from the memoirs of a minister of france-第6部分

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〃But　you　did　not　tell　it　to　Maignan？〃

〃No；　my　Lord；〃　he　replied；　his　face　relaxing　in　a　cunning　smile。

〃Well？〃

〃Once　to…day　I　saw　Diego　where　he　should　not　have　been。〃

〃Where？〃

〃In　the　King's　dressing…room　at　the　tennis…court。〃

〃You　saw　him　there？〃

〃I　saw　him　coming　out；〃　he　answered。

It　may　be　imagined　how　I　felt　on　hearing　this；　for　although　I　might　have　thought　nothing　of　the　matter　before　my　suspicions　were　arousedsince　any　man　might　visit　such　a　place　out　of　curiositynow；　my　mind　being　disturbed；　I　was　quick　to　conceive　the　worst；　and　saw　with　horror　my　beloved　master　already　destroyed　through　my　carelessness。　　I　questioned　La　Trape　in　a　fury；　but　could　learn　nothing　more。　　He　had　seen　the　man　slip　out；　and　that　was　all。

〃But　did　you　not　go　in　yourself？〃　　I　said；　restraining　my　impatience　with　difficulty。

〃Afterwards？　　Yes；　my　lord。〃

〃And　made　no　discovery？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Was　anything　prepared　for　his　Majesty？〃

〃There　was　sherbet；　and　some　water。〃

〃You　tried　them？〃

La　Trape　grinned。　　〃No；　my　lord；〃　he　said。　　〃But　I　gave　some　to　Maignan。〃

〃Not　explaining？〃

〃No；　my　lord。〃

〃You　sacrilegious　rascal！〃　　I　cried；　amused　in　spite　of　my　anxiety。　　〃And　he　was　none　the　worse？〃

〃No；　my　lord。〃

Not　satisfied　yet；　I　continued　to　press　him；　but　with　so　little　success　that　I　still　found　myself　unable　to　decide　whether　the　Spaniard　had　wandered　in　innocently　or　to　explore　his　ground。　In　the　end；　therefore；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　see　things　for　myself；　and　early　next　morning；　at　an　hour　when　I　was　not　likely　to　be　observed；　I　went　out　by　a　back　door；　and　with　my　face　muffled　and　no　other　attendance　than　Maignan　and　La　Trape；　went　to　the　tennis…court　and　examined　the　dressing…room。

This　was　a　small　closet　on　the　first　floor；　of　a　size　to　hold　two　or　three　persons；　and　with　a　casement　through　which　the　King；　if　he　wished　to　be　private；　might　watch　the　game。　　Its　sole　furniture　consisted　of　a　little　table　with　a　mirror；　a　seat　for　his　Majesty；　and　a　couple　of　stools；　so　that　it　offered　small　scope　for　investigation。　　True；　the　stale　sherbet　and　the　water　were　still　there；　the　carafes　standing　on　the　table　beside　an　empty　comfit　box；　and　a　few　toilet　necessaries；　and　it　will　be　believed　that　I　lost　no　time　in　examining　them。　　But　I　made　no　discovery；　and　when　I　had　passed　my　eye　over　everything　else　that　the　room　contained；　and　noticed　nothing　that　seemed　in　the　slightest　degree　suspicious；　I　found　myself　completely　at　a　loss。　I　went　to　the　window；　and　for　a　moment　looked　idly　into　the　court。

But　neither　did　any　light　come　thence；　and　I　had　turned　again　and　was　about　to　leave；　when　my　eye　alighted　on　a　certain　thing　and　I　stopped。

〃What　is　that？〃　　I　said。　　It　was　a　thin　case；　book…shaped；　of　Genoa　velvet；　somewhat　worn。

〃Plaister；〃　Maignan；　who　was　waiting　at　the　door；　answered。　　〃His　Majesty's　hand　is　not　well　yet；　and　as　your　excellency　knows；　he〃

〃Silence；　fool！〃　　I　cried。　　and　I　stood　rooted　to　the　spot；　overwhelmed　by　the　conviction　that　I　held　the　clue　to　the　mystery；　and　so　shaken　by　the　horror　which　that　conviction　naturally　brought　with　it　that　I　could　not　move　a　finger。　　A　design　so　fiendish　and　monstrous　as　that　which　I　suspected　might　rouse　the　dullest　sensibilities；　in　a　case　where　it　threatened　the　meanest；　but　being　aimed　in　this　at　the　King；　my　master；　from　whom　I　had　received　so　many　benefits；　and　on　whose　life　the　well…　being　of　all　depended；　it　goaded　me　to　the　warmest　resentment。　　I　looked　round　the　tennis…courtwhich；　empty；　shadowy　and　silent；　seemed　a　fit　place　for　such　horrorswith　rage　and　repulsion；　apprehending　in　a　moment　of　sad　presage　all　the　accursed　strokes　of　an　enemy　whom　nothing　could　propitiate；　and　who；　sooner　or　later；　must　set　all　my　care　at　nought；　and　take　from　France　her　greatest　benefactor。

