Cinq Mars -- Volume 6

d regretfully, as of flowers from her, crown, there was one of

t of natural pyramid, the summit of which overhanging the river in former times, they say, joined the rocks which may still be seen on the opposite bank, forming the natural

the reign of Louis XIII a State prison. One colossal tower, where the daylight could only penetrate through three long loopholes, commanded the edifi

f his prey, determined to imprison his y

r, as if to prolong the pleasure of revenge which men have dared to call that of the gods, displayed to the eyes of the spectators on both sides of the river the luxury of his hatred; he slowly proceeded on h

prisoners, calm and collected, supported each other, watching the passage of the rapid stream. Formerly the soldiers of Caesar, who encamped on the same shores, would have thought they beheld the inflexible bo

in which the late conspirators had doomed him to perish. Thus he loved to defy Fate

rds, wearing scarlet coats embroidered with gold, silver, and silk; and many lords of note. His Eminence occupied a bed hung with purple taffetas. Monseigneur the Cardinal Bigni, and Messeigneurs the Bishops of Nantes and Chartres, were there, with many abbes and gentlemen in other boats. Preceding his vessel, a boat sounded the passages, and ano

ou and Cinq-Mars, guarded by an officer of the King's guard and twelve guards from the regiment of his Eminence. Thr

, who preceded his Eminence in the towns which he was to enter, or in which he was to sleep. It was pleasant to listen to the trumpets, which, played in

eys; it was Joseph. He looked cautiously round without advancing, and contemplated in silence the apartment occupied by the master of the horse. Thick carpets covered the floor, and large and splendid hangings concealed the walls of the prison; a bed hung with red damask was prepared, but it was unoccupied. Seated near a high chimney in a large armchair, attired in a long gra

things of great importance. Listen to me! I have thought much of you; and I do not hate you so much as you imagine. The moments are precious. I will tell you all in

ered Cinq-Mars; "

us not be mysterious; we must speak openly. You see where I have brought you to serve him; and you can judge by that the point to which I would conduct him to serve you. If you wish it, we can cut short the six

ot understand such language, and seemed to be unable to descen

efactor,

nd, drawing nearer, co

I now see that he has deceived me by continually retarding my elevation; but once again, I possess the sure means for your escape in silence. I am the master here. I will remove the men in whom he trusts, and replace them by others whom he has condemned to die, and who are near at hand confined in the northern tower-

ss and furtive step through the darkness; thou traversest the walls to preside at secret crimes; thou placest thyself b

our false notions. There is perhaps neither damnation nor soul. If the dead returned to complain

muttered

the broad daylight-for no end, while Richelieu and I have caused the death of far fewer, one by one, and by night, to found a great power. Would you remain pure and virtuous, you must not interfere with other men; or,

claimed Cinq-Mars; "h

h con

tious; it followed, then, that everyt

do not compare

replied the Capuchin'; "only you now se

retch, it wa

have heard you speak to the young girl. You thought but of yourselves; you do not love each other. She thought but of her rank,

deaths? Why dost thou come here to cast thy venom upon the life thou hast ta

low and hollow laugh, "and the desire to crush those I hate under my feet,

m?" exclaimed Cinq-Mars, rising

tations on eternity; and (shall we say it?) the great efforts he had made to change his heartrending regrets into immortal hopes, and to direct to God all that power of love which had led him astray upon earth- al

istical and bloody, the other devoted and unstained; theirs roused by hatred, and ours inspired by love. Look down, O Lord, judge, and pardon! Pard

m harshly, stamping h

d he, "you will perhaps inform me whether

"I will never unite with you in an assassination.

you would have

shared as it must be by a woman who does not unders

lly!" said the Ca

hing without her-t

t you persist; it is impossible," re

elf-sacrifice," answered Cinq-Mars; "d

xist; he follo

lightly embarrassed,

ld not find another pupil so docile to listen to and applaud him. Constant habit has persuaded him that his life was bound to yours; it is something of that kind. He

it!" exclaimed Cin

t," said Joseph, triumphantly; "

