by Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXVIII: UNCERTAINTY
Then happy low, lie down; Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.
Forty men at arms, carrying alternately naked swords and blazingtorches, served as the escort, or rather the guard, of King Louis, fromthe town hall of Peronne to the Castle; and as he entered within itsdarksome and gloomy strength, it seemed as if a voice screamed in hisear that warning which the Florentine has inscribed over the portal ofthe infernal regions, "Leave all hope behind."
[The Florentine (1265-1321): Dante Alighieri, the greatest of Italianpoets. The Divine Comedy, his chief work, describes his passage throughHell, Purgatory, and Heaven; the inscription here referred to Danteplaces at the entrance of Hell.]
At that moment, perhaps, some feeling of remorse might have crossedthe King's mind, had he thought on the hundreds, nay, thousands whom,without cause, or on light suspicion, he had committed to the abyssesof his dungeons, deprived of all hope of liberty, and loathing even thelife to which they clung by animal instinct.
The broad glare of the torches outfacing the pale moon, which was moreobscured on this than on the former night, and the red smoky light whichthey dispersed around the ancient buildings, gave a darker shade to thathuge donjon, called the Earl Herbert's Tower. It was the same that Louishad viewed with misgiving presentiment on the preceding evening, andof which he was now doomed to become an inhabitant, under the terror ofwhat violence soever the wrathful temper of his overgrown vassal mighttempt him to exercise in those secret recesses of despotism.
To aggravate the King's painful feelings, he saw, as he crossed thecourtyard, one or two bodies, over each of which had been hastily flunga military cloak. He was not long in discerning that they were corpsesof slain Archers of the Scottish Guard, who having disputed, as theCount Crevecoeur informed him, the command given them to quit the postnear the King's apartments, a brawl had ensued between them and theDuke's Walloon bodyguards, and before it could be composed by theofficers on either side, several lives had been lost.
"My trusty Scots!" said the King as he looked upon this melancholyspectacle; "had they brought only man to man, all Flanders, ay, andBurgundy to boot, had not furnished champions to mate you."
"Yes, an it please your Majesty," said Balafre, who attended closebehind the King, "Maistery mows the meadow [maist, a Scotch form ofmost. That is, there is strength in numbers]--few men can fight morethan two at once.--I myself never care to meet three, unless it be inthe way of special duty, when one must not stand to count heads."
"Art thou there, old acquaintance," said the King, looking behind him;"then I have one true subject with me yet."
"And a faithful minister, whether in your councils, or in his officesabout your royal person," whispered Oliver le Dain.
"We are all faithful," said Tristan l'Hermite gruffly; "for should theyput to death your Majesty, there is not one of us whom they would sufferto survive you, even if we would."
"Now, that is what I call good corporal bail for fidelity," said LeGlorieux, who, as already mentioned, with the restlessness proper to aninfirm brain, had thrust himself into their company.
Meanwhile the Seneschal, hastily summoned, was turning with laboriouseffort the ponderous key which opened the reluctant gate of the hugeGothic Keep, and was at last fain to call for the assistance of one ofCrevecoeur's attendants. When they had succeeded, six men enteredwith torches, and showed the way through a narrow and winding passage,commanded at different points by shot holes from vaults and casementsconstructed behind, and in the thickness of the massive walls. At theend of this passage arose a stair of corresponding rudeness, consistingof huge blocks of stone, roughly dressed with the hammer, and of unequalheight. Having mounted this ascent, a strong iron clenched door admittedthem to what had been the great hall of the donjon, lighted but veryfaintly even during the daytime (for the apertures, diminished, inappearance by the excessive thickness of the walls, resembled slitsrather than windows), and now but for the blaze of the torches, almostperfectly dark. Two or three bats, and other birds of evil presage,roused by the unusual glare, flew against the lights, and threatenedto extinguish them; while the Seneschal formally apologized to the Kingthat the State Hall had not been put in order, such was the hurry of thenotice sent to him, adding that, in truth, the apartment had not been inuse for twenty years, and rarely before that time, so far as ever he hadheard, since the time of King Charles the Simple.
"King Charles the Simple!" echoed Louis; "I know the history of theTower now.--He was here murdered by his treacherous vassal, Herbert,Earl of Vermandois.--So say our annals. I knew there was somethingconcerning the Castle of Peronne which dwelt on my mind, though I couldnot recall the circumstance.--Here, then, my predecessor was slain!"
