from the memoirs of a minister of france-第29节

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〃No；　sire；　in　the　Rue　Cloitre　Notre　Dame。〃

〃You　have　got　him；　then？〃

〃I　know　who　he　is；　and　why　he　is　doing　this。〃

〃Why？〃　　the　King　cried　eagerly。

〃Well；　I　was　going　to　ask　for　your　Majesty's　company　to　the　place；〃　I　answered　smiling。　　〃I　will　undertake　that　you　shall　be　amused　at　least　as　well　as　here；　and　at　a　cheaper　rate。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃That　may　very　well　be；〃　he　said　with　a　grimace。　　〃That　rogue　Pimentel　has　stripped　me　of　two　thousand　crowns　since　supper。　　He　is　plucking　Bassompierre　now。

Remembering　that　only　that　morning　I　had　had　to　stop　some　necessary　works　through　lack　of　means；　I　could　scarcely　restrain　my　indignation。　　But　it　was　not　the　time　to　speak；　and　I　contented　myself　with　repeating　my　request。　　Ashamed　of　himself；　he　consented　with　a　good　grace；　and　bidding　me　go　to　his：　closet；　followed　a　few　minutes　later。　　He　found　me　cloaked　to　the　eyes；　and　with　a　soutane　and　priest's　hat；　on　my　arm。　　〃Are　those　for　me？〃　　he　said。

〃Yes；　sire。〃

〃Who　am　I；　then？〃

〃The　cure　of　St。　Germain。〃

He　made　a　wry　face。　　〃Come；　Grand　Master；〃　he　said；　〃he　died　yesterday。　　Is　not　the　jest　rather　grim？〃

〃In　a　good　cause；〃　I　said　equably。

He　flashed　a　roguish　look　at　me。　　〃Ah！〃　　he　said；　〃I　thought　that　that　was　a　wicked　rule　which　only　we　Romanists　avowed。　　But；　there；　don't　be　angry。　　I　am　ready。〃

Coquet；　the　Master　of　the　Household；　let　us　out　by　one　of　the　river　gates；　and　we　went　by　the　new　bridge　and　the　Pont　St。　Michel。　　By　the　way　I　taught　the　King　the　role　I　wished　him　to　play；　but　without　explaining　the　mystery；　the　opportune　appearance　of　one　of　my　agents　who　was　watching　the　end　of　the　street　bringing　Henry's　remonstrances　to　a　close。

〃It　is　still　open？〃　　I　said。

〃Yes；　your　excellency。〃

〃Then　come；　sire；〃　I　said；　〃I　see　the　boy　yonder。　　Let　us　ascend；　and　I　will　undertake　that　before　you　reach　the　street　again　you　shall　be　not　only　a　wiser　but　a　richer　sovereign。〃

〃St。　Gris！〃　　he　answered　with　alacrity。　　Why　did　you　not　say　that　before；　and　I　should　have　asked　no　questions。　　On；　on；　in　God's　name；　and　the　devil　take　Pimentel！〃

I　restrained　the　caustic　jest　that　rose　to　my　lips；　and　we　proceeded　in　silence　down　the　street。　　The　boy；　whom　I　had　espied　loitering　in　a　doorway　a　little　way　ahead；　as　if　the　great　bell　above　us　which　had　just　tolled　eleven　had　drawn　him　out；　peered　at　us　a　moment　askance；　and　then；　coming　forward；　accosted　us。　But　I　need　not　detail　the　particulars　of　a　conversation　which　was　almost　word　for　word　the　same　as　that　which　had　passed　in　the　Rue　de　la　Pourpointerie；　suffice　it　that　he　made　the　same　request　with　the　same　frank　audacity；　and　that；　granting　it；　we　were　in　a　moment　following　hint　up　a　similar　staircase。

〃This　way；　messieurs；　this　way！〃　　he　said；　as　he　had　on　that　other　night；　while　we　groped　our　way　upwards　in　the　dark。　　He　opened　a　door；　and　a　light　shone　out；　and　we　entered　a　room　that　seemed；　with　its　bare　walls　and　rafters；　its　scanty　stool　and　table　and　lamp；　the　very　counterpart　of　that　other　room。　　In　one　wall　appeared　the　dingy　curtains　of　an　alcove；　closely　drawn；　and　the　shutter　stood　open；　until；　at　the　child's　request；　expressed　in　the　same　words；　I　went　to　it　and　closed　it。

