from the memoirs of a minister of france-第1节

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From　the　Memoirs　of　a　Minister　of　France

by　Stanley　Weyman






CONTENTS。

　　　I。THE　CLOCKMAKER　OF　POISSY
　　II。THE　TENNIS　BALLS
　III。TWO　MAYORS　OF　BOTTITORT
　　IV。LA　TOUSSAINT
　　　V。THE　LOST　CIPHER
　　VI。THE　MAN　OF　MONCEAUX
　VII。THE　GOVERNOR　OF　GUERET
VIII。THE　OPEN　SHUTTER
　　IX。THE　MAID　OF　HONOUR
　　　X。FARMING　THE　TAXES
　　XI。THE　CAT　AND　THE　KING
　XII。AT　FONTAINEBLEAU




I。　THE　CLOCKMAKER　OF　POISSY。

Foreseeing　that　some　who　do　not　love　me　will　be　swift　to　allege　that　in　the　preparation　of　these　memoirs　I　have　set　down　only　such　things　as　redound　to　my　credit；　and　have　suppressed　the　many　experiences　not　so　propitious　which　fall　to　the　lot　of　the　most　sagacious　while　in　power；　I　take　this　opportunity　of　refuting　that　calumny。　　For　the　truth　stands　so　far　the　other　way　that　my　respect　for　the　King's　person　has　led　me　to　omit　many　things　creditable　to　me；　and　some；　it　may　be；　that　place　me　in　a　higher　light　than　any　I　have　set　down。　　And　not　only　that：　　but　I　propose　in　this　very　place　to　narrate　the　curious　details　of　an　adventure　wherein　I　showed　to　less　advantage　than　usual；　and　on　which　I　should；　were　I　moved　by　the　petty　feelings　imputed　to　me　by　malice；　be　absolutely　silent。

One　day；　about　a　fortnight　after　the　quarrel　between　the　King　and　the　Duchess　of　Beaufort；　which　I　have　described；　and　which　arose；　it　will　be　remembered；　out　of　my　refusal　to　pay　the　christening　expenses　of　her　second　son　on　the　scale　of　a　child　of　France；　I　was　sitting　in　my　lodgings　at　St。　Germains　when　Maignan　announced　that　M。　de　Perrot　desired　to　see　me。　　Knowing　Perrot　to　be　one　of　the　most　notorious　beggars　about　the　court；　with　an　insatiable　maw　of　his　own　and　an　endless　train　of　nephews　and　nieces；　I　was　at　first　for　being　employed；　but；　reflecting　that　in　the　crisis　in　the　King's　affairs　which　I　saw　approachingand　which　must；　if　he　pursued　his　expressed　intention　of　marrying　the　Duchess；　be　fraught　with　infinite　danger　to　the　State　and　himselfthe　least　help　might　be　of　the　greatest　moment；　I　bade　them　admit　him；　privately　determining　to　throw　the　odium　of　any　refusal　upon　the　overweening　influence　of　Madame　de　Sourdis；　the　Duchess's　aunt。

Accordingly　I　met　him　with　civility；　and　was　not　surprised　when；　with　his　second　speech；　he　brought　out　the　word　FAVOUR。　　But　I　was　surprisedfor；　as　I　have　said；　I　knew　him　to　be　the　best　practised　beggar　in　the　worldto　note　in　his　manner　some　indications　of　embarrassment　and　nervousness；　which；　when　I　did　not　immediately　assent；　increased　to　a　sensible　extent。

〃It　is　a　very　small　thing；　M。　de　Rosny；〃　he　said；　breathing　hard。

On　that　hint　I　declared　my　willingness　to　serve　him。　　〃But；〃　I　added；　shrugging　my　shoulders　and　speaking　in　a　confidential　tone；　〃no　one　knows　the　Court　better　than　you　do；　M。　de　Perrot。　You　are　in　all　our　secrets；　and　you　must　be　aware　that　at　presentI　say　nothing　of　the　Duchess；　she　is　a　good　woman；　and　devoted　to　his　Majestybut　there　are　others〃

