from the memoirs of a minister of france-第39部分

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aused　me；　a　less　heavy　burden　than　the　pain　with　which　I　viewed　the　change　that　had　of　late　come　over　my　master；　converting　him　from　the　gayest　and　most　DEBONAIRE　of　men　into　this　morose　and　solitary　dreamer。　　Here；　had　I　felt　any　temptation　to　moralise　on　the　tyranny　of　passion；　was　the　occasion；　but；　as　the　farther　I　left　the　closet　behind　me　the　more　instant　became　the　crisis；　the　present　soon　reasserted　its　power。　　Reflecting　that　Henry；　in　this　state　of　uncertainty；　was　capable　of　the　wildest　acts；　and　that　not　less　was　to　be　feared　from　his　imprudence　than　from　the　Queen's　resentment；　I　cudgelled　my　brains　to　explain　the　RENCONTRE　of　the　morning；　but　as　the　courier；　whom　I　questioned；　confirmed　the　report　of　my　agents；　and　asseverated　most　confidently　that　he　had　left　Madame　in　Brussels；　I　was　flung　back　on　the　alternative　of　an　accidental　resemblance。　　This；　however；　which　stood　for　a　time　as　the　most　probable　solution；　scarcely　accounted　for　the　woman's　peculiar　conduct；　and　quite　fell　to　the　ground　when　La　Trape；　making　cautious　inquiries；　ascertained　that　no　lady　hunting　that　day　had　worn　a　yellow　feather。　　Again；　therefore；　I　found　myself　at　a　loss；　and　the　dejection　of　the　King　and　the　Queen's　ill…temper　giving　rise　to　the　wildest　surmises；　and　threatening　each　hour　to　supply　the　gossips　of　the　Court　with　a　startling　scandal；　the　issue　of　which　no　one　could　foresee；　I　went　so　far　as　to　take　into　my　confidence　MM。　Epernon　and　Montbazon；　but　with　no　result。

Such　being　my　state　of　mind；　and　such　the　suspense　I　suffered　during　two　days；　it　may　be　imagined　that　M。　Bassompierre　was　not　more　happy。　　Despairing　of　the　King's　favour　unless　he　could　clear　up　the　matter；　and　by　the　event　justify　his　indiscretion；　he　became　for　those　two　days　the　wonder；　and　almost　the　terror；　of　the　Court。　　Ignorant　of　what　he　wanted；　the　courtiers　found　only　insolence　in　his　mysterious　questions；　and　something　prodigious　in　an　activity　which　carried　him　in　one　day　to　Paris　and　back；　and　on　the　following　to　every　place　in　the　vicinity　where　news　of　the　fleeting　beauty　might　by　any　possibility　be　gained；　so　that　he　far　outstripped　my　agents；　who　were　on　the　same　quest。　　But　though　I　had　no　mean　opinion　of　his　abilities；　I　hoped　little　from　these　exertions；　and　was　proportionately　pleased　when；　on　the　third　day；　he　came　to　me　with　a　radiant　face　and　invited　me　to　attend　the　Queen　that　evening。

〃The　King　will　be　there；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　shall　surprise　you。　But　I　will　not　tell　you　more。　　Come！　　and　I　promise　to　satisfy　you。〃

And　that　was　all　he　would　say；　so　that；　finding　my　questions　useless；　and　the　man　almost　frantic　with　joy；　I　had　to　be　content　with　it；　and　at　the　Queen's　hour　that　evening　presented　myself　in　her　gallery；　which　proved　to　be　unusually　full。

Making　my　way　towards　her　in　some　doubt　of　my　reception；　I　found　my　worst　fears　confirmed。　　She　greeted　me　with　a　sneering　face；　and　was　preparing；　I　was　sure；　to　put　some　slight　upon　mea　matter　wherein　she　could　always　count　on　the　applause　of　her　Italian　servantswhen　the　entrance　of　the　King　took　her　by　surprise。　　He　advanced　up　the　gallery　with　a　listless　air；　and；　after　saluting　her；　stood　by　one　of　the　fireplaces　talking　to　Epernon　and　La　Force。　　The　crowd　was　pretty　dense　by　this　time；　and　the　hum　of　talk　filled　the　room　when；　on　a　sudden；　a　voice；　which　I　recognised　as　Bassompierre's；　was　lifted　above　it。

〃Very　well！〃　　be　cried　gaily；　〃then　I　appeal　to　her　Majesty。　　She　shall　decide；　mademoiselle！　　No；　no；　I　am　not　satisfied　with　your　claim！〃