"Not here, not exactly here, and please your Majesty," said the oldSeneschal, stepping with the eager haste of a cicerone who shows thecuriosities of such a place.
"Not here, but in the side chamber a little onward, which opens fromyour Majesty's bedchamber."
He hastily opened a wicket at the upper end of the hall, which led intoa bedchamber, small, as is usual in those old buildings; but, even forthat reason, rather more comfortable than the waste hall through whichthey had passed. Some hasty preparations had been here made for theKing's accommodation. Arras had been tacked up, a fire lighted in therusty grate, which had been long unused, and a pallet laid down forthose gentlemen who were to pass the night in his chamber, as was thenusual.
"We will get beds in the hall for the rest of your attendants," said thegarrulous old man; "but we have had such brief notice, if it please yourMajesty.--And if it please your Majesty to look upon this little wicketbehind the arras, it opens into the little old cabinet in the thicknessof the wall where Charles was slain; and there is a secret passagefrom below, which admitted the men who were to deal with him. And yourMajesty, whose eyesight I hope is better than mine, may see the bloodstill on the oak floor, though the thing was done five hundred yearsago."
While he thus spoke, he kept fumbling to open the postern of which hespoke, until the King said, "Forbear, old man--forbear but a littlewhile, when thou mayst have a newer tale to tell, and fresher blood toshow.--My Lord of Crevecoeur, what say you?"
"I can but answer, Sire, that these two interior apartments are as muchat your Majesty's disposal as those in your own Castle at Plessis, andthat Crevecoeur, a name never blackened by treachery or assassination,has the guard of the exterior defences of it."
"But the private passage into that closet, of which the old man speaks?"This King Louis said in a low and anxious tone, holding Crevecoeur's armfast with one hand, and pointing to the wicket door with the other.
"It must be some dream of Mornay's," said Crevecoeur, "or some old andabsurd tradition of the place; but we will examine."
He was about to open the closet door, when Louis answered, "No,Crevecoeur, no.--Your honour is sufficient warrant.--But what will yourDuke do with me, Crevecoeur? He cannot hope to keep me long a prisoner;and--in short, give me your opinion, Crevecoeur."
"My Lord, and Sire," said the Count, "how the Duke of Burgundy mustresent this horrible cruelty on the person of his near relative andally, is for your Majesty to judge; and what right he may have toconsider it as instigated by your Majesty's emissaries, you only canknow. But my master is noble in his disposition, and made incapable,even by the very strength of his passions, of any underhand practices.Whatever he does, will be done in the face of day, and of the twonations. And I can but add, that it will be the wish of every counselloraround him--excepting perhaps one--that he should behave in this matterwith mildness and generosity, as well as justice."
"Ah! Crevecoeur," said Louis, taking his hand as if affected by somepainful recollections, "how happy is the Prince who has counsellors nearhim, who can guard him against the effects of his own angry passions!Their names will be read in golden letters, when the history of hisreign is perused.--Noble Crevecoeur, had it
been my lot to have such asthou art about my person!"
"It had in that case been your Majesty's study to have got rid of themas fast as you could," said Le Glorieux.
"Aha! Sir Wisdom, art thou there?" said Louis, turning round, andinstantly changing the pathetic tone in which he had addressedCrevecoeur, and adopting with facility one which had a turn of gaiety init.--"Hast thou followed us hither?"
"Ay, Sir," answered Le Glorieux, "Wisdom must follow, in motley, whereFolly leads the way in purple."
"How shall I construe that, Sir Solomon?" answered Louis. "Wouldst thouchange conditions with me?"
"Not I, by my halidome," quoth Le Glorieux, "if you would give me fiftycrowns to boot."
"Why, wherefore so?--Methinks I could be well enough contented, asprinces go, to have thee for my king."
"Ay, Sire," replied Le Glorieux, "but the question is, whether, judgingof your Majesty's wit from its having lodged you here, I should not havecause to be ashamed of having so dull a fool."
"Peace, sirrah!" said the Count of Crevecoeur, "your tongue runs toofast."
"Let it take its course," said the King, "I know of no such fair subjectof raillery as the follies of those who should know better.--Here, mysagacious friend, take this purse of gold, and with it the advice neverto be so great a fool as to deem yourself wiser than other people.Prithee, do me so much favour as to inquire after my astrologer, MartiusGaleotti, and send him hither to me presently."
