The Refugees

king entered the room. Madame de Maintenon rose with a pleasant smile and curtsied deeply, but there was no answering light

she could assume whenever it was necessary to draw the king from his blac

all day like two hounds on a stag, with talk of my duty and my position and

d they have yo

nd which my grandfather made before me. They wish me to recall

ust not trouble your mi

ot have me d

o be a grief to

me soft feeling for the

ve nothing but h

uld not have th

e their hearts to better things if He is so minded, even

rment! I have seen the face of a man who had been in the Bastille, for fifteen years. It was like a dreadful book, with a scar or a wrinkle to mark every hour of that death in life. But Eternity!” He shuddered, and

lady, in her rich, soothing voice. “What have you to

that I am s

ly, s

erred deeply. You have

ithout stain? You have turned away from temptation

re living once more. She w

hat she we

n bodily form! How can I thank you for what you have done for me?” He leaned forward and took her hand, but at the touch a sudd

th a rigid face and

rs at the Gobelins must look to their laurels.” He raised one border of the glossy roll, while she, having reseated herse

A stag of ten tines, you see, and the hounds in full cry, and a ga

coise, that you have

, sire. Perhaps you

ve has ever stirred you! An

y in the park! It is surely mademoiselle. I d

ot to be distracte

he persisted. “He was old, I have hea

sire. I was grateful to him;

did not l

to read the secrets

t love him,

did my duty

rt never yet been t

not ques

it ne

sire, I b

r my own peace hang

pain me to

e love which glows in mine?” He rose with his hands outstretched, a plea

woman ever loved a man yet, I should rather spring from that window on to t

y, Fran

een chosen to lift up your mind towards loftier things—that mi

love so b

ill be called upon to give an account of your actions, and of the innermost thoughts of your heart. I would see you spend the time that is left to you

an. “Forever the same,” said he. “Why, you a

room with your presence. That is indeed ingratitude, and it were a just punishment if you were to leave me in solitude tomorrow, and so cu

back. I have made him a good architect, but I have still much to teach him. I

ll the chang

th side. I have taken in another mile of ground in that direction, for there w

you not ridden

my blood was stirred by the blare of the horn and the

awking

hall hawk

you must hav

th us and Paris in revolt, with our throne and even our lives in danger, all life seemed to be so bright, so new, and so full of interest. Now that there is no shadow, and that my vo

en, as we grow older, is it not natural that our minds should take a graver bent? We might well re

s sad and weary when nothin

n knocking. What i

d to the king,” said the yo

one than mine here to charm you. Monsieur Racine was to have come, but I hear that he

y hair falling back over his shoulders, entered the room. He bowed profoundly three times, and then seated himself nervously on the very edge of the stool, from

ragedy, or a burlesque pastor

cision. “Such things may be played, but cannot be r

owed his a

p from her tapestry. “The king has enough that is serious in his grav

uis; “I have not had a good laugh

ourtier poet. “Had you condescended to turn your own at

o flattery was too

so you would have set your poor singers a loftier strain. But

the king complacently; “though amid my toils and the burdens o

s as the sun brings out flowers. How many have we not seen—Moliere, Boileau, Racine, one greater than the other?

intense indignation at the poet, who writhed on his

at you had better go on with you

Shall I read my

glected by the crafty policy of Cardinal Mazarin that he was ignoran

King of Pe

ere is

kingdom

s still k

ught against Alex

nder. He was a famous king

oth ruled wisely and led

ng of Persi

ia. It was Darius who

the slightest correcti

and I confess that it does not interest me d

y Pretended

that w

ng into her tapestry. From time to time she glanced across, first at the clock and then at the king, who was leaning back, with his lace handkerchief t

t line has a limp in it, surely.” It was one of his foibles to pose as a critic, and

ndeed an advantage to have

e passag

e lui dis le se

gueur elle eut t

e vivre, et sui

ientot le prese

a foot too many. Do you

that I should ma

Corneille unblushingly. “I shall mark th

tity jars upon me. It is the same in music. Although I know little of the matter, I can tell a discord where Lully himself

had picked up his book again, and was about to resum

nister, Monsieur de Louvoi

w interrupt your comedy. Some other day perhaps I may have the pleasure of hearing the rest of it.” He smiled in the gracious fashion whic

room. His manner was that of exaggerated politeness, but his haughty face marked only too plainly his contempt for such a chamber and for the lady who dwelt t

scend to a stool, since I have no fitter seat to offer you in this little doll’s house? But perhaps I a

cried Louis. “It is my wish that you sh

There is very ill feeling there, and there is some talk of a rising. The letter from Lord Sunderland wished to know whether, in case the Dutch took t

did w

, sire, tha

struck his minister with them. Madame sprang from her chair, and laid her hand upon his arm with a soothing g

ed you?”

, si

am I to tell you that I am the state— I alone; that all is to come from me; and that I am answera

ouvois, whose haughty manner had quite deserted him, a

elf? I have been blamed for it. There was the Duc de St. Simon, who said, the last time that he was at the court, that it was a bourgeois government. So it is. But I wished it to be so, because I knew that the nobles have a way of thinking for themselves, and I ask for no thought but mine in the g

king muttered and frowned for a few minutes, but the cloud cleared gradually from

senger, Louvois,” he said

, si

hese English have ever been a thorn in our sides. If we could leave them among their own fogs with such a quarrel as would keep them busy for a few years, then indeed we might c

y, sire, on the day t

h to have to sell the court plate, as we di

g about the Huguenots, and whether they should dwell any longer in this Catholic kingdom. Now, if they are driven out, and i

ainst it this mo

time to think

e. It is a word to him, and so on to another, and so to a third, and so to the king. When my good fathers of the Church have set themselves to bring anything to pass, I see traces of them at every turn, a

confusion. The king’s accusation had been so true t

h nor preferment, and who can therefore never be bribed to sacrifice my interests. That is why I value that person’s opinion so hi

he, rising. “I fear that I have already taken up too much of your Majesty’s time, and I shall n

as his own opinions upon everything. It was but the other day that he would have it that I was wrong when I said that one of the windows in the Trianon was smaller than any of the others

re, is half a

y, in that case,” said he, “I had best remain where I am, for it is too late to go, a

eat importance, sire,” said the lady, w

no m

ate af

tuous person. But perhaps it is better as it is. My absence will in itself convey my message, and in

e de Montespan, beautiful and furious,