from the memoirs of a minister of france-第37节

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hich　he　has　bribed　himand　good　ones；　or　I　will　have　them　tied　up　in　his　place。　　Do　you　hear；　you　rascals？〃　　I　continued　to　the　trembling　culprits。　　〃Off；　and　do　your　duty；　or　I　will　have　your　backs　bare。〃

But　the　wretch；　as　cowardly　as　he　had　been　cruel；　flung　himself　down　and　crawled；　sobbing　and　crying；　to　my　feet。　　I　had　no　mercy；　however。　　〃Take　him　away；〃　I　said；　〃It　is　such　men　as　these　give　kings　a　bad　name。　　Take　him　away；　and　see　you　flay　him　well。〃

He　sprang　up　then；　forgetting　his　gout；　and　made　a　frantic　attempt　to　escape。　　But　in　a　moment　he　was　overcome；　hauled　away；　and　tied　up；　and　though　I　did　not　wait　to　see　the　sentence　carried　out；　but　entered　the　inn；　the　shrill　screams　he　uttered　under　the　punishment　reached　me；　even　there；　and　satisfied　me　that　Fonvelle　and　his　fellows　were　not；　holding　their　hands。

It　is　a　sad　reflection；　however；　that　for　one　such　sinner　brought　to　justice　ten；　who　commit　the　same　crimes；　go　free；　and　flourishing　on　iniquity；　bring　the　King's　service；　and　his　officers；　into　evil　repute。



XI。　THE　CAT　AND　THE　KING。

It　was　in　the　spring　of　the　year　1609　that　at　the　King's　instance　I　had　a　suite　of　apartments　fitted　up　for　him　at　the　Arsenal；　that　he　might　visit　me；　whenever　it　pleased　him；　without　putting　my　family　to　inconvenience；　in　another　place　will　be　found　an　account　of　the　six　thousand　crowns　a　year　which　he　was　so　obliging　as　to　allow　me　for　this　purpose。　　He　honoured　me　by　using　these　rooms；　which　consisted　of　a　hall；　a　chamber；　a　wardrobe；　and　a　closet；　two　or　three　times　in　the　course　of　that　year；　availing　himself　of　my　attendants　and　cook；　and　the　free　opportunities　of　consulting　me　on　the　Great　Undertaking；　which　this　plan　afforded；　led　me　to　hope　that　notwithstanding　the　envy　of　my　detractors；　he　would　continue　to　adopt　it。　　That　he　did　not　do　so；　nor　ever　visited　me　after　the　close　of　that　year；　was　due　not　so　much　to　the　lamentable　event；　soon　to　be　related；　which　within　a　few　months　deprived　France　of　her　greatest　sovereign；　as　to　a　strange　matter　that　attended　his　last　stay　with　me。　　I　have　since　had　cause　to　think　that　this　did　not　receive　at　the　time　as　much　attention　as　it　deserved；　and　have　even　imagined　that　had　I　groped　a　little　deeper　into　the　mystery　I　might　have　found　a　clue　to　the　future　as　well　as　the　past；　and　averted　one　more；　and　the　last；　danger　from　my　beloved　master。　　But　Providence　would　not　have　it　so；　a　slight　indisposition　under　which　I　was　suffering　at　the　time　rendered　me　less　able；　both　in　mind　and　body；　the　result　being　that　Henry；　who　was　always　averse　to　the　publication　of　these　ominous　episodes；　and　held　that　being　known　they　bred　the　like　in　mischievous　minds；　had　his　way；　the　case　ending　in　no　more　than　the　punishment　of　a　careless　rascal。

On　the　occasion　of　this　last　visitthe　third；　I　think；　that　he　paid　methe　King；　who　had　been　staying　at　Chantilly；　came　to　me　from　Lusarche；　where　he　lay　the　intervening　night。　　My　coaches　went　to　meet　him　at　the　gates　a　little　before　noon；　but　he　did　not　immediately　arrive；　and　being　at　leisure　and　having　assured　myself　that　the　dinner　of　twelve　covers；　which　he　had　directed　to　be　ready；　was　in　course　of　preparation；　I　went　with　my　wife　to　inspect　his　rooms　and　satisfy　myself　that　everything　was　in　order。

