somewhat bewildered stare. +He passed his hand twice before them, as if he felt them dim or +dazzled; then clasped his hands together and gazed, still muttering to +himself, "Strange, very strange! It is there still!" And starting up +from the table, he seized the lamp, and advanced directly towards the +side of the room on which his eyes had been fixed, still gazing +stedfastly on the same spot. At length, as he approached close to the +wall, his features relaxed, and he said with a smile, "It is gone! +These delusions of the sight are wonderful!" + +He had not yet returned to his seat, when the door on his right hand +opened gently, and the form of a woman glided in. It was that of the +beautiful being with whom he had parted in some anger at the King's +ball, and she gazed at him, evidently surprised to see him standing +with the lamp in his hand close to the wall, on a side where there was +no exit. + +"In the name of Heaven, Guise! what is the matter?" she said. "I heard +you speaking as I came in. You are pale; your lip quivers!" + +"It is nothing; it is nothing," replied the Duke, putting down the +lamp, and taking her hand. "This is, indeed, dear and kind of you, +Charlotte. I trusted, I was sure, that your anger for a light offence +would not last long." + +"It would have lasted long, Guise," she said, "or at least its effects +would not have passed away, had it not been for the warning that I +have received concerning you. Guise, you would not have seen me +now--you would never have seen me in these rooms again----" + +"Nay, nay," interrupted the Duke, "traduce not so your own nature. Say +not that a few unthinking words would render her so harsh, who is so +gentle." + +"They were not unthinking words, Henry of Guise," replied the Lady. +"They were words of deep meaning, to be read and understood at once. +Think you that I could misunderstand them? Think you that I could not +read that Guise would not suffer the pure to dwell with the impure? +However," she added quickly, seeing that the Duke was going to +interrupt her, "let me speak of other things. I was about to say that +you would not have seen me this night, you would never have seen me in +these chambers again, had I not learned that your life was in danger; +and then my fears for you showed me that my love was unchanged, and I +came, at all risks, to warn you, and to beseech you to be gone." + +"Nay, nay," replied the Duke. "How can I be gone when you are here, +Charlotte? And, besides, there is no real danger. It is Schomberg has +frightened you, I know. He came here with the same tale; but I showed +him there was no danger." + +"It was not from Schomberg!" said Madame de Noirmontier vehemently. "I +have never seen Schomberg since I have been here. It was from the +Queen; it was from Catherine herself that I heard it. She told me to +tell you; she told me to warn you. Her son, she said, had not divulged +to her his scheme; but from her knowledge of the man, and from the +words he used, she was certain that he would attempt your life within +three days." + +"Then his attempt will fail, dear Charlotte," said the Duke, holding +her hand tenderly in his. "Fear not for me; I am fully upon my guard; +and in this chateau, and this town, am stronger than the King +himself." + +"Oh Guise, Guise, you are deceiving yourself," she said, bursting into +tears. "Twice I have been at your door this night, but the page told +me there was some one with you; and now I have come determined not to +leave you, till I see you making preparations to depart. Let me +entreat you, let me beseech you," she continued, as Guise wiped away +her tears. "Nay, Guise, nay; in this I will take no refusal. If not +for your own sake, for my love you shall fly. You shall treat me ill, +as you did before, again and again. You shall make a servant of me--a +slave. You will not surely refuse me, when you see me kneeling at your +feet." And she sunk upon her knees before him, and clasped her fair +hands in entreaty. The Duke was raising her tenderly, when the page's +knock was heard at the door; and before he could well give the command +to enter, the boy was in the room. + +"My Lord," he said, "there is Monsieur Chapelle Marteau, and several +other gentlemen, desiring earnestly to speak with you." + +Madame de Noirmontier looked wildly round the room, and seemed about +to pass through the door by which the page had entered. "Be not +alarmed," said the Duke, "you cannot pass there, Charlotte. These men +will not be with me above a few minutes. Pass into that room, and wait +till they are gone. I have a thousand things to say to you, and will +dismiss them soon." + +After a moment's hesitation she did as he directed, and turning to the +page, the Duke bade him admit the party who were waiting without. It +consisted of Chapelle Marteau, the President de Neuilli, a gentleman +of the name of Mandreville, the Duke's brother the Cardinal de Guise, +and the Archbishop of Lyons. + +The Duke received them with that winning grace for which he was +famous, and soon learned from them that their visit was owing to the +information received from the Count de Schomberg. Every one then +present, but the Archbishop of Lyons, urged him strongly to quit Blois +immediately. They had come in a body, they said, in hopes that their +remonstrances might have the greater effect. Each had heard in the +course of the evening those rumours which generally announce great +events; some had been told that the Duke was arrested; some that he +had been absolutely assassinated in the gardens of the chateau; and +some that the act was to be performed that night by a number of +soldiers, who had been privately introduced into the castle. + +Guise listened silently and with great attention, displaying in +demeanour every sort of deference and respect for the opinions of +those who showed such an interest in his fate. He replied, however, +that he trusted and hoped that both the rumours they had heard, and +the intelligence given by Schomberg, originated in nothing but +mistaken words, or in those idle and unfounded reports which always +multiply themselves in moments of great political agitation and +excitement. Besides this, he said, even if the King were disposed to +attempt his life, the execution of such an act would be very +difficult, if not impossible; and that, considering before all things +his duty to his country, the very fact of the King seeking such a +thing ought to be the strongest reason for his stay, inasmuch as the +Monarch's animosity could only be excited towards him out of enmity to +the Catholic Church, and a disposition to repress and tyrannise over +the States. + +"If such be his feelings," continued the Duke, "we must consider +ourselves as two armies in presence of each other, and the one that +retreats of course awards the victory to his adversary." + +The Archbishop of Lyons, perhaps, was the person who decided the fate +of the Duke of Guise; for had the party which came to him been +unanimous and urgent in their remonstrance, there is a probability +that he would have yielded; but the Archbishop seemed doubtful and +undecided. He said that he thought, indeed, it might be well the Duke +should go; at least for a time. But they had to consider, also, the +probabilities of the King making any attempt upon the Duke. Though +weak, timid, and indolent, Henry was shrewd and farseeing, he said. +The only result that could follow an attempt upon a person so beloved +by the whole nation, and especially by the States, as the Duke of +Guise, would be to arm the people of France in an instant against the +sovereign authority. This the King must well know, he continued; and +that consideration made him less eager upon the subject, though he +thought it might be as well that his Highness should retire for a +time. + +His speech more than counterbalanced the exhortations of all the rest; +and from that moment the resolution of the Duke became immovable. His +dauntless mind, which might have yielded had he stood absolutely alone +in opinion, came instantly to the conclusion, that if there were a +single individual who doubted whether he should fly or not, he himself +ought to decide upon remaining. He made no answer to the Archbishop's +speech, but suffered Mandreville