from the memoirs of a minister of france-第2章

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wish　that　we　had　brought　with　us　half　a　troop　of　horse；　or　at　least　two　or　three　gentlemen；　and；　startled　by　the　thought　of　the　unknown　chances　to　which；　out　of　mere　idle　curiosity；　I　was　exposing　the　King；　I　would　gladly　have　turned　back。　　But　without　explanation　I　could　not　do　so；　and　while　I　hesitated　Henry　cried　out　gaily　that　we　were　there。

A　short　avenue　of　limes　led　from　the　forest　road　to　the　door。　　I　looked　curiously　before　us　as　we　rode　under　the　trees；　in　some　fear　lest　M。　de　Perrot's　preparations　should　discover　my　complicity；　and　apprise　the　King　that　he　was　expected。　　But　so　far　was　this　from　being　the　case　that　no　one　appeared；　the　house　rose　still　and　silent　in　the　mellow　light　of　sunset；　and；　for　all　that　we　could　see；　might　have　been　the　fabled　palace　of　enchantment。

〃'He　is　Jean　de　Nivelle's　dog；　he　runs　away　when　you　call　him；'〃　the　King　quoted。　　〃Get　down；　Rosny。　　We　have　reached　the　palace　of　the　Sleeping　Princess。　　It　remains　only　to　sound　the　horn；　and〃

I　was　in　the　act　of　dismounting；　with　my　back　to　him；　when　his　words　came　to　this　sudden　stop。　　I　turned　to　learn　what　caused　it；　and　saw　standing　in　the　aperture　of　the　wicket；　which　had　been　silently　opened；　a　girl；　little　more　than　a　child；　of　the　most　striking　beauty。　　Surprise　shone　in　her　eyes；　and　shyness　and　alarm　had　brought　the　colour　to　her　cheeks；　while　the　level　rays　of　the　sun；　which　forced　her　to　screen　her　eyes　with　one　small　hand；　clothed　her　figure　in　a　robe　of　lucent　glory。　　I　heard　the　King　whistle　low。　　Before　I　could　speak　he　had　flung　himself　from　his　horse　and；　throwing　the　reins　to　one　of　the　pages；　was　bowing　before　her。

〃We　were　about　to　sound　the　horn；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　smiling。

〃The　horn；　Monsieur？〃　　she　exclaimed；　opening　her　eyes　in　wonder；　and　staring　at　him　with　the　prettiest　face　of　astonishment。

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle；　to　awaken　the　sleeping　princess；〃　he　rejoined。　　〃But　I　see　that　she　is　already　awake。〃

Through　the　innocence　of　her　eyes　flashed　a　sudden　gleam　of　archness。　　〃Monsieur　flatters　himself；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile　that　just　revealed　the　whiteness　of　her　teeth。

It　was　such　an　answer　as　delighted　the　King；　who　loved；　above　all　things；　a　combination　of　wit　and　beauty；　and　never　for　any　long　time　wore　the　chains　of　a　woman　who　did　not　unite　sense　to　more　showy　attractions。　　From　the　effect　which　the　grace　and　freshness　of　the　girl　had　on　me；　I　could　judge　in　a　degree　of　the　impression　made　on　him；　his　next　words　showed　not　only　its　depth；　but　that　he　was　determined　to　enjoy　the　adventure　to　the　full。　He　presented　me　to　her　as　M。　de　Sage；　and　inquiring　affectionately　after　Perrot；　learned　in　a　trice　that　she　was　his　niece；　not　long　from　a　convent　at　Loches；　finally；　begging　to　be　allowed　to　rest　awhile；　he　dropped　a　gallant　hint　that　a　cup　of　wine　from　her　hands　would　be　acceptable。

All　this；　and　her　innocent　doubt　what　she　ought　to　do；　thus　brought　face　to　face　with　two　strange　cavaliers；　threw　the　girl　into　such　a　state　of　blushing　confusion　as　redoubled　her　charms。　It　appeared　that　her　uncle　had　been　summoned　unexpectedly　to　Marly；　and　had　taken　his　son　with　him；　and　that　the　household　had　seized　the　occasion　to　go　to　a　village　FETE　at　Acheres。　　Only　an　old　servant　remained　in　the　house；　who　presently　appeared　and　took　her　orders。　　I　saw　from　the　man's　start　of　consternation　that　he　knew　the　King；　but　a　glance　from　Henry's　eyes　bidding　me　keep　up　the　illusion；　I　followed　the　fellow　and　charged　him　not　to　betray　the　King's　incognito。　　When　I　returned；　I　found　that　Mademoiselle　had　conducted　her　visitor　to　a　grassy　terrace　which　ran　along　the　south　side　of　the　house；　and　was　screened　from　the　forest　by　an　alley　of　apple　trees；　and　from　the　east　wind　by　a　hedge　of　yew。　　Here；　where　the　last　rays　of　the　sun　threw　sinuous　shadows　on　the　turf；　and　Paris　seemed　a　million　miles　away；　they　were　walking　up　and　down；　the　sound　of　their　laughter　breaking　the　woodland　silence。　　Mademoiselle　had　a　fan；　with　which　and　an　air　of　convent　coquetry　she　occasionally　shaded　her　eyes。　　The　King　carried　his　hat　in　his　hand。　　It　was　such　an　adventure　as　he　loved；　with　all　his　heart；　and　I　stood　a　little　way　off；　smiling；　and　thinking　grimly　of　M。　de　Perrot。