They　were　in　charge　of　La　Trape；　a　man　of　address　and　intelligence；　whom　I　have　had　cause　to　mention　more　than　once　in　the　course　of　these　memoirs。　　He　met　me　at　the　door　and　conducted　us　through　the　rooms　with　an　air　of　satisfaction；　nor　could　I　find　the　slightest　fault；　until　my　wife；　looking　about　her　with　a　woman's　eye　for　minute　things；　paused　by　the　bed　in　the　chamber；　and　directed　my　attention　to　something　on　the　floor。

She　stooped　over　it。　　〃What　is　this？〃　　she　asked。　　〃Has　something　been〃

〃Upset　here？〃　　I　said；　looking　also。　　There　was　a　little　pool　of　white　liquid　on　the　floor　beside　the　bed。

La　Trape　uttered　an　exclamation　of　annoyance；　and　explained　that　he　had　not　seen　it　before；　that　it　had　not　been　there　five　minutes　earlier；　and　that　he　did　not　know　how　it　came　to　be　there　now。

〃What　is　it？〃　　I　said；　looking　about　for　some　pitcher　that　might；　have　overflowed；　but　finding　none。　　〃Is　it　milk？〃

〃I　don't　know；　your　excellency；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　it　shall　be　removed　at　once。〃

〃See　that　it　is；〃　I　said。　　〃Are　the　boughs　in　the　fire…place　fresh？〃　　For　the　weather　was　still　warm　and　we　had　not　lit　a　fire。

〃Yes；　your　excellency；　quite　fresh。〃

〃Well；　see　to　that；　and　remove　it；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　mess。　〃It　looks　ill。〃

And　with　that　the　matter　passed　from　my　mind；　the　more　completely　as　I　heard　at　that　moment　the　sound　of　the　King's　approach；　and　went　into　the　court…yard　to　receive　him。　　He　brought　with　him　Roquelaure；　de　Vic；　Erard　the　engineer；　and　some　others；　but　none　whom　he　did　not　know　that　I　should　be　glad　to　receive。　　He　dined　well；　and　after　dinner　amused　himself　with　seeing　the　young　men　ride　at　the　ring；　and　even　rode　a　course　himself　with　his　usual　skill；　that　being；　if　I　remember　rightly；　the　last　occasion　on　which　I　ever　saw　him　take　a　lance。　　Before　supper　he　walked　for　a　time　in　the　hall；　with　Sillery；　for　whom　he　had　sent；　and　after　supper；　pronouncing　himself　tired；　he　dismissed　all；　and　retired　with　me　to　his　chamber。　　Here　we　had　some　talk　on　a　subject　that　I　greatly　dreadedI　mean　his　infatuation　for　Madame　de　Conde；　but　about　eleven　o'clock　he　yawned；　and；　after　thanking　me　for　a　reception　which　he　said　was　quite　to　his　mind；　he　bade　me　go　to　bed。

I　was　half　way　to　the　door　when　he　called　me　back。　　〃Why；　Grand　Master；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　little　table　by　the　head　of　the　bed　on　which　his　night　drinks　stood；　〃you　might　be　going　to　drown　me。　　Do　you　expect　me　to　drink　all　these　in　the　night？〃

〃I　think　that　there　is　only　your　posset；　sire；〃　I　said；　〃and　the　lemon…water　which　you　generally　drink。〃

〃And　two　or　three　other　things？〃

〃Perhaps　they　have　given　your　majesty　some　of　the　Arbois　wine　that　you　were　good　enough　to〃

〃Tut…tut！〃　he　said；　lifting　the　cover　of　one　of　the　cups。　　〃This　is　not　wine。　　It　may　be　a　milk…posset。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　very　likely；〃　I　said　drowsily。

