from the memoirs of a minister of france-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


as　obdurate　as　his　minister；　partly　in　accordance　with　a　promise　he　had　made　me　about　a　year　before　that　he　would　not　commonly　grant　what　I　had　denied；　and　partly　because　Biron's　affair　had　now　reached　a　stage　in　which　Saintonge's　aid　was　no　longer　of　importance。

Thus　repulsed；　the　Marquis　made　up　his　mind　to　carry　his　daughter　into　the　country；　but　St。　Mesmin　meeting　this　with　the　confident　assertion　that　he　would　abduct　her　within　a　week；　wherever　she　was　confined；　Saintonge；　desperate　as　a　baited　bull；　and　trembling　with　ragefor　the　threat　was　uttered　at　Zamet's　and　was　repeated　everywhereavowed　equally　publicly　that　since　the　King　would　give　him　no　satisfaction　he　would　take　the　law　into　his　own　hands；　and　serve　this　impudent　braggart　as　Guise　served　St。　Megrin。　　As　M。　le　Marquis　maintained　a　considerable　household；　including　some　who　would　not　stick　at　a　trifle；　it　was　thought　likely　enough　that　he　would　carry　out　his　threat；　especially　as　the　provocation　seemed　to　many　to　justify　it。　　St。　Mesmin　was　warned；　therefore；　but　his　reckless　character　was　so　well　known　that　odds　were　freely　given　that　he　would　be　caught　tripping　some　nightand　for　the　last　time。

At　this　juncture；　however；　an　unexpected　ally；　and　one　whose　appearance　increased　Saintonge's　rage　to　an　intolerable　extent；　took　up　St。　Mesmin's　quarrel。　　This　was　young　St。　Germain；　who；　quitting　his　chamber；　was　to　be　seen　everywhere　on　his　antagonist's　arm。　　The　old　feud　between　the　Saint　Germains　and　Saintonges　aggravated　the　new；　and　more　than　one　brawl　took　place　in　the　streets　between　the　two　parties。　　St。　Germain　never　moved　without　four　armed　servants；　he　placed　others　at　his　friend's　disposal；　and　wherever　he　went　he　loudly　proclaimed　what　he　would　do　if　a　hair　of　St。　Mesmin's　head　were　injured。

This　seemed　to　place　an　effectual　check　on　M。　de　Saintonge's　purpose；　and　my　surprise　was　great　when；　about　a　week　later；　the　younger　St。　Germain　burst　in　upon　me　one　morning；　with　his　face　inflamed　with　anger　and　his　dress　in　disorder；　and　proclaimed；　before　I　could　rise　or　speak；　that　St。　Mesmin　had　been　murdered。

〃How？〃　　I　said；　somewhat　startled。　　〃And　when？〃

〃By　M。　de　Saintonge！　　Last　night！〃　　he　answered　furiously。　　〃But　I　will　have　justice；　I　will　have　justice；　M。　de　Rosny；　or　the　King〃

I　checked　him　as　sternly　as　my　surprise　would　let　me；　and　when　I　had　a　little　abashed　himwhich　was　not　easy；　for　his　temper　vied　in　stubbornness　with　St。　Mesmin'sI　learned　the　particulars。　About　ten　o'clock　on　the　previous　night　St。　Mesmin　had　received　a　note；　and；　in　spite　of　the　remonstrances　of　his　servants；　had　gone　out　alone。　　He　had　not　returned　nor　been　seen　since；　and　his　friends　feared　the　worst。

〃But　on　what　grounds？〃　　I　said；　astonished　to　find　that　that　was　all。

〃What！〃　　St。　Germain　cried；　flaring　up　again。　　〃Do　you　ask　on　what　grounds？　　When　M。　de　Saintonge　has　told　a　hundred　what　he　would　do　to　him！　　What　he　would　dodo；　I　say？　　What　he　has　done！〃

〃Pooh！〃　　I　said。　　〃It　is　some　assignation；　and　the　rogue　is　late　in　returning。〃

〃An　assignation；　yes；〃　St。　Germain　retorted；　〃but　one　from　which　he　will　not　return。〃

〃Well；　if　he　does　not；　go　to　the　Chevalier　du　Guet；〃　I　answered；　waving　him　off。　　〃Go！　　do　you　hear？　　I　am　busy；〃　I　continued。　〃Do　you　think　that　I　am　keeper　of　all　the　young　sparks　that　bay　the　moon　under　the　citizens'　windows？　　Be　off；　sir！〃

He　went　reluctantly；　muttering　vengeance；　and　I；　after　rating　Maignan　soundly　for　admitting　him；　returned　to　my　work；　supposing　that　before　night　I　should　hear　of　St。　Mesmin's　safety。　　But　the　matter　took　another　turn；　for　while　I　was　at　dinner　the　Captain　of　the　Watch　came　to　speak　to　me。　　St。　Mesmin's　cap　had　been　found　in　a　bye…street　near　the　river；　in　a　place　where　there　were　marks　of　a　struggle；　and　his　friends　were　furious。　　High　words　had　already　passed　between　the　two　factions；　St。　Germain　openly　accusing　Saintonge　of　the　murder；　plainly；　unless　something　were　done　at　once；　a　bloody　fray　was　imminent。

〃What　do　you　think　yourself；　M。　le　Marchand？〃　　I　said；　when　I　had　heard　him　out。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃What　can　I　think；　your　Excellency？〃　he　said。　　〃What　else　was　to　be　expected？〃