We　were　both　so　well　muffled　up　and　disguised；　and　the　light　of　the　lamp　shining　upwards　so　completely　distorted　the　features；　that　I　had　no　fear　of　recognition；　unless　the　King's　voice　betrayed　him。　　But　when　he　spoke；　breaking　the　oppressive　silence　of　the　room；　his　tone　was　as　strange　and　hollow　as　I　could　wish。

〃The　shutter　is　closed；〃　be　said；　〃but　the　shutter　of　God's　mercy　is　never　closed！〃

Still；　knowing　that　this　was　the　crucial　moment；　and　that　we　should　be　detected　now　if　at　all；　I　found　it；　an　age　before　the　voice　behind　the　curtains　answered　〃Amen！〃　　and　yet　another　age　before　the　hidden　speaker　continued　〃Who　are　you？〃

〃The　cure　of　St。　Germain；〃　Henry　responded。

The　man　behind　the　curtains　gasped；　and　they　were　for　a　moment　violently　agitated；　as　if　a　hand　seized　them　and　let　them　go　again。　　But　I　had　reckoned　that　the　unknown；　after　a　pause　of　horror；　would　suppose　that　he　had　heard　amiss　and　continue　his　usual　catechism。　　And　so　it　proved。　　In　a　voice　that　shook　a　little；　he　asked；　〃Whom　do　you　bring　to　me？〃

〃A　sinner；〃　the　King　answered。

〃What　has　he　done？〃

〃He　will　tell　you。〃

〃I　am　listening；〃　the　unknown　said。

The　light　in　the　basin　flared　up　a　little；　casting　dark　shadows　on　the　ceiling；　and　at　the　same　moment　the　shutter；　which　I　had　failed　to　fasten　securely；　fell　open　with　a　grinding　sound。　　One　of　the　curtains　swayed　a　little　in　the　breeze；　〃I　have　robbed　my　master；〃　I　said；　slowly。

〃Of　how　much？〃

〃A　hundred　and　twenty　thousand　crowns。〃

The　bed　shook　until　the　boards　creaked　under　it；　but　this　time　no　hand　grasped　the　curtains。　　Instead；　a　strained　voicethick　and　coarse；　yet　differing　from　that　muffled　tone　which　we　had　heard　beforeasked；　〃Who　are　you？〃

〃Jules　Fauchet。〃

I　waited。　　The　King；　who　understood　nothing　but　had　listened　to　my　answers　with　eager　attention；　and　marked　no　less　closely　the　agitation　which　they　caused　in　the　unknown；　leant　forward　to　listen。　　But　the　bed　creaked　no　more；　the　curtain　hung　still；　even　the　voice；　which　at　last　issued　from　the　curtains；　was　no　more　like　the　ordinary　accents　of　a　man　than　are　those　which　he　utters　in　the　paroxysms　of　epilepsy。　　〃Are　yousorry？〃　　the　unknown　mutteredinvoluntarily；　I　think；　hoping　against　hope；　not　daring　to　depart　from　a　formula　which　had　become　second　nature。　　But　I　could　fancy　him　clawing；　as　he　spoke；　at　his　choking　throat。

France；　however；　had　suffered　too　long　at　the　hands　of　that　race　of　men；　and　I　had　been　too　lately　vilified　by　them　to　feel　much　pity；　and　for　answer　I　lifted　a　voice　that　to　the　quailing　wretch　must　have　been　the　voice　of　doom。　　〃Sorry？〃　　I　said　grimly。　　〃I　must　beor　hang！　　For　to…morrow　the　King　examines　his　books；　and　the　next　day　Ihang！〃

