A Gentleman of France: Being the Memoirs of Gaston de Bonne Sieur de Marsac

by Stanley John Weyman

  CHAPTER XVI. IN THE KING'S CHAMBER.

  M. de Rosny had risen from my side and started on his journey when Iopened my eyes in the morning, and awoke to the memory of the task whichhad been so strangely imposed upon me; and which might, according asthe events of the next fortnight shaped themselves, raise me to highposition or put an end to my career. He had not forgotten to leavea souvenir behind him, for I found beside my pillow a handsomesilver-mounted pistol, bearing the letter 'R.' and a coronet; nor hadI more than discovered this instance of his kindness before Simon Fleixcame in to tell me that M. de Rosny had left two hundred crowns in hishands for me.

  'Any message with it?' I asked the lad.

  'Only that; he had taken a keepsake in exchange,' Simon answered,opening the window as he spoke.

  In some wonder I began to search, but I could not discover that anythingwas missing until I came to put on my doublet, when I found that theknot of ribbon which mademoiselle had flung to me at my departure fromRosny was gone from the inside of the breast, where I had pinned it forsafety with a long thorn. The discovery that M. de Rosny had taken thiswas displeasing to me on more than one account. In the first place,whether mademoiselle had merely wished to plague me (as was mostprobable) or not, I was loth to lose it, my day for ladies' favoursbeing past and gone; in the second, I misdoubted the motive whichhad led him to purloin it, and tormented myself with thinking of thedifferent constructions he might put upon it, and the disparaging viewof my trust worthiness which it might lead him to take. I blamed myselfmuch for my carelessness in leaving it where a chance eye might restupon it; and more when, questioning Simon further, I learned that M.de Rosny had added, while mounting at the door, 'Tell your master, safebind, safe find; and a careless lover makes a loose mistress.'

  I felt my cheek burn in a manner unbecoming my years while Simon withsome touch of malice repeated this; and I made a vow on the spot, whichI kept until I was tempted to break it, to have no more to do with suchtrifles. Meanwhile, I had to make the best of it; and brisking up, andbidding Simon, who seemed depressed by the baron's departure, brisk upalso, I set about my preparations for making such a figure at Courtas became me: procuring a black velvet suit, and a cap and feather tomatch; item, a jewelled clasp to secure the feather; with a yard or twoof lace and two changes of fine linen.

  Simon had grown sleek at Rosny, and losing something of the wildnesswhich had marked him, presented in the dress M. de Rosny had given hima very creditable appearance; being also, I fancy, the only equerry inBlois who could write. A groom I engaged on the recommendation of M. deRambouillet's master of the horse; and I gave out also that I required acouple of valets. It needed only an hour under the barber's hands and aset of new trappings for the Cid to enable me to make a fair show, suchas might be taken to indicate a man of ten or twelve thousand livres ayear.

  In this way I expended a hundred and fifteen crowns reflecting thatthis was a large sum, and that I must keep some money for play, I wasglad to learn that in the crowded state of the city even men with highrank were putting up with poor lodging; I determined, therefore, tocombine economy with a scheme which I had in my head by taking the roomsin which my mother died, with one room below them. This I did, hiringsuch furniture as I needed, which was not a great deal. To Simon Fleix,whose assistance in these matters was invaluable, I passed on much of M.de Rosny's advice, bidding him ruffle it with the best in his station,and inciting him to labour for my advancement by promising to make hisfortune whenever my own should be assured. I hoped, indeed, to deriveno little advantage from the quickness of wit; which had attracted M. deRosny's attention; although I did not fail to take into account at thesame time that the lad was wayward and fitful, prone at one time todepression, and at another to giddiness, and equally uncertain in eithermood.

  M. de Rambouillet being unable to attend the LEVEE, had appointed me towait upon him at six in the evening; at which hour I presented myself athis lodgings, attended by Simon Fleix. I found him in the midst ofhalf a dozen gentlemen whose habit it was to attend him upon all publicoccasions; and these gallants, greeting me with the same curious andsuspicious glances which I have seen hounds bestow on a strange dogintroduced into their kennel, I was speedily made to feel that it is onething to have business at Court, and another to be well received there.