to combat his arguments without +interruption. That gentleman replied that Henry, far from being the +person represented, though cunning, was any thing but prudent. Had +they ever seen, he demanded, the cunning of the King, even in the +least degree, restrain or control him? Had the self-evident risk of +his throne, of his life, and of the welfare of his people, ever made +him pause in the commission of one frantic, vicious, or criminal act? +He was no better, the deputy said, than a cunning madman, such as was +frequently seen, who, having determined upon any act, however absurd +or evil might be the consequences, even to the destruction of his own +self, would arrive at it by some means, and go directly to his +purpose, in despite of all obstacles. He contended that they had good +reason to know that the King devised evil against the Duke; and they +might depend upon it that no consideration of policy, right, or +religion, would prevent him from executing his purpose by some means. + +He spoke truly, and with more thorough insight into the character of +the King than any one previously had done; but the resolution of the +Duke of Guise, as we have said before, was already taken. + +"My good friends," he said in conclusion, "I thank you most sincerely, +and I shall ever feel grateful for the interest that you have taken in +me, and for your anxiety regarding me on the present occasion. But my +resolution is taken, and must be unalterable. I cannot but acknowledge +that the view of Monsieur de Mandreville may have much truth in it; +but, nevertheless, matters are now at such a point, that if I were to +see death coming in at that window, I would not seek the door." + +Against a determination so forcibly expressed, there was, of course, +no possibility of holding further argument; and after a word or two +more on different subjects of less interest--the Duke of Guise +replying as briefly as possible to every thing that was said--the +party took their leave and retired. + + + + + CHAP. XII. + + +There was at that time a large open space round the church of St. +Sauveur, in Blois, where the people from the country used occasionally +to exhibit their fruits and flowers for sale; and exactly opposite the +great door of the church stood a large and splendid mansion, with an +internal court-yard, part of which had been let to some of the +deputies for the States-General. The principal floor, however, +consisting of sixteen rooms, and several large passages and corridors, +had been left untenanted, in consequence of the proprietor asking an +exorbitant rent, till two or three days before the period of which we +speak. Then, however, the apartment was taken suddenly, a number of +attendants in new and splendid dresses appeared therein; and, as we +have seen from the account of Villequier to the King, the Abbe de +Boisguerin arrived in Blois, with a splendid train of attendants, and +took up his abode as the master of that dwelling. + +About the same time that the conversations which we have detailed in +the last chapter were going on in the cabinet of the Duke of Guise, +the Abbe was seated in one of the rooms, which he had fixed upon for +his own peculiar saloon. It was very customary in those days, and in +France, for every chamber, except a great hall of reception, to be +used also as a bed-room. But that was not the case in this instance; +for the chamber, which was small, though very lofty, had been used by +the former occupants as a cabinet, and had been chosen by the Abbe +probably on account of its being so completely detached from every +other chamber, that no sound of what was done or said therein could be +overheard by any one. + +He sat in a large arm-chair, with his feet towards the fire, and with +his right elbow resting on a table covered with various sorts of +delicacies. Those delicacies, however, were not the productions of the +land in which he then lived, but rather such as he had been accustomed +to in other days, and which recalled former habits of life. There were +fine dried fruits from the Levant, tunny and other fish from the +Mediterranean; and the wines, though inferior to those of France, were +from foreign vineyards. + +Before him was standing a man whom we have had occasion to mention +more than once--that Italian vagabond named Orbi, from whom, it may be +remembered, Charles of Montsoreau delivered the boy Ignati. He was now +dressed in a very different guise, however, from that which he had +borne while wandering as a mere stroller from house to house. His +shaggy black hair was trimmed and smooth; his beard was partially +shaved and reduced to fair proportions, with a sleek mustachio, well +turned and oiled, gracing his upper lip; his face, too, was clean; and +a suit somewhat sombre in colour, but of good materials, displaying in +the ruff and at the sleeves a great quantity of fine white linen and +rich lace, left scarcely a vestige of the fierce Italian vagabond, +half bravo, half minstrel, which he had appeared not a year before. + +The conversation which was going on between him and the master he now +served, was evidently one of great interest. The Abbe's wine remained +half finished in the glass; the preserved fruits upon his plate were +scarcely tasted; and he exclaimed, "So, so! Villequier sends me no +answer to my letter! A bare message, by word of mouth, that the Duke +of Guise wills it to be so; and that the Duke's will is all powerful +at the Court of France! The King sets at nought his own royal word, +does he?" + +"He said something, sir," said the Italian, "about his knowing, and +the King also, that they must pay a penalty; but that no sum was to be +grudged, rather than offend the Duke at this time." + +"Sum!" cried the Abbe de Boisguerin, starting up and pushing the chair +vehemently from him. "What is any sum to me?" And with flashing eyes, +and a countenance all inflamed, he strode up and down the chamber for +a moment or two, with his heart swelling with bitterness and +disappointed passion. "A curse upon this bungling hand," he cried, +striking it upon the table, "that it should fail me at such a moment +as that! I thought the young viper had been swept from my way for +ever!--My aim was steady and true, too! His heart must be in some +other place than other men's." + +"Ha! my Lord," joined in the Italian in the tone of a connoisseur, +"the arquebus is a pretty weapon, I dare say, in a general battle, but +it is desperate uncertain in private affairs like that. You can never +tell, to an inch or two, where the ball will hit. But, with a dagger, +you can make sure to a button-hole; and even if there should be a +struggle, it is always quite easy so to salve the point of your blade, +that you make sure of your friend, even if you give him but a scratch. +Now the attempt to poison a ball is all nonsense, for the fire +destroys the venom." + +"At what hour said you, Orbi?" demanded the Abbe, without attending to +his dissertation. + +"Half an hour before high mass," replied the man, "the marriage is to +take place." + +Again the Abbe de Boisguerin burst into a vehement fit of passion, and +strode up and down the room cursing and blaspheming, till accidentally +his eyes fell upon a small Venetian mirror, and the aspect of his own +countenance, ordinarily so calm and unmoved, now distorted by rage and +disappointment, made him start. A smile of scorn, even at himself, +curled his lip; and calming his countenance by a great effort, he +again seated himself, and mused for a moment. + +"This must not, and shall not be," he said at length. "Orbi, you are +an experienced hand, and doubtless dexterous. Will you stop this going +forward?" + +The man smiled, stroked back his mustachios, and replied, "I thought +you would be obliged to take my way at last. Well, Monseigneur, I have +no objection; but the time is short. I told you what I expected for +such an affair when I offered to do it in Paris." + +"You shall have it! you shall have it!" replied the Abbe. "But if you +do it, so that no suspicion ever falls on me, you shall have as much +again this day two years; for nothing but the lives of these two young +men stands between me and immense wealth." + +"The worst of it all is," said the Italian, "that there is so short a +time. It is to take place in the castle chapel; so there will be no +going through the streets. To find him alone will be a matter of +difficulty; and though I went over the passages, thinking it might +come to this, yet I saw no one place, but at the door of the room +called the revestry, where one could strike easily." + +"I have seen the place," said the Abbe, "long ago; but I do not +remember it so perfectly as to give you any aid. I know that the +window of the room you mention looks into the court and gardens, and +under the garden wall shall be a swift horse to bear you away. That is +all I can do for you." + +"I must do the rest for myself," replied the man, "and will find some +means, depend upon it. Perhaps he may not wait for the other if he be +eager, but may come first by himself, and then it will be easily done. +However, I will now go and get the dagger ready, and I can undertake +that the least scratch shall not leave an hour's life in him." + +The Abbe de Boisguerin nodded his head and smiled as the other +departed. "They know not," he said to himself, "they know not the man +they have to deal with. These mighty men, these haughty Guises, may +find that every man of strong determination and unflinching courage +may thwart, if he cannot master, them; may destroy their plans, if he +cannot accomplish his own. But there is another still to be dealt +with. There is this proud, unfeeling, contemptuous girl; she who +has been rejoicing in the reappearance of this crafty fair-faced +boy.--There is now no going back; and why should I not risk life to +win her too, and gratify both my love and my revenge?--Yet that seems +scarcely possible," he continued. "Closely watched within the castle, +never going out but strongly accompanied, she is put, it would seem, +entirely out of my power, now that Villequier has fallen off from +me.--And yet," he continued meditating, "and yet, there is nothing +impossible to the dauntless and the daring.--Could I not bring her to +the postern gate of the garden an hour before this marriage is to take +place, and then, with swift horses and a carriage ready, convey her +once more far away?--We have done as bold and difficult a feat before; +and methinks, if I could tell her that I have news to give her +concerning her uncle's safety--for rumours of his danger must have +reached her ears--she will not fail to come, and come alone.--Oh! if I +once more get her in my power, she shall find no means to fly again, +till, on the contrary, she shall be more inclined to kneel at my feet, +and beseech that I would wed her.--So it shall be! I will write to her +that, if at ten o'clock she will be alone at the postern gate of the +castle, she will hear news that may save her uncle's life. Then, with +the swiftest horses we can find, a few hours will take us far from +pursuit!--I will carry her into Spain! Epernon is with me and the +way open!--It shall be done!" he said aloud; "it shall be done! But, +then, this boy's death is scarcely needful! Why should I mind his +living?--It will be but the greater torture to him to know that she is +mine!--And yet, it were better he should die. All the tidings, and the +rumours, and the bustle of his violent death in the castle will too +much occupy the minds of men to let them notice our flight; so that we +shall gain an hour or two. There is an eager and a daring spirit, +also, within him--a keen and active mind--which might frustrate me +once more in the very moment of hope. He must die! I have set my own +life upon the chance; and what matters it whether one or two others +are swept away before me? He must die! and then, without protection, +she is mine. Once into Tourraine, and I am safe!--Ha! you are back +again quickly, my good friend Orbi. Is all ready?" + +"Everything, sir," replied the man; "and if I could but get into the +chateau, and stumble upon the youth alone, I might be able to +accomplish the matter to-night. Could you not furnish me with a billet +to this Villequier, or some one? It matters not what; any empty words, +just to make them admit me at the gates." + +"Not to Villequier," said the Abbe; "not to Villequier. But I will +write a few words to Mademoiselle de Clairvaut herself." + +"That will do well! that will do well!" replied the man. "I am more +likely to find him hanging about her apartments than any where else; +and then one slight blow does the deed." + +"Bring me paper and pens from the next room," cried the Abbe. "It +shall be done this moment." And as soon as implements for writing were +procured, he wrote a subtle epistle to Marie de Clairvaut, beseeching +her to speak for a moment, at the postern gate of the chateau gardens +early on the following day, to a person who would communicate +something to her, which might save the life of her guardian the Duke +of Guise. It was written in a feigned hand, and under the character of +an utter stranger to her. Some mistakes too were made in the +orthography of her name, and in regard to other circumstances, for the +purpose of rendering the deception complete. When this was concluded +and sealed, he placed it in the hands of Orbi, and after a few more +words they parted. + +While the Abbe busied himself in causing a carriage to be bought for +the proposed enterprise of the following day, and in ordering the +swiftest horses that could be found, to be obtained--not from the +royal post, by which his course might have been tracked, but from one +of the keepers of _relais_, as the irregular posting houses were +called, which were then tolerated in France; the Italian proceeded on +his task, with feelings in his heart which might well have been +received as a reason for abating the price of the deed he was about to +perform. + +To tell the truth it might be considered fully as much his own act as +that of the Abbe, for the same malevolent feelings were in the hearts +of each; and he went not there merely as the common hired assassin, to +do the work of his trade, as a matter of course; but he went also to +avenge a long remembered blow, which still rankled in his heart, with +the same bitterness that he had felt at the moment that it was +received. + +He met with some difficulty in obtaining entrance to the chateau at so +late an hour of the night; but the letter addressed to Mademoiselle de +Clairvaut enabled him to effect that object at length, and he was +directed towards the suite of apartments assigned to the Duke of Guise +and his family. When he had once passed the two first gates, he met +with no obstruction, but wandered through the long dimly lighted +corridors, scarcely encountering a waking being on his way, and +certainly none who seemed inclined to speak to him. + +When he had reached that part of the building to which he had been +directed, he looked round for some one to give him farther +information, not absolutely intending to seek the apartments of +Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, and deliver the note, but merely to obtain +a general knowledge of how the different chambers were allotted. After +passing on some way, without meeting any one or hearing a sound, he +saw a door half open, with the light streaming out, and quietly +approaching he looked in. + +There was a boy in the dress of a page, sitting before a large +Christmas fire reading a book; but though he walked stealthily, the +first step which the Italian took in the room caught the youth's quick +ear, and starting up he showed the Italian the face of his former +bondman, Ignatius Marone. The man started when he saw him; but +recovering himself instantly, he went up and endeavoured to soothe the +boy with fair and flattering words. + +"Ah, my little Ignati," he said, "here thou art then, and doubtless +well off with this young Lord of thine." + +"I _am_ well off, Signor Orbi," was the boy's brief reply; and seeing +that the man paused and kept gazing round him, the boy added, "But +what is your business here?" + +"I am only looking about me," replied the man in somewhat of a +contemptuous tone, which he could not smother, although it was his +full intention to cajole the boy into giving him all the information +he wanted, and perhaps even to induce him unconsciously to aid his +purpose. + +"Come, come, Signor Orbi," replied the boy, "I