But；　it　will　be　said；　I　had　no　proof；　only　a　conjecture；　and　this　is　true；　but　of　it　hereafter。　　Suffice　it　that；　as　soon　as　I　had　swallowed　my　indignation；　I　took　all　the　precautions　affection　could　suggest　or　duty　enjoin；　omitting　nothing；　and　then；　confiding　the　matter　to　no　one　the　two　men　who　were　with　me　exceptedI　prepared　to　observe　the　issue　with　gloomy　satisfaction。

The　match　was　to　take　place　at　three　in　the　afternoon。　　A　little　after　that　hour；　I　arrived　at　the　tennis…court；　attended　by　La　Font　and　other　gentlemen；　and　M。　l'Huillier；　the　councillor；　who　had　dined　with　me。　　L'Huillier's　business　had　detained　me　somewhat；　and　the　men　had　begun；　but　as　I　had　anticipated　this；　I　had　begged　my　good　friend　De　Vic　to　have　an　eye　to　my　interests。　The　King；　who　was　in　the　gallery；　had　with　him　M。　de　Montpensier；　the　Comte　de　Lude；　Vitry；　Varennes；　and　the　Florentine　Ambassador；　with　Sancy　and　some　others。　　Mademoiselle　d'Entragues　and　two　ladies　had　taken　possession　of　his　closet；　and　from　the　casement　were　pouring　forth　a　perpetual　fire　of　badinage　and　BONS　MOTS。　　The　tennis…court；　in　a　word；　presented　as　different　an　aspect　as　possible　from　that　which　it　had　worn　in　the　morning。　The　sharp　crack　of　the　ball；　as　it　bounded　from　side　to　side；　was　almost　lost　in　the　crisp　laughter　and　babel　of　voices；　which　as　I　entered　rose　into　a　perfect　uproar；　Mademoiselle　having　just　flung　a　whole　lapful　of　roses　across　the　court　in　return　for　some　witticism。　　These　falling　short　of　the　gallery　had　lighted　on　the　head　of　the　astonished　Diego；　causing　a　temporary　cessation　of　play；　during　which　I　took　my　seat。

Madame　de　Lude's　saucy　eye　picked　me　out　in　a　moment。　　〃Oh；　the　grave　man！〃　　she　cried。　　〃Crown　him；　too；　with　roses。〃

〃As　they　crowned　the　skull　at　the　feast；　madame？〃　　I　answered；　saluting　her　gallantly。

〃No；　but　as　the　man　whom　the　King　delighteth　to　honour；〃　she　answered；　making　a　face　at　me。　　〃Ha！　　ha！　　I　am　not　afraid！　　I　am　not　afraid！　　I　am　not　afraid！〃

There　was　a　good　deal　of　laughter　at　this。　　〃What　shall　I　do　to　her；　M。　de　Rosny？〃　　Mademoiselle　cried　out；　coming　to　my　rescue。

〃If　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　kiss　her；　mademoiselle；〃　I　answered；　〃I　will　consider　it　an　advance；　and　as　one　of　the　council　of　the　King's　finances；　my　credit　should　be　good　for　the　re〃

〃Thank　you！〃　　the　King　cried；　nimbly　cutting　me　short。　　〃But　as　my　finances　seem　to　be　the　security；　faith；　I　will　see　to　the　repayment　myself！　　Let　them　start　again；　but　I　am　afraid　that　my　twenty　crowns　are　yours；　Grand　Master；　your　man　is　in　fine　play。〃

I　looked　into　the　court。　　Diego；　lithe　and　sinewy；　with　his　cropped　black　hair；　high　colour；　and　quick　shallow　eyes；　bounded　here　and　there；　swift　and　active　as　a　panther。　　Seeing　him　thus；　with　his　heart　in　his　returns；　I　could　not　but　doubt；　more；　as　the　game　proceeded；　amid　the　laughter　and　jests　and　witty　sallies　of　the　courtiers；　I　felt　the　doubt　grow；　the　riddle　became　each　minute　more　abstruse；　the　man　more　mysterious。　　But　that　was　of　no　moment　now。

