登陆注册
14724300000048

第48章 THE LITTLE LEVER OF FRANCOIS II.(3)

Christophe followed the usher with lowered eyes, which he did not raise till he stood in the great council-chamber, the size of which is almost equal to that of the /salle des gardes/. The two Lorrain princes were there alone, standing before the magnificent fireplace, which backs against that in the /salle des gardes/ around which the ladies of the two queens were grouped.

"You have come from Paris; which route did you take?" said the cardinal.

"I came by water, monseigneur," replied the reformer.

"How did you enter Blois?" asked the grand-master.

"By the docks, monseigneur."

"Did no one question you?" exclaimed the duke, who was watching the young man closely.

"No, monseigneur. To the first soldier who looked as if he meant to stop me I said I came on duty to the two queens, to whom my father was furrier.""What is happening in Paris?" asked the cardinal.

"They are still looking for the murderer of the President Minard.""Are you not the son of my surgeon's greatest friend?" said the Duc de Guise, misled by the candor of Christophe's expression after his first alarm had passed away.

"Yes, monseigneur."

The Grand-master turned aside, abruptly raised the portiere which concealed the double door of the council-chamber, and showed his face to the whole assembly, among whom he was searching for the king's surgeon. Ambroise Pare, standing in a corner, caught a glance which the duke cast upon him, and immediately advanced. Ambroise, who at this time was inclined to the reformed religion, eventually adopted it; but the friendship of the Guises and that of the kings of France guaranteed him against the evils which overtook his co-religionists.

The duke, who considered himself under obligations for life to Ambroise Pare, had lately caused him to be appointed chief-surgeon to the king.

"What is it, monseigneur?" said Ambroise. "Is the king ill? I think it likely.""Likely? Why?"

"The queen is too pretty," replied the surgeon.

"Ah!" exclaimed the duke in astonishment. "However, that is not the matter now," he added after a pause. "Ambroise, I want you to see a friend of yours." So saying he drew him to the door of the council-room, and showed him Christophe.

"Ha! true, monseigneur," cried the surgeon, extending his hand to the young furrier. "How is your father, my lad?""Very well, Maitre Ambroise," replied Christophe.

"What are you doing at court?" asked the surgeon. "It is not your business to carry parcels; your father intends you for the law. Do you want the protection of these two great princes to make you a solicitor?""Indeed I do!" said Christophe; "but I am here only in the interests of my father; and if you could intercede for us, please do so," he added in a piteous tone; "and ask the Grand Master for an order to pay certain sums that are due to my father, for he is at his wit's end just now for money."The cardinal and the duke glanced at each other and seemed satisfied.

"Now leave us," said the duke to the surgeon, making him a sign. "And you my friend," turning to Christophe; "do your errand quickly and return to Paris. My secretary will give you a pass, for it is not safe, /mordieu/, to be travelling on the high-roads!"Neither of the brothers formed the slightest suspicion of the grave importance of Christophe's errand, convinced, as they now were, that he was really the son of the good Catholic Lecamus, the court furrier, sent to collect payment for their wares.

"Take him close to the door of the queen's chamber; she will probably ask for him soon," said the cardinal to the surgeon, motioning to Christophe.

While the son of the furrier was undergoing this brief examination in the council-chamber, the king, leaving the queen in company with her mother-in-law, had passed into his dressing-room, which was entered through another small room next to the chamber.

Standing in the wide recess of an immense window, Catherine looked at the gardens, her mind a prey to painful thoughts. She saw that in all probability one of the greatest captains of the age would be foisted that very day into the place and power of her son, the king of France, under the formidable title of lieutenant-general of the kingdom.

Before this peril she stood alone, without power of action, without defence. She might have been likened to a phantom, as she stood there in her mourning garments (which she had not quitted since the death of Henri II.) so motionless was her pallid face in the grasp of her bitter reflections. Her black eyes floated in that species of indecision for which great statesmen are so often blamed, though it comes from the vast extent of the glance with which they embrace all difficulties,--setting one against the other, and adding up, as it were, all chances before deciding on a course. Her ears rang, her blood tingled, and yet she stood there calm and dignified, all the while measuring in her soul the depths of the political abyss which lay before her, like the natural depths which rolled away at her feet.

同类推荐
  • 佛说谤佛经

    佛说谤佛经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 梦寐

    梦寐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 建炎时政记

    建炎时政记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝三元无量寿经

    太上洞玄灵宝三元无量寿经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 玄灵转经早朝行道仪

    玄灵转经早朝行道仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 回眸之处

    回眸之处

    季笑笑从高中开始喜欢的男生,兜兜转转那么多年,发现自己始终钟无艳。如果说爱一个人是这一辈子最大的梦想,那么有谁告诉我,怎么样才可以实现?爱可以爱一辈子,不爱也可以一瞬间遗忘。
  • 这是一个很甜的故事

    这是一个很甜的故事

    苏猫平生有三恨:一恨美的女人,二恨帅到让人想哭的男人,三恨褚谒莘。很不凑巧,褚谒莘一不小心中了俩。但更不凑巧的是,苏猫还得每天狗腿地抱着褚谒莘的大腿,各种好吃的美食伺候。总而言之,言而总之,这就是一个帅到让人想哭的的男人被一个不美丽也不聪明的女人抓住了心,继而诱惑并拐她回了家。其实,这只是一个很甜的故事。
  • 整容日记

    整容日记

    这是一个看脸的社会。变美的消息,无孔不入地渗透到人们的生活。包括我的生活。现在,真正完全不靠一点外貌,全凭实力的人,只有我了吧。可是,实力没用。这个世界,早就扭曲了。无意间一个游戏,改变了我的人生,我的命运。可,这个游戏的代价,我承受的起么?
  • 时光,曾未眠

    时光,曾未眠

    最贴近真实的故事,最无可奈何的感情,最无法预知的未来。不知道你的生命中是不是有那么一个人,曾陪你度过最美好的青春,却突然觉得好像连伸手都再触碰不到
  • 凤逆天下:腹黑王爷追妻忙

    凤逆天下:腹黑王爷追妻忙

    一朝穿越她成了江家有名的废物,懦弱无为?草包废物?当她变成她,再次睁眼目光冷冽,摄人心魂,惊才滟滟,一展风华,惹得天下众美男追逐。丹药难得,怎么她一出手就是一大把。强师难寻?这是搞笑吗。空间里那个毫无形象可言的老头不就是吗。只是这不知从哪冒出来的妖孽美男一把抱住她的腰说:“你必是我的妃,我生命中最重要的女人!”某女挑眉:“哦?尽然这样,凡是可讲究个先来后到!”自此之后展开一场强者与强者追逐,最终他驯服了她,还是她征服了他?
  • 黑客:我的电竞世界

    黑客:我的电竞世界

    既然穿越,就玩个痛快吧打电竞,撩美男爽!
  • 大魔法王

    大魔法王

    你有百万军队,数万骑士。我有骷髅百万,魔龙数万。一个贵族豪门的出生的儿子,出生时头顶无数。与神圣魔法的贴合度达到百分之九十六。但在他却遇到了一个不一样的老师。走上了黑魔法与神圣魔法双修的道路。在召唤出的百万骷髅散发着神圣的光辉,世间谁还可以阻挡其步伐?掌控光明与黑暗。当一个中国大号男儿来到一个魔法的奇妙世界。会擦出什么样的花火。
  • 多年后的我不再爱你

    多年后的我不再爱你

    她终于喜欢上他,但他却走了。他回来了,她却不能爱他了当她不得不把他推开才发现,她已爱得深沉
  • 噬魂月,暗影汐

    噬魂月,暗影汐

    七国之天辰相府千金,七国之赤奇皇族轩王。她生性淡漠,他冷酷铁血。云峰相遇,劫囚相知。性随心,我自有己风度。血染江山的画,不敌你倾城笑颜。
  • 采华连王上佛受决经

    采华连王上佛受决经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。