know you well, +remember; and I know, that though you may have changed your doublet, +you cannot have changed what is within it. If you do not say +immediately what you want, I will call those who will make you." And +he approached one of the other doors which the room displayed, and +raised his hand towards the latch. + +"Hist, hist, Ignati!" cried the Italian. "By Heavens! if you do, you +shall never hear what I have got to tell you,--something that would +make your heart beat with joy if you knew it." + +"And what is that?" said the boy, still standing near the door, and +looking at his fellow-countryman with a face of scorn and doubt. + +"Come hither, and I will tell you," said the Italian; but the boy +shook his head, and Orbi added in a low tone, "You know who your +mother was, Ignati; but do you know your father?" + +The boy gazed at him bitterly and in silence, without making any +further answer; and the man added, "He is now in Blois." + +Ignati instantly sprang forward towards him, exclaiming, "Where? +Where? Where can I find him? I have still the letter from my dead +mother. I have still all the proofs given me by the Marone. Where is +he? where is he?" + +"Come, let us sit down by the fire," said the man, "and I will tell +thee more;" and finding the boy now quite willing to do what he +wished, the man sat down by the fire with him, calculating the various +results of particular lines of conduct open before him, but without +suffering any one good principle or feeling to mingle at all with his +considerations. + +He had spoken the words which had called Ignati to him simply as a +matter of impulse, and the first question he asked himself was, +whether he should tell the boy more of the truth or not. Various +considerations, however, induced him to go on, for he had a little +scheme in his head which rendered it expedient for him to embarrass +the proceedings of the Abbe de Boisguerin, on the following morning +after the deed proposed was done, as much as possible. + +"You know, Ignati," he said, "that I always loved you, my good youth." + +"You gave me bitter proofs of it," replied Ignati. + +"Nay, nay; it was my way," replied the Italian. "If you had been my +own son, it would have been the same." + +"I dare say," replied Ignati, "you would have murdered your own son +almost as readily as you tried to murder me." + +"Nay, boy, I tried not to murder thee," rejoined the man. "I was not +such a fool; that would never have answered my purpose." + +"You did it by halves," said the boy. "But come, Master Orbi, tell me +more about this matter you spoke of; and tell me too what brings you +here? Where is my father to be found, if, as you say, he is here?" + +"He is to be found," said Orbi, "in the great house by the church of +St. Sauveur. I remember him well, for when your mother fled out of +Rome before you were born, and was glad to get what assistance she +could, she sent me three times back into the city to speak with the +Abbe of Laurans, as he was then called." + +"And what is he called now?" exclaimed Ignati eagerly. "What is he +called now?" + +"He is called the Abbe de Boisguerin," replied the man, "or the +Seigneur de Boisguerin, as it now is." + +"Then I have seen him," cried Ignati. "Then I have seen him; and he +called her----" But the boy suddenly checked himself, "And now, what +is it you want here?" he said. + +"No harm, Master Ignati," replied the man, with a look half sneering, +half dogged. "You seem as grateful as any one else, and as soon as you +get all you want, you turn upon one. I suppose you are waiting for +your young master coming back from some gay revel, for the whole place +seems as silent as if every body were gone to bed but you." + +"Oh, no," answered Ignati. "There are six of the Duke's men sitting up +in the next room; and all I fear is, that the gentlemen who are with +the Duke himself should come out and find you here." + +"Then, I suppose, your master is with them," said the Italian. + +The boy smiled. "My master is with them," he said, "for my master is +the Duke of Guise; but if you mean the young Count who took me from +you, he has been gone to bed an hour ago. Ay, Master Orbi, and has two +stout men sleeping across his door. I hav'n't forgot that he struck +you a blow one day; nor you either, it seems." + +"You are out there, Sharp-wits," said the Italian. "I bear the boy no +grudge. I got his money, if he gave me a blow into the bargain; so we +are quits." + +"I doubt you," muttered Ignati to himself; but the man went on without +attending to him, saying, "No, no; what I came for really, if you want +to know, was to give a letter to a young lady here, from an old +gentleman at the other side of the castle. Here it is! Ma'mselle de +Clairvaut is the name." + +"Ay, she is gone to bed long ago too," replied the page. "Let me look +at the letter." + +"It is of no great consequence, I believe," replied the Italian, who +fancied the letter a mere pretext. "It is of no great consequence; all +about a Persian cat, I believe. So you may take it and give it her +to-morrow, if she is gone to bed now. There it is. But how is it you +are not with the young Count now? The Duke of Guise!--Page to the Duke +of Guise! Why, that is a step, indeed!" + +"Hush!" cried Ignati, hearing the door of the Duke's cabinet open +behind the arras. "Hush! get you gone with all speed! They are coming +out; and if they find you here, I would not answer for your ears, or +my own either." + +The man started up, and ran out of the door by which he had entered, +as fast as possible. But he had scarcely made his escape, when the +tapestry which covered the doorway into the Duke's cabinet was drawn +aside, and the Cardinal de Guise, with the Archbishop of Lyons, and +the rest of Leaguers, came forth from their conference with the Duke. + + + + + CHAP. XIII. + + +It is now necessary to turn to other apartments in the chateau +of Blois: namely, a suite inhabited by the King himself. It +comprised--besides several others both above and below--the King's +bed-room, into which opened four doors--one communicating with the +Monarch's private staircase, which we have already spoken of--one to +the right entering into a small dressing-room--one to the left, which +gave admittance to a chamber called the old cabinet--and one +communicating by a short and narrow passage with the large chamber, +which, during the residence of the King at Blois, was employed as a +council-room. The walls of the council-room were bare; but those of +the King's chamber and the two cabinets were lined throughout with +rich old tapestry. + +Before five o'clock on the morning of the 23d of December, Henry had +risen from his bed and dressed himself in haste, and as soon as his +toilet was completed, one of his valets was dispatched with all speed +to bear a message, which had already been entrusted to him. The King +then passed out of his dressing-room into his bed-chamber, holding a +light in his hand, and approached the door which led to the private +staircase. There was eagerness and much anxiety in his countenance, +and his eyes were fixed upon the top of the stairs with an intense +gaze, which seemed to strain them from their orbits. + +At length a heavy foot was heard ascending, and then several more, and +in a moment after the head and shoulders of an armed man, carrying a +light, appeared at the mouth of the staircase. + +"Ah, Laugnac, this is well!" cried the King, as soon as he saw him. +"You are punctual and prepared, I see. Whom have you with you?" + +"Nine of my most determined fellows, Sire," replied Laugnac. "There is +not one, indeed, of the Forty-five that would not shed his life's +blood for your Majesty. But these gentlemen I know well for men who +would kill the devil himself, I believe, if you were to bid them." + +As he spoke, half a dozen steps behind him appeared, man after man, +nine of the Gascon band, called the "Quarante-cinq," in whose +countenances might be read that sort of remorseless determination, +which was suited to the moment and the deed, and whose frames +displayed the strength requisite to execute whatever violent act was +entrusted to them. + +"This is well; this is well," said the King, as they entered. "But +where is Larchant, Laugnac?" + +"He