from the memoirs of a minister of france-第14部分

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But　on　that　word　M。　de　Saintonge；　comprehending　the　RUSE　by　which　he　had　been　overcome；　cut　him　short；　crying　out　in　a　rage　that　he　would　see　him　in　perdition　first。　　However；　we　all　immediately　took　the　Marquis　in　hand；　and　made　it　our　business　to　reconcile　him　to　the　notion；　the　King　even　making　a　special　appeal　to　him；　and　promising　that　St。　Mesmin　should　never　want　his　good　offices。　Under　this　pressure；　and　confronted　by　his　solemn　undertaking；　Saintonge　at　last　and　with　reluctance　gave　way。　　At　the　King's　instance；　he　formally　gave　his　consent　to　a　match　which　effectually　secured　St。　Mesmin's　fortunes；　and　was　as　much　above　anything　the　young　fellow　could　reasonably　expect　as　his　audacity　and　coolness　exceeded　the　common　conceit　of　courtiers。

Many　must　still　remember　St。　Mesmin；　though　an　attack　of　the　small…pox；　which　disfigured　him　beyond　the　ordinary；　led　him　to　leave　Paris　soon　after　his　marriage。　　He　was　concerned；　I　believe；　in　the　late　ill…advised　rising　in　the　Vivarais；　and　at　that　time　his　wife　still　lived。　　But　for　some　years　past　I　have　not　heard　his　name；　and　only　now　recall　it　as　that　of　one　whose　adventures；　thrust　on　my　attention；　formed　an　amusing　interlude　in　the　more　serious　cares　which　now　demand　our　notice。



V。　THE　LOST　CIPHER。

I　might　spend　many　hours　in　describing　the　impression　which　this　great　Sovereign　made　upon　my　mind；　but　if　the　part　which　she　took　in　the　conversation　I　have　detailed　does　not　sufficiently　exhibit　those　qualities　of　will　and　intellect　which　made　her　the　worthy　compeer　of　the　King　my　master；　I　should　labour　in　vain。　Moreover；　my　stay　in　her　neighbourhood；　though　Raleigh　and　Griffin　showed　me　every　civility；　was　short。　　An　hour　after　taking　leave　of　her；　on　the　15th　of　August；　1601；　I　sailed　from　Dover；　and　crossing　to　Calais　without　mishap　anticipated　with　pleasure　the　King's　satisfaction　when　he　should　hear　the　result　of　my　mission；　and　learn　from　my　mouth　the　just　and　friendly　sentiments　which　Queen　Elizabeth　entertained　towards　him。

Unfortunately　I　was　not　able　to　impart　these　on　the　instant。　During　my　absence　a　trifling　matter　had　carried　the　King　to　Dieppe；　whence　his　anxiety　on　the　queen's　account；　who　was　shortly　to　be　brought　to　bed；　led　him　to　take　the　road　to　Paris。　He　sent　word　to　me　to　follow　him；　but　necessarily　some　days　elapsed　before　we　met；　an　opportunity　of　which　his　enemies　and　mine　were　quick　to　take　advantage；　and　that　so　insidiously　and　with　so　much　success　as　to　imperil　not　my　reputation　only　but　his　happiness。

The　time　at　their　disposal　was　increased　by　the　fact；　that　when　I　reached　the　Arsenal　I　found　the　Louvre　vacant；　the　queen；　who　lay　at　Fontainebleau；　having　summoned　the　King　thither。　　Ferret；　his　secretary；　however；　awaited　me　with　a　letter；　in　which　Henry；　after　expressing　his　desire　to　see　we；　bade　me　nevertheless　stay　in　Paris　a　day　to　transact　some　business。　　〃Then；〃　he　continued；　〃come　to　me；　my　friend；　and　we　will　discuss　the　matter　of　which　you　know。　　In　the　meantime　send　me　your　papers　by　Ferret；　who　will　give　you　a　receipt　for　them。〃

Suspecting　no　danger　in　a　course　which　was　usual　enough；　I　hastened　to　comply。　　Summoning　Maignan；　who；　whenever　I　travelled；　carried　my　portfolio；　I　unlocked　it；　and　emptying　the　papers　in　a　mass　on　the　table；　handed　them　in　detail　to　Ferret。　Presently；　to　my　astonishment；　I　found　that　one；　and　this　the　most　important；　was　missing。　　I　went　over　the　papers　again；　and　again；　and　yet　again。　　Still　it　was　not　to　be　found。