The　King　looked　that　way　with　a　frown；　but　the　Queen　took　the　outburst　in　good　part。　　〃What　is　it；　M。　de　Bassompierre？〃　　she　said。　　〃What　am　I　to　decide？〃

〃To…day；　in　the　forest；　I　found　a　ring；　madame；〃　he　answered；　coming　forward。〃　　I　told　Mademoiselle　de　la　Force　of　my　discovery；　and　she　now　claims　the　ring。〃

〃I　once　had　a　ring　like　it；〃　cried　mademoiselle；　blushing　and　laughing。

〃A　sapphire　ring？〃　　Bassompierre　answered；　holding　his　hand　aloft。

〃Yes。〃

〃With　three　stones？〃

〃Yes；〃

〃Precisely；　mademoiselle！〃　　he　answered；　bowing。　　〃But　the　stones　in　this　ring　are　not　sapphires；　nor　are　there　three　of　them。〃

There　was　a　great　laugh　at　this；　and　the　Queen　said；　very　wittily；　that　as　neither　of　the　claimants　could　prove　a　right　to　the　ring　it　must　revert　to　the　judge。

〃In　one　moment　your　Majesty　shall　at　least　see　it；〃　he　answered。　〃But；　first；　has　anyone　lost　a　ring？　　Oyez！　　Oyez！　　Oyez！　　Lost；　in　the　forest；　within　the　last　three　days；　a　ring！〃

Two　or　three；　falling　in　with　his　humour；　set　up　absurd　claims　to　it；　but　none　could　describe　the　ring；　and　in　the　end　he　handed　it　to　the　Queen。　　As　he　did　so　his　eyes　met　mine　and　challenged　my　attention。　　I　was　prepared；　therefore；　for　the　cry　of　surprise　which　broke　from　the　Queen。

〃Why；　this　is　Caterina's！〃　　she　cried。　　〃Where　is　the　child？〃

Someone　pushed　forward　Mademoiselle　Paleotti；　sister…in…law　to　Madame　Paleotti；　the　Queen's　first　chamberwoman。　　She　was　barely　out　of　her　teens；　and；　ordinarily；　was　a　pretty　girl；　but　the　moment　I　saw　her　dead…white　face；　framed　in　a　circle　of　fluttering　fans　and　pitiless；　sparkling　eyes；　I　discerned　tragedy　in　the　farce；　and　that　M。　de　Bassompierre　was　acting　in　a　drama　to　which　only　he　and　one　other　held　the　key。　　The　contrast　between　the　girl's　blanched　face　and　the　beauty　and　glitter　in　the　midst　of　which　she　stood　struck　others；　so　that；　before　another　word　was　said；　I　caught　the　gasp　of　surprise　that　passed　through　the　room；　nor　was　I　the　only　one　who　drew　nearer。

〃Why；　girl；〃　the　Queen　said；　〃this　is　the　ring　I　gave　you　on　my　birthday！　　When　did　you　lose　it？　　And　why　have　you　made　a　secret　of　it？〃

Mademoiselle　stood　speechless；　but　madame　her　sister…in…law　answered　for　her。　　〃Doubtless　she　was　afraid　that　your　Majesty　would　think　her　careless；〃　she　answered。

〃I　did　not　ask　you！〃　　the　Queen　rejoined。

She　spoke　harshly　and　suspiciously；　looking　from　the　ring　to　the　trembling　girl。　　The　silence　was　such　that　the　chatter　of　the　pages　in　the　anteroom　could　be　heard。　　Still　Mademoiselle　stood　dumb　and　confounded。

〃Well；　what　is　the　mystery？〃　　the　Queen　said；　looking　round　with　a　little　wonder。　　〃What　is　the　matter？　　It　IS　the　ring。　　Why　do　you　not　own　it？〃

〃Perhaps　mademoiselle　is　wondering　where　are　the　other　things　she　left　with　it！〃　　Bassompierre　said　in　a　silky　tone。　　〃The　things　she　left　at　Parlot　the　verderer's；　when　she　dropped　the　ring。　But　she　may　free　her　mind；　I　have　them　here。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　the　Queen　said。　　〃What　things；　monsieur？　What　has　the　girl　been　doing？〃

〃Only　what　many　have　done　before　her；〃　Bassompierre　answered；　bowing　to　his　unfortunate　victim；　who　seemed　to　be　paralysed　by　terror：　　〃masquerading　in　other　people's　clothes。　　I　propose；　madame；　that；　for　punishment；　you　order　her　to　dress　in　them；　that　we　may　see　what　her　taste　is。〃