remained behind, Sire," replied the other, "as it will be +necessary to secure the doors of the council-chamber. Whenever the +enemy has entered, he will come round and join your Majesty." + +"I should like to have some one with me in the cabinet," said the +King. "Run and tell Ornano, Bonnivet, and la Grange, to come to me," +he continued, speaking to a valet. "Bring them by the back staircase." + +The valet went away with a pale countenance, feeling all the agitation +which such events might well produce; and while he was gone, the King, +after asking Laugnac if he had explained to his companions what was +the task in which they were about to be employed, addressed them all +in a short speech, not without eloquence and fire. + +When he had concluded, he made Laugnac open one of the large chests +which formed the window-seats of his bed-room, and taking thence a +number of long, sharp, and well-pointed knives, he gave them with his +own hands to the assassins, saying, "Here, gentlemen, are the avengers +of your liberty and mine! and I command and authorise you to use them +for the punishment of the greatest criminal in my kingdom. Every law, +divine and human, requires his death; and where power prevents the +ordinary course of justice from taking place, it is a right and a +privilege of the sovereign to execute judgment by any means that +present themselves! Now, follow me, gentlemen!" And leading them on to +the other side of the chamber, he posted them himself,--the principal +part of them in the old cabinet, and the rest behind the arras round +the door of the bed-room itself. Most of those even who were in the +cabinet were concealed also behind the arras near the entrance, and +the door was left open. + +By the time this had been arranged a page had entered the King's +bed-room, and now informed him that the gentlemen he had sent for had +arrived, adding, "Monsieur de Nambu is there also, Sire, saying you +told him last night to come at this hour." + +"I did, I did," said the King. "Bid them all come up;" and greeting +the others briefly, he took Nambu by the arm and led him into the +passage which conducted to the council-chamber. Through the door which +led thither voices were heard speaking beyond. + +"Stay there, Nambu," he said in a whisper, "and let no one pass +without my especial order. The council cannot have begun its sitting +yet, for it is still dark, I see." + +"As I passed by I saw into the room," said Nambu, "and there were none +but ushers and such people: but I heard that the Duke had been sent +for according to the commands your Majesty gave last night." + +The King then left him, and returned into his room, where he found +Laugnac and the rest of the gentlemen, whom he led towards the door of +his dressing-room. + +"I have taken off my head-piece and cuirass, Sire," said Laugnac, "as +I intend to remain here at the door of your Majesty's dressing-room +till the matter is settled, and the sight of arms might scare the +prey." + +"Right, right, Laugnac!" replied the King. "Bid the page send for +Revol by the back staircase. We shall want him to fetch the Duke." +And, this said, he retired into his cabinet. + +The page ran round at once to the door of the council-chamber, where +he found Revol just about to enter; and whispering a word to him, the +Secretary of State gave the bag of papers which he had in his hand to +one of the ushers, bidding him hold it till he returned, and followed +the King's domestic, forbidding the servants, who had accompanied him +thither, to go any farther. The spot where they remained was the large +open space at the top of the great staircase, and a number of other +persons were there collected, while the company of the King's guard +might be seen at the foot of the staircase, not, indeed, under arms, +or drawn up in regular order, but waiting apparently for the arrival +of some one to give them directions. + +After the departure of Revol, the statesmen who had been summoned to +the council arrived rapidly one after the other. The Cardinal of +Vendome was amongst the first, and then followed the Marshals de Retz +and d'Aumont. Some other members of the council came next, and then +the Archbishop of Lyons. But still neither the Cardinal de Guise nor +the Duke had made their appearance. Time was now wearing on, and +occasionally a page, or valet-de-chambre, known to belong to the King, +was seen to come and speak with some of the people at the top of the +staircase, and then return suddenly. + +While this was going on, a boy, bearing the habiliments of a page of +the Duke of Guise, passed along at the foot of the staircase; and, +seeing a number of archers of the guard collected there, he ran +lightly up the steps and mingled with the various persons collected. +He passed rapidly along from one to another, as if he was looking for +some person, spoke to two or three of those whose faces he knew, and +then hurrying away down the stairs, passed with a step of light to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise. He found that Prince just quitting +his cabinet and entering the antechamber. A number of gentlemen and +officers followed him, but the boy advanced straight towards him with +a degree of familiarity, neither insolent nor ungraceful, and kissing +his hand said, with his slight Italian accent, "May so humble a being +as I am detain your Highness for one moment?" + +"What is it, Ignati? Speak!" said the Duke of Guise, "I am already +late for the council, my good boy." + +"Your Highness promised to grant me any favour I asked," replied the +boy, "and as the greatest at this moment, I ask to speak with your +Highness alone." + +"What is it?" said the Duke somewhat impatiently; "what is it?" And he +drew him a little on one side, motioning the rest to remain. + +"My Lord," said Ignati, "there is danger going forward, I am sure. +All the archers of the guard are at the foot of the staircase; +there are many strange faces, not usually seen at the door of the +council-chamber. Twice I saw a servant of the King's come and speak to +Henville, and hearing you had not arrived, go round again, as if by +the back staircase, to the King's apartments. I am sure, sir, there is +something wrong." + +The Duke smiled, but it was somewhat thoughtfully. "Thank you, my good +boy," he said. "I know rumours often precede the act; but I cannot +pause to consider such things now." + +"Oh, sir, think!" the boy ventured to exclaim; "think how the welfare +of the State and the welfare of a thousand individuals depend entirely +upon your safety. What would become of me? What would become of the +young Count and his bride, if----" + +"Ay, well bethought," replied the Duke. "Bring me here paper and the +ink-horn;" and when the boy brought them, Guise bent down over a large +coffer that stood near, and wrote a few lines. + +"Take that to the Count," he said, as soon as he had finished writing. +"Quick, Ignati: but, after all, these warnings are but nonsense. There +is nobody in France dares do it. Look, I have delayed too long. Here +comes a messenger from the King." + +"As I find your Highness coming," said the usher, approaching the +Duke, "it is needless, perhaps, to deliver the King's message: but I +was directed to say to your Highness that the council waited, and that +His Majesty was extremely anxious that the business of the day should +go on, as he wished to proceed to Clery in time for dinner. If your +Highness were not well, he said, perhaps you would not object to the +council being held without you." + +"You see!" said the Duke in a low voice, turning towards Ignati with a +smile, "you see!" And following the usher, he walked on upon his way +towards the council-chamber. + +At the bottom of the staircase he found Larchant and the whole body of +archers of the guard, who now pressed round him somewhat closely. + +"What is it, Larchant? what is it, my good friend?" said the Duke. +"Your presence here is unusual, I think." + +"We are here, your Highness," replied Larchant, "to solicit in a body +your mediation with the King. You promised me yesterday, my Lord, that +you would present our petition to his Majesty, and advocate our cause +in the council. These poor fellows have not received any pay for +months; I might almost