〃I　know；〃　he　answered；　with　a　flash　of　malevolence　that　did　not　escape　me。　　〃But　this　is　a　private　favour；　M。　de　Rosny。　　It　is　nothing　that　Madame　de　Sourdis　can　desire；　either　for　herself　or　for　others。〃

That　aroused　my　curiosity。　　Only　the　week　before；　Madame　de　Sourdis　had　obtained　a　Hat　for　her　son；　and　the　post　of　assistant　Deputy　Comptroller　of　Buildings　for　her　Groom　of　the　Chambers。　For　her　niece　the　Duchess　she　meditated　obtaining　nothing　less　than　a　crown。　　I　was　at　pains；　therefore；　to　think　of　any　office；　post；　or　pension　that　could　be　beyond　the　pale　of　her　desires；　and　in　a　fit　of　gaiety　I　bade　M。　de　Perrot　speak　out　and　explain　his　riddle。

〃It　is　a　small　thing；〃　he　said；　with　ill…disguised　nervousness。　〃The　King　hunts　to…morrow。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃And　very　commonly　he　rides　back　in　your　company；　M。　le　Marquis。〃

〃Sometimes；〃　I　said；　〃or　with　M。　d'Epernon。　　Or；　if　he　is　in　a　mood　for　scandal；　with　M。　la　Varenne　or　Vitry。〃

〃But　with　you；　if　you　wish　it；　and　care　to　contrive　it　so；〃　he　persisted；　with　a　cunning　look。

I　shrugged　my　shoulders。　　〃Well？〃　　I　said；　wondering　more　and　more　what　he　would　be　at。

〃I　have　a　house　on　the　farther　side　of　Poissy；〃　he　continued。　〃And　I　should　take　it　as　a　favour；　M。　de　Rosny；　if　you　could　induce　the　King　to　dismount　there　to…morrow　and　take　a　cup　of　wine。〃

〃That　is　a　very　small　thing；〃　I　said　bluntly；　wondering　much　why　he　had　made　so　great　a　parade　of　the　matter；　and　still　more　why　he　seemed　so　ill　at　ease。　　〃Yet；　after　such　a　prelude；　if　any　but　a　friend　of　your　tried　loyalty　asked　it；　I　might　expect　to　find　Spanish　liquorice　in　the　cup。〃

〃That　is　out　of　the　question；　in　my　case；〃　he　answered　with　a　slight　assumption　of　offence；　which　he　immediately　dropped。　　〃And　you　say　it　is　a　small　thing；　it　is　the　more　easily　granted；　M。　de　Rosny。〃

〃But　the　King　goes　and　comes　at　his　pleasure；〃　I　replied　warily。　〃Of　course；　he　might…take　it　into　his　head　to　descend　at　your　house。　　There　would　be　nothing　surprising　in　such　a　visit。　　I　think　that　he　has　paid　you　one　before；　M。　de　Perrot？〃

He　assented　eagerly。

〃And　he　may　do　so；〃　I　said；　smiling；　〃to…morrow。　　But　then；　again；　he　may　not。　　The　chase　may　lead　him　another　way；　or　he　may　be　late　in　returning；　orin　fine；　a　hundred　things　may　happen。〃

I　had　no　mind　to　go　farther　than　that；　and　I　supposed　that　it　would　satisfy　him；　and　that　he　would　thank　me　and　take　his　leave。　To　my　surprise；　however；　he　stood　his　ground；　and　even　pressed　me　more　than　was　polite；　while　his　countenance；　when　I　again　eluded　him；　assumed　an　expression　of　chagrin　and　vexation　so　much　in　excess　of　the　occasion　as　to　awaken　fresh　doubts　in　my　mind。　　But　these　only　the　more　confirmed　me　in　my　resolution　to　commit　myself　no　farther；　especially　as　he　was　not　a　man　I　loved　or　could　trust；　and　in　the　end　he　had　to　retire　with　such　comfort　as　I　had　already　given　him。