  M. de Rambouillet, somewhat to my surprise, did nothing to removethis impression. On all ordinary occasions a man of stiff and haughtybearing, and thoroughly disliking, though he could not prevent, theintrusion of a third party into a transaction which promised an infinityof credit, he received me so coldly and with so much reserve as for themoment to dash my spirits and throw me back on myself.

  During the journey to the castle, however, which we performed on foot,attended by half a dozen armed servants bearing torches, I had time torecall M. de Rosny's advice, and to bethink me of the intimacy whichthat great man had permitted me; with so much effect in the way ofheartening me, that as we crossed the courtyard of the castle Iadvanced myself, not without some murmuring on the part of others, toRambouillet's elbow, considering that as I was attached to him by theking's command, this was my proper place. I had no desire to quarrel,however, and persisted for some time in disregarding the nudges andmuttered words which were exchanged round me, and even the efforts whichwere made as we mounted the stairs to oust me from my position. Buta young gentleman, who showed himself very forward in these attempts,presently stumbling against me, I found it necessary to look at him.

  'Sir,' he said, in a small and lisping voice, 'you trod on my toe.'

  Though I had not done so, I begged his pardon very politely. But as hisonly acknowledgment of this courtesy consisted in an attempt to get hisknee in front of mine--we were mounting very slowly, the stairs beingcumbered with a multitude of servants, who stood on either hand--I didtread on his toe, with a force and directness which made him cry out.

  'What is the matter?' Rambouillet asked, looking back hastily.

  'Nothing, M. le Marquis,' I answered, pressing on steadfastly.

  'Sir,' my young friend said again, in the same lisping voice, 'you trodon my toe.'

  'I believe I did, sir,' I answered.

  'You have not yet apologised,' he murmured gently in my ear.

  'Nay, there you are wrong,' I rejoined bluntly, 'for it is always myhabit to apologise first and tread afterwards.'

  He smiled as at a pleasant joke; and I am bound to say that his bearingwas so admirable that if he had been my son I could have hugged him.'Good!' he answered. 'No doubt your sword is as sharp as your wits,sir. I see,' he continued, glancing naively at my old scabbard--hewas himself the very gem of a courtier, a slender youth with apink-and-white complexion, a dark line for a moustache, and a pearl-dropin his ear--'it is longing to be out. Perhaps you will take a turn inthe tennis-court to-morrow?'

  'With pleasure, sir,' I answered, 'if you have a father, or your elderbrother is grown up.'

  What answer he would have made to this gibe I do not know, for at thatmoment we reached the door of the ante-chamber; and this being narrow,and a sentry in the grey uniform of the Swiss Guard compelling all toenter in single file, my young friend was forced to fall back, leavingme free to enter alone, and admire at my leisure a scene at oncebrilliant and sombre.

  The Court being in mourning for the Queen-mother, black predominatedin the dresses of those present, and set off very finely the gleamingjewels and gemmed sword-hilts which were worn by the more importantpersonages. The room was spacious and lofty, hung with arras, and lit bycandles burning in silver sconces; it rang as we entered with the shrillscreaming of a parrot, which was being teased by a group occupying thefarther of the two hearths. Near them play was going on at one table,and primero at a second. In a corner were three or four ladies, ina circle about a red-faced, plebeian-looking man, who was playing atforfeits with one of their number; while the middle of the roomseemed dominated by a middle-sized man with a peculiarly inflamed andpassionate countenance, who, seated on a table,
was inveighing againstsomeone or something in the most violent terms, his language beinginterlarded with all kinds of strange and forcible oaths. Two or threegentlemen, who had the air of being his followers, stood about him,listening between submission and embarrassment; while beside the nearerfireplace, but at some distance from him, lounged a nobleman, veryrichly dressed, and wearing on his breast the Cross of the Holy Ghost;who seemed to be the object of his invective, but affecting to ignore itwas engaged in conversation with a companion. A bystander muttering thatCrillon had been drinking, I discovered with immense surprise that thedeclaimer on the table was that famous soldier; and I was still lookingat him in wonder--for I had been accustomed all my life to associatecourage with modesty--when, the door of the chamber suddenly opening, ageneral movement in that direction took place. Crillon, disregarding allprecedency, sprang from his table and hurried first to the threshold.The Baron de Biron, on the other hand--for the gentleman by the fire wasno other--waited, in apparent ignorance of the slight which was beingput upon him, until M. de Rambouillet came up; then he went forwardwith him. Keeping close to my patron's elbow, I entered the chamberimmediately behind him.

