the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第41节
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at； that a senator of M。 Broussel's age and probity； and that the Coadjutor of Paris should be so much as suspected of being concerned in a sedition raised by a hot…brained fool； at the head of fifteen of the vilest of the mob？ I am fully persuaded it would be scandalous for me to insist longer on this subject。 This is all I know； gentlemen； of the modern conspiracy。〃
The applause that came from the Court of Inquiry was deafening； many voices were heard exclaiming against spies and informers。 Honest Doujat； who was one of the persons appointed by the Attorney…General Talon； his kinsman； to make the report； and who had acquainted me with the facts； acknowledged it publicly by pretending to make the thing appear less odious。 He got up； therefore； as if he were in a passion； and spoke very artfully to this purpose：
〃These witnesses； monsieur； are not to accuse you； as you are pleased to say； but only to discover what passed in the meeting of the annuitants at the Hotel de Ville。 If the King did not promise impunity to such as will give him information necessary for his service； and which sometimes cannot be come at without involving evidence in a crime； how should the King be informed at all？ There is a great deal of difference between patents of this nature and commissions granted on purpose to accuse you。〃
You might have seen fire in 'the face of every member。 The First President called out 〃Order！〃 and said； 〃MM。 de Beaufort； le Coadjuteur； and Broussel； you are accused； and you must withdraw。〃
As Beaufort and I were leaving our seats； Broussel stopped us； saying； 〃Neither you； gentlemen； nor I are bound to depart till we are ordered to do so by the Court。 The First President； whom all the world knows to be our adversary； should go out if we must。〃
I added； 〃And M。 le Prince；〃 who thereupon said； with a scornful air：
〃What； I？ Must I retire？〃
〃Yes； yes； monsieur；〃 said I； 〃justice is no respecter of persons。〃
The President de Mesmes said； 〃No； monseigneur； you must not go out unless the Court orders you。 If the Coadjutor insists that your Highness retire； he must demand it by a petition。 As for himself； he is accused； and therefore must go out； but； seeing he raises difficulties and objections to the contrary； we must put it to the vote。〃 And it was passed that we should withdraw。
Meanwhile； most of the members passed encomiums upon us； satires upon the Ministry； and anathemas upon the witnesses for the Crown。 Nor were the cures and the parishioners wanting in their duty on this occasion。 The people came in shoals from all parts of Paris to the Parliament House。 Nevertheless； no disrespect was shown either to the King's brother or to M。 le Prince； only some in their presence cried out； 〃God bless M。 de Beaufort！ God bless the Coadjutor！〃
M。 de Beaufort told the First President next day that； the State and royal family being in danger； every moment was precious； and that the offenders ought to receive condign punishment； and that therefore the Chambers ought to be assembled without loss of time。 Broussel attacked the First President with a great deal of warmth。 Eight or ten councillors entered immediately into the Great Chamber to testify their astonishment at the indolence and indifference of the House after such a furious conspiracy； and that so little zeal was shown to prosecute the criminals。 MM。 de Bignon and Talon； counsel for the Crown； alarmed the people by declaring that as for themselves they had no hand in the conclusions； which were ridiculous。 The First President returned very calm answers； knowing well that we should have been glad to have put him into a passion in order to catch at some expression that might bear an exception in law。
On Christmas Day I preached such a sermon on Christian charity； without mentioning the present affairs； that the women even wept for the unjust persecution of an archbishop who had so great a tenderness for his very enemies。
