from the memoirs of a minister of france-第3章

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cent　as　she　seemed；　and　as　every　particular　of　our　reception　had　declared　her；　and　I　watched　her　closely　when　Perrot's　mode　of　address　betrayed　the　King's　identity。　　Suffice　it　that　the　vivid　blush　which　on　the　instant　suffused　her　face；　and　the　lively　emotion　which　almost　overcame　her；　left　me　in　no　doubt。　　With　a　charming　air　of　bashfulness；　and　just　so　much　timid　awkwardness　as　rendered　her　doubly　bewitching；　she　tried　to　kneel　and　kiss　the　King's　hand。　　He　would　not　permit　this；　however；　but　saluted　her　cheek。

〃It　seems　that　you　were　right；　sire；〃　she　murmured；　curtseying　in　a　pretty　confusion；　〃The　princess　was　not　awake。〃

Henry　laughed　gaily。　　〃Come　now；　tell　me　frankly；　Mademoiselle；〃　he　said。　　〃For　whom　did　you　take　me？〃

〃Not　for　the　King；　sire；〃　she　answered；　with　a　gleam　of　roguishness。　　〃You　told　me　that　the　King　was　a　good　man；　whose　benevolent　impulses　were　constantly　checked〃

〃Ah！〃

〃By　M。　de　Rosny；　his　Minister。〃

The　outburst　of　laughter　which　greeted　this　apprised　her　that　she　was　again　at　fault；　and　Henry；　who　liked　nothing　better　than　such　mystifications；　introducing　me　by　my　proper　name；　we　diverted　ourselves　for　some　minutes　with　her　alarm　and　excuses。　　After　that　it　was　time　to　take　leave；　if　we　would　sup　at　home　and　the　King　would　not　be　missed；　and　accordingly；　but　not　without　some　further　badinage；　in　which　Mademoiselle　de　Brut　displayed　wit　equal　to　her　beauty；　and　an　agreeable　refinement　not　always　found　with　either；　we　departed。

It　should　be　clearly　understood　at　this　point；　that；　notwithstanding　all　I　have　set　down；　I　was　fully　determined　（in　accordance　with　a　rule　I　have　constantly　followed；　and　would　enjoin　on　all　who　do　not　desire　to　find　themselves　one　day　saddled　with　an　ugly　name）　to　have　no　part　in　the　affair；　and　this　though　the　advantage　of　altering　the　King's　intentions　towards　Madame　de　Beaufort　was　never　more　vividly　present　to　my　mind。　　As　we　rode；　indeed；　he　put　several　questions　concerning　the　Baron；　and　his　family；　and　connections；　and；　falling　into　a　reverie；　and　smiling　a　good　deal　at　his　thoughts；　left　me　in　no　doubt　as　to　the　impression　made　upon　him。　　But　being　engaged　at　the　time　with　the　Spanish　treaty；　and　resolved；　as　I　have　said；　to　steer　a　course　uninfluenced　by　such　intrigues；　I　did　not　let　my　mind　dwell　upon　the　matter；　nor　gave　it；　indeed；　a　second　thought　until　the　next　afternoon；　when；　sitting　at　an　open　window　of　my　lodging；　I　heard　a　voice　in　the　street　ask　where　the　Duchess　de　Beaufort　had　her　apartment。

The　voice　struck　a　chord　in　my　memory；　and　I　looked　out。　　The　man　who　had　put　the　question；　and　who　was　now　being　directed　on　his　wayby　Maignan；　my　equerry；　as　it　chanced　had　his　back　to　me；　and　I　could　see　only　that　he　was　young；　shabbily　dressed；　and　with　the　air　of　a　workman　carried　a　small　frail　of　tools　on　his　shoulder。　　But　presently；　in　the　act　of　thanking　Maignan；　he　turned　so　that　I　saw　his　face；　and　with　that　it　flashed　upon　me　in　a　moment　who　he　was。

Accustomed　to　follow　a　train　of　thought　quickly；　and　to　act；　on　its　conclusion　with　energy；　I　had　Maignan　called　and　furnished　with　his　instructions　before　the　man　had　gone　twenty　paces；　and　within　the　minute　I　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　the　two　return　together。　　As　they　passed　under　the　window　I　heard　my　servant　explaining　with　the　utmost　naturalness　that　he　had　misunderstood　the　stranger；　and　that　this　was　Madame　de　Beaufort's；　after　which　scarce　a　minute　elapsed　before　the　door　of　my　room　opened；　and　he　appeared　ushering　in　young　Perrot！

Or　so　it　seemed　to　me；　and　the　start　of　surprise　and　consternation　which　escaped　the　stranger　when　he　first　saw　me　confirmed　me　in　the　impression。　　But　a　moment　later　I　doubted；　so　natural　was　the　posture　into　which　the　man　fell；　and　so　stupid　the　look　of　inquiry　which　he　turned　first　on　me　and　then　on　Maignan。　　As　he　stood　before　me；　shifting　his　feet　and　staring　about　him　in　vacant　wonder；　I　began　to　think　that　I　had　made　a　mistake；　and；　clearly；　either　I　had　done　so　or　this　young　man　was　possessed　of　talents　and　a　power　of　controlling　his　features　beyond　the　ordinary。　　He　unslung　his　tools；　and　saluting　me　abjectly　waited　in　silence。　　After　a　moment's　thought；　I　asked　him　peremptorily　what　was　his　errand　with　the　Duchess　de　Beaufort。