It　will　be　remembered　that　whenever　I　travelled　on　a　mission　of　importance　I　wrote　my　despatches　in　one　of　three　modes；　according　as　they　were　of　little；　great；　or　the　first　importance；　in　ordinary　characters　that　is；　in　a　cipher　to　which　the　council　possessed　the　key；　or　in　a　cipher　to　which　only　the　King　and　I　held　keys。　　This　last；　as　it　was　seldom　used；　was　rarely　changed；　but　it　was　my　duty；　on　my　return　from　each　mission；　immediately　to　remit　my　key　to　the　King；　who　deposited　it　in　a　safe　place　until　another　occasion　for　its　use　arose。

It　was　this　key　which　was　missing。　　I　had　been　accustomed　to　carry　it　in　the　portfolio　with　the　other　papers；　but　in　a　sealed　envelope　which　I　broke　and　again　sealed　with　my　own　signet　whenever　I　had　occasion　to　use　the　cipher。　　I　had　last　seen　the　envelope　at　Calais；　when　I　handed　the　portfolio　to　Maignan　before　beginning　my　journey　to　Paris；　the　portfolio　had　not　since　been　opened；　yet　the　sealed　packet　was　missing。

More　than　a　little　uneasy；　I　recalled　Maignan；　who　had　withdrawn　after　delivering　up　his　charge；　〃You　rascal！〃　　I　said　with　some　heat。　　〃Has　this　been　out　of　your　custody？〃

〃The　bag？〃　　he　answered；　looking　at　it。　　Then　his　face　changed。　〃You　have　cut　your　finger；　my　lord；〃　he　said。

I　had　cut　it　slightly　in　unbuckling　the　portfolio；　and　a　drop　or　two　of　blood　had　fallen　on　the　papers。　　But　his　reference　to　it　at　this　moment；　when　my　mind　was　full　of　my　loss；　angered　me；　and　even　awoke　my　suspicions。　　〃Silence！〃　　I　said；　〃and　answer　me。　Have　you　let　this　bag　out　of　your　possession？〃　　This　time　he　replied　straightforwardly　that　he　had　not。

〃Nor　unlocked　it？〃

〃I　have　no　key；　your　excellency。〃

That　was　true；　and　as　I　had　at　bottom　the　utmost　confidence　in　his　fidelity；　I　pursued　the　inquiry　no　farther　in　that　direction；　but　made　a　third　search　among　the　papers。　　This　also　failing　to　bring　the　packet　to　light；　and　Ferret　being　in　haste　to　be　gone；　I　was　obliged　for　the　moment　to　put　up　with　the　loss；　and　draw　what　comfort　I　could　from　the　reflection　that；　no　despatch　in　the　missing　cipher　was　extant。　　Whoever　had　stolen　it；　therefore；　another　could　be　substituted　for　it　and　no　one　the　worse。　　Still　I　was　unwilling　that　the　King　should　hear　of　the　mischance　from　a　stranger；　and　be　led　to　think　me　careless；　and　I　bade　Ferret　be　silent　about　it　unless　Henry　missed　the　packet；　which　might　not　happen　before　my　arrival。

When　the　secretary；　who　readily　assented；　had　given　me　his　receipt　and　was　gone；　I　questioned　Maignan　afresh　and　more　closely；　but　with　no　result。　　He　had　not　seen　me　place　the　packet　in　the　portfolio　at　Calais；　and　that　I　had　done　so　I　could　vouch　only　my　own　memory；　which　I　knew　to　be　fallible。　　In　the　meantime；　though　the　mischance　annoyed　me；　I　attached　no　great　importance　to　it；　but　anticipating　that　a　word　of　explanation　would　satisfy　the　King；　and　a　new　cipher　dispose　of　other　difficulties；　I　dismissed　the　matter　from　my　mind。