I done!" gasped Cinq-

, notwithstanding this avow

ned silent for

uchin c

or awaits you, and perhaps the lo

answered the prisoner, "save him! He is the purest of created beings; but convey h

d the Capuchin, laughing. "It is

, seizing Joseph by the arm, eyin

nd, "Come, and doubt, if thou canst, devotion and the immortality of the soul. Compare the uneasiness and misery of thy triumph with the

ted by a large ebony crucifix. He seemed to have fallen asleep while praying. His head, incl

ssly uniting to his frightful discourse the sacred name he every day prono

face. "All this is childishness. It would overcome me if I reflected on it. These ide

do not regret having compromised De Thou, for he would not have bought his life at the price o

e judges," said the furious Capu

solemn affair-all true men to the Cardinal Richelieu, and in his confidence, who from Tarascon had chosen and instructed them. He had the Chancellor Seguier brought to Lyons, to avoid, as he stated in the instructions he sent by Chavigny to the King Louis XIII-"to avoid all the delays which would take place if he we

Vivey,-[House which belonged to an Abbe d'Esnay, brother of M. de Villeroy, called Montresor.] two miles from Lyons, where this wretched prince had received orders to go, begging forgiveness, and trembling, although surrounded by his followers, whom from very pity he had been allowed to retain, carefully watched, however, by the French and Swiss guards. The Cardinal had dictated

is only mentioned that there were six from the parliament of Grenoble, and two presidents. The counsellor, or reporter of the State, Laubardemont, who ha

d serve as a bar; and all were silent

a soft and

is, and to object to my judges, because two of them are my declared enemies, and at the

ucted by myself alone. It is my wish to die. I have nothing to add for myself; but if you would be just, you will not

m," said L

gravely, while an angelical smile played upon his lips. Embracing Cinq-Mars, "Here at l

given to understand by Monsieur de Cinq-Mars himse

ut hesitation. A half-smile was still

n, that my life and death entirely rest with myself. I have, however, well weighed the one and the other. I have clearly foreseen that whatever life I may hereafter lead, it could not but be most unhappy after the loss of Monsieur de Cinq-Mars. I therefore acknowledge and conf

iends precipitated themsel

ars ex

hat I have caused your death! Twice I have bet

soling his friend, answered, r

ght complain of you; but God knows how much I love you. What have we don

for this mildness, and looked

d Monseigneur of all these black-looking fellows." Two men with halberds immediately placed themselves silently at his side. He said no more, and to compose himself retire

t the judges might be touched with

nal, these two men will be put to the rack; that is

ssing his arms, he made two steps toward Laubardemont and Joseph, which

ncing, took his hand and held it. Cinq-Mars was silent, then

nfess it all again. I willingly and gladly accept death; it is not from souls like ours that secrets can be wrung by bodily suffering. We are prisoners by our ow

hou. "He is mistaken, gentlemen, we do not refuse

a voluntary martyr to friendship? Gentlemen, it is I alone who possess important secrets; it is the chief of

ing with my friend; I have not followed him so far, to abandon him at thi

rted to; the other, not thinking his triumph complete by death alone, absolutely insisted on their being applied. The judges surrounded and listened to these secret agents of the Prime-Minister; however, many circums

unce but the King, and the other the Queen. It is better that we should remain ignorant. Besides, they will not confess. I know them; they will be silent-the one from pride, th

etired to deliberate with the chancellor. Whi

till have that of deliberating, and then you shall go and

judges who had cond

the last to leave the room, pushing the

Grandchamp, relieved from his two guards, hasten

ace, Monseigneur! I have something to sh

ber door was opened, and th

itterly. "Alas! why was I only permitted to enter to-day? Dear He

bbe!" said Grandchamp;

eign

still detained and

id he; "we ho

use it," sai

g but the mercy of

andchamp, "the jud

ain to admit the disma

aubardemont

ived from Paris, and that no one doubts but that all the conspirators will be pardoned. I have had an interview

the Scotch guards; and the commissioners entere

ence, involuntarily launched out in one of those transports of religious joy which are never displaye

vangelizantium pacem,

the sentence, as was the custom. D'Effiat remained standing; and they da

at de Cinq-Mars, master of the horse, aged twenty-two, and Francois Auguste de Thou, aged thirty-five, of the Kin

