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238 pages

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pubOne.info present you this new edition. The death of the Prince of Conde, which occurred in the spring of 1588, by depriving me of my only patron, reduced me to such straits that the winter of that year, which saw the King of Navarre come to spend his Christmas at St. Jean d'Angely, saw also the nadir of my fortunes. I did not know at this time- I may confess it to-day without shame- wither to turn for a gold crown or a new scabbard, and neither had nor discerned any hope of employment. The peace lately patched up at Blois between the King of France and the League persuaded many of the Huguenots that their final ruin was at hand; but it could not fill their exhausted treasury or enable them to put fresh troops into the field.

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Historical fiction

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	06 novembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819935858
Langue	English

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A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE
BEING THE MEMOIRS OF GASTON DE BONNE SIEUR DEMARSAC
By Stanley Weyman
A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE.
CHAPTER I. THE SPORT OF FOOLS.
The death of the Prince of Conde, which occurred inthe spring of 1588, by depriving me of my only patron, reduced meto such straits that the winter of that year, which saw the King ofNavarre come to spend his Christmas at St. Jean d'Angely, saw alsothe nadir of my fortunes. I did not know at this time— I mayconfess it to-day without shame— wither to turn for a gold crown ora new scabbard, and neither had nor discerned any hope ofemployment. The peace lately patched up at Blois between the Kingof France and the League persuaded many of the Huguenots that theirfinal ruin was at hand; but it could not fill their exhaustedtreasury or enable them to put fresh troops into the field.
The death of the Prince had left the King of Navarrewithout a rival in the affections of the Huguenots; the Vicomte deTurenne, whose turbulent; ambition already began to make itselffelt, and M. de Chatillon, ranking next to him. It was myill-fortune, however, to be equally unknown to all three leaders,and as the month of December which saw me thus miserably straitenedsaw me reach the age of forty, which I regard, differing in thatfrom many, as the grand climacteric of a man's life, it will bebelieved that I had need of all the courage which religion and acampaigner's life could supply.
I had been compelled some time before to sell all myhorses except the black Sardinian with the white spot on itsforehead; and I now found myself obliged to part also with my valetde chambre and groom, whom I dismissed on the same day, paying themtheir wages with the last links of gold chain left to me. It wasnot without grief and dismay that I saw myself thus stripped of theappurtenances of a man of birth, and driven to groom my own horseunder cover of night. But this was not the worst. My dress, whichsuffered inevitably from this menial employment, began in no longtime to bear witness to the change in my circumstances; so that onthe day of the King of Navarre's entrance into St. Jean I dared notface the crowd, always quick to remark the poverty of those abovethem, but was fain to keep within doors and wear out my patience inthe garret of the cutler's house in the Rue de la Coutellerie,which was all the lodging I could now afford.
Pardieu, 'tis a strange world! Strange that timeseems to me; more strange compared with this. My reflections onthat day, I remember, were of the most melancholy. Look at it how Iwould, I could not but see that my life's spring was over. Thecrows' feet were gathering about my eyes, and my moustachios, whichseemed with each day of ill-fortune to stand out more fiercely inproportion as my face grew leaner, were already grey. I was out atelbows, with empty pockets, and a sword which peered through thesheath. The meanest ruffler who, with broken feather and tarnishedlace, swaggered at the heels of Turenne, was scarcely to bedistinguished from me. I had still, it is true, a rock and a fewbarren acres in Brittany, the last remains of the family property;but the small small sums which the peasants could afford to paywere sent annually to Paris, to my mother, who had no other dower.And this I would not touch, being minded to die a gentleman, evenif I could not live in that estate.
Small as were my expectations of success, since Ihad no one at the king's side to push my business, nor any friendat Court, I nevertheless did all I could, in the only way thatoccurred to me. I drew up a petition, and lying in wait one day forM. Forget, the King of Navarre's secretary, placed it in his hand,begging him to lay it before that prince. He took it, and promisedto do so, smoothly, and with as much lip-civility as I had a rightto expect. But the careless manner in which he doubled up andthrust away the paper on which I had spent so much labour, no lessthan the covert sneer of his valet, who ran after me to get thecustomary present— and ran, as I still blush to remember, in vain—warned me to refrain from hope.