"I will, without fail, my Liege," answered the jester; "and I wot well Ishall find him at Jan Dopplethur's, for philosophers, as well as fools,know where the best wine is sold."
"Let me pray for free entrance for this learned person through yourguards, Seignior de Crevecoeur," said Louis.
"For his entrance, unquestionably," answered the Count; "but it grievesme to add that my instructions do not authorize me to permit any one toquit your Majesty's apartments.--I wish your Majesty a goodnight," hesubjoined, "and will presently make such arrangements in the outer hall,as may put the gentlemen who are to inhabit it more at their ease."
"Give yourself no trouble for them, Sir Count," replied the King, "theyare men accustomed to set hardships at defiance; and, to speak truth,excepting that I wish to see Galeotti, I would desire as little farthercommunication from without this night as may be consistent with yourinstructions."
"These are, to leave your Majesty," replied Crevecoeur, "undisputedpossession of your own apartments. Such are my master's orders."
"Your Master, Count," answered Louis, "whom I may also term mine, is aright gracious master.--My dominions," he added, "are somewhat shrunkin compass, now that they have dwindled to an old hall and a bedchamber,but they are still wide enough for all the subjects which I can atpresent boast of."
The Count of Crevecoeur took his leave, and shortly after, they couldhear the noise of the sentinels moving to their posts, accompanied withthe word of command from the officers, and the hasty tread of the guardswho were relieved. At length all became still, and the only sound whichfilled the air was the sluggish murmur of the river Somme, as it glided,deep and muddy, under the walls of the castle.
"Go into the hall, my mates," said Louis to his train; "but do notlie down to sleep. Hold yourselves in readiness, for there is stillsomething to be done tonight, and that of moment."
Oliver and Tristan retired to the hall, accordingly, in which LeBalafre and the two officers had remained, when the others entered thebedchamber. They found that those without had thrown fagots enough uponthe fire to serve the purpose of light and heat at the same time, and,wrapping themselves in their cloaks, had sat down on the floor, inpostures which variously expressed the discomposure and dejection oftheir minds. Oliver and Tristan saw nothing better to be done than tofollow their example and, never very good friends in the days of theircourt prosperity, they were both equally reluctant to repose confidencein each other upon this strange and sudden reverse of fortune. So thewhole party sat in silent dejection.
Meanwhile their master underwent, in the retirement of his secretchamber, agonies that might have atoned for some of those which had beenimposed by his command. He paced the room with short and unequal steps,often stood still and clasped his hands together, and gave loose,in short, to agitation, which in public he had found himself able tosuppress so successfully. At length, pausing and wringing his hands, heplanted himself opposite to the wicket door, which had been pointedout by old Mornay as leading to the scene of the murder of one of hispredecessors, and gradually gave voice to his feelings in a brokensoliloquy.
"Charles the Simple--Charles the Simple!--what will posterity call theEleventh Louis, whose blood will probably soon refresh the stains ofthine! Louis the Fool--Louis the Driveller--Louis the Infatuated--areall terms too slight to mark the extremity of my idiocy! To think thesehot headed Liegeois, to whom rebellion is as natural as their food,would remain quiet--to dream that the Wild Beast of Ardennes would fora moment be interrupted in his career of force and bloodthirstybrutality--to suppose that I could use reason and arguments to any goodpurpose with Charles of Burgundy, until I had tried the force of suchexhortations with success upon a wild bull. Fool, and double idiot thatI was! But the villain Martius shall not escape.--He has been at thebottom of this, he and the vile priest, the detestable Balue. If I everget out of this danger, I will tear from his head the Cardinal's cap,though I pull the scalp along with it! But the other traitor is in myhands--I am yet King enough--have yet an empire roomy enough--forthe punishment of the quack salving, word mongering, star gazing, liecoining impostor, who has at once made a prisoner and a dupe of me!--Theconjunction of the constellations--ay, the conjunction.--He must talknonsense which would scarce gull a thrice sodden sheep's head, andI must be idiot enough to think I understand him! But we shall seepresently what the conjunction hath really boded. But first let me to mydevotions."
[Louis kept his promise of vengeance against Cardinal La Balue, whom healways blamed as having betrayed him to Burgundy. After he had returnedto his own kingdom, he caused his late favourite to be immured in oneof the iron cages at Loches. These were constructed with horribleingenuity, so that a person of ordinary size could neither stand up athis full height, nor lie lengthwise in them. Some ascribe this horriddevice to Balue himself. At any rate, he was confined in one of thesedens for eleven years, nor did Louis permit him to be liberated till hislast illness. S.]