〃You　take　it　for　granted　that　M。　de　Saintonge　is　guilty？〃

〃The　young　man　is　gone；〃　he　answered　pithily。

In　spite　of　this；　I　thought　the　conclusion　hasty；　and　contented　myself　with　bidding　him　see　St。　Germain　and　charge　him　to　be　quiet；　promising　that；　if　necessary；　the　matter　should　be　investigated　and　justice　done。　　I　still　had　good　hopes　that　St。　Mesmin's　return　would　clear　up　the　affair；　and　the　whole　turn　out　to　be　a　freak　on　his　part；　but　within　a　few　hours　tidings　that　Saintonge　had　taken　steps　to　strengthen　his　house　and　was　lying　at　home；　refusing　to　show　himself；　placed　a　different　and　more　serious　aspect　on　the　mystery。　　Before　noon　next　day　M。　de　Clan；　whose　interference　surprised　me　not　a　little；　was　with　me　to　support　his　son's　petition；　and　at　the　King's　LEVEE　next　day　St。　Germain　accused　his　enemy　to　the　King's　face；　and　caused　an　angry　and　indecent　scene　in　the　chamber。

When　a　man　is　in　trouble　foes　spring　up；　as　the　moisture　rises　through　the　stones　before　a　thaw。　　I　doubt　if　M。　de　Saintonge　was　not　more　completely　surprised　than　any　by　the　stir　which　ensued；　and　which　was　not　confined　to　the　St。　Germains'　friends；　though　they　headed　the　accusers。　　All　whom　he　had　ever　offended；　and　all　who　had　ever　offended　him；　clamoured　for　justice；　while　St。　Mesmin's　faults　being　forgotten　and　only　his　merits　remembered；　there　were　few　who　did　not　bow　to　the　general　indignation；　which　the　young　and　gallant；　who　saw　that　at　any　moment　his　fate　might　be　theirs；　did　all　in　their　power　to　foment。　　Finally；　the　arrival　of　St。　Mesmin　the　father；　who　came　up　almost　broken…　hearted；　and　would　have　flung　himself　at　the　King's　feet　on　the　first　opportunity；　roused　the　storm　to　the　wildest　pitch；　so　that；　in　the　fear　lest　M。　de　Biron's　friends　should　attempt　something　under　cover　of　it；　I　saw　the　King　and　gave　him　my　advice。　　This　was　to　summon　Saintonge；　the　St。　Germains；　and　old　St。　Mesmin　to　his　presence　and　effect　a　reconciliation；　or；　failing　that；　to　refer　the　matter　to　the　Parliament。

He　agreed　with　me　and　chose　to　receive　them　next　day　at　the　Arsenal。　　I　communicated　his　commands；　and　at　the　hour　named　we　met；　the　King　attended　by　Roquelaure　and　myself。　　But　if　I　had　flattered　myself　that　the　King's　presence　would　secure　a　degree　of　moderation　and　reasonableness　I　was　soon　undeceived；　for　though　M。　de　St。　Mesmin　had　only　his　trembling　head　and　his　tears　to　urge；　Clan　and　his　son　fell　upon　Saintonge　with　so　much　violenceto　which　he　responded　by　a　fierce　and　resentful　sullenness　equally　dangerousthat　I　feared　that　blows　would　be　struck　even　before　the　King's　face。　　Lest　this　should　happen　and　the　worst　traditions　of　old　days　of　disorder　be　renewed；　I　interposed　and　managed　at　length　to　procure　silence。

〃For　shame；　gentlemen；　for　shame！〃　　the　King　said；　gnawing　his　moustachios　after　a　fashion　he　had　when　in　doubt。　　〃I　take　Heaven　to　witness　that　I　cannot　say　who　is　right！　　But　this　brawling　does　no　good。　　The　one　fact　we　have　is　that　St。　Mesmin　has　disappeared。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　and　that　M。　de　Saintonge　predicted　his　disappearance；〃　St。　Germain　cried；　impulsively。　　〃To　the　day　and　almost　to　the　hour。〃

〃I　gather；　de　Saintonge；〃　the　King　said；　turning　to　him；　mildly；　〃that　you　did　use　some　expressions　of　that　kind。〃

〃Yes；　sire；　and　did　nothing　upon　them；〃　he　answered　resentfully。　But　he　trembled　as　he　spoke。　　He　was　an　older　man　than　his　antagonist；　and　the　latter's　violence　shook　him。

〃But　does　M。　de　Saintonge　deny；〃　St。　Germain　broke　out　afresh　before　the　King　could　speak；　〃that　my　friend　had　made　him　a　proposal　for　his　daughter？　　and　that　he　rejected　it？〃

〃I　deny　nothing！〃　　Saintonge　cried；　fierce　and　trembling　as　a　baited　animal。　　〃For　that　matter；　I　would　to　Heaven　he　had　had　her！〃　　he　continued　bitterly。

〃Ay；　so　you　say　now；〃　the　irrepressible　St。　Germain　retorted；　〃when　you　know　that　be　is　dead！〃

〃I　do　not　know　that　he　is　dead；〃　Saintonge　answered。　　〃And；　for　that　matter；　if　he　were　alive　and　here　now　he　should　have　her。　　I　am　tired；　I　have　suffered　enough。〃