From the Memoirs of a Minister of France | Page 2

at ease. "Yet, after such a prelude, if any but a friend of your tried
loyalty asked it, I might expect to find Spanish liquorice in the cup."
"That is out of the question, in my case," he answered with a slight
assumption of offence, which he immediately dropped. "And you say it
is a small thing; it is the more easily granted, M. de Rosny."
"But the King goes and comes at his pleasure," I replied warily. "Of
course, he might-take it into his head to descend at your house. There
would be nothing surprising in such a visit. I think that he has paid you
one before, M. de Perrot?"
He assented eagerly.
"And he may do so," I said, smiling, "to-morrow. But then, again, he
may not. The chase may lead him another way; or he may be late in
returning; or--in fine, a hundred things may happen."
I had no mind to go farther than that; and I supposed that it would
satisfy him, and that he would thank me and take his leave. To my
surprise, however, he stood his ground, and even pressed me more than
was polite; while his countenance, when I again eluded him, assumed
an expression of chagrin and vexation so much in excess of the
occasion as to awaken fresh doubts in my mind. But these only the
more confirmed me in my resolution to commit myself no farther,
especially as he was not a man I loved or could trust; and in the end he
had to retire with such comfort as I had already given him.
In itself, and on the surface, the thing seemed to be a trifle, unworthy of
the serious consideration of any man. But in so far as it touched the
King's person and movements, I was inclined to view it in another light;
and this the more, as I still had fresh in my memory the remarkable

manner in which Father Cotton, the Jesuit, had given me a warning by
a word about a boxwood fire. After a moment's thought, therefore, I
summoned Boisrueil, one of my gentlemen, who had an acknowledged
talent for collecting gossip; and I told him in a casual way that M. de
Perrot had been with me.
"He has not been at Court for a week," he remarked.
"Indeed?" I said.
"He applied for the post of Assistant Deputy Comptroller of Buildings
for his nephew, and took offence when it was given to Madame de
Sourdis' Groom of the Chambers."
"Ha!" I said; "a dangerous malcontent."
Boisrueil smiled. "He has lived a week out of the sunshine of his
Majesty's countenance, your excellency. After that, all things are
possible."
This was my own estimate of the man, whom I took to be one of those
smug, pliant self-seekers whom Courts and peace breed up. I could
imagine no danger that could threaten the King from such a quarter;
while curiosity inclined me to grant his request. As it happened, the
deer the next day took us in the direction of Poissy, and the King, who
was always itching to discuss with me the question of his projected
marriage, and as constantly, since our long talk in the garden at Rennes,
avoiding the subject when with me, bade me ride home with him. On
coming within half a mile of Perrot's I let fall his name, and in a very
natural way suggested that the King should alight there for a few
minutes.
It was one of the things Henry delighted to do, for, endowed with the
easiest manners, and able in a moment to exchange the formality of the
Louvre for the freedom of the camp, he could give to such cheap
favours their full value. He consented on the instant, therefore; and
turning our horses into a by-road, we sauntered down it with no greater
attendance than a couple of pages.

The sun was near setting, and its rays, which still gilded the tree-tops,
left the wood below pensive and melancholy. The house stood in a
solitary place on the edge of the forest, half a mile from Poissy; and
these two things had their effect on my mind. I began to wish that we
had brought with us half a troop of horse, or at least two or three
gentlemen; and, startled by the thought of the unknown chances to
which, out of mere idle curiosity, I was exposing the King, I would
gladly have turned back. But without explanation I could not do so; and
while I hesitated Henry cried out gaily that we were there.
A short avenue of limes led from the forest road to the door. I looked
curiously before us as we rode under the trees, in some fear lest M. de
Perrot's