Above the little door, in memory perhaps of the deed which had been donewithin, was a rude niche, containing a crucifix cut in stone. Upon thisemblem the King fixed his eyes, as if about to kneel, but stopped short,as if he applied to the blessed image the principles of worldly policy,and deemed it rash to approach its presence without having secured theprivate intercession of some supposed favourite. He therefore turnedfrom the crucifix as unworthy to look upon it, and selecting from theimages with which, as often mentioned, his hat was completely garnished,a representation of the Lady of Clery, knelt down before it, and madethe following extraordinary prayer; in which, it is to be observed, thegrossness of his superstition induced him, in some degree, to considerthe Virgin of Clery as a different person from the Madonna of Embrun, afavourite idol, to whom he often paid his vows.
"Sweet Lady of Clery," he exclaimed, clasping his hands and beating hisbreast while he spoke, "blessed Mother of Mercy! thou who art omnipotentwith Omnipotence, have compassion with me, a sinner! It is true, that Ihave something neglected thee for thy blessed sister of Embrun; but I ama King, my power is great, my wealth boundless; and, were it otherwise,I would double the gabelle on my subjects, rather than not pay my debtsto you both. Undo these iron doors--fill up these tremendous moats--leadme, as a mother leads a child, out of this present and pressing danger!If I have given thy sister the county of Boulogne, to be held of her forever, have I no means of showing devotion to thee also? Thou shalt havethe broad and rich province of Champagne, and its vineyards shall pourtheir abundance into thy convent. I had promised the province to mybrother Charles; but he, thou
knowest, is dead--poisoned by that wickedAbbe of Saint John d'Angely, whom, if I live, I will punish!--I promisedthis once before, but this time I will keep my word.--If I had anyknowledge of the crime, believe, dearest patroness, it was because Iknew no better method of quieting the discontents of my kingdom. Oh, donot reckon that old debt to my account today; but be, as thou hast everbeen, kind, benignant, and easy to be entreated! Sweetest Lady, workwith thy child, that he will pardon all past sins, and one--one littledeed which I must do this night--nay, it is no sin, dearest Lady ofClery--no sin, but an act of justice privately administered, for thevillain is the greatest impostor that ever poured falsehood into aPrince's ear, and leans besides to the filthy heresy of the Greeks. Heis not deserving of thy protection, leave him to my care; and hold it asgood service that I rid the world of him, for the man is a necromancerand wizard, that is not worth thy thought and care--a dog, theextinction of whose life ought to be of as little consequence in thineeyes as the treading out a spark that drops from a lamp, or springs froma fire. Think not of this little matter, gentlest, kindest Lady, butonly consider how thou canst best aid me in my troubles! and I here,bind my royal signet to thy effigy, in token that I will keep wordconcerning the county of Champagne, and that this shall be the last timeI will trouble thee in affairs of blood, knowing thou art so kind, sogentle, and so tender hearted."
[As overheard and reported by the court jester this historic prayerreads as follows: "Ah, my good Lady, my gentle mistress, my only friend,in whom alone I have resource, I pray you to supplicate God in mybehalf, and to be my advocate with him that he may pardon me the deathof my brother whom I caused to be poisoned by that wicked Abbot of SaintJohn. I confess my guilt to thee as to my good patroness and mistress.But then what could I do? he was perpetually causing disorder in mykingdom. Cause me then to be pardoned, my good Lady, and I know what areward I will give thee."]
After this extraordinary contract with the object of his adoration,Louis recited, apparently with deep devotion, the seven penitentialpsalms [the 6th, 32d, 38th, 51st, 102d, 130th, and 143d, so called fromtheir penitential character] in Latin, and several aves and prayersespecially belonging to the service of the Virgin. He then arose,satisfied that he had secured the intercession of the Saint to whom hehad prayed, the rather, as he craftily reflected, that most of the sinsfor which he had requested her mediation on former occasions had been ofa different character, and that, therefore, the Lady of Clery was lesslikely to consider him as a hardened and habitual shedder of blood thanthe other saints whom he had more frequently made confidants of hiscrimes in that respect.
