stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第28节
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had failed him when he sought to save himself。 Others maintained that it
was no other than the great archangel St。 Michel who had securely
fastened the net upon the stake and so preserved Delphine； while the
heretic was left to perish。 A few thought secretly； and whispered it in fear；
that Michel had done a noble deed； and won heaven thereby。 The cure；
who came to look upon the calm dead face； opened his lips after long and
profound thought：
〃If this man had been a Christian；〃 he said； 〃he would have been a
saint and a martyr。〃
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A PERILOUS AMOUR
BY S。 J。 WEYMAN
Such in brief were the reasons which would have led me； had I
followed the promptings of my own sagacity； to oppose the return of the
Jesuits。 It remains for me only to add that these arguments lost all their
weight when set in the balance against the safety of my beloved master。 To
this plea the king himself for once condescended； and found those who
were most strenuous to dissuade him the least able to refute it； since the
more a man abhorred the Jesuits； the more ready he was to allow that the
king's life could not be safe from their practices while the edict against
them remained in force。 The support which I gave to the king on this
occasion exposed me to the utmost odium of my co… religionists； and was
in later times ill…requited by the order。 But a remarkable incident that
occurred while the matter was still under debate； and which I now for the
first time make public； proved beyond question the wisdom of my
conduct。
Fontainebleau being at this time in the hands of the builders； the king
had gone to spend his Easter at Chantilly； whither Mademoiselle
d'Entragues had also repaired。 During his absence from Paris I was seated
one morning in my library at the Arsenal； when I was informed that Father
Cotton； the same who at Metz had presented a petition from the Jesuits；
and who was now in Paris pursuing that business under a safe…conduct；
craved leave to pay his respects to me。 I was not surprised； for I had been a
little before this of some service to him。 The pages of the court； while
loitering outside the Louvre； had raised a tumult in the streets； and
grievously insulted the father by shouting after him； 〃Old Wool！ Old
Cotton！〃 in imitation of the Paris street cry。 For this the king； at my
instigation； had caused them to be soundly whipped； and I supposed that
the Jesuit now desired to thank me for advicegiven； in truth； rather out of
regard to discipline than to him。 So I bade them admit him。
His first words； uttered before my secretaries could retire； indicated
that this was indeed his errand； and for a few moments I listened to such
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statements from him and made such answers myself as became our several
positions。 Then； as he did not go； I began to conceive the notion that he
had come with a further purpose； and his manner； which seemed on this
occasion to lack ease； though he was well gifted with skill and address；
confirmed the notion。 I waited； therefore； with patience； and presently he
named his Majesty with many expressions of devotion to his person。 〃I
trust；〃 said he； 〃that the air of Fontainebleau agrees with him； M。 de
Rosny？〃
〃You mean； good father； of Chantilly？〃 I answered。
〃Ah； to be sure！〃 he rejoined； hastily。 〃He is； of course； at Chantilly。〃
After that he rose to depart； but was delayed by the raptures into which
he fell at sight of the fire； which； the weather being cold for the time of
year； I had caused to be lit。 〃It burns so brightly；〃 said he； 〃that it must be
of boxwood； M。 de Rosny。〃
〃Of boxwood？〃 I exclaimed； in surprise。
〃Ay； is it not of boxwood？〃 quoth he； looking at me with much
simplicity。
〃Certainly not！〃 I made answer； rather peevishly。 〃Who ever heard of
people burning boxwood in Paris； father？〃
He apologised for his ignorancewhich was indeed matter of wonder
on the ground of his southern birth； and took his departure； leaving me in
much doubt as to the real purport of his visit。 I was indeed more troubled
by the uncertainty I felt than another less conversant with the methods of
the Jesuits might have been； for I knew that it was their habit to let drop a
word where they dared not speak plainly； and I felt myself put on my
mettle to interpret the father's hint。 My perplexities were increased by the
belief that he would not have intervened in any matter of small moment；
and by the conviction； which grew upon me apace； that while I stood idle
before the hearth my dearest interests and those of France were at stake。
〃Michel；〃 I said at last； addressing the /doyen/ of my secretaries； who
chanced to be a Provencal； 〃have you ever seen a boxwood fire？〃
He replied respectfully； but with some show of surprise； that he had
not； adding that that wood was rendered so valuable to the turner by its
hardness that few people would be extravagant enough to use it for fuel。 I
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assented； and felt the more certain that the Jesuit's remark contained a
hidden meaning。 The only other clue I had consisted in the apparent
mistake the father had made as to the king's residence； and this might have
been dropped from him in pure inadvertence。 Yet I was inclined to think it
intentional； and construed it as implying that the matter concerned the king
personally。 Which the more alarmed me。
I passed the day in great anxiety； but toward evening； acting on a
sudden inspiration； I sent La Trape； my valet； a trusty fellow who had
saved my life at Cahors； to the Three Pigeons； a large inn in the suburbs； at
which such travellers from North to South as did not wish to enter the city
were accustomed to change horses and sometimes to sleep。 Acquitting
himself of the commission I had given him with his usual adroitness； he
quickly returned with the news that a traveller of rank had passed through
three days before； having sent in advance to order relays there and at
Essonnes。 La Trape reported that the gentleman had remained in his coach；
and that none of the inn servants had seen his face。
〃And he had companions？〃 I said。 My mind had not failed already to
conceive a natural suspicion。
〃Only one； your Grace。 The rest were servants。〃
〃And that one？〃
〃A man in the yard fancied that he recognised M。 de la Varenne。〃
〃Ah！〃 I said no more。 My agitation was indeed such that； before giving
reins to it； I bade La Trape withdraw。 I could scarcely believe that；
perfectly acquainted as the king was with the plots which Spain and the
Catholics were daily weaving for his life； and possessing such unavowed
but powerful enemies among the great lords as Tremouille and Bouillon；
to say nothing of Mademoiselle d'Entragues's half…brother； the Count of
AuvergneI could hardly believe that with this knowledge his Majesty
had been so foolhardy as to travel without guards or attendance to
Fontainebleau。 And yet I now felt an absolute certainty that this was the
case。 The presence of La Varenne also； the confidant of his intrigues；
informed me of the cause of this wild journey； convincing me that his
Majesty had given way to the sole weakness of his nature； and was bent on
one of those adventures of gallantry which had been more becoming in the
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Prince of Bearn than in the king of France。 Neither was I at a loss to guess
the object of his pursuit。 It had been lately whispered in the court that the
king had seen and fallen in love with his mistress's younge