The　King's　hand　was　on　mine；　to　stop　me　before　the　last　word　was　out；　but　his　touch　came　too　late。　　As　it　rang　through　the　room　one　of　the　curtains　before　us　was　twitched　aside；　and　a　face　glared　out；　so　ghastly　and　drawn　and　horror…stricken；　that　few　would　have　known　it　for　that　of　the　wealthy　fermier；　who　had　grown　sleek　and　fat　on　the　King's　revenues。　　I　do　not　know　whether　he　knew　us；　or　whether；　on　the　contrary；　he　found　this　accusation；　so　precise；　so　accurate；　coming　from　an　unknown　source；　still　more　terrible　than　if　he　had　known　us；　but　on　the　instant　he　fell　forward　in　a　swoon。

〃St。　Gris！〃　　Henry　cried；　looking　on　the　body　with　a　shudder；　〃you　have　killed　him；　Grand　Master！　　It　was　true；　was　it？〃

〃Yes；　sire；〃　I　answered。　　〃But　he　is　not　dead；　I　think。〃　　And　going　to　the　window　I　whistled　for　Maignan；　who　in　a　minute　came　to　us。　　He　was　not　very　willing　to　touch　the　man；　but　I　bade　him　lay　him　on　the　bed　and　loosen　his　clothes　and　throw　water　on　his　face；　and　presently　M。　Fauchet　began　to　recover。

I　stepped　a　little　aside　that　he　might　not　see　me；　and　accordingly　the　first　person　on　whom　his　eyes　lighted　was　the　King；　who　had　laid　aside　his　hat　and　cloak；　and　taken　the　terrified　and　weeping　child　on　his　lap。　　M。　Fauchet　stared　at　him　awhile　before　he　recognised　him；　but　at　last　the　trembling　man　knew　him；　and　tottering　to　his　feet；　threw　himself　on　his　knees；　looking　years　older　than　when　I　had　last　seen　him　in　the　street。

〃Sire；〃　he　said　faintly；　〃I　will　make　restitution。〃

Henry　looked　at　him　gravely；　and　nodded。　　〃It　is　well；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　fortunate；　M。　Fauchet；　for　had　this　come　to　my　ears　in　any　other　way　I　could　not　have　spared　you。　　You　will　render　your　accounts　and　papers　to　M。　de　Sully　to…morrow；　and　according　as　you　are　frank　with　him　you　will　be　treated。〃

Fauchet　thanked　him　with　abject　tears；　and　the　King　rose　and　prepared　to　leave。　　But　at　the　door　a　thought　struck　him；　and　he　turned。　　〃How　long　have　you　done　this？〃　　he　said；　indicating　the　room　by　a　gesture；　and　speaking　in　a　gentler　tone。

〃Three　years；　sire；〃　the　wretched　man　answered。

〃And　how　much　have　you　distributed？〃

〃Fifteen　hundred　crowns；　sire。〃

The　King　cast　an　indescribable　look　at　me；　wherein　amusement；　scorn；　and　astonishment　were　all　blended。　　〃St。　Gris！　　man！〃　　he　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders　and　drawing　in　his　breath　sharply；　〃you　think　God　is　as　easily　duped　as　the　King！　　I　wish　I　could　think　so。〃

He　did　not　speak　again　until　we　were　half…way　back　to　the　Louvre；　when　he　opened　his　mouth　to　announce　his　intention　of　rewarding　me　with　a　tithe　of　the　money　recovered。　　It　was　duly　paid　to　me；　and　I　bought　with　it　part　of　the　outlying　lands　of　Villebon　those；　I　mean；　which　extend　towards　Chartres。　　The　rest　of　the　money；　notwithstanding　all　my　efforts；　was　wasted　here　and　there；　Pimentel　winning　thirty　crowns　of　the　King　that　year。　　But　the　discovery　led　to　others　of　a　similar　character；　and　eventually　set　me　on　the　track　of　a　greater　offender；　M。　l'Argentier；　whom　I　brought　to　justice　a　few　months　later。



IX。　THE　MAID　OF　HONOUR。

In　accordance　with　my　custom　I　gave　an　entertainment　on　the　last　day　of　this　year　to　the　King　and　Queen；　who　came　to　the　Arsenal　with　a　numerous　train；　and　found　the　diversions　I　had　provide