When he had thus cleared his conscience, or rather whited it over likea sepulchre, the King thrust his head out at the door of the hall, andsummoned Le Balafre into his apartment. "My good soldier," he said,"thou hast served me long, and hast had little promotion. We are here ina case where I may either live or die; but I would not willingly die anungrateful man, or leave, so far as the Saints may place it in my power,either a friend or an enemy unrecompensed. Now I have a friend to berewarded, that is thyself--an enemy to be punished according to hisdeserts, and that is the base, treacherous villain; Martius Galeotti,who, by his impostures and specious falsehoods, has trained me hitherinto the power of my mortal enemy, with as firm a purpose of mydestruction as ever butcher had of slaying the beast which he drove tothe shambles."
"I will challenge him on that quarrel, since they say he is a fightingblade, though he looks somewhat unwieldy," said Le Balafre. "I doubt notbut the Duke of Burgundy is so much a friend to men of the sword thathe will allow us a fair field within some reasonable space, and if yourMajesty live so long, and enjoy so much freedom, you shall behold me dobattle in your right, and take as proper a vengeance on this philosopheras your heart could desire."
"I commend your bravery and your devotion to my service," said the King."But this treacherous villain is a stout man at arms, and I would notwillingly risk thy life, my brave soldier."
"I were no brave soldier, if it please your Majesty," said Balafre, "ifI dared not face a better man than he. A fine thing it would be for me,who can neither read nor write, to be afraid of a fat lurdane, who hasdone little else all his Life!"
"Nevertheless," said the King, "it is not our pleasure so to put thee inventure, Balafre. This traitor comes hither, summoned by our command. Wewould have thee, so soon as thou canst find occasion, close up with him,and smite him under the fifth rib.--Dost thou understand me?"
"Truly I do," answered Le Balafre, "but, if it please your Majesty, thisis a matter entirely out of my course of practice. I could not kill youa dog unless it were in hot assault, or pursuit, or upon defiance given,or such like."
"Why, sure, thou dost not pretend to tenderness of heart," said theKing; "thou who hast been first in storm and siege, and most eager, asmen tell me, on the pleasures and advantages which are gained on suchoccasions by the rough heart and the bloody hand?"
"My lord," answered Le Balafre, "I have neither feared nor spared yourenemies, sword in hand. And an assault is a desperate matter, underrisks which raise a man's blood so that, by Saint Andrew, it will notsettle for an hour or two--which I call a fair license for plunderingafter a storm. And God pity us poor soldiers, who are first driven madwith danger, and then madder with victory. I have heard of a legionconsisting entirely of saints; and methinks it would take them all topray and intercede for the rest of the army, and for all who wearplumes and corselets, buff coats and broadswords. But what your Majestypurposes is out of my course of practice, though I will never deny thatit has been wide enough. As for the Astrologer, if he be a traitor, lethim e'en die a traitor's death--I will neither meddle nor make with it.Your Majesty has your Provost and two of his Marshals men without, whoare more fit for dealing with him than a Scottish gentleman of my familyand standing in the service."
"You say well," said the King; "but, at least, it belongs to thy dutyto prevent interruption, and to guard the execution of my most justsentence."
"I will do so against all Peronne," said Le Balafre. "Your Majesty neednot doubt my fealty in that which I can reconcile to my conscience,which, for mine own convenience and the service of your royal Majesty,I can vouch to be a pretty large one--at least, I know I have done somedeeds for your Majesty, which I would rather have eaten a handful of myown dagger than I would have done for any one else."
"Let that rest," said the King, "and hear you--when Galeotti isadmitted, and the door shut on him, do you stand to your weapon,and guard the entrance on the inside of the apartment. Let no oneintrude--that is all I require of you. Go hence, and send the ProvostMarshal to me."
Balafre left the apartment accordingly, and in a minute afterwardsTristan l'Hermite entered from the hall.
"Welcome, gossip," said the King; "what thinkest thou of our situation?"
"As of men sentenced to death," said the Provost Marshal, "unless therecome a reprieve from the Duke."'
"Reprieved or not, he that decoyed us into this snare shalt go ourfourrier to the next world, to take up lodgings for us," said the King,with a grisly and ferocious smile. "Tristan, thou hast done many anact of brave justice--finis--I should have said funis coronat opus [theend--I should have said the rope--crowns the work]--thou must stand byme to the end."
"I will, my Liege," said Tristan, "I am but a plain fellow, but I amgrateful. I will do my duty within these walls, or elsewhere; andwhile I live, your Majesty's breath shall pour as potential a note ofcondemnation, and your sentence be as literally executed, as when yousat on your own throne. They may deal with me the next hour for it ifthey will--I care not."
