La Dame de Monsoreau (102 page)

" Oh, no; they never write, never since the strange disappearance of Maitre Nicolas David."

" Then you must have gone to the army."

" No, monseigneur; but they have come to Paris."

" The Guises in Paris ? " cried the duke.

" Yes, monseigneur."

" And I have not seen them !"

" They are too prudent to expose either themselves or your highness to any danger."

" And no one gave me notice of their arrival! "

" Oh, yes, monseigneur, I have done so."

" But what is their purpose in coming ? "

" Purpose, monseigneur ? Why, to keep the appointment you made with them."

" I! I made an appointment with them ? "

'^Undoubtedly; on the very day your highness was arrested you received a letter from M. de Guise, and replied to it verbally, through me, that they were to come to Paris between the thirty-first of May and the second of June. It is now the thirty-first of May, and, as you see, if you have forgotten them, they have not forgotten you, monseigneur."

Francois turned pale.

So many events had occurred since then that he had forgotten the appointment, notwithstanding its importance.

" True," said he ; " but the relations existing between the Guises and me at that time exist no longer."

"If that be the case, monseigneur," answered the count, " you would do well to inform them of the fact, for I believe they are of quite a different opinion."

" How so ? "

" You may think you are under 110 responsibility to them ; but they are sure they labor under a great responsibility to you."

" A trap, my dear count, a snare in which such a man as I am does not allow himself to be caught twice."

" And where, monseigneur, were you caught once ? "

" Where ? Where was I caught ? In the Louvre, mordieu f "

" Was that the fault of the Guises ? "

" I do not say it was," murmured the duke; " I do not say it was ; but I do say that they did nothing to help me to escape."

" That would have been difficult, since they were flying themselves."

" That is true," muttered the duke.

" But, once you were in Anjou, did they not commission me to inform you that you might always rely on them as they

relied on you, and that on the day you marched on Paris, they would inarch by your side."

" True again," said the duke ; " but I have not marched on Paris."

" Of course not, for you are in Paris."

" Yes; but I am in Paris as my brother's ally."

" Monseigneur will permit me to observe that he is more the ally of the Guises than of his brother."

" How can that be so ? "

" Monseigneur is their accomplice."

The Due d'Anjou bit his lips.

" And you say they commissioned you to announce their arrival to me ? "

" Yes, your highness, they did me that honor."

" And have they told you why they returned ? "

" They have told me everything, mon seigneur, — all their purposes and plans, — because they knew I was your highnesses confidential agent."

" So they have plans ? What are they ? "

" The same, always."

" And they think them practicable ? "

"They think their success assured."

" And the object of these plans is still"

The duke paused; he did not dare to pronounce the words that should naturally follow those already uttered.

Monsoreau completed the idea in the duke's mind.

" To make you king of France ; yes, monseigneur."

The duke felt his cheeks grow red from the joy that thrilled him.

" But," he inquired, " is the moment favorable ? "

" Your wisdom must decide."

" My wisdom ? "

" Yes ; I shall place before you certain facts, obvious and unanswerable facts."

" Let us hear them."

" The nomination of the King as head of the League was only a farce, speedily recognized as such, and condemned as soon as it was recognized. Now there is a reaction, and the entire state is ready to rise against the tyranny of the King and of his creatures. Every sermon is a call to arms, every church a place where people curse the King instead of praying to God. The army is boiling over with impatience, the

citizens are forming associations, our agents are constantly gaining fresh signatures and adhesions to the League ; in short, the reign of Valois is approaching its end. In such a crisis, the Guises need to have at hand a serious claimant to the crown, and their choice has naturally fallen upon you. Are you ready now to surrender your former aspirations ? "

The duke did not answer.

" Well ? " asked Monsoreau, " what is your highness thinking of doing ? "

" Faith," answered the prince, " I am thinking "

" You know, monseigneur, that you may speak to me with the utmost frankness."

" I am thinking that my brother has no children, that I am his successor, and that his health is precarious ; why, therefore, should I help these people to stir up revolts, why should I compromise my name, my dignity, my family affection, by a useless rivalry; why, in a word, should I attempt to seize, at my peril, a throne that must be mine without any danger ? "

" That is just where the error of your highness lies," said Monsoreau ; " you can have your brother's throne, but only by seizing it. MM. de Guise cannot be kings themselves ; but they will have no king except one of their own making; the king they had reckoned on as a substitute for the reigning sovereign was your highness; but, should you refuse to be that king, I warn you they will seek another."

"And who, pray," cried the Due d'Anjou, with a frown, " would dare to seat himself on the throne of Charlemagne ? "

" A Bourbon instead of a Valois ; a son of Saint Louis instead of a son of Saint Louis ; the matter is quite simple, monseigneur."

" The King of Navarre ? " exclaimed Francois.

" Why not ? he is young and brave. He has no children, it is true ; but he surely may have them."

" He is a Huguenot."

"He! Was he not converted the night of Saint Bartholomew ? "

"Yes, but he has since abjured."

" Ah ! moD seigneur, what he did for his life he will do for a throne."

" So they believe, do they, that I will surrender my rights without a struggle ? "

" I think that contingency is provided for."

" I will make a strong fight against them."

" What of that ? they are men of war."

" I will put myself at the head of the League."

" They are its soul."

" I will unite with my brother."

" Your brother will be dead."

" I will summon the kings of Europe to my help."

" Tne kings of Europe will be ready enough to make war on kings; they will think twice before making war on a people."

" How, on a people ? "

" Undoubtedly ; the Guises have planned out everything, are ready even to form France into states, are ready even for a republic."