In　itself；　and　on　the　surface；　the　thing　seemed　to　be　a　trifle；　unworthy　of　the　serious　consideration　of　any　man。　　But　in　so　far　as　it　touched　the　King's　person　and　movements；　I　was　inclined　to　view　it　in　another　light；　and　this　the　more；　as　I　still　had　fresh　in　my　memory　the　remarkable　manner　in　which　Father　Cotton；　the　Jesuit；　had　given　me　a　warning　by　a　word　about　a　boxwood　fire。　After　a　moment's　thought；　therefore；　I　summoned　Boisrueil；　one　of　my　gentlemen；　who　had　an　acknowledged　talent　for　collecting　gossip；　and　I　told　him　in　a　casual　way　that　M。　de　Perrot　had　been　with　me。

〃He　has　not　been　at　Court　for　a　week；〃　he　remarked。

〃Indeed？〃　　I　said。

〃He　applied　for　the　post　of　Assistant　Deputy　Comptroller　of　Buildings　for　his　nephew；　and　took　offence　when　it　was　given　to　Madame　de　Sourdis'　Groom　of　the　Chambers。〃

〃Ha！〃　　I　said；　〃a　dangerous　malcontent。〃

Boisrueil　smiled。　　〃He　has　lived　a　week　out　of　the　sunshine　of　his　Majesty's　countenance；　your　excellency。　　After　that；　all　things　are　possible。〃

This　was　my　own　estimate　of　the　man；　whom　I　took　to　be　one　of　those　smug；　pliant　self…seekers　whom　Courts　and　peace　breed　up。　I　could　imagine　no　danger　that　could　threaten　the　King　from　such　a　quarter；　while　curiosity　inclined　me　to　grant　his　request。　　As　it　happened；　the　deer　the　next　day　took　us　in　the　direction　of　Poissy；　and　the　King；　who　was　always　itching　to　discuss　with　me　the　question　of　his　projected　marriage；　and　as　constantly；　since　our　long　talk　in　the　garden　at　Rennes；　avoiding　the　subject　when　with　me；　bade　me　ride　home　with　him。　　On　coming　within　half　a　mile　of　Perrot's　I　let　fall　his　name；　and　in　a　very　natural　way　suggested　that　the　King　should　alight　there　for　a　few　minutes。

It　was　one　of　the　things　Henry　delighted　to　do；　for；　endowed　with　the　easiest　manners；　and　able　in　a　moment　to　exchange　the　formality　of　the　Louvre　for　the　freedom　of　the　camp；　he　could　give　to　such　cheap　favours　their　full　value。　　He　consented　on　the　instant；　therefore；　and　turning　our　horses　into　a　by…road；　we　sauntered　down　it　with　no　greater　attendance　than　a　couple　of　pages。

The　sun　was　near　setting；　and　its　rays；　which　still　gilded　the　tree…tops；　left　the　wood　below　pensive　and　melancholy。　　The　house　stood　in　a　solitary　place　on　the　edge　of　the　forest；　half　a　mile　from　Poissy；　and　these　two　things　had　their　effect　on　my　mind。　　I　began　to　wish　that　we　had　brought　with　us　half　a　troop　of　horse；　or　at　least　two　or　three　gentlemen；　and；　startled　by　the　thought　of　the　unknown　chances　to　which；　out　of　mere　idle　curiosity；　I　was　exposing　the　King；　I　would　gladly　have　turned　back。　　But　without　explanation　I　could　not　do　so；　and　while　I　hesitated　Henry　cried　out　gaily　that　we　were　there。

A　short　avenue　of　limes　led　from　the　forest　road　to　the　door。　　I　looked　curiously　before　us　as　we　rode　under　the　trees；　in　some　fear　lest　M。　de　Perrot's　preparations　should　discover　my　complicity；　and　apprise　the　King　that　he　was　expected。　　But　so　far　was　this　from　being　the　case　that　no　one　appeared；　the　house　rose　still　and　silent　in　the　mellow　light　of　sunset；　and；　for　all　that　we　could　see；　might　have　been　the　fabled　palace　of　enchantment。

〃'He　is　Jean　de　Nivelle's　dog；　he　runs　away　when　you　call　him；'〃　the　King　quoted。　　〃Get　down；　Rosny。　　We　have　reached　the　palace　of　the　Sleeping　Princess。　　It　remains　only　to　sound　the　horn；　and〃

I　was　in　the　act　of　dismo