  Crillon had already seized upon the king, and, when we entered, wasstating his grievance is a voice not much lower than that which he hadused outside. M. de Biron, seeing this, parted from the marquis, and,going aside with his former companion, sat down on a trunk against thewall; while Rambouillet, followed by myself and three or four gentlemenof his train, advanced to the king, who was standing near the alcove.His Majesty seeing him, and thankful, I think, for the excuse, wavedCrillon off. 'Tut, tut! You told me all that this morning,' he saidgood-naturedly. 'And here is Rambouillet, who has, I hope, somethingfresh to tell. Let him speak to me. Sanctus! Don't look at me as ifyou would run me through, man. Go and quarrel with someone of your ownsize.'

  Crillon at this retired grumbling, and Henry, who had just risen fromprimero with the Duke of Nevers, nodded to Rambouillet. 'Well, myfriend, anything fresh?' he cried. He was more at his ease and lookedmore cheerful than at our former interview; yet still care and suspicionlurked about his peevish mouth, and in the hollows under his gloomyeyes. 'A new guest, a new face, or a new game--which have you brought?'

  'In a sense, sire, a new face,' the marquis answered, bowing, andstanding somewhat aside that I might have place.

  'Well, I cannot say much for the pretty baggage,' quoth the kingquickly. And amid a general titter he extended his hand to me. 'I'llbe sworn, though,' he continued, as I rose from my knee, 'that you wantsomething, my friend?'

  'Nay, sire,' I answered, holding up my head boldly--for Crillon'sbehaviour had been a further lesson to me--'I have, by your leave, theadvantage. For your Majesty has supplied me with a new jest. I see manynew faces round me, and I have need only of a new game. If your Majestywould be pleased to grant me--'

  'There! Said I not so?' cried the king, raising his hand with a laugh.'He does want something. But he seems not undeserving. What does hepray, Rambouillet?'

  'A small command,' M. de Rambouillet answered, readily playing hispart. 'And your Majesty would oblige me if you could grant the Sieur deMarsac's petition. I will answer for it he is a man of experience.'

  'Chut! A small command?' Henry ejaculated, sitting down suddenly inapparent ill-humour. 'It is what everyone wants--when they do not wantbig ones. Still, I suppose,' he continued, taking up a comfit-box, whichlay beside him, and opening it, 'if you do not get what you want for himyou will sulk like the rest, my friend.'

  'Your Majesty has never had cause to complain of me,' quoth the Marquis,forgetting his role, or too proud to play it.

  'Tut, tut, tut, tut! Take it, and trouble me no more,' the kingrejoined. 'Will pay for twenty men do for him? Very well then. There,M. de Marsac,' he continued, nodding at me and yawning, 'your requestis granted. You will find some other pretty baggages over there. Goto them. And now, Rambouillet,' he went on, resuming his spirits as heturned to matters of more importance, 'here is a new sweetmeat Zamet hassent me. I have made Zizi sick with it. Will you try it? It is flavouredwith white mulberries.'

  Thus dismissed, I fell back; and stood for a moment, at a loss whitherto turn, in the absence of either friends or acquaintances. His Majesty,it is true, had bidden me go to certain pretty baggages, meaning,apparently, five ladies who were seated at the farther end of the room,diverting themselves with as many cavaliers; but the compactness of thisparty, the beauty of the ladies, and the merry peals of laughter whichproceeded from them, telling of a wit and vivacity beyond the ordinary,sapped the resolution which had borne me well hitherto. I felt thatto attack such a phalanx, even with a king's good will, was beyond thedaring of a Crillon, and I looked round to see whether I could not amusemyself in some more modest fashion.

  The material was not lacking. Crillon, still mouthing out his anger,strode up and down in front of the trunk on which M. de Biron wasseated; but the latter was, or affected to be, asleep. 'Crillon is forever going into rages now,' a courtier beside me whispered.

  'Yes,' his fellow answered, with a shrug of the shoulder; 'it is a pitythere is no one to tame him. But he has such a long reach, morbleu!'

  'It is not that so much as the fellow's fury,' the first speakerrejoined under his breath. 'He fights like a mad thing; fencing is nouse against him.'

