joan of naples-第7章

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t　his　uncle's　wishes　should　be　respected；　and　that；　though　he　might　have　given　the　impression　of　acting　contrary　to　them；　it　had　only　been　done　with　a　view　to　appeasing　the　populace；　who　in　their　first　excitement　might　have　been　stirred　up　to　insurrection　against　the　Hungarians。　　He　declared　with　much　warmth　that　he　heartily　detested　the　people　about　the　queen；　whose　counsels　tended　to　lead　her　astray；　and　he　promised　to　join　Friar　Robert　in　the　endeavour　to　get　rid　of　Joan's　favourites　by　all　such　means　as　fortune　might　put　at　his　disposal。　　Although　the　Dominican　did　not　believe　in　the　least　in　the　sincerity　of　his　ally's　protestations；　he　yet　gladly　welcomed　the　aid　which　might　prove　so　useful　to　the　prince's　cause；　and　attributed　the　sudden　change　of　front　to　some　recent　rupture　between　Charles　and　his　cousin；　promising　himself　that　he　would　make　capital　out　of　his　resentment。　　Be　that　as　it　might；　Charles　wormed　himself　into　Andre's　heart；　and　after　a　few　days　one　of　them　could　hardly　be　seen　without　the　other。　　If　Andre　went　out　hunting；　his　greatest　pleasure　in　life；　Charles　was　eager　to　put　his　pack　or　his　falcons　at　his　disposal；　if　Andre'　rode　through　the　town；　Charles　was　always　ambling　by　his　side。　He　gave　way　to　his　whims；　urged　him　to　extravagances；　and　inflamed　his　angry　passions：　in　a　word；　he　was　the　good　angelor　the　bad　one　who　inspired　his　every　thought　and　guided　his　every　action。

Joan　soon　understood　this　business；　and　as　a　fact　had　expected　it。　She　could　have　ruined　Charles　with　a　single　word；　but　she　scorned　so　base　a　revenge；　and　treated　him　with　utter　contempt。　　Thus　the　court　was　split　into　two　factions：　the　Hungarians　with　Friar　Robert　at　their　head　and　supported　by　Charles　of　Durazzo；　on　the　other　side　all　the　nobility　of　Naples；　led　by　the　Princes　of　Tarentum。　　Joan；　influenced　by　the　grand　seneschal's　widow　and　her　two　daughters；　the　Countesses　of　Terlizzi　and　Morcone；　and　also　by　Dona　Cancha　and　the　Empress　of　Constantinople；　took　the　side　of　the　Neapolitan　party　against　the　pretensions　of　her　husband。　　The　partisans　of　the　queen　made　it　their　first　care　to　have　her　name　inscribed　upon　all　public　acts　without　adding　Andre's；　but　Joan；　led　by　an　instinct　of　right　and　justice　amid　all　the　corruption　of　her　court；　had　only　consented　to　this　last　after　she　had　taken　counsel　with　Andre　d'Isernia；　a　very　learned　lawyer　of　the　day；　respected　as　much　for　his　lofty　character　as　for　his　great　learning。　　The　prince；　annoyed　at　being　shut　out　in　this　way；　began　to　act　in　a　violent　and　despotic　manner。　　On　his　own　authority　he　released　prisoners；　he　showered　favours　upon　Hungarