Cinq Mars -- Volume 2

the sound of cannon and the music of each regiment the litter traversed a long line of cavalry and infantry, formed from the outermost t

nd, without entering the royal abode, had remained in the long galleries covered with striped stuff, and arranged as became avenues leading to the Prince. The courtiers walking in groups, saluted one another and shook hands, regarding each other haughtily, according to their co

l'Abbe, why you loo

Touraine; if you do not believe it, go and ask the people of Monsieur or of the Queen. You are behind-hand ten minutes by the watch with the Cardin

stand you; is it a challeng

e gravity of the time; "I sought an occasion to challenge you in the name o

our command. I will seek my

ed Gondi, with the air of a man arranging a party of

parated for a time, saluting one another with t

or, in velvet or in satin, embroidered with gold or silver; crosses of St. Michael and of the Holy Ghost; the ruffs, the sweeping hat-plumes, the gold shoulder-knots, the chains by which the long swords hung: all glittered and sparkled,

his moustache, for ecclesiastics wore them in those days. He looked closely at every one in order to recognize his friends, and at last stopped before a young man, very tall

my second in an hour, on horseback, with swo

am entirely at your se

hall we

Spanish bastion

g to a conversation tha

nctual at th

id all this in the gentlest of voices with unalterable c

s hand with warm satisfacti

himself; for they knew him better than did De Thou, and when they saw him coming th

again; I'll swear it's a second y

hefoucauld, "that it's against on

en; but since when have you

he sword like us ever reverence tierce, quarte, and octave;

barrass my wrist, as I will prove to him who chooses; as to

you fight so often?"

ar Abbe, that you yo

s elsewhere. Having stopped two gentlemen in the service of the young Queen, whom he thought ill-affected toward

ow of Henri le Grand shall no longer remain in exile.' Imperious! the King never before said anything so strong as that, Monsieur l'Abb

s, Monsieur, but

e stopped short in the

air of

n is quite a fr

or will you not

etty little pin-maker,-he even spoke of it to the King. Adieu, my dear Abbe, we are in great haste; adieu, adieu!" And, taking his

whom he did not know, seated at a table, leaning on his elbow with a pensive air; he wore mourning which indicated no connection with any great house or party, and appeared

moment, and accosted h

onor; and if you will be my second, in a quarter of an hour we shall be on the ground. I am Paul de Gondi; and

ed at this address, replied, without chang

o serves him? We stand no worse with our fri

ass his hand through his long chestnut hair, and then said,

, and as I have no friends here, I am with you;

quickly before him, often running back to hasten him on, like a child running before his father

he King's tent, and silence reigned. The courtiers began to enter slowly, and in succession, the temporary dwell

vered him down to the waist. Wide breeches reached to the knee, and the yellow-and-red striped stuff of which they were made was ornamented below with blue ribbons. His riding- boots, reaching hardly more than three inches above the ankle, were tur

inness in his face, while it added to its melancholy expression. By his lofty brow, his classic profile, his aquiline nose, he was at once recognized as a prince of the great race of Bourbon. He had all the

cing himself with one foot over the other, an hereditary habit of his family, he spoke quickly, but pausing from time to ti

the whole court stood in close ranks behind the Prince, and in the long galleries which extended f

King, turning, and looking at Montresor, one of Mon

ery ill just now, S

ow any but your Majesty

e Bea

s; "and the complaints of the Cardinal are always s

n able to assume the supreme empire, and for the moment enjoyed all the power of which he fancied himself possessed. An involuntary agitation in the depth of his heart had warned him indeed that, the hour passed, all the burden of the State would fall upon himself alone; but he talked in order to

nan," he said to Fabert, w

urs," he added to La Vallette.

ult to manage a Stat

ardinal's disgrace as most of the courtie

t home and abroad prove your sagacity in choosi

dence, that loud voice and overbearing air, which subsequently

n like a horse, with spur and bridle; and as we are all

take effect, for two ushers crie

en flagrant delit. But immediately gaining confidence, he assumed a

guards and more than five hundred gentlemen attached to his house, advanced toward the King slowly and pausing at

ok toward him. Even La Vallette feigned to be occupied in a conversation with Montresor; and the King, who desired to give hi

hed to mingle with them, but in reality to test them more closely; they all recoiled as at the sight of a leper. Fabert alone a

in the midst of them like a cannon

nemy," said the Cardinal; "you will have no c

low bows, turning his back to the group gathered around the King, so that in the latter quarter they might be taken for those cold and hasty salutatio

out waiting for a word or a glance from his sovereign, he suddenly resolved upon his line of conduct, and walked directly toward him, traversing the whole length of the tent. No one had

mind totally failing him, remained motionless and waited with an

without changing his attitude, with his eyes lowered and his han

endering an account to the eternal King, I would render one to my earthly sovereign. It is eighteen years, Sire, since you placed in my hands a weak and divided kingdom; I return it to you united and pow

d expected, and which he had always seen in him when he had threatened to resign the management of affairs. On the contrary

rvices, Monsieur le Cardinal, an

ce. "Such was the coldness with which you left Montmorency to die," he said to himself

Majesty will deign to accept from me, as a gift, the Pal

sent. A murmur of surprise for a m

I perhaps regarded too hastily beneficial to the repose of the State. Yes, when I was of this world, I was too forgetful of my early sentiments of personal respe

ctators was redoubled, a

ecame

kingdom forced me to bring about for her; a person to whom I have owed much, and who should be very dear to you, notwithstanding he

vices of Richelieu, his unbounded devotion, his wonderful capacity, and was surprised at himself for having wished to part with him. He felt deeply affected at this request, which had probed for the exact cause of his anger at the bottom of his heart, and uprooted it, thus taking from his hands the only weapon he had against his old servant. Filial love br

hand to him, turned gracefully toward h

men, and especially in our knowledg

ave us, since his heart

ough less direct, addressed to the Prince thanks which could be heard by the minister, and burned at the feet of the one incense which was intended for the other. As for Richelieu, bowing and smiling to right and left, he stepped forward and stood at the right hand of the King as his natural place. A stranger entering would rather have thought, indeed, that it was the King who was on the Cardinal's left hand. The M

of the throng he avoided, he had found none but these to speak to. This conduct would have seemed extremely tactless in one less known; but although he lived in the midst of the court, he was ever ignorant of its intrigues. I

time to time: "The poor Queen! We shall, then, soon again see her! I never had dared to hope for such happiness while I lived!" The King listened to him with full confidence, and made no attempt to conceal his satisfaction. "It was assuredly an idea sent to him from o

ain of the guards came

g's

?" said the King; "let

entered alone a small, square tent attached to the larger one. In it he saw a

quired frequently what time it was, and exhibited an anxiety which was not assumed; his hard, unquiet glances turned toward the smaller tent. It suddenly opened; t

to hear of it," he added, casting a severe look toward the impassible Cardinal, "but God knows all! To horse in an h

t giving any sign of sorrow or annoyance, went fo

ITOR'S B

greatest mi

ed in what did

does force i

rompted by imbecili