'Efiiat and De Thou; informations, interrogations, confessions, denegations, and confrontation

d constitutions of the emperors to be guilty of high treason; (2) that the third ordinance of the King Lou

e declared the said D'Effiat and De Thou guil

or the conspiracies a

by him with the forei

u, for having a thor

spi

h crimes they have dep

demned them to be depr

or this purpose erec

x, in t

nfiscated to the King, and that those which they hold from the crown do pass immediately

ronounced, M. de Thou ex

ssed! God b

red death," said

ty years of age, declared with emotion that he placed the prisoners in the hands of the Sieur Thome, provost of t

re useless. Rather pray for us; and

after which they left the apartment, their eyes fill

arms against them, one must search the whole arsena

e of the commissioners; "for no stranger

de gratings lowered, "To the terrace, in the name of Heaven!" agai

ptor followed

a moment like this?" said Cin

of the town," said t

also rose from Lyons and concealed the roofs of the houses from the eye of the spectator. The first tints of the morning light had as yet colored only the most elevated points of the magnificent landscape. In the city the steeples of the Hotel de Ville and St. Nizier, and on the surroundi

f the city, or the calm peacefulness of these villages? Ah, my friend, in every plac

leaned over the parapet, wat

, we can see nothing

last sun appears

on the opposite bank, a small white house, between the Hal

ered Cinq-Mars, "but

Abbe; "some one

et, the back of which rested upon the platform of the terrace. As it was sca

coming to fetch us

tes. I have prowled round the fort for two months, and I have seen men fall from there in

of foaming green water of great depth. A wheel of a mill long deserted was seen turning with great rapidity. Three distinct sounds were now heard, like those of a drawbridge sudden

men?" exclaimed the A

ing in the air," said Grandchamp;

ith a loud noise a burden which cracked the enormous wheel of the mill; one of its large spokes was torn away, and a man entangled in its beams

drew back

ess. Be it he, I am not surprised, for those wretches devour each other. But let us endeavor to deprive them of their choicest morsel. Vive Dieu! I

tors has profited by the retreat you secured for them. They have all hastened to Lyons, disguised, and in great number; they have distributed sufficient gold in the city to secure them from being betrayed;

ubted that the life of the other was assured, and ceased to speak of this affair, which, not having been executed, compromised few persons. They had even in some measure rejoiced in Paris to see the town of Sedan and its territory added to the kingdom in exchange for the letters of abolition granted to the Duke, acknowledged innocent in common with Monsieur; so that the result of all the arrang

asping his friend's hand, "Arrested!" he exclaimed. "Must we renounce even the honor of hav

u, placing his fingers on his lips. "Bu

events, even though they afflict the hearers. He related all his fruitless endeavors to discover his pupil's retreat, unknown to the court and the town, where none, indeed, dared to pronounce the name of Cinq-Mars in the most secret asylums. He had only heard of the imprisonment at Pierre-Encise from the Queen

erself deeply for some letter, I know not what. She spoke of the welfare of France, but did not explain herself. She said that she admire

rupted De Thou, supporting Cin

re," said t

e of me?" inquired th

" said t

written to me!

hat you were sent here

h

inq-Mars, and dragging him by his clothes to the ot

ster-do you see them? Look there-

friend?" aske

ok at that window! Do

ur sisters, and

ed all in black, stretching out her arms toward the prison, sustained by those about her, Cinq-Mars recognized his mo

tations of his family, "Let us descend quickly, my father!" he said to the old Abbe. "You will tell me at the tribu

secret and unfortunate love. "He gave to his confessor," says Father Daniel, "a portrait of