Francois wrung his hands in anguish. Monsoreau was terrible with these unanswerable answers of his.

" A republic ? " he murmured.

" Yes ; like Switzerland, Genoa, Venice."

" But my party will not allow France to be turned into a republic."

" Your party ? " inquired Monsoreau. " Why, monseigneur, owing to your disinterestedness and magnanimity, I believe, upon my soul, that your party now consists solely of M. de Bussy and myself."

The duke could not repress a sinister smile.

" I am bound to the Guises, then ? " said he.

" Well, somewhat, monseigneur."

" But, if I am so powerless as you say, what can they want with me ? "

" Because, monseigneur, while you can do nothing without the Guises, you can do everything with them."

" I can do everything with them ? "

" Yes, say but the word and you are king."

The duke rose, in great agitation; he walked about the room, and as he walked, fingered everything in his way: curtains, hangings, table-covers ; at length he paused in front of Monsoreau.

" You told the truth, count," said he, " when you declared I had only two friends now : you and Bussy."

He uttered these words with a benevolent smile ; his progress round the room had given him time to substitute it for the look of pale fury that was on his face before.

" So, then ? " asked Monsoreau, a gleam of joy in his eyes.

" So, then, my faithful servant," returned the duke, " speak; I am all attention."

" You bid me speak, monseigneur ? "

« Yes."

" Well! in two words, this is the plan, monseigneur."

The duke turned pale again, but he paused to listen.

The count resumed:

" In a week we shall have the festival of Corpus Christi, monseigneur, shall we not ? "

« Yes."

" The King has been long organizing a great procession to all the chief convents in Paris on that holyday, has he not ? "

" It is his custom to have such processions every year at that period."

" Then, as your highness will remember, the King is without guards, or, at least, his guards remain outside the door. He halts before each reposoir, l kneels, says tive Paters and five Aves, and, afterward, the Seven Penitential Psalms."

" I know all that."

" He will go to the Abbey of Sainte Genevieve, as well as to the others."

" Perfectly correct."

" Only, as an accident will occur in front of the convent " —

" An accident ? "

" Yes, a sewer will have fallen in during the night."

"Well?"

" Consequently the reposoir cannot be left under the porch ; it will have to be removed to the courtyard."

« Go on."

" Pay close attention: the King, with four or five others, will enter; but, when they are inside, the gates will be closed."

" And then ? "

" Well, then, — your highness is acquainted with the monks who will do the honors of the abbey to his Majesty ? "

" They will be the same " -

"Who were present when your highness was crowned."

" They will dare to lay their hands on the Lord's anointed ? "

" Yes, but only to tonsure him; you know the quatrain "

" 'You flung off the first crown you have worn,

Sneaked away, left your people to ruin. The crown you wear now shall be torn From your head. Shears will give you a new one.' "

1 Temporary altar erected for religious processions.

" They will dare to do that! " he cried, his eyes shining with avidity, " dare to touch the head of a king ! "

" Oh, he will not be king then."

« Why not ? "

" Did you never hear of a Genevievan monk who fills np the time before he is to perform miracles with preaching sermons ? "

" Brother Gorenflot ? "

"The same."

" The fellow who wanted to preach the League, with his arquebuse on his shoulder ? "

" The same. Well, the King will be conducted to his cell; once there, the brother undertakes to force him to sign his abdication ; then, after the abdication, Madame de Montpen-sier will enter with a pair of shears or scissors in her hand. They have been purchased already, and she wears them now at her side. They are very beautiful, made of massive gold and admirably chased ; nothing can be too good for a king."

FranQois did not utter a word; his shifty eyes were dilated like those of a cat lying in wait for her prey in the dark.

" You understand the rest, monseigneur," continued the count.

" A proclamation will be issued to the people, announcing that the King, moved by a holy desire to repent of his sins, intends to remain in the convent. Should any one doubt the reality of the King's vocation, well, M. de Guise controls the army; M. de Mayenne, the citizens; and M. le Cardinal, the church; with these three forces under your hand, you may make the people believe almost anything."

" But they will accuse me of violence," said the duke, after a pause.

" You need not be there at all."

" They will regard me as a usurper."

" Monseigneur forgets the abdication."

" The King will refuse."

" It seems Brother Gorenflot is a man of great strength as well as a man of great intellect."

" They have decided, then, on the plan ? "

« Yes."

" And they are not afraid that I may reveal it ? "

" No, monseigneur, for, in case you betray them, they have a plan quite as easy of execution, but it would be directed against you."

" Ah ! " exclaimed Francois.

" Yes, monseigneur. I am not acquainted with it, as they know I am too much your friend to trust me in such a case. All I know is that it exists/'

" Then I surrender, count; what am I to do ? "

" Approve."

" Well, I approve."

" Yes ; but it is not enough to approve by word of mouth."

" And what other kind of approval is required ? "

" By writing."

" They must be mad to think I would consent to such a thing."

« And why ? "

" Suppose the conspiracy fail ? "

" It is in view of such a possible failure that they ask for your signature, monseigneur."

" They wish to make my name a sort of bulwark for themselves, do they ? "

"Nothing else."

" Then I refuse a thousand times."

" You cannot do so now."

" I cannot do so now ? "

" No."

" Are you mad ? "

" To refuse now would be to betray."

" How ? "

"Because I asked nothing better than to be silent, and, if I spoke, it was in obedience to the orders of your highness.' '

" Well, be it so; let these gentlemen take it as they like ; at least, as I have a choice of dangers, I ? 11 choose whatever danger I wish."