"It is even what I expected of thee, my loving gossip," said Louis; "buthast thou good assistance?--The traitor is strong and able bodied, andwill doubtless be clamorous for aid. The Scot will do naught but keepthe door, and well that he can be brought to that by flattery andhumouring. Then Oliver is good for nothing but lying, flattering, andsuggesting dangerous counsels; and, Ventre Saint Dieu! I think is morelike one day
to deserve the halter himself than to use it to another.Have you men, think you, and means, to make sharp and sure work?"
"I have Trois Eschelles and Petit Andre with me," said he, "men soexpert in their office that, out of three men, they would hang up oneere his two companions were aware. And we have all resolved to live ordie with your Majesty, knowing we shall have as short breath to drawwhen you are gone, as ever fell to the lot of any of our patients.--Butwhat is to be our present subject, an it please your Majesty? I love tobe sure of my man; for, as your Majesty is pleased sometimes to remindme, I have now and then mistaken the criminal, and strung up in hisplace an honest labourer, who had given your Majesty no offence."
"Most true," said the other. "Know then, Tristan, that the condemnedperson is Martius Galeotti.--You start, but it is even as I say.The villain hath trained us all hither by false and treacherousrepresentations, that he might put us into the hands of the Duke ofBurgundy without defence."
"But not without vengeance!" said Tristan, "were it the last act of mylife, I would sting him home like an expiring wasp, should I be crushedto pieces on the next instant!"
"I know thy trusty spirit," said the King, "and the pleasure which,like other good men, thou dost find in the discharge of thy duty, sincevirtue, as the schoolmen say, is its own reward. But away and preparethe priests, for the victim approaches."
"Would you have it done in your own presence, my gracious Liege?" saidTristan.
Louis declined this offer; but charged the Provost Marshal to haveeverything ready for the punctual execution of his commands the momentthe Astrologer left his apartment.
"For," said the King, "I will see the villain once more, just to observehow he bears himself towards the master whom he has led into the toils.I shall love to see the sense of approaching death strike the colourfrom that ruddy cheek, and dim that eye which laughed as it lied.--Oh,that there were but another with him, whose counsels aided hisprognostications! But if I survive this--look to your scarlet, my LordCardinal! for Rome shall scarce protect you--be it spoken underfavour of Saint Peter and the blessed Lady of Clery, who is all overmercy.--Why do you tarry? Go get your rooms ready. I expect the villaininstantly. I pray to Heaven he take not fear and come not!--that wereindeed a balk.--Begone, Tristan--thou wert not wont to be so slow whenbusiness was to be done."
"On the contrary, an it like your Majesty, you were ever wont to saythat I was too fast, and mistook your purpose, and did the job on thewrong subject. Now, please your Majesty to give me a sign, just when youpart with Galeotti for the night, whether the business goes on or no. Ihave known your Majesty once or twice change your mind, and blame me forover dispatch."
[The Provost Marshal was often so precipitate in execution as to slayanother person instead of him whom the King had indicated. This alwaysoccasioned a double execution, for the wrath or revenge of Louis wasnever satisfied with a vicarious punishment. S.]
"Thou suspicious creature," answered King Louis, "I tell thee I will notchange my mind--but to silence thy remonstrances, observe, if I sayto the knave at parting, 'There is a Heaven above us!' then let thebusiness go on; but if I say 'Go in peace,' you will understand that mypurpose is altered."
"My head is somewhat of the dullest out of my own department," saidTristan l'Hermite. "Stay, let me rehearse.--If you bid him depart inpeace, I am to have him dealt upon?"
"No, no--idiot, no," said the King, "in that case, you let him passfree. But if I say, 'There is a heaven above us,' up with him a yard ortwo nearer the planets he is so conversant with."
"I wish we may have the means here," said the Provost.
"Then up with him, or down with him, it matters not which," answered theKing, grimly smiling.
"And the body," said the Provost, "how shall we dispose of it?"
"Let me see an instant," said the King--"the windows of the hall are toonarrow; but that projecting oriel is wide enough. We will over with himinto the Somme, and put a paper on his breast, with the legend, 'Let thejustice of the King pass toll free.' The Duke's officers may seize itfor duties if they dare."
The Provost Marshal left the apartment of Louis, and summoned his twoassistants to council in an embrasure in the great hall, where TroisEschelles stuck a torch against the wall to give them light. Theydiscoursed in whispers, little noticed by Oliver le Dain, who seemedsunk in dejection, and Le Balafre, who was fast asleep.