〃But　it　is　not！〃　he　answered；　when　he　had　smelled　it。　　〃It　is　plain　milk！　　Come；　my　friend；〃　he　continued；　looking　drolly　at　me；　〃have　you　turned　leech；　or　I　babe　is　arms　that　you　put　such　strong　liquors　before　me？　　However；　to　show　you　that　I　have　some　childish　tastes　left；　and　am　not　so　depraved　as　you　have　been　trying　to　make　me　out　for　the　last　hourI　will　drink　your　health　in　it。　　It　would　serve　you　right　if　I　made　you　pledge　me　in　the　same　liquor！〃

The　cup　was　at　his　lips　when　I　sprang　forward　and；　heedless　of　ceremony；　caught　his　arm。　　〃Pardon；　sire！〃　I　cried；　in　sudden　agitation。　　〃If　that　is　milk；　I　gave　no　order　that　it　should　be　placed　here；　and　I　know　nothing　of　its　origin。　　I　beg　that　you　will　not　drink　it；　until　I　have　made　some　inquiry。〃

〃They　have　all　been　tasted？〃　　he　asked；　still　holding　the　cup　in　his　hand　with　the　lid　raised；　but　looking　at　it　gravely。

〃They　should　have　been！〃　I　answered。　　〃But　La　Trape；　whom　I　made　answerable　for　that；　is　outside。　　I　will　go　and　question　him。　　If　you　will　wait；　sire；　a　moment〃

〃No；〃　Henry　said。　　〃Have　him　here。〃

I　gave　the　order　to　the　pages　who　were　waiting　outside；　and　in　a　moment　La　Trape　appeared；　looking　startled　and　uncomfortable。　Naturally；　his　first　glance　was　given　to　the　King；　who　had　taken　his　seat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　but　still　held　the　cup　in　his　hand。　　After　asking　the　King's　permission；　I　said；　〃What　drinks　did　you　place　on　the　table；　here；　sirrah？〃

He　looked　more　uncomfortable　at　this；　but　he　answered　boldly　enough　that　he　had　served　a　posset；　some　lemon　water；　and　some　milk。

〃But　orders　were　given　only　for　the　lemon…water　and　the　posset；〃　I　said。

〃True；　your　excellency；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　when　I　went　to　the　pantry　hatch；　to　see　the　under…butler　carry　up　the　tray；　I　found　that　the　milk　was　on　the　tray；　and　I　supposed　that　you　had　given　another　order。〃

〃Possibly　Madame　de　Sully；〃　the　King　said；　looking　at　me；　〃gave　the　order　to　add　it？〃

〃She　would　not　presume　to　do　so；　sire；〃　I　answered；　sternly。　〃Nor　do　I　in　the　least　understand　the　matter。　　But　at　one　thing　we　can　easily　arrive。　　You　tasted　all　of　these；　man？〃

La　Trape　said　he　had。

〃You　drank　a　quantity；　a　substantial　quantity　of　eachaccording　to　the　orders　given　to　you？　　I　persisted。

〃Yes；　your　excellency。〃

But　I　caught　a　guilty　look　in　his　eyes；　and　in　a　gust　of　rage　I　cried　out　that　he　lied。　　〃The　truth！〃　I　thundered；　in　a　terrible　voice。　　〃The　truth；　you　villain；　you　did　not　taste　all？〃

〃I　did；　your　excellency；　as　God　is　above；　I　did！〃　he　answered。　But　he　had　grown　pale；　and　he　looked　at　the　King　in　a　terrified　way。

〃You　did？〃

〃Yes！〃

Yet　I　did　not　believe　him；　and　I　was　about　to　give　him　the　lie　again；　when　the　King　intervened。　　〃Quite　so；〃　he　said　to　La　Trape　with　a　smile。　　〃You　drank；　my　good　fellow；　of　the　posset　and　the　lemon　water；　and　you　tasted　the　milk；　but　you　did　not　drink　of　it。　　Is　not　that　the　whole　truth？〃

〃Yes；　sire；〃　he　whimpered；　breaking　down。　　〃But　II　gave　some　to　a　cat。〃

〃And　the　cat　is　no　worse？〃

〃No；　sire。〃

〃There；　Grand　Master；〃　the　Kin