Cinq Mars -- Volume 2

a hand as hard as iron, which, drawing him from the crowd to the foot of the steps, pushed him behind t

eover, you had to do with men of honor; but here 'tis different. Your horses and people are at the end of the street; I request you to

the head of the judicial authority, the agent of the very Cardinal who was to present him to the King. He observed also that around him was assembled a crowd of the lowest class of people, among whom he blushed to find himself. He ther

to slacken his pace. The rain continued to fall heavily, and his cloak was almost saturated. He felt a thicker one thro

e clear of the riot, tell me how you came to be the

und me behind him in the cannon's smoke, he made no complaint, because he had a fresh horse ready when his own was killed, and he only scolded me for a moment in his thoughts; but, truly, during the forty years I

ls had made the crucifix red hot?-a thing at which

father, who would not have done a

, would he

that the rain does not rust my sword or wet the priming of my pistols'; for Monsieur le Marechal thought of everything, and never interfered in what did not concern him. That was his great principl

to give explanations or to tell a falsehood or to command silence, which would at once have been taking him into confidence on the subject. As the only alternative, he spurred hi

of a great princess; why did you not seize the assassin?' This would be very disagreeable to me, Monsieur, for I never have been reproached with anything of the kind. Once Monsieur le Marechal lent me to his nephew, Monsieur le Comte, to make a campaign in the Netherlands, because I know Spanish. I fulfilled the duty with honor, as I always do. When Monsieur le Comte received a bullet in his heart, I m

s to take back; but in the mean time take this great purse of gold, which I have well-ni

is own hand. I do not think your estates would have been in such good condition, or that you would have had so much money to count

h, no

rofound sigh at his maste

re my eyes, put his chamois gloves into his pocket to keep the rain from spoiling them; whe

interrupted his master; "and thou wilt do better in telling me what t

ll see a country all the same as this sandy road, and great, black firs all the way along. It looks like a churchyard; this is an exact specimen of it. Look, the rain has ceased, and we can see a little ahead; there is nothing but furze-bushes on thi

inq-Mars; "for I fancy I feel rather feverish, and I am thirsty.

consoled himself by gi

e art of reconnoitrin

, sank upon his breast. He gave the reins to his tired horse, which of its own accord followed the high-road, and, crossing his arms, allowed himself to be rocked by the monotonous motion of his fellow-traveller, which frequently stumbled against the large stones that strewed the road. The rain had ceased, as had the voices of his domestics, whose horses followed in the track of their master's. The young man abandoned himself to the bitterness of his thoughts; he asked himself whether the bright object of his hopes would not flee from him day by day, as that phosphoric light fled f

of the Queen, has learned to contemplate from an exalted position the greatness to which I aspire, and which I as yet see only from a very humble distance; when she shall suddenly find herself in actual possession of the future she aims at, and measures with a more correct eye t

k firs that bordered the road seemed to him gigantic corpses travelling beside him. He saw, or thought he saw, the same woman clothed in black, whom he had pointed out to Grandchamp, approach so near as to touch his horse's mane, pull his cl

ts, lights, a house, a great room into which they carried him, a wide bed, whose heavy curtains w

bed. Urbain Grandier on the rack, his mother in tears, his tutor armed, Bassompierre loaded with chains, passed before him, making signs of farewell; at last, as

e, come with me." And she hurried him on, the people still shouting. He went on, a long way. "Why are you sad, if you are a queen?" he said, trembling. But she was pale, and smiled and spoke not. She ascended, step after step, up to a throne, and seated herself. "Mount!" said she, forcibly pulling his hand. But

chamber of the inn; he again closed his eyes, for he had seen, seated on his bed, a woman, a nun, young and beautiful!

has drenched your veil and your black

im. And listen, I will also ask thy pardon, for I read it in thy face that thou, too, art condemned to death. Poor youth! thou art too young to die, thy curling hair is beautiful; but yet thou art condemned, for thou hast on thy brow a line that never deceives. The man thou hast struck will kill thee. Thou hast made too much use of the cross; it is that which will bring evil upon thee. Thou h

dead in a monotonous voice, but with incredible rapidity, sti

looked up, and fled through

ying the funeral service over you, and you un

ot answer, he became still more alarmed, and raised the bedclothes. Cinq-Mars's face was crimson, and he seemed asleep, but his old domestic saw that the blood rushing to his head had almost suf

dchamp; what frightfu

contrary, are very pretty ones. I saw the tail

t mean, b

, and I have seen what I have seen. But, really i

ome drink, I am parched with thirst. Oh, heave

Monsieur? Why, h

ockhead. Why standest there like a po

de." And going to the door, he called ove

oming, Monsieur, coming; they have be

" said Cinq-Mars

Monsieur le Marquis, only a madwoman that came here last night on foot, and whom w

to his eyes, "it was not a dream, then. And my mother, where is she?

ward the wall, and again pull

three times with his finger, looking at Grandchamp

was in a deep sleep, he seated himself in a large armchair, covered with tapestry, and began to squeeze lemons in