say years." + +"I did advocate your cause, yesterday," said the Duke, "and his +Majesty graciously sent an order upon the treasurer by one of the +ushers." + +"But the treasurer ungraciously told us, sir, that there was not a +sous in his coffers," replied Larchant; and the Duke taking the paper +out of his hand, began to mount the stairs, saying, "I will see to it, +Larchant; I will see to it." + +Larchant and the archers followed him up the steps, still pressing +close upon him; and he heard a low deep voice say from the midst of +them, "Look to yourself, my Lord Duke, there are bad men abroad!" + +The Duke passed on, however, without notice and entered the hall of +the council, the ushers drawing back with low bows as he appeared, and +throwing open the doors for him to go in. The moment after those fatal +doors had closed behind him, the archers drew up across them at the +head of the stairs. Larchant hurried away towards the chamber of the +King, and Villequier, passing rapidly by, said in a low voice to one +of the attendants, "Go down to Monsieur de Crillon, at the Corps de +Garde; tell him to shut and guard the gates, as the Duke has gone in." + +Though he spoke low, he seemed little to heed who listened to the +words; and they were heard by the boy Ignati, who, with the painful +conviction that some great evil was about to befall the Duke, had +followed him step by step to the council-chamber. The boy put his hand +to his brow with a look of painful anxiety, and darted away once more +towards the apartments of the Duke of Guise. The first person he met +with there was Pericard, the Duke's secretary; and grasping his arm, +he exclaimed, "They will murder him! they will murder him! They are +closing the gates of the castle and guarding them!" + +Pericard rushed to one of the windows that looked out into the court. +"Too true, indeed!" he exclaimed. "Too true, indeed! It may be yet +time to save him though. Run quick, Ignati, and get one of the +Duke's handkerchiefs while I write." And with a rapid hand he wrote +down,--"My Lord, your death is resolved. They are barring and guarding +the gates. I beseech you come out from the hall of the council to your +own apartments. We can make them good against all the world, till the +town rises to protect you." + +Before he had done, the boy was back again with the handkerchief; and +enveloping the note therein, Pericard gave it to him, exclaiming, +"Fly, fly with that to the door of the council-chamber, Ignati. The +ushers will let you in, surely, to give it to the Duke, if you say +that he has forgotten his handkerchief." + +"They have let me in before," said Ignati; "but I doubt it now. I will +try and make my way at all events." + +Again he flew to the top of the staircase, and, as if a matter of +course, pushed up towards the door, endeavouring to force his way +through the archers. + +"Stand back, saucy spright," cried one of the men; "you cannot pass +here." + +"But I must pass," cried the boy, turning upon him with a fierce air +of authority. "I am the Duke of Guise's page, and bring him his +handkerchief, which he forgot. Make way, saucy archer, or I will teach +you to whom you speak." + +"Listen to the insolence of these Guisards," said the man. "But their +day is over. Stand back, fool, or I'll knock you down with my +partisan." + +The boy laid his hand upon his dagger, still striving to push forward; +and the man, without further words, struck him a blow over the head +with the staff of his halbert, which laid him prostrate upon the +ground. For a moment he seemed stunned, but then, starting up, he +turned away, and went down the stairs, bursting into tears ere he +reached the bottom, not with the pain of the blow he had received, but +with the bitter conviction that the last effort had failed, and the +fate of Guise was sealed. + +In the meantime the Duke of Guise entered the council-room, carrying +in his hand the petition of the guards. Every one rose at his +approach; and as the greater part of those present were personally +friendly towards him, he went round and spoke to them with his usual +grace and suavity, and then laying the petition on the table, +approached the fire, saying, "It is awfully cold this morning! Has not +his Majesty yet appeared?" + +"Not yet," replied the Cardinal de Guise, "though we expected him +before, for he sent down to hasten our coming. But what is the matter +with your Highness? there is blood trickling over your mustachio." + +"The cold has made my nose bleed twice this morning," replied the +Duke, and putting his hand in his pocket he said, "My people have been +negligent; they have forgotten to give me a handkerchief. St Prix," he +continued, turning his head to one of the King's valets-de-chambre, +who stood on the inside of the door communicating with the King's +apartments. "I wish you would send to my rooms for a handkerchief. You +will find some of my people at the door." + +"There are plenty, my Lord, belonging to the King," replied St. Prix, +"in this little cabinet:" and crossing the hall of the council, he +took one out and gave it to the Duke, who thanked him graciously, and +still sitting by the fire fell into a deep fit of thought. Suddenly, +however, he turned pale; his eyes assumed the same expression as they +had done the night before, when he had fancied he saw a figure in the +room with him, and taking a small silver bonbonniere from his pocket, +he opened it, as if seeking for something that it usually contained, +saying at the same time, "I feel very faint!--My people have neglected +every thing," he added, "this morning." + +Several members of the council gathered round him, and St. Prix, the +valet, brought him from the cabinet where the handkerchief had been +found, some of the dried plums of Brignolles, which were then held as +a restorative. The Duke took one of them and ate it, and placed the +others in the bonbonniere. After a little, his colour returned, and he +said, "I am better now. How strange these attacks are, and how +fortunate that one never feels them on occasions of battle or danger!" + +A moment or two after, he took a turn or two up and down the room, and +seemed perfectly recovered; and as he was about to resume his seat, +the door of the passage leading to the King's chamber was opened, and +the Secretary of State, Revol, entered, saying, "Monseigneur, his +Majesty wishes to speak a word with your Highness before the business +of the council commences. You will find him in the old cabinet to the +left." + +Revol was as pale as death. But the Duke of Guise took not the +slightest notice; and, passing through the door, which St. Prix held +open for him and closed after him, he advanced towards the chamber of +the King. + +On entering it he saw Laugnac seated upon the coffer at the farther +end of the room; and he remarked, with an angry frown, that the King's +attendant did not rise when he entered. He said nothing, however, but +turned towards the door of the old cabinet, which was too low to +suffer him to pass without bowing his head. He accordingly stooped for +the purpose; and, raising the tapestry with his left hand, while he +held his hat in the right, he passed on. + +He had scarcely taken a step into the cabinet, however, when he at +once saw several men in arms standing round. At the same moment there +was a sound close to him; and, springing from behind the arras, a +fierce and powerful man, named St. Malines, rushed upon him. + +The Duke dropped his hat, and moved his hand towards his sword; but at +the same moment some one seized the hilt with both hands, and St. +Malines struck him a blow with a knife over the left shoulder, burying +the weapon in his bosom. + +Another and another blow succeeded from the hands of those around him: +the blood rushed up into his mouth and throat; but still, with +prodigious power, he seized two of those who were assailing him, and +dashed them headlong to the ground, exclaiming at the same time, "Ah, +traitors!" + +Rushing towards the door, he dragged another along with him into the +chamber of the King; and seeing Laugnac still there, and marking him +as the instigator of his murder, with a brow awful in the struggle of +the strong spirit against the power of death, with hands clenched, and +teeth set, he darted towards him. + +Ere he had taken two steps, however, his brain reeled, his eyes lost +their sight, and Laugnac starting up saw, by the fearful swimming of +those visionless orbs, that the terrible deed was fully accomplished, +that the life of Guise was at an end; and though the Duke still rushed +forward upon him with the convulsive impulse of his last sensation, +the Captain of the Quarante-cinq did not even unsheath his sword, but +merely struck him a light blow with the weapon in the scabbard, and +Guise fell headlong on the carpet by the King's bedside. + +The sound of that deep heavy fall was enough, and Henry, coming forth +from his cabinet, gazed for several minutes earnestly upon the dead +man, while the dark blood rushed forth, and formed a pool round the +Monarch's feet. + +The countenance of every one there present, lips and cheek alike, were +as white as parchment; and for two or three minutes not a word was +spoken, till at length the King exclaimed, "What a height he was! He +seems to me taller even dead than living!" + +Then setting his foot upon the dead man's neck, he cruelly repeated +the cruel words which Guise himself had used at the death of Coligny, +"Venomous beast, thou shalt spit forth no more poison!" + + + + + CHAP. XIV. + + +From the door of the council-chamber the boy Ignati flew back to the +apartments of the Duke of Guise, and the tidings which he brought +spread confusion and terror through the whole of the Duke's domestics: +but Ignati was of a clinging and affectionate disposition, and after +the Duke, his master, his next thoughts turned to Charles of +Montsoreau. To his apartments then the boy proceeded with all possible +speed, having in his hand the note from the Duke of Guise, which he +had almost forgotten in the agitation of the late events. He found the +young nobleman already dressed, and concluding with his attendants +various arrangements for his approaching union with her he loved--an +union, indeed, entirely dependent upon the life of him who was at that +very moment falling under the blows of assassins. + +With the natural hopefulness of youth and of high courage, Charles of +Montsoreau, though still somewhat anxious, had nearly forgotten the +apprehensions of the night before. But the terrified countenance of +Ignati, and the cut upon the boy's brow from the blow he had received, +showed the young Count at once that something had gone wrong; and +demanding what was the matter, but without waiting for an answer, he +opened the billet of the Duke of Guise, and read. + +The words which he found there written were as follows:-- + +"I have had many warnings, Logeres, which personally, it does not +become me to attend to. However, should these warnings prove to have +been justly given, and you see Henry of Guise no more, take your fair +bride with you at once; fly to my brother of Mayenne; be united as +soon as possible, without waiting for any ceremony but the blessing of +the priest; and, to the best of your power, avenge the death of him +who was your friend to the last." + +"Where is the Duke, Ignati?" demanded the young Count, eagerly. "Has +he yet gone to the council?" + +"He is gone! he is gone!" replied the boy; "and he will never return!" +And in a rapid manner he told him all that had taken place, as far as +he himself yet knew it. + +"Fly to the apartments of Mademoiselle de Clairvaut instantly," said +the Count. "Ask if I can speak with her, and give her that note. If +she is not in her own apartment, she is in that of the Duchess of +Nemours, which is by the side of it. Quick, Ignati; tell her there is +not a moment to be lost." + +The boy sped away. The Count then gave a few rapid orders to Gondrin, +bidding him discover if there was any means of issuing forth from the +castle; and then turned his steps, as speedily as possible, towards +the chamber of Marie de Clairvaut. + +In the narrow passage, however, which led towards the apartments of +the Duchess of Nemours, he was passed by Pericard, the Duke's +secretary, who slackened not his pace for an instant, but said, "Fly, +sir! Fly! The Duke is dead!" and rushed on. The next moment, Charles +met the fair girl herself, coming towards him with as swift a pace as +his own, and followed by the boy Ignati, who from time to time turned +back his head, as if to see that they were not pursued. Marie was as +pale as death. + +"Oh, Charles," she said, "I fear we cannot obey my uncle's commands. +What has happened to him, I know not; but the guards have just +arrested the Duchess de Nemours and my poor cousin Joinville. It is +impossible to pass in that direction, and I fear all the gates are +guarded." + +"Run to the chapel," said the boy. "Run to the chapel by the back +staircase and the little corridor behind the Duke's room. There will +be no one in the chapel in this time of confusion, and there is a way +from the chapel into the gardens. The postern may be left unguarded." + +"Excellently bethought," replied Charles of Montsoreau. "Speed on, +Ignati; speed on before us, and see that there is no one on the watch. +If you find Gondrin, send him to the chapel without a moment's delay. +We must fly, sweet Marie; we must fly, as your uncle has ordered. It +is clear--though it is terrible to say--it is clear that he is dead. +They would not have dared to arrest his son and mother had he been +living. But we must find you some cloak or covering, sweet girl. You +cannot go forth in all this bridal array." + +Marie bent down her head and wept, for though she had suffered much +within the last few months, it had not been with that withering kind +of suffering which dries up the fountain of our tears. She hurried on +with her lover, however, and in his apartments a mantle was speedily +found to cover the bright and happy attire which she had that morning +put on with feelings of hope and joy. In few but distinct words +Charles of Montsoreau told the two servants, whom he found there, to +get out, if possible, by any means into the town, and to bring round +the rest of his train and his horses to the farther side of the +gardens; and then hurrying on by the way which the boy had suggested, +he led Marie de Clairvaut towards the chapel, where they were to have +been united. + +The little corridor which they followed entered at once into a small +room, called the revestry, by the side of the chapel itself, and as +Charles of Montsoreau approached, he heard voices and paused to +listen. He then plainly distinguished the tones of Gondrin and the +page; and though another deep voice was also heard, he hurried on, +feeling certain that they would have come to give him warning had +there been danger. + +The door was partly open, and throwing it back, the Count beheld a +scene which made all his blood run cold, while the fair girl whom he +was leading forward recoiled in terror and dismay. + +Stretched upon the floor, with his sword half drawn from the sheath, +and a deep wound in his left breast, lay Gaspar de Montsoreau. +A pool of blood surrounded him, and the expression of his whole +countenance showed in a moment that the spirit had departed some time. +Scattered--some upon the ground, some upon the table in the midst of +the room, some even in the midst of the blood itself--were a number of +pieces of gold; and two leathern bags, one open and half empty of its +contents, were seen upon the ground. + +At the further side of the room, near the door leading into the +chapel, was standing Gondrin, with his sword naked, and his foot upon +the chest of the Italian Orbi; while the boy Ignati knelt beside the +assassin, and with his drawn dagger held over him, seemed putting to +him some quick and eager questions. + +"I tell you true," answered the man, as Charles of Montsoreau entered; +"I tell you true. It was he who set me on and paid me: the Abbe de +Boisguerin, and no one else." + +The boy sprang up and moved away on the young Count's appearance; and +a few words from Gondrin explained to him, that coming from the +gardens--where he had found all solitary, the key in the lock of the +postern gate, and the way clear--he had heard a low cry from the side +of the chapel, and on entering that room had discovered the unhappy +Marquis de Montsoreau weltering