〃I　do　not　understand？〃　　the　Queen　said。

〃Your　Majesty　will；　if　Mademoiselle　Paleotti　will　consent　to　humour　us。〃

At　that　the　girl　uttered　a　cry；　and　looked　round　the　circle　as　if　for　a　way　of　escape；　but　a　Court　is　a　cruel　place；　in　which　the　ugly　or　helpless　find　scant　pity。　　A　dozen　voices　begged　the　Queen　to　insist；　and；　amid　laughter　and　loud　jests；　Bassompierre　hastened　to　the　door；　and　returned　with　an　armful　of　women's　gear；　surmounted　by　a　wig　and　a　feathered　hat。

〃If　the　Queen　will　command　mademoiselle　to　retire　and　put　these　on；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　undertake　to　show　her　something　that　will　please　her。〃

〃Go！〃　　said　the　Queen。

But　the　girl　had　flung　herself　on　her　knees　before　her；　and；　clinging　to　her　skirts；　burst；　into　a　flood　of　tears　and　prayers；　while　her　sister…in…law　stepped　forward　as　if　to　second　her；　and　cried　out；　in　great　excitement；　that　her　Majesty　would　not　be　so　cruel　as　to

〃Hoity；　toity！〃　　said　the　Queen；　cutting　her　short；　very　grimly。　〃What　is　all　this？　　I　tell　the　girl　to　put　on　a　masquerade　which　it　seems　that　she　has　been　keeping　at　some　cottageand　you　talk　as　if　I　were　cutting　off　her　head！　　It　seems　to　me　that　she　escapes　very　lightly！　　Go！　　go！　　and　see；　you；　that　you　are　arrayed　in　five　minutes；　or　I　will　deal　with　you！〃

〃Perhaps　Mademoiselle　de　la　Force　will　go　with　her；　and　see　that　nothing　is　omitted；〃　Bassompierre　said　with　malice。

The　laughter　and　applause　with　which　this　proposal　was　received　took　me　by　surprise；　but　later　I　learned　that　the　two　young　women　were　rivals。　　〃Yes；　yes；〃　the　Queen　said。　　〃Go；　mademoiselle；　and　see　that　she　does　not　keep　us　waiting。〃

Knowing　what　I　did；　I　had　by　this　time　a　fair　idea　of　the　discovery　which　Bassompierre　had　made；　but　the　mass　of　courtiers　and　ladies　round　me；　who　had　not　this　advantage；　knew　not　what　to　expectnor；　especially；　what　part　M。　Bassompierre　had　in　the　businessbut　made　most　diverting　suggestions；　the　majority　favouring　the　opinion　that　Mademoiselle　Paleotti　had　repulsed　him；　and　that　this　was　his　way　of　avenging　himself。　　A　few　of　the　ladies　even　taxed　him　with　this；　and　tried；　by　random　reproaches；　to　put　him　at　least　on　his　defence；　but；　merrily　refusing　to　be　inveigled；　he　made　to　all　the　same　answer　that　when　Mademoiselle　Paleotti　returned　they　would　see。　　This　served　only　to　whet　a　curiosity　already　keen；　insomuch　that　the　door　was　watched　by　as　many　eyes　as　if　a　miracle　had　been　promised；　and　even　MM。　Epernon　and　Vendome；　leaving　the　King's　side；　pressed　into　the　crowd　that　they　might　see　the　better。　　I　took　the　opportunity　of　going　to　him；　and；　meeting　his　eyes　as　I　did　so；　read　in　them　a　look　of　pain　and　distress。　　As　I　advanced　he　drew　back　a　pace；　and　signed　to　me　to　stand　before　him。

I　had　scarcely　done　so　when　the　door　opened　and　Mademoiselle　Paleotti；　pale；　and　supported　on　one　side　by　her　rival；　appeared　at　it；　but　so　wondrously　transformed　by　a　wig；　hat；　and　redingote　that　I　scarcely　knew　her。　　At　first；　as　she　stood；　looking　with　shamed　eyes　at　the　staring　crowd；　the　impression　made　was　simply　one　of　bewilderment；　so　complete　was　the　disguise。　　But　Bassompierre　did　not　long　suffer　her　to　stand　so。　　Advancing　to　her　side；　his　hat　under　his　arm；　he　offered　his　hand。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　oblige　me　by　walking　as　far　as　the　end　of　the　gallery　with　me？〃

She　complied　involuntarily；　being　al