  The other nodded. For a moment the wild idea of winning renown by tamingM. de Crillon occurred to me as I stood alone in the middle of thefloor; but it had not more than passed through my brain when I feltmy elbow touched, and turned to find the young gentleman whom I hadencountered on the stairs standing by my side.

  'Sir,' he lisped, in the same small voice, 'I think you trod on my toe awhile ago?'

  I stared at him, wondering what he meant by this absurd repetition.'Well, sir,' I answered drily, 'and if I did?'

  'Perhaps,' he said, stroking his chin with his jewelled fingers,'pending our meeting to-morrow, you would allow me to consider it as akind of introduction?'

  'If it please you,' I answered, bowing stiffly, and wondering what hewould be at.

  'Thank you,' he answered. 'It does please me, under the circumstances;for there is a lady here who desires a word with you. I took up herchallenge. Will you follow me?'

  He bowed, and turned in his languid fashion. I, turning too, saw, withsecret dismay, that the five ladies, referred to above, were all nowgazing at me, as expecting my approach; and this with such sportiveglances as told only too certainly of some plot already in progress orsome trick to be presently played me. Yet I could not see that I had anychoice save to obey, and, following my leader with as much dignity as Icould compass, I presently found myself bowing before the lady who satnearest, and who seemed to be the leader of these nymphs.

  'Nay, sir,' she said, eyeing me curiously, yet with a merry face, 'I donot need you; I do not look so high!'

  Turning in confusion to the next, I was surprised to see before me thelady whose lodging I had invaded in my search for Mademoiselle de laVire--she, I mean, who, having picked up the velvet; knot, had droppedit so providentially where Simon Fleix found it. She looked at meblushing and laughing, and the young gentleman, who had done her errand,presenting me by name, she asked me, while the others listened, whetherI had found my mistress.

  Before I could answer, the lady to whom I had first addressed myselfinterposed. 'Stop, sir!' she cried. What is this--a tale, a jest, agame, or a forfeit?'

  'An adventure, madam,' I answered, bowing low.

  'Of gallantry, I'll be bound,' she exclaimed. 'Fie, Madame de Bruhl, andyou but six months married!'

  Madame de Bruhl protested, laughing, that she had no more to do with itthan Mercury. 'At the worst,' she said, 'I carried the POULETS! But Ican assure you, duchess, this gentleman should be able to tell us a veryfine story, if he would.'

  The duchess and all the other ladies clapping their hands at this, andcrying out that the story must and should be told, I found myself ina prodigious quandary; and one wherein my wits
derived as littleassistance as possible from the bright eyes and saucy looks whichenvironed me. Moreover, the commotion attracting other listeners, Ifound my position, while I tried to extricate myself, growing eachmoment worse, so that I began to fear that as I had little imaginationI should perforce have to tell the truth. The mere thought of thisthrew me into a cold perspiration, lest I should let slip something ofconsequence, and prove myself unworthy of the trust which M. de Rosnyhad reposed in me.

  At the moment when, despairing of extricating myself, I was stoopingover Madame de Bruhl begging her to assist me, I heard, amid the babelof laughter and raillery which surrounded me--certain of the courtiershaving already formed hands in a circle and sworn I should not departwithout satisfying the ladies--a voice which struck a chord in mymemory. I turned to see who the speaker was, and encountered no otherthan M. de Bruhl himself; who, with a flushed and angry face, waslistening to the explanation which a friend was pouring into his ear.Standing at the moment with my knee on Madame de Bruhl's stool, andremembering very well the meeting on the stairs, I conceived in a flashthat the man was jealous; but whether he had yet heard my name, or hadany clew to link me with the person who had rescued Mademoiselle de laVire from his clutches, I could not tell. Nevertheless his presence ledmy thoughts into a new channel. The determination to punish him began totake form in my mind, and very quickly I regained my composure. Still Iwas for giving him one chance. Accordingly I stooped once more to Madamede Bruhl's ear, and begged her to spare me the embarrassment of tellingmy tale. But then, finding her pitiless, as I expected, and the rest ofthe company growing more and more insistent, I hardened my heart to gothrough with the fantastic notion which had occurred to me.

  Indicating by a gesture that I was prepared to obey, and the duchesscrying for a hearing, this was presently obtained, the sudden silenceadding the king himself to my audience. 'What is it?' he asked, comingup effusively, with a lap-dog in his arms. 'A new scandal, eh?'

