Chicot the Jester

Chicot the Jester

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chicot the Jester, by Alexandre
Dumas [An abridged translation of "La dame de Monsoreau"] #33 in
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Title: Chicot the Jester [An abridged translation of "La dame de
Monsoreau"]
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7426] [Yes, we are more than

one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 28,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHICOT
THE JESTER ***

Produced by Robert J. Hall

CHICOT THE JESTER [Abridged translation of "La dame de
Monsoreau"]
BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS


CHAPTER I.
THE WEDDING OF ST. LUC.
On the evening of a Sunday, in the year 1578, a splendid fête was given
in the magnificent hotel just built opposite the Louvre, on the other side
of the water, by the family of Montmorency, who, allied to the royalty
of France, held themselves equal to princes. This fête was to celebrate
the wedding of François d'Epinay de St. Luc, a great friend and favorite
of the king, Henri III., with Jeanne de Crossé-Brissac, daughter of the
marshal of that name.
The banquet had taken place at the Louvre, and the king, who had been
with much difficulty induced to consent to the marriage, had appeared
at it with a severe and grave countenance. His costume was in harmony
with his face; he wore that suit of deep chestnut, in which Clouet

described him at the wedding of Joyeuse; and this kind of royal specter,
solemn and majestic, had chilled all the spectators, but above all the
young bride, at whom he cast many angry glances. The reason of all
this was known to everyone, but was one of those court secrets of
which no one likes to speak.
Scarcely was the repast finished, when the king had risen abruptly,
thereby forcing everyone to do the same. Then St. Luc approached him,
and said: "Sire, will your majesty do me the honor to accept the fête,
which I wish to give to you this evening at the Hôtel Montmorency?"
This was said in an imploring tone, but Henri, with a voice betraying
both vexation and anger, had replied:
"Yes, monsieur, we will go, although you certainly do not merit this
proof of friendship on our part."
Then Madame de St. Luc had humbly thanked the king, but he turned
his back without replying.
"Is the king angry with you?" asked the young wife of her husband.
"I will explain it to you after, mon amie, when this anger shall have
passed away."
"And will it pass away?"
"It must."
Mademoiselle de Brissac was not yet sufficiently Madame de St. Luc to
insist further; therefore she repressed her curiosity, promising herself to
satisfy it at a more favorable time.
They were, therefore, expecting St. Luc at the Hôtel Montmorency, at
the moment in which our story commences. St. Luc had invited all the
king's friends and all his own; the princes and their favorites,
particularly those of the Duc d'Anjou. He was always in opposition to
the king, but in a hidden manner, pushing forward those of his friends
whom the example of La Mole and Coconnas had not cured. Of course,

his favorites and those of the king lived in a state of antagonism, which
brought on rencontres two or three times a month, in which it was rare
that some one was not killed or badly wounded.
As for Catherine, she was at the height of her wishes; her favorite son
was on the throne, and she reigned through him, while she pretended to
care no more for the things of this world. St. Luc, very uneasy at the
absence of all the royal family, tried to reassure his father-in-law, who
was much distressed at this menacing absence. Convinced, like all the
world, of the friendship of Henri for St.