in his blood, and the Italian Orbi +gathering up some of the gold pieces, which seemed to have fallen to +the ground in a brief struggle between him and the Marquis. + +During this account, Marie de Clairvaut, pale as death and terribly +agitated, supported herself by one of the high-backed chairs, and +turned her eyes from the horrible sight which that room exhibited; and +Charles of Montsoreau gazed for a moment on the dead form of his +brother, with those feelings of fraternal love which no unkindness or +ill treatment had been able to banish. + +Every instant, however, was precious; and recovering himself as +speedily as possible, he turned to Gondrin, bidding him disarm the +Italian who had still his sword, though the weapon with which he had +committed the murder had been dropped beside the dead body. + +"Shall I kill him, sir?" said Gondrin, pressing the man down more +firmly with his foot, as he found him make a slight effort to escape. + +"Oh, in pity, in pity, Charles," cried Marie, clasping her hands +towards him, "do not; do not!" + +"No, no!" replied Charles of Montsoreau; "cut that rope from the +window, Ignati. Bind him hand and foot, Gondrin, and leave him to the +justice of those who come after." + +It was done in a moment; and Charles of Montsoreau only pausing once +more for a moment to gaze on his brother's corpse, exclaimed with +sincere sorrow, "Alas, poor Gaspar!" and then with a quick step led +Marie de Clairvaut from that terrible chamber into the gardens and +towards the postern gate. + +All was clear, and Charles of Montsoreau turned the key and threw the +gate back. The moment that it was opened, two men darted forward from +the other side, as if to seize the person coming out, and in one of +them, though entirely changed in dress and appearance, Charles +instantly recognised the Abbe de Boisguerin, who, before he saw that +any one had accompanied Mademoiselle de Clairvaut, had caught her +violently by the arm. + +The memory of a thousand wrongs flashed upon the young Count's mind in +a moment; his sword sprung from the sheath, glittered for a single +instant in the air, and then passed through the body of the base man +before him, piercing him from side to side. + +The Abbe uttered a shrill and piercing cry, and, when the Count +withdrew his weapon, fell instantly back upon the ground, quivering in +the agonies of death. The other man who had stood beside the Abbe fled +amain; but on the road, about fifty yards from the garden wall, stood +a carriage with six horses and their drivers, with a group of some +nine or ten men on horseback. + +On the Abbe's first cry the horsemen began to ride towards the spot, +but the appearance of Gondrin coming through the low door behind the +Count, and then the page, made them pause, hesitate, and seem to +consult. In another moment or two the sound of horses coming from the +side of the town caused them to withdraw still farther from the spot; +and with joy that is scarcely to be expressed, Charles of Montsoreau +saw his own colours in the scarfs of the horsemen that approached. In +a moment after, he was surrounded by at least twenty of his own armed +attendants: led horses, too, were there in plenty; and he now +whispered words of hope that he really felt to Marie de Clairvaut, who +clung almost fainting to his arm. + +"Stop the carriage, Gondrin!" he exclaimed, seeing the drivers in the +act of mounting, as if to hasten away after the horsemen, who, on +their part, had taken flight at the first sight of the young Count's +followers. "We must make use of it, whether they will or not; but +promise them large rewards. There is a mystery here I do not +understand; but it is evidently some new villany. Come, dear Marie, +come; we must not pause." And leading her forward to the carriage, he +spoke to the drivers himself. + +One of them was the master of the horses which the Abbe had hired, and +he was found not at all unwilling to enter into any arrangement that +the Count chose to propose. Marie de Clairvaut was placed in the +carriage, the horsemen surrounded it, and Charles himself was about to +mount his horse, when he perceived that the boy Ignati had not +followed him, but remained kneeling by the side of the Abbe de +Boisguerin. Turning quickly back, to his utter surprise he found the +youth weeping bitterly; and when he urged him to rise and come with +the carriage, Ignati shook his head saying, "No, no! I cannot leave +him like dead carrion for the hawks and ravens.--He was my father! Go +on, my Lord Count, and God speed you!--I must see him buried, and +masses said for his soul!" + +The Count was moved, but he could not remain; and giving the boy some +money, he said, "Spend that upon his funeral, Ignati; and then follow +me with all speed to Lyons. I grieve for you, my boy, though I +understand not how this can be." + +Only one more difficulty existed, which was, to pass through that part +of the town leading to the bridge over the Loire. But the servants who +had made their escape from the castle, and brought round their fellows +to his assistance, assured the Count that the news of the Duke of +Guise's murder had already spread through the city, and that every +thing was in such a state of confusion and dismay, he might pass with +the greatest security. + +Such he found to be the case; all the guard of the King was within the +walls of the chateau; the gates of the bridges, and of the town +itself, were in the hands of the faction of the League; and no +questions were asked of one who was known to have been the dear and +intimate friend of the murdered Duke. + +Taking his way through a part of the country devoted to the League, +Charles of Montsoreau and his fair companion found no difficulty in +reaching Lyons, where the history of all that had taken place was soon +told to the Duke of Mayenne, and the last lines which the hand of +Henry of Guise ever traced were shown to him, who was destined +thenceforth to be the great head of the League. + +Had the words and the wishes of his brother not been sufficient for +Mayenne, the necessity of binding to his cause for ever one whose aid +was so important as that of Charles of Montsoreau, would have been +enough to decide the Duke's conduct towards him: and as soon as +possible, after all the anguish, difficulty, and danger, which they +had undergone together, the fate of the young Count of Logeres and +Marie de Clairvaut was united for ever. + +In regard to them it need only be said that they loved each other to +the last hours of life. + +The boy Ignati followed the young Count to Lyons, but he would not +remain with the man who had taken his father's life. He subsequently +devoted himself to the church, and in the end rose high, by the great +interest that was exercised on his behalf. + +The wars of the League succeeded: but the feelings of Charles of +Montsoreau were greatly changed by the death of the Duke of Guise; and +though he waged war, as zealously as any body could possibly do, +against the murderer of his lost friend, yet, when Henry III. himself +fell under the blow of an assassin, the young Count of Logeres would +no longer contend against a monarch so generous, so noble, and so +chivalrous, as the King who next ascended the throne. + +He sheathed the sword then, after the accession of Henri Quatre, and +the rest of his days passed in peace and calm retirement, in the +society of her whom he loved ever, and loved alone. + + + + THE END. + + + + + London: + Printed by A. Spottiswoode, + New-Street-Square + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Henry of Guise; (Vol. III of 3), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENRY OF GUISE; (VOL. III OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 39413.txt or 39413.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/4/1/39413/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the +Web Archive (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/39413.zip b/39413.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..636e5b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/39413.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d0005d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #39413 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39413) |