  'No, sire, a new tale-teller,' the duchess answered pertly. 'If yourMajesty will sit, we shall hear him the sooner.'

  He pinched her ear and sat down in the chair which a page presented.'What! is it Rambouillet's GRISON again?' he said with some surprise.'Well, fire away, man. But who brought you forward as a Rabelais?'

  There was a general cry of 'Madame de Bruhl!' whereat that lady shookher fair hair, about her face, and cried out for someone to bring her amask.

  'Ha, I see!' said the king drily, looking pointedly at M. de Bruhl, whowas as black as thunder. 'But go on, man.'

  The king's advent, by affording me a brief respite, had enabled me tocollect my thoughts, and, disregarding the ribald interruptions, whichat first were frequent, I began as follows: 'I am no Rabelais, sire,' Isaid, 'but droll things happen to the most unlikely. Once upon a time itwas the fortune of a certain swain, whom I will call Dromio, to arrivein a town not a hundred miles from Blois, having in his company a nymphof great beauty, who had been entrusted to his care by her parents. Hehad not more than lodged her in his apartments, however, before shewas decoyed away by a trick, and borne off against her will by a younggallant, who had seen her and been smitten by her charms. Dromio,returning, and finding his mistress gone, gave way to the most poignantgrief. He ran up and down the city, seeking her in every place, andfilling all places with his lamentations; but for a time in vain, untilchance led him to a certain street, where, in an almost incrediblemanner, he found a clew to her by discovering underfoot a knot ofvelvet, bearing Phyllida's name wrought on it in delicate needlework,with the words, "A moi!"'

  'Sanctus!' cried the king, amid a general murmur of surprise, 'thatis well devised! Proceed, sir. Go on like that, and we will make yourtwenty men twenty-five.'

  'Dromio,' I continued, 'at sight of this trifle experienced the mostdiverse emotions, for while he possessed in it a clew to his mistress'sfate, he had still to use it so as to discover the place whither she hadbeen hurried. It occurred to him at last to begin his search with thehouse before which the knot had lain. Ascending accordingly to thesecond-floor, he found there a fair lady reclining on a couch, whostarted up in affright at his appearance. He hastened to reassureher, and to explain the purpose of his coming, and learned after aconversation with which I will not trouble your Majesty, though itwas sufficiently diverting, that the lady had found the velvet knot inanother part of the town, and had herself dropped it again in front ofher own house.'

  'Pourquoi?' the king asked, interrupting me.

  'The swain, sire,' I answered, 'was too much taken up with his owntroubles to bear that in mind, even if he learned it. But this delicacydid not save him from misconception, for as he descended from the lady'sapartment he met her husband on the stairs.'

  'Good!' the king exclaimed, rubbing his hands in glee. 'The husband!'And under cover of the gibe and the courtly laugh which followed it M.de Bruhl's start of surprise passed unnoticed save by me.

  'The husband,' I resumed, 'seeing a stranger descending his staircase,was for stopping him and learning the reason of his presence; ButDromio, whose mind was with Phyllida, refused to stop, and, evading hisquestions, hurried to the part of the town where the lady had told himshe found the velvet knot. Here, sire, at the corner of a lane runningbetween garden-walls, he found a great house, barred and gloomy, andwell adapted to the abductor's purpose. Moreover, scanning it on everyside, he presently discovered, tied about the bars of an upper window,a knot of white linen, the very counterpart of that velvet one which hebore in his breast. Thus he knew that the nymph was imprisoned in thatroom!'

  'I will make it twenty-five, as I am a good Churchman!' his Majestyexclaimed, dropping the little dog he was nursing into the duchess'slap, and taking out his comfit-box. 'Rambouillet,' he added languidly,'your friend is a treasure!'

  I bowed my acknowledgments, and took occasion as I did so to step apace aside, so as to command a view of Madame de Bruhl, as well as herhusband. Hitherto madame, willing to be accounted a part in so prettya romance, and ready enough also, unless I was mistaken, to cause herhusband a little mild jealousy, had listened to the story with a certainsly demureness. But this I foresaw would not last long; and I feltsomething like compunction as the moment for striking the blowapproached. But I had now no choice. 'The best is yet to come, sire,' Iwent on, 'as I think you will acknowledge in a moment. Dromio, thoughhe had discovered his mistress, was still in the depths of despair. Hewandered round and round the house, seeking ingress and finding none,until at length, sunset approaching, and darkness redoubling his fearsfor the nymph, fortune took pity on him. As he stood in front of thehouse he saw the abductor come out, lighted by two servants. Judge ofhis surprise, sire,' I continued, looking round and speaking slowly, togive full effect to my words, 'when he recognised in him no other thanthe husband of the lady who, by picking up and again dropping the velvetknot, had contributed so much to the success of his search!'