A　little　after　four　o'clock　the　match　ended　in　my　favour；　on　which　the　King；　tired　of　inaction；　sprang　up；　and　declaring　that　he　would　try　Diego's　strength　himself；　entered　the　court。　　I　followed；　with　Vitry　and　others；　and　several　strokes　which　had　been　made　were　tested　and　discussed。　　Presently；　the　King　going　to　talk　with　Mademoiselle　at　her　window；　I　remarked　the　Spaniard　and　Maignan；　with　the　King's　marker；　and　one　or　two　others　waiting　at　the　further　door。　　Almost　at　the　same　moment　I　observed　a　sudden　movement　among　them；　and　voices　raised　higher　than　was　decent；　and　I　called　out　sharply　to　know　what　it　was。

〃An　accident；　my　lord；〃　one　of　the　men　answered　respectfully。

〃It　is　nothing；〃　another　muttered。　　〃Maignan　was　playing　tricks；　your　excellency；　and　cut　Diego's　hand　a　little；　that　is　all。〃

〃Cut　his　hand　now！〃　　I　exclaimed　angrily　〃And　the　King　about　to　play　with　him。　　Let　me　see　it！〃

Diego　sulkily　held　up　his　hand；　and　I　saw　a　cut；　ugly　but　of　no　importance。

〃Pooh！〃　　I　said；　〃it　is　nothing。　　Get　some　plaister。　　Here；　you；〃　I　continued　wrathfully；　turning　to　Maignan；　〃since　you　have　done　the　mischief；　booby；　you　must　repair　it。　　Get　some　plaister；　do　you　hear？　　He　cannot　play　in　that　state。〃

Diego　muttered　something；　and　Maignan　that　he　had　not　got　any；　but　before　I　could　answer　that　he　must　get　some；　La　Trape　thrust　his　may　to　the　front；　and　producing　a　small　piece　from　his　pocket；　proceeded　with　a　droll　air　of　extreme　carefulness　to　treat　the　hand。　　The　other　knaves　fell　into　the　joke；　and　the　Spaniard　had　no　option　but　to　submit；　though　his　scowling　face　showed　that　he　bore　Maignan　no　good…will；　and　that　but　for　my　presence　he　might　not　have　been　so　complaisant。　　La　Trape　was　bringing　his　surgery　to　an　end　by　demanding　a　fee；　in　the　most　comical　manner　possible；　when　the　King　returned　to　our　part　of　the　court。　　〃What　is　it？〃　　he　said。　　〃Is　anything　the　matter？〃

〃No；　sire；〃　I　said。　　〃My　man　has　cut　his　hand　a　little；　but　it　is　nothing。〃

〃Can　he　play？〃　　Henry　asked　with　his　accustomed　good…nature。

〃Oh；　yes；　sire；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　have　bound　it　up　with　a　strip　of　plaister　from　the　case　in　your　Majesty's　closet。〃

〃He　has　not　lost　blood？〃

〃No；　sire。〃

And　he　had　not。　　But　it　was　small　wonder　that　the　King　asked；　small　wonder；　for　the　man's　face　had　changed　in　the　last　ten　seconds　to　a　strange　leaden　colour；　a　terror　like　that　of　a　wild　beast　that　sees　itself　trapped　had　leapt　into　his　eyes。　　He　shot　a　furtive　glance　round　him；　and　I　saw　him　slide　his　hand　behind　him。　　But　I　was　prepared　for　that；　and　as　the　King　moved　off　a　space　I　slipped　to　the　man's　side；　as　if　to　give　him　some　directions　about　his　game。

〃Listen；〃　I　said；　in　a　voice　heard　only　by　him；　〃take　the　dressing　off　your　hand；　and　I　have　you　broken　on　the　wheel。　　You　understand？　　Now　play。〃

Assuring　myself　that　he　did　understand；　and　that　Maignan　and　La　Trape　were　at　hand　if　he　should　attempt　anything；　I　went　back　to　my　place；　and　sitting　down　by　De　Vic　began　to　watch　that　strange　game；　while　Mademoiselle's　laughter　and　Madame　de　Lude's　gibes　floated　across　the　court；　and　mingled　with　the　eager　applause　and　more　dexterous　criticisms　of　the　courtiers。　　The　light　was　beginning　to　sink；　and　for　this　reason；　perhaps；　no　one　perceived　the　Spaniard's　pallor；　but　De　Vic；　after　a　rally　or　two；　remarked　that　he　was　not　playing　his　full　strength。

〃Wise