In this, however, having little save hope left, Ifailed so signally as to spend the next day and the day after in afever of alternate confidence and despair, the cold fit followingthe hot with perfect regularity. At length, on the morning of thethird day— I remember it lacked but three of Christmas— I heard astep on the stairs. My landlord living in his shop, and the twointervening floors being empty, I had no doubt the message was forme, and went outside the door to receive it, my first glance at themessenger confirming me in my highest hopes, as well as in all Ihad ever heard of the generosity of the King of Navarre. For bychance I knew the youth to be one of the royal pages; a saucyfellow who had a day or two before cried 'Old Clothes' after me inthe street. I was very far from resenting this now, however, nordid he appear to recall it; so that I drew the happiest augury asto the contents of the note he bore from the politeness with whichhe presented it to me.
I would not, however, run the risk of a mistake, andbefore holding out my hand, I asked him directly and with formalityif it was for me.
He answered, with the utmost respect, that it wasfor the Sieur de Marsac, and for me if I were he.
'There is an answer, perhaps? ' I said, seeing thathe lingered.
'The King of Navarre, sir, ' he replied, with a lowbow, 'will receive your answer in person, I believe. ' And withthat, replacing the hat which he had doffed out of respect to me,he turned and went down the stairs.
Returning to my room, and locking the door, Ihastily opened the missive, which was sealed with a large seal, andwore every appearance of importance. I found its contents to exceedall my expectations. The King of Navarre desired me to wait on himat noon on the following day, and the letter concluded with suchexpressions of kindness and goodwill as left me in no doubt of thePrince's intentions. I read it, I confess, with emotions of joy andgratitude which would better have become a younger man, and thencheerfully sat down to spend the rest of the day in making suchimprovements in my dress as seemed possible. With a thankful heartI concluded that I had now escaped from poverty, at any rate fromsuch poverty as is disgraceful to a gentleman; and consoled myselffor the meanness of the appearance I must make at Court with thereflection that a day or two would mend both habit and fortune.
Accordingly, it was with a stout heart that I leftmy lodgings a few minutes before noon next morning, and walkedtowards the castle. It was some time since I had made so public anappearance in the streets, which the visit of the King of Navarre'sCourt; had filled with an unusual crowd, and I could not helpfancying as I passed that some of the loiterers eyed me with acovert smile; and, indeed, I was shabby enough. But finding that afrown more than sufficed to restore the gravity of these gentry, Iset down the appearance to my own self-consciousness, and, strokingmy moustachios, strode along boldly until I saw before me, andcoming to meet me, the same page who had delivered the note.
He stopped in front of me with an air ofconsequence, and making me a low bow— whereat I saw the bystandersstare, for he was as gay a young spark as maid-of-honour coulddesire— he begged me to hasten, as the king awaited me in hiscloset.
'He has asked for you twice, sir, ' he continuedimportantly, the feather of his cap almost sweeping the ground.
'I think, ' I answered, quickening my steps, 'thatthe king's letter says noon, young sir. If I am late on such anoccasion, he has indeed cause to complain of me. '
'Tut, tut! ' he rejoined waving his hand with adandified 'It is no matter. One man may steal a horse when anothermay not look over the wall, you know. '
A man may be gray-haired, he may besad-complexioned, and yet he may retain some of the freshness ofyouth. On receiving this indication of a favour exceeding allexpectation, I remember I felt the blood rise to my face, andexperienced the most lively gratitude. I wondered who had spoken inmy behalf, who had befriended me; and concluding at last that mypart in the affair at Brouage had come to the king's ears, though Icould not conceive through whom, I passed through the castle gateswith an air of confidence and elation which was not unnatural, Ithink, under the circumstances. Thence, following my guide, Imounted the ramp and entered the courtyard.
A number of grooms and valets were lounging here,some leading horses to and fro, others exchanging jokes with thewenches who leaned from the windows, while their fellows againstamped up and down to keep their feet warm, or played ball againstthe wall in imitation of their masters. Such knaves are ever moreinsolent than their betters; but I remarked that they made way forme with respect, and with rising spirits, yet a little irony, Ireminded myself as I mounted the stairs of the words, 'whom theking delighteth to honour! '
Reaching the head of the flight, where was a soldieron guard, the page opened the door of the antechamber, and standingaside bade me enter. I did so, and heard the door close behindme.
For a moment I stood still, bashful and confused. Itseemed to me that there were a hundred people in the room, and thathalf the eyes which met mine were women's, Though I was notaltogether a stranger to such state as the Prince of Conde hadmaintained, this crowded anteroom filled me with surprise, and evenwith a degree of awe, of which I was the next moment ashamed. True,the flutter of silk and gleam of jewels surpassed anything I hadthen seen, for my fortunes had never led me to the king's Court;but an instant's reflection reminded me that my fathers had heldtheir own in such scenes, and with a bow regulated rather by thisthought than by the shabbiness of my dress, I advanced amid asudden silence.
'M. de Marsac! ' the page announced, in a tone whic