On the 29th M。 de Beaufort and I went to the Parliament House； accompanied by a body of three hundred gentlemen； to make it appear that we were more than tribunes of the people； and to screen ourselves from the insults of the Court party。 We posted ourselves in the Fourth Chamber of the Inquests； among the courtiers； with whom we conversed very frankly； yet upon the least noise； when the debates ran high in the Great Chamber； we were ready to cut one another's throats eight or ten times every morning。 We were all distrustful of one another； and I may venture to say there were not twenty persons in the House but were armed with daggers。 As for myself； I had resolved to take none of those weapons inconsistent with my character； till one day； when it was expected the House would be more excited than usual； and then M。 de Beaufort； seeing one end of the weapon peeping out of my pocket； exposed it to M。 le Prince's captain of the guards and others； saying； 〃See； gentlemen； the Coadjutor's prayer…book。〃 I understood the jest； but really I could not well digest it。 We petitioned the Parliament that the First President； being our sworn enemy； might be expelled the House； but it was put to the vote and carried by a majority of thirty…six that he should retain his station of judge。
Paris narrowly escaped a commotion at the time of the imprisonment of Belot； one of the syndics of the Hotel de Ville annuitants； who； being arrested without a decree； President de la Grange made it appear that there was nothing more contrary to the declaration for which they had formerly so exerted themselves。 The First President maintaining the legality of his imprisonment； Daurat； a councillor of the Third Chamber； told him that he was amazed that a gentleman who was so lately near being expelled could be so resolute in violating the laws so flagrantly。 Whereupon the First President rose in a passion； saying that there was neither order nor discipline in the House； and that he would resign his place to another for whom they had more respect。 This motion put the Great Chamber all in a ferment； which was felt in the Fourth； where the gentlemen of both parties hastened to support their respective sides； and if the most insignificant lackey had then but drawn a sword； Paris would have been all in an uproar。
We solicited very earnestly for our trial； which they delayed as much as it was in their power； because they could not choose but acquit us and condemn the Crown witnesses。 Various were the pretences for putting it off； and though the informations were not of sufficient weight to hang a dog； yet they were read over and over at every turn to prolong the time。
The public began to be persuaded of our innocence； as also the Prince de Conde； and M。 de Bouillon told me that he very much suspected it to be a trick of the Cardinal's。
On the 1st of January； 1650； Madame de Chevreuse； having a mind to visit the Queen； with whom she had carried on in all her disgrace an unaccountable correspondence； went to the King's Palace。 The Cardinal； taking her aside in the Queen's little cabinet； said to her：
〃You love the Queen。 Is it not possible for you to make your friends love her？〃
〃How can that be？〃 said she； 〃the Queen is no more a Queen； but a humble servant to M。 le Prince。〃
〃Good God！〃 replied the Cardinal； 〃we might do great things if we could get some men into our interest。 But M。 de Beaufort is at the service of Madame de Montbazon； and she is devoted to Vigneul and the Coadjutor； 〃 at the mention of which he smiled。 〃I take you； monsieur；〃 said Madame de Chevreuse； 〃I will answer for him and for her。〃
Thus the conversation began； and the Cardinal making a sign to the Queen； Madame de Chevreuse had a long conference that night with her Majesty； who gave her this billet for me； written and signed with her own hand：
Notwithstanding what has passed and what is now doing； I cannot but persuade myself that M。 le Coadjuteur is in my interest。 I desire to see him； and that nobody may know it but Madame and Mademoiselle de Chevreuse。 This name shall be your security。 ANNE
Being convinced that the Queen was downright angry with the Prince de Conde on account of a rumour spread abroad that he had some intriguing gallantries with her Majesty； I weighed all circumstances and returned the answer to the Queen：
Never was there one moment of my life wherein I was not devoted to your Majesty。 I am so far from consulting my own safety that I would gladly die for your service 。 。 。 I will go to any place your Majesty shall order me。
My answer； with the Queen's letter enclosed； was carried back by Madame de Chevreuse and well received。 I went immediately to Court； and was taken up the back staircase by the Queen's train…bearer to the petit oratoire； where her Majesty was shut up all alone。 She showed me as much kindness as she could； considering her hatred against M。 le Prince and her friendship for the Cardinal； though the latter seemed the more to prevail； because in speaking of the civil wars and of the Cardinal's friendship for me she called him 〃the poor Cardinal〃 twenty times over。 Half an hour after； the Cardinal came in；