Twenty…four　hours　later；　however；　I　was　rudely　awakened。　　A　courier　arrived　from　Henry；　and　surprising　me　in　the　midst　of　my　last　preparations　at　the　Arsenal；　handed　me　an　order　to　attend　his　Majesty；　an　order　couched　in　the　most　absolute　and　peremptory　terms；　and　lacking　all　those　friendly　expressions　which　the　King　never　failed　to　use　when　he　wrote　to　me。　　A　missive　so　brief　and　so　formaland　so　needless；　for　I　was　on　the　point　of　starting　had　not　reached　me　for　years；　and　coming　at　this　moment　when　I　had　no　reason　to　expect　a　reverse　of　fortune；　it　had　all　the　effect　of　a　thunder…bolt　in　a　clear　sky。　　I　stood　stunned；　the　words　which　I　was　dictating　to　my　secretary　dying　on　my　lips。　For　I　knew　the　King　too　well；　and　had　experienced　his　kindness　too　lately　to　attribute　the　harshness　of　the　order　to　chance　or　forgetfulness；　and　assured　in　a　moment　that　I　stood　face　to　face　with　a　grave　crisis；　I　found　myself　hard　put　to　it　to　hide　my　feelings　from　those　about　me。

Nevertheless；　I　did　so　with　all　effort；　and；　sending　for　the　courier　asked　him　with　an　assumption　of　carelessness　what　was　the　latest　news　at　Court。　　His　answer；　in　a　measure；　calmed　my　fears；　though　it　could　not　remove　them。　　He　reported　that　the　queen　had　been　taken　ill　or　so　the　rumour　went。

〃Suddenly？〃　　I　said。

〃This　morning；〃　he　answered。

〃The　King　was　with　her？〃

〃Yes；　your　excellency。〃

〃Had　he　left　her　long　when　he　sent　this　letter？〃

〃It　came　from　her　chamber；　your　excellency。〃

〃Butdid　you　understand　that　her　Majesty　was　in　danger？〃　　I　urged。

As　to　that；　however；　the　man　could　not　say　anything；　and　I　was　left　to　nurse　my　conjectures　during　the　long　ride　to　Fontainebleau；　where　we　arrived　in　the　cool　of　the　evening；　the　last　stage　through　the　forest　awakening　memories　of　past　pleasure　that　combated　in　vain　the　disorder　and　apprehension　which　held　my　spirits。　　Dismounting　in　the　dusk　at　the　door　of　my　apartments；　I　found　a　fresh　surprise　awaiting　me　in　the　shape　of　M。　de　Concini；　the　Italian；　who　advancing　to　meet　me　before　my　foot　was　out　of　the　stirrup；　announced　that　he　came　from　the　King；　who　desired　my　instant　attendance　in　the　queen's　closet。

Knowing　Concini　to　be　one　of　those　whose　influence　with　her　Majesty　had　more　than　once　tempted　the　King　to　the　most　violent　measures　against　herfrom　which　I　had　with　difficulty　dissuaded　himI　augured　the　worst　from　the　choice　of　such　a　messenger；　and　wounded　alike　in　my　pride　and　the　affection　in　which　I　held　the　King；　could　scarcely　find　words　in　which　to　ask　him　if　the　queen　was　ill。

〃Indisposed；　my　lord；〃　he　replied　carelessly。　　And　he　began　to　whistle。

I　told　him　that　I　would　remove　my　boots　and　brush　off　the　dust；　and　in　five　minutes　be　at　his　service。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　〃my　orders　are　strict；　and　they　are　to　request　you　to　attend　his　Majesty　immediately。　　He　expected　you　an　hour　ago。〃

I　was　thunderstruck　at　thisat　the　message；　and　at　the　man's　manner；　and　for　a　moment　I　could　scarcely　restrain　my　indignation。　　Fortunately　the　habit　of　self…control　came　to　my　aid　in　time；　and　I　reflected　that　an　altercation　with　such　a　person　could　only　lower　my　dignity。　　I　contented　myself；　therefore；　with　signifying　my　assent　by　a　nod；　and　without　more　ado　followed　him　towards　the　queen's　apartments。

In　the　ante…chamber　were　several　persons；　who　as　I　passed　saluted　me　with　an　air　of　shyness　and　incertitude　which　was　enough　of　itself　to　put　me　on　my　guard。　　Concini　attended　me　to　the　door　of　the　chamber；　there　he　fell　back；　and　Mademoiselle　Galigai；　who　was　in　waiting；　announced　me。　　I　entered；　assuming　a　serene　countenance；　and　found　the　King　and　queen　together；　no　other　person　being　present。　　The　queen　was　lying　at　length　on　a　couch；　while　Henry；　seated　on　a　stool　at　her　feet；　seemed　to　be　engaged　in　soothing　and　reassuring　her。