The Scourge of God

e Princesse de Rochebazon--Marquise du Gast d'An?illy, Comtesse de Montrachet, Baronne de Beauvill

her fame, but who instead, since first she came into the family a bride, had always been spoken highly of. As a saint by some--nay, by many; as a Christian by all; as a good servant o

g his dying mistress, stood and gazed forth into the long though narrow street. Perhaps to see that none intruded within the crimson cord set in front of the porte-cochère of the H?tel de Rochebazon; perhaps to observe--with that pride which the menial takes in the greatness of his employers--how all the noble and illustrious callers on his mistress

Rochebazon were ever permitted to lie; the bed, of great splendour and vast antiquity, was the bed in which countless de Beauvilliers and Montrachets and du Gast d'An?illys and de Rochebazons had been born and died. A bed with a ruelle around it as handsome in its velvet and gold lace and gilt pilasters as the ruelle of Le Dieudonné himself

rtions of the wainscot were paintings of members who had borne at different times the different names of the family; on plaques in other places were miniatures and pictures by Bordier and Petitot, Mignard and Le Brun. Also, although 'twas autumn now, al

which a monk sat reading his breviary, and as it did so the princess, lying on her bed, opened her eyes--large, blue-gray eyes, t

that, Manon?

other answered, rising and passi

h the heavy lace curtains of which the sun's rays strayed. "Fair. There is nothing to impede his

r courier left for London last Sunday. It is cert

been about to say and bade the girl go tell the holy father he might leave the room, might walk in the garden if he chose, and see if there were a

us foundations in and around Paris, as well as a magnificent benefac

de Rochebazons would not have come to an end--to an end. My God! why is he

l said. "Yet even as it is--

de Rochebazon fortune.' Yes, 'tis true. He will be well provided f

spoke the tears stood in her eyes. "You have been always very good to me, oh

d--and--'Good!' Ne

g her eyes, went down to where it opened, and after a whispered word with some domestic

tful. Let her be brought to me at

door, at which she waited until steps were heard outside, when she opened it wide and courtesie

yed seemed by its fashion to be suitable to an older woman than even she was--a lady stately enough, though not tall, with a white complexion and wor

he attendant ere she went out, "Aurore, I thank our Heavenly Father that he has not yet thought fit to take you

ng her end, marvellously clear and distinct, "to see you must a

necessity for ceremony. We have always been friends, going hand in hand in God's work since--long ago--since you were wife to the Baro

ue

t. A king's wif

owledgment might have been fo

best to--to--let matte

fifty years without being aware of all that was said, all that was whispered of Fran?oise d'Aubigné ere she found religion--as well as favour in the eyes of the king! Also, all that was whispered after that favour was found. There were a thousand tongue

for his soul as she worked on the fears of his mind, and Jansenists, Calvinists, Huguenots had been driven forth by hundreds of thousands to other lands, or,

man Church, she came now to visit the Prin

ause--because--oh, Aurore! to--to plead once more for the sacred cause of our Church; to beseech you to consi

s no de Rochebazon succeeding to title or estate, the power to will the latter, and--and all the movables, the argent comptant, is mine. And it is done. Beyo

whisper, as though she feared that even in this vast room there might still be some who could overhear her, "that to this young man, this Martin Ashurst--this Ang

he other interjected. "My brother

ds. Money to extirpate the heretics--some can even be bought with money, they say; in

ince their grandfather's

not the money. He is provided for, will be provided for in his own land. He will do well--go far under the heretic, Anne. Oh, Aurore, he is your f

de Rochebazon repeated. "And I loved that

l this--so great a sum! And France needs money. Aurore," she cried, "do you know that our--that Louis'--coffers are empty? The wars, the buildings, the pomps and va

eaded. Yet again the dying aristocrat murmure

ss. Then suddenly seemed also roused to fresh excitement as the other spoke again--excitement mixed this time with anger, as testified by the glances her eyes

are mad. Tell him all, and lead to further evil to our Church. Aurore, for God's sake say this is a fantasy of your mind. Why," she exclaimed, her passion mounting with her thoughts

other repeated, "wi

truth! What has the truth to do with--what account is it when set against ou

errified all France, could not affright her--perhaps because the pr

he murmured faintly. "I must. I can not die w