"Comrades," said the Provost to his executioners, "perhaps you havethought that our vocation was over, or that, at least, we were morelikely to be the subjects of the duty of others than to have any more todischarge on our own parts. But courage, my mates! Our gracious masterhas reserved for us one noble cast of our office, and it must begallantly executed, as by men who would live in history."
"Ay, I guess how it is," said Trois Eschelles; "our patron is like theold Kaisers of Rome, who, when things came to an extremity, or, as wewould say, to the ladder foot with them, were wont to select from theirown ministers of justice some experienced person, who might spare theirsacred persons from the awkward attempts of a novice, or blundererin our mystery. It was a pretty custom for Ethnics; but, as a goodCatholic, I should make some scruple at laying hands on the MostChristian King."
"Nay, but, brother, you are ever too scrupulous," said Petit Andre. "Ifhe issues word and warrant for his own execution, I see not how wecan in duty dispute it. He that dwells at Rome must obey the Pope--theMarshalsmen, must do their master's bidding, and he the King's."
"Hush, you knaves!" said the Provost Marshal, "there is here no purposeconcerning the King's person, but only that of the Greek heretic paganand Mahomedan wizard, Martius Galeotti."
"Galeotti!" answered Petit-Andre, "that comes quite natural. I neverknew one of these legerdemain fellows, who pass their lives, as one maysay, in dancing upon a tight rope, but what they came at length to caperat the end of one--tchick."
"My only concern is," said Trois Eschelles, looking upwards, "that thepoor creature must die without confession."
"Tush! tush!" said the Provost Marshal, in reply, "he is a rank hereticand necromancer--a whole college of priests could not absolve him fromthe doom he has deserved. Besides, if he hath a fancy that way, thouhast a gift, Trois Eschelles, to serve him for ghostly father thyself.But, what is more material, I fear you most use your poniards, my mates;for you have not here the fitting conveniences for the exercise of yourprofession."
"Now our Lady of the Isle of Paris forbid," said Trois Eschelles, "thatthe King's command should find me destitute of my tools! I always weararound my body Saint Francis's cord, doubled four times, with a handsomeloop at the farther end of it; for I am of the company of Saint Francis,and may wear his cowl when I am in extremis [at the point of death]--Ithank God and the good fathers of Saumur."
"And for me," said Petit Andre, "I have always in my budget a handyblock and sheaf, or a pulley as they call it, with a strong screw forsecuring it where I list, in case we should travel where trees arescarce, or high branched from the ground. I have found it a greatconvenience."
"That will suit us well," said the Provost Marshal. "You have but toscrew your pulley into yonder beam above the door, and pass the ropeover it. I will keep the fellow in some conversation near the spot untilyou adjust the noose under his chin, and then--"
"And then we run up the rope," said Petit Andre, "and, tchick, ourAstrologer is so far in Heaven that he hath not a foot on earth."
"But these gentlemen," said Trois Eschelles, looking towards thechimney, "do not these help, and so take a handsel of our vocation?"
"Hem! no," answered the Provost, "the barber only contrives mischief,which he leaves other men to execute; and for the Scot, he keeps thedoor when the deed is a-doing, which he hath not spirit or quicknesssufficient to partake in more actively--every one to his trade."
[The author has endeavoured to give to the odious Tristan l'Hermitea species of dogged and brutal fidelity to Louis, similar to theattachment of a bulldog to his master. With all the atrocity of
hisexecrable character, he was certainly a man of courage, and was in hisyouth made knight in the breach of Fronsac, with a great number ofother young nobles, by the honour giving hand of the elder Dunois, thecelebrated hero of Charles the Fifth's reign. S.]
With infinite dexterity, and even a sort of professional delight whichsweetened the sense of their own precarious situation, the worthyexecutioners of the Provost's mandates adapted their rope and pulley forputting in force the sentence which had been uttered against Galeotti bythe captive Monarch--seeming to rejoice that that last action was to beone so consistent with their past lives. Tristan l'Hermite sat eyeingtheir proceedings with a species of satisfaction; while Oliver paid noattention to them whatever; and Ludovic Lesly, if, awaked by the bustle,he looked upon them at all, considered them as engaged in mattersentirely unconnected with his own duty, and for which he was not to beregarded as responsible in one way or other.
