from the memoirs of a minister of france-第16节

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〃Nor　unlocked　it？〃

〃I　have　no　key；　your　excellency。〃

That　was　true；　and　as　I　had　at　bottom　the　utmost　confidence　in　his　fidelity；　I　pursued　the　inquiry　no　farther　in　that　direction；　but　made　a　third　search　among　the　papers。　　This　also　failing　to　bring　the　packet　to　light；　and　Ferret　being　in　haste　to　be　gone；　I　was　obliged　for　the　moment　to　put　up　with　the　loss；　and　draw　what　comfort　I　could　from　the　reflection　that；　no　despatch　in　the　missing　cipher　was　extant。　　Whoever　had　stolen　it；　therefore；　another　could　be　substituted　for　it　and　no　one　the　worse。　　Still　I　was　unwilling　that　the　King　should　hear　of　the　mischance　from　a　stranger；　and　be　led　to　think　me　careless；　and　I　bade　Ferret　be　silent　about　it　unless　Henry　missed　the　packet；　which　might　not　happen　before　my　arrival。

When　the　secretary；　who　readily　assented；　had　given　me　his　receipt　and　was　gone；　I　questioned　Maignan　afresh　and　more　closely；　but　with　no　result。　　He　had　not　seen　me　place　the　packet　in　the　portfolio　at　Calais；　and　that　I　had　done　so　I　could　vouch　only　my　own　memory；　which　I　knew　to　be　fallible。　　In　the　meantime；　though　the　mischance　annoyed　me；　I　attached　no　great　importance　to　it；　but　anticipating　that　a　word　of　explanation　would　satisfy　the　King；　and　a　new　cipher　dispose　of　other　difficulties；　I　dismissed　the　matter　from　my　mind。

Twenty…four　hours　later；　however；　I　was　rudely　awakened。　　A　courier　arrived　from　Henry；　and　surprising　me　in　the　midst　of　my　last　preparations　at　the　Arsenal；　handed　me　an　order　to　attend　his　Majesty；　an　order　couched　in　the　most　absolute　and　peremptory　terms；　and　lacking　all　those　friendly　expressions　which　the　King　never　failed　to　use　when　he　wrote　to　me。　　A　missive　so　brief　and　so　formaland　so　needless；　for　I　was　on　the　point　of　starting　had　not　reached　me　for　years；　and　coming　at　this　moment　when　I　had　no　reason　to　expect　a　reverse　of　fortune；　it　had　all　the　effect　of　a　thunder…bolt　in　a　clear　sky。　　I　stood　stunned；　the　words　which　I　was　dictating　to　my　secretary　dying　on　my　lips。　For　I　knew　the　King　too　well；　and　had　experienced　his　kindness　too　lately　to　attribute　the　harshness　of　the　order　to　chance　or　forgetfulness；　and　assured　in　a　moment　that　I　stood　face　to　face　with　a　grave　crisis；　I　found　myself　hard　put　to　it　to　hide　my　feelings　from　those　about　me。

Nevertheless；　I　did　so　with　all　effort；　and；　sending　for　the　courier　asked　him　with　an　assumption　of　carelessness　what　was　the　latest　news　at　Court。　　His　answer；　in　a　measure；　calmed　my　fears；　though　it　could　not　remove　them。　　He　reported　that　the　queen　had　been　taken　ill　or　so　the　rumour　went。

〃Suddenly？〃　　I　said。

〃This　morning；〃　he　answered。

〃The　King　was　with　her？〃

〃Yes；　your　excellency。〃

〃Had　he　left　her　long　when　he　sent　this　letter？〃

〃It　came　from　her　chamber；　your　excellency。〃

〃Butdid　you　understand　that　her　Majesty　was　in　danger？〃　　I　urged。

As　to　that；　however；　the　man　could　not　say　anything；　and　I　was　left　to　nurse　my　conjectures　during　the　long　ride　to　Fontainebleau；　where　we　arrived　in　the　cool　of　the　evening；　the　last　stage　through　the　forest　awakening　memories　of　past　pleasure　that　combated　in　vain　the　disorder　and　apprehension　which　held　my　spirits。　　Dismounting　in　the　dusk　at　the　door　of　my　apartments；　I　found　a　fresh　surprise　awaiting　me　in　the　shape　of　M。　de　Concini；　the　Italian；　who　advancing　to　meet　me　before　my　foot　was　out　of　the　stirrup；　announced　that　he　came　from　the　King；　who　desired　my　instant　attendance　in　the　queen's　closet。