On　a　sudden；　hearing　a　step　behind　me；　I　turned；　and　saw　a　young　man　in　a　riding…dress　come　quickly　through　an　opening　in　the　yew　hedge。　　As　I　turned；　he　stopped；　his　jaw　fell；　and　he　stood　rooted　to　the　ground；　gazing　at　the　two　on　the　terrace；　while　his　face；　which　a　moment　before　had　worn　an　air　of　pleased　expectancy；　grew　on　a　sudden　dark　with　passion；　and　put　on　such　a　look　as　made　me　move　towards　him。　　Before　I　reached　him；　However；　M。　de　Perrot　himself　appeared　at　his　side。　　The　young　man　flashed　round　on　him。　　〃MON　DIEU；　sir！〃　　he　cried；　in　a　voice　choked　with　anger；　〃I　see　it　all　now！　　I　understand　why　I　was　carried　away　to　Marly！　　Ibut　it　shall　not　be！　　I　swear　it　shall　not！〃

Between　him　and　mefor；　needless　to　say；　I；　too；　understood　all　M。　de　Perrot　was　awkwardly　placed。　　But　he　showed　the　presence　of　mind　of　the　old　courtier。　　〃Silence；　sir！〃　　He　exclaimed　imperatively。　　〃Do　you　not　see　M。　de　Rosny？　　Go　to　him　at　once　and　pay　your　respects　to　him；　and　request　him　to　honour　you　with　his　protection。　　OrI　see　that　you　are　overcome　by　the　honour　which　the　King　does　us。　　Go；　first；　and　change　your　dress。　　Go；　boy！〃

The　lad　retired　sullenly；　and　M。　de　Perrot；　free　to　deal　with　me　alone；　approached　me；　smiling　assiduously；　and　trying　hard　to　hide　some　consciousness　and　a　little　shame　under　a　mask　of　cordiality。　　〃A　thousand　pardons；　M。　de　Rosny；〃　he　cried　with　effusion；　〃for　an　absence　quite　unpardonable。　　But　I　so　little　expected　to　see　his　Majesty　after　what　you　said；　and〃

〃Are　in　no　hurry　to　interrupt　him　now　you　are　here；〃　I　replied　bluntly；　determined　that；　whoever　he　deceived；　he　should　not　flatter　himself　he　deceived　me。　　〃Pooh；　man！　　I　am　not　a　fool；〃　I　continued。

〃What　is　this？〃　　he　cried；　with　a　desperate　attempt　to　keep　up　the　farce。　　〃I　don't　understand　you！〃

〃No；　the　shoe　is　on　the　other　footI　understand　you；〃　I　replied　drily。　　〃Chut；　man！〃　　I　continued；　〃you　don't　make　a　cats…paw　of　me。　　I　see　the　game。　　You　are　for　sitting　in　Madame　de　Sourdis'　seat；　and　giving　your　son　a　Hat；　and　your　groom　a　Comptrollership；　and　your　niece　a〃

〃Hush；　hush；　M。　de　Rosny；〃　he　muttered；　turning　white　and　red；　and　wiping　his　brow　with　his　kerchief。　　〃MON　DIEU！　　your　words　might〃

〃If　overheard；　make　things　very　unpleasant　for　M。　de　Perrot；〃　I　said。

〃And　M。　de　Rosny？〃

I　shrugged　my　shoulders　contemptuously。　　〃Tush；　man！〃　　I　said。　〃Do　you　think　that　I　sit　in　no　safer　seat　than　that？〃

〃Ah！　　But　when　Madame　de　Beaufort　is　Queen？〃　　he　said　slily。

〃If　she　ever　is；〃　I　replied；　affecting　greater　confidence　than　I　at　that　time　felt。

〃Well；　to　be　sure；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃if　she　ever　is。〃　　And　he　looked　towards　the　King　and　his　companion；　who　were　still　chatting　gaily。　　Then　he　stole　a　crafty　glance　at　me。　　〃Do　you　wish　her　to　be？〃　　he　muttered。

〃Queen？〃　　I　said；　〃God　forbid！〃

〃It　would　be　a　disgrace　to　France？〃　　he　whispered；　and　he　laid　his　hand　on　my　arm；　and　looked　eagerly　into　my　face。

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃A　blot　on　his　fame？〃

I　nodded。

〃Aa　slur　on　a　score　of　noble　families？〃

I　could　not　deny　it。

〃Thenis　it　not　worth　while　to　avoid　all　that？〃　　he　murmured；　his　face　pale；　and　his　small　eyes　glued　to　mine。　　〃Is　it　not　worth　a　littlesacrifice；　M。　de　Rosny？〃

〃And　risk？〃　　I　said。　　〃Possibly。〃

While　the　words　were　still　on　my　lips；　something　stirred　close　to　us；　behind　the　yew　hedge　beside　which　we　were　standing。　　Perrot　darted　in　a　moment　to　the　opening；　and　I　after　him。　　We　were　just　in　time　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　a　figure　disappearing　round　the　corner　of　the　house。　　〃Well；〃　I　said　grimly；　〃what　about　being　overheard　now？〃

M。　de　Perrot　wiped　his　face。　　〃Thank　Heaven！〃　　he　said；　〃it　was　only　my　son。　　Now　let　me　explain　to　you〃

But　our　hasty　movement　had　caught　the　King's　eye；　and　he　came　towards　us；　covering　himself　as　he　approached。　　I　had　now　an　opportunity　of　learning　whether　the　girl　was；　in　fact；　as　innocent　as　she　seemed；　and　as　every　particular　of　our　reception　had　declared　her；　and　I　watched　her　clo