  'Ha! these husbands!' cried the king. And slapping his knee in anecstasy at his own acuteness, he laughed in his seat till he rolledagain. 'These husbands! Did I not say so?'

  The whole Court gave way to like applause, and clapped their hands aswell, so that few save those who stood nearest took notice of Madame deBruhl's faint cry, and still fewer understood why she rose up suddenlyfrom her stool and stood gazing at her husband with burning cheeks andclenched hands. She took no heed of me, much less of the laughing crowdround her, but looked only at him with her soul in her eyes. He, afteruttering one hoarse curse, seemed to have no thought for any but me. Tohave the knowledge that his own wife had baulked him brought home to himin this mocking fashion, to find how little a thing had tripped him thatday, to learn how blindly he had played into the hands of fate, aboveall to be exposed at once to his wife's resentment and the ridicule ofthe Court--for he could not be sure that I should not the next momentdisclose his name--all so wrought on him that for a moment I thought hewould strike me in the presence.

  His rage, indeed, did what I had not meant to do. For the king, catch
ingsight of his face, and remembering that Madame de Bruhl had elicited thestory, screamed suddenly, 'Haro!' and pointed ruthlessly at him with hisfinger. After that I had no need to speak, the story leaping from eye toeye, and every eye settling on Bruhl, who sought in vain to compose hisfeatures. Madame, who surpassed him, as women commonly do surpass men,in self-control, was the first to recover herself, and sitting down asquickly as she had risen, confronted alike her husband and her rivalswith a pale smile.

  For a moment curiosity and excitement kept all breathless, the eyealone busy. Then the king laughed mischievously. 'Come, M. de Bruhl,' hecried, 'perhaps you will finish the tale for us?' And he threw himselfback in his chair, a sneer on his lips.

  'Or why not Madame de Bruhl?' said the duchess, with her head on oneside and her eyes glittering over her fan. 'Madame would, I am sure,tell it so well.'

  But madame only shook her head, smiling always that forced smile. ForBruhl himself, glaring from face to face like a bull about to charge,I have never seen a man more out of countenance, or more completelybrought to bay. His discomposure, exposed as he was to the ridiculeof all present, was such that the presence in which he stood scarcelyhindered him from some violent attack; and his eyes, which had wanderedfrom me at the king's word, presently returning to me again, he so farforgot himself as to raise his hand furiously, uttering at the same timea savage oath.

  The king cried out angrily, 'Have a care, sir!' But Bruhl only heededthis so far as to thrust aside those who stood round him and push hisway hurriedly through the circle.

  'Arnidieu!' cried the king, when he was gone. 'This is fine conduct! Ihave half a mind to send after him and have him put where his hot bloodwould cool a little. Or--'

  He stopped abruptly, his eyes resting on me. The relative positions ofBruhl and myself as the agents of Rosny and Turenne occurred to him forthe first time, I think, and suggested the idea, perhaps, that I hadlaid a trap for him, and that he had fallen into it. At any rate hisface grew darker and darker, and at last, 'A nice kettle of fish this isyou have prepared for us, sir!' he muttered, gazing at me gloomily.

  The sudden change in his humour took even courtiers by surprise. Facesa moment before broad with smiles grew long again. The less importantpersonages looked uncomfortably at one another, and with one accordfrowned on me. 'If your Majesty would please to hear the end of thestory at another time?' I suggested humbly, beginning to wish with allmy heart that I had never said a word.

  'Chut!' he answered, rising, his face still betraying his perturbation,'Well, be it so. For the present you may go, sir. Duchess, give meZizi, and come to my closet. I want you to see my puppies. Retz, my goodfriend, do you come too. I have something to say to you. Gentlemen, youneed not wait. It is likely I shall be late.'

  And, with the utmost abruptness, he broke up the circle.