〃To　show　her　a　watch；　your　excellency；〃　he　stammered；　his　mouth　open；　his　eyes　staring。　　I　could　detect　no　flaw　in　his　acting。

〃What　are　you；　then？〃　　I　said。

〃A　clockmaker；　my　lord。〃

〃Has　Madame　sent　for　you？〃

〃No；　my　lord；〃　he　stuttered；　trembling。

〃Do　you　want　to　sell　her　the　watch？〃

He　muttered　that　he　did；　and　that　he　meant　no　harm　by　it。

〃Show　it　to　me；　then；〃　I　said　curtly。

He　grew　red　at　that；　and　seemed　for　an　instant　not　to　understand。　But　on　my　repeating　the　order　he　thrust　his　hand　into　his　breast；　and　producing　a　parcel　began　to　unfasten　it。　　This　he　did　so　slowly　that　I　was　soon　for　thinking　that　there　was　no　watch　in　it；　but　in　the　end　he　found　one　and　handed　it　to　me。

〃You　did　not　make　this；〃　I　said；　opening　it。

〃No；　my　lord；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　German；　and　old。〃

I　saw　that　it　was　of　excellent　workmanship；　and　I　was　about　to　hand　it　back　to　him；　almost　persuaded　that　I　had　made　a　mistake；　when　in　a　second　my　doubts　were　solved。　　Engraved　on　the　thick　end　of　the　egg；　and　partly　erased　by　wear；　was　a　dog's　head；　which　I　knew　to　be　the　crest　of　the　Perrots。

〃So；〃　I　said；　preparing　to　return　it　to　him；　〃you　are　a　clockmaker？〃

〃Yes；　your　excellency；〃　he　muttered。　　And　I　thought　that　I　caught　the　sound　of　a　sigh　of　relief。

I　gave　the　watch　to　Maignan　to　hand　to　him。　　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　need　of　one。　　The　clock　in　the　next　rooma　gift　from　his　Majestyis　out　of　order；　and　at　a　standstill。　　You　can　go　and　attend　to　it；　and　see　that　you　do　so　skilfully。　　And　do　you；　Maignan；〃　I　continued　with　meaning；　〃go　with　him。　　When　he　has　made　the　clock　go；　let　him　go；　and　not　before；　or　you　answer　for　it。　　You　understand；　sirrah？〃

Maignan　saluted　obsequiously；　and　in　a　moment　hurried　young　Perrot　from　the　room；　leaving　me　to　congratulate　myself　on　the　strange　and　fortuitous　circumstance　that　had　thrown　him　in　my　way；　and　enabled　me　to　guard　against　a　RENCONTRE　that　might　have　had　the　most　embarassing　consequences。

It　required　no　great　sagacity　to　foresee　the；　next　move；　and　I　was　not　surprised　when；　about　an　hour　later；　I　heard　a　clatter　of　hoofs　outside；　and　a　voice　inquiring　hurriedly　for　the　Marquis　de　Rosny。　　One　of　my　people　announced　M。　de　Perrot；　and　I　bade　them　admit　him。　　In　a　twinkling　he　came　up；　pale　with　heat；　and　covered　with　dust；　his　eyes　almost　starting　from　his　head　and　his　cheeks　trembling　with　agitation。　　Almost　before　the　door　was　shut；　he　cried　out　that　we　were　undone。

I　was　willing　to　divert　myself　with　him　for　a　time；　and　I　pretended　to　know　nothing。　　〃What？〃　　I　said；　rising。　　〃Has　the　King　met　with　an　accident？〃

〃Worse！　　worse！〃　　he　cried；　waving　his　hat　with　a　gesture　of　despair。　　〃My　sonyou　saw　my　son　yesterday？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃He　overheard　us！〃

〃Not　us；〃　I　said　drily。　　〃You。　　But　what　then；　M。　de　Perrot？　　You　are　master　in　your　own　house。〃

〃But　he　is　not　in　my　house；〃　he　wailed。　　〃He　has　gone！　　Fled！　Decamped！　　I　had　words　with　him　this　morning；　you　understand。〃

〃About　your　niece？〃

M。　de　Perrot's　face　took　a　delicate　shade　of　red；　and　he　nodded；　he　could　not　speak。　　He　seemed　for　an　instant　in　danger　of　some　kind　of　fit。　　Then　he　found　his　voice　again。　　〃The　fool　prated　of　love！　　Of　love！〃　　he　said　with　such　a　looklike　that　of　a　dying　fowlthat　I　could　have　laughed　aloud。　　〃And　when　I　bade　him　remember　his　duty　he　threatened　me。　　He；　that　unnatural　boy；　threatened　to　betray　me；　to　ruin　me；　to　go　to　Madame　de　Beaufort　and　tell　her　allall；　you　understand。　　And　I　doing　so　much；　and　making　such　sacrifices　for　him！〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃I　see　that。　　And　what　did　you　do？〃

〃I　broke　my　cane　on　his　back；〃　M。　de　Perrot　answered　with　unction；　〃and　locked　him　in　his　room。　　But　what　is　the　use？　　The　boy　has　no　natural　feelings！〃

〃He　got　out　through　the　window？〃

Perrot　nodded；　and　being　at　leisure；　now　that　he　had　explained　his　woes；　to　feel　their　full　depth；　shed　actual　tears　of　rage　and　terror；　now　moaning　that　Mad