Knowing　Concini　to　be　one　of　those　whose　influence　with　her　Majesty　had　more　than　once　tempted　the　King　to　the　most　violent　measures　against　herfrom　which　I　had　with　difficulty　dissuaded　himI　augured　the　worst　from　the　choice　of　such　a　messenger；　and　wounded　alike　in　my　pride　and　the　affection　in　which　I　held　the　King；　could　scarcely　find　words　in　which　to　ask　him　if　the　queen　was　ill。

〃Indisposed；　my　lord；〃　he　replied　carelessly。　　And　he　began　to　whistle。

I　told　him　that　I　would　remove　my　boots　and　brush　off　the　dust；　and　in　five　minutes　be　at　his　service。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　〃my　orders　are　strict；　and　they　are　to　request　you　to　attend　his　Majesty　immediately。　　He　expected　you　an　hour　ago。〃

I　was　thunderstruck　at　thisat　the　message；　and　at　the　man's　manner；　and　for　a　moment　I　could　scarcely　restrain　my　indignation。　　Fortunately　the　habit　of　self…control　came　to　my　aid　in　time；　and　I　reflected　that　an　altercation　with　such　a　person　could　only　lower　my　dignity。　　I　contented　myself；　therefore；　with　signifying　my　assent　by　a　nod；　and　without　more　ado　followed　him　towards　the　queen's　apartments。

In　the　ante…chamber　were　several　persons；　who　as　I　passed　saluted　me　with　an　air　of　shyness　and　incertitude　which　was　enough　of　itself　to　put　me　on　my　guard。　　Concini　attended　me　to　the　door　of　the　chamber；　there　he　fell　back；　and　Mademoiselle　Galigai；　who　was　in　waiting；　announced　me。　　I　entered；　assuming　a　serene　countenance；　and　found　the　King　and　queen　together；　no　other　person　being　present。　　The　queen　was　lying　at　length　on　a　couch；　while　Henry；　seated　on　a　stool　at　her　feet；　seemed　to　be　engaged　in　soothing　and　reassuring　her。　　On　my　entrance；　he　broke　off　and　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Here　he　is　at　last；〃　he　said；　barely　looking　at　me。　　〃Now；　if　you　will；　dear　heart　ask　him　your　questions。　　I　have　had　no　communication　with　him；　as　you　know；　for　I　have　been　with　you　since　morning。〃

The　queen；　whose　face　was　flushed　with　fever；　made　a　fretful　movement　but　did　not　answer。

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　ask　him？〃　　Henry　said　with　admirable　patience。

〃If　you　think　it　is　worth　while；〃　she　muttered；　turning　sullenly　and　eyeing　me　from　the　middle　of　her　pillows　with　disdain　and　ill…temper。

〃I　will；　then；〃　he　answered；　and　he　turned　to　me。　　〃M。　de　Rosny；〃　he　said　in　a　formal　tone；　which　even　without　the　unaccustomed　monsieur　cut　me　to　the　heart；　〃be　good　enough　to　tell　the　queen　how　the　key　to　my　secret　cipher；　which　I　entrusted　to　you；　has　come　to　be　in　Madame　de　Verneuil's　possession。〃

I　looked　at　him　in　the　profoundest　astonishment；　and　for　a　moment　remained　silent；　trying　to　collect　my　thoughts　under　this　unexpected　blow。　　The　queen　saw　my　hesitation　and　laughed　spitefully。　　〃I　am　afraid；　sire；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　have　overrated　this　gentleman's　ingenuity；　though　doubtless　it　has　been　much　exercised　in　your　service。〃

Henry's　face　grew　red　with　vexation。　　〃Speak；　man！〃　　he　cried。　〃How　came　she　by　it？〃

〃Madame　de　Verneuil？〃　　I　said。

The　queen　laughed　again。　　〃Had　you　not　better　take　him　out　first；　sir；〃　she　said　scornfully；　〃and　tell　him　what　to　say？〃

〃'Fore　God；　madame；〃　the　King　cried　passionately；　〃you　try　me　too　far！　　Have　I　not　told　you　a　hundred　times；　and　sworn　to　you；　that　I　did　not　give　Madame　de　Verneuil　this　key？〃

〃If　you　did　not　give　her　that；〃　the　queen　muttered　sullenly；　picking　at　the　silken　coverlet　which　lay　on　her　feet；　〃you　have　given　her　all　else。　　You　cannot　deny　it。〃

Henry　let　a　gesture　of　despair　escape　him。　　〃Are　we　to　go　back　to　that？〃　　he　said。　　Then　turning　to　me；　〃Tell　her；〃　he　said　between　his　teeth；　〃and　tell　me。　　VENTRE　SAINT　GRISare　you　dumb；　man？〃

Discerning　nothing　for　it　at　the　moment　save　to　bow　before　this　storm；　which　had　arisen　so　suddenly；　and　from　a　quarter　the　least　expected；　I　hastened　to　comply。　　I　had　not　proceeded　far　with　my　story；　howeverwhich　fell　short；　of　course；　of　explaining　how　the　key　came　to　be　in　Madame　de　Verneuil's　handsbefore　I　saw　that　it　won　no　credence　with　the　queen；　but　rather　confirmed　her　in　her　belief　that　the　King　had　given　to　another　what　he　had　denied　to　her。　　And　more；　I　saw　that　in　proportion　as　the　tale　failed　to　convince　her；　it　excited　the　King's　wrath　and　disappointment。　　He　several　times　cut　me　short　with　expressions　of　the　utmost　impatience；　and　at　last；　when　I　came　to　a　lame　conclusionsince　I　could　explain　nothing　except　that　the　key　was　gonehe　could　restrain　himself　no　longer。　　In　a　tone　in　which　he　had　never　addressed　me　before；　he　asked　me　why　I　had　not；　on　the　instant；　communicated　the　loss　to　him；　and　when　I　would　have　defended　myself　by　adducing　the　reason　I　have　given　above；　overwhelmed　me　with　abuse　and　reproaches；　which；　as　they　were　uttered　in　the　queen's　presence；　and　would　be　repeated；　I　knew；　to　the　Concinis　and　Galigais　of　her　suite；　who　had　no　occasion　to　love　me；　carried　a　double　sting。

Nevertheless；　for　a　time；　and　until　he　had　somewhat　worn　himself　out；　I　let　Henry　proceed。　　Then；　taking　advantage　of　the　first　pause；　I　interposed。　　Reminding　him　that　he　had　never　had　cause　to　accuse　me　of　carelessness　before；　I　recalled　the　twenty…two　years　during　which　I　had　served　him　faithfully；　and　the　enmities　I　had　incurred　for　his　sake；　and　having　by　these　means　placed　the　discussion　on　a　more　equal　footing；　I　descended　again　to　particulars；　and　asked　respectfully　if　I　might　know　on　whose　authority　Madame　de　Verneuil　was　said　to　have　the　cipher。

〃On　her　own！〃　　the　queen　cried　hysterically。　　〃Don't　try　to　deceive　me；for　it　will　be　in　vain。　　I　know　she　has　it；　and　if　the　King　did　not　give　it　to　her；　who　did？〃

〃That　is　the　question；　madam；〃　I　said。

〃It　is　one　easily　answered；〃　she　retorted。　　〃If　you　do　not　know；　ask　her。〃

〃But；　perhaps；　madam；　she　will　not　answer；