Prince Eugene and His Times

sence there was a matter of course, and not of significance. She had arrayed herself with great splendor for this extraordinary occasion of mingled humiliation and

monds, and her whole person seemed invested

her. With mock-heroic air, she raised her white arm, and m

ances to hear the last confession of the criminal. Poor little abbe! How will

Eugene, who, blushing like a maiden, kissed his aunt's outstret

as your substitute? My shoulders are broad, and will gladly bear the burde

imself, "and they will incommode you no longer than the time it

arianna, pleased. "You look upo

they are, I heartily believe, as fictitious as

n that were listening. Whatever they might think of the mother, the chivalry of her son was ind

ine. "Did you know," said he, "that Madame de

have not heard the result. Can you

ich I am sure she has not received from any

t wa

n a verdict

n so much mirth thereat, that her eyes sparkled like the brilliants on her perso

s, et la reine des graces, c'est Bouillon, et Venus lui cede ses emplois

bulist!" cried Ma

aine co

nchanter et l'esprit et les yeux; Mortels, aimez-la tous! mais ce n'e

ee Works of

o over to my enemies?" aske

e, rising to his feet. "W

enchanter'? And is not that the v

ve reproach, when the Duke de Bouillon announced to the duche

e, and Marianna passed her ar

my excursion to the Arsenal. Come, Eugene, give me your other arm. It is fit that

am no confessor. A confessor should be a

t given me by La Voisin; and, if you promise that I shall not be made to mount

erect altars, not scaffolds. True, you have bewitched our hearts, but w

other. The aristocracy, too, felt impelled to avenge the insult offered to their order by the impeachment of the Countess de Soissons. In the cortege of the Duchess de Bouillon were, all the flower of the French nobility; and such as had not joine

azed upon the multitude, who, but a few days before, had driven his mother into exile. He was absorbed in h

ind them came a gay concourse of nobles, drawn out in one long glittering line, which, lik

d fallen asleep and was dreaming of the fairy tales that years ago had delighted his childhood. And when he saw the duchess smile, and heard her ringing laugh

wns and long wigs, which floated like ominous clouds around their sinister faces. Close by, at a smaller table similarly draped, sat

ike the tail of a comet, the pens dropped from their hands and the

e the frowning faces of the judiciary scanned the gay host of intruders, who were desecrating the solemnity of the council-chamber wit

press their indignation. It took the form of exceeding respect, and their great bla

he presiding judge, Laraynie, who, with a view to remind the criminal t

gust tribunal to answer for the crimes with which she has

merly amanuensis to my uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, who promoted you to the office, because of your dexterity in mending pens. Yes, I am the Duches

uestion is not whether you are or are not the niece of the deceased Cardinal Mazarin, but

right of yours to cite a duchess before your tribunal, sir. If I come at your call, it is because it has been made in the

come neither by indictment nor invitation. It is natural enough that the Duke de Bouillon should accompany his spouse on an

request that I might be accompanied

etition wa

e a few of my most particular friends. You see on my right the Dukes de Vendome and d'Albret, and the Prince of Savoy; on my left, the P

Laraynie, angrily. "We wi

stool to be seen in the council-chamber. But at the table of the judges stood a vacant armchair, the property of some absent member; and in the

plause, and by the beautiful daughter of the house of Mancini with one of those bewitching smiles whi

rm-chair, and her "particular friends" drew

out to hold a levee, "now I am ready. What is it that

, title, rank, po

age? I warn you, if you persist in your indiscreet curiosity, that you will compel me to resort to falsehood, for I positively will not tell yo

tone, and assuming a demeanor less haughty toward the duchess. "

accusers?" a

rying to resume his official severity

Marianna, without any

yourself of your husband?"

a merry laugh. Then turning to the duke, "Ask him whe

g wife, and we have lived too happily together for her ever to have har

imed Marianna, her face beaming with exulta

the habit of vi

rtaining, and because she promis

ld, and promised it to her in case

ut an empty purse-a melancholy truth, to which my husband here can bear witness. That I may have pro

nds, who returned her look w

tly knowing what to say next, "you deny that yo

y so base. But I confess that I was dying to see the spirits.

t you DID instigate La

o purpose. The spirits were excessive

eard among the friends of the duche

of citing the devil," pursued Laraynie, in tones

He is old, ugly, and wears the

made by the amused spectators to preserve the least semblance of decorum. The president, pale with rage, rose from his se

r, and I hereby d

the duchess, rising l

e to say to me, my de

ompeers to rise, and they all betook themselves to their hall of conferen

ask such a tissue of silly questions? I had hoped to experience a sensation by having a distant glimpse of the headsman's axe, and lo! I am cheated into an exhibi

ithin his. "It is time for our drive to the Pre aux C

s majesty with an account of the absurd comedy that has j

by her adherents, left the tribunal of justice,