"This is the last thought I will bestow upon this world; let us depart for heaven!" and walking up and down the room with long strides, he recited aloud the psalm, 'Miserere mei, Deus', with an incredible ardor of spirit, his wh

great distance. The French and the Swiss guards, the regiment of Pompadours, the men-at-arms of Maurevert, and the carabineers of La Roque, all defiled in silence. The cavalry, with their muskets on the pommel of

were ranged [says the journal of Montresor] in the midst of the Place des Terreaux, so as to enclose a spa

stake three feet in height, in front of which was a block half a foot high, so that the principal face of the scaffold looked toward the shambles of

nd the deep dungeons had sometimes confined father and son for years together, four feet apart from each other, without their even being aware of

ad strictly preserved was also carefully adhered to

mestics, disguised like themselves. Horses were ready on the road to Italy, and boats upon the Rhone had been previously engaged. The young Marquis d'Effiat, elder brother of Cinq-Mars, dressed as a Carthusian, traversed the crowd, without ceasing, between the Place des Terreaux an

line had at his side a

nd. Ambrosio, the Spanish servant whom Cinq-Mars had saved, had taken charge of the captain of the pikemen, and, disguised

e was at

-women and oyster-wenches, who were disputing and bawling, abusing one of their number younger and mor

an honest man, cut off the heads of two Christians, because he is a bu

eaten? Why, thou'lt have a hundred crowns to dress thy three children all in new clothes. Thou'rt lucky to

l not accept it. I've seen these fine young gent

me le Bon. "What fortune falls to this little woman! What

d Olivier d'Entraigues, unguardedly. All the wo

whence comes this little brickl

ook at his white hands! He never worked a square; 'tis some little dandy conspir

with an air of anger upon Olivier, and assuming the manners of a joiner, who

two years that my father's apprenticed him, he has done nothing

ss page, he asked him for the letter which he said he had to give to M. de Cinq-Mars when he should have escaped. Olivier had carried it in his pocket for two months.

t for our friends. I'll open it. You ought to have thought of

se to humiliate our good old nobility and the parliaments, and to sap the foundations of the edifice upon which the State reposes. I hear that the n

interrupted the page,

gine, only he is a little

this generous project

l your pr

f the last reign!" said

with your proceedi

the Abbe; "a hundred years hence they

twithstanding my great

ened to m

e to waste in reading it

eing forgotten by Monsieur in his prison; De Launay killed in a duel, and I am grieved at it, for although I was little satisfied with my arrest, he did it with courtesy, and I have always thought him a gentleman. A

y; and this time the Abbe de Gondi could not

marechal, should it be found, and drew near the Place des Terreaux and the line of guards

e going to church to communicate; and the nuns who conducted them, thinking, like most of the people, that the preparations were intended to do honor to some great personage, allowed them to mount upon some large hewn stones, collected behind the soldiers. There they grouped themselves with

attitude too refined, for the position in life he was supposed to occupy. He already began to approach them, turning his hair with his fingers, when Fontrailles and Montresor fortunately arr

of them to his suite

tors contrasted with the gay and anxious looks

five hundred men with cuirasses and red uniforms, upon fi

s-Catalonians," sa

e? Ah, here is a fine gilt co

men on foot; wher

esting and engaging appearance, who held one of each other's hands behind his bent shoulders, while with the other each held one of his arms. The one on the left was dressed in black; he was grave, and his eyes were cast down. The other, much younger, was attired in a striking dress. A pourpoint of Holland cloth, adorned with broad gold lace, and with large embroidered sl

s head bent down, leading two chargers, richly comparisoned. The

are leading to the scaffold," they exclaim

adies," said a man,

ondi, "and let us pray t

ees! on your knees!" and set the example t

nts better now," said

tand up; what

ing on our side, saluting us;

platform that looked upon the place was fi

est wind, the passage of the grains of dust which it raised; yet the air was calm, the sun brilliant, the sky blue. The people listened

irators rose above the kneeling people. Every one put his hand to his bel

d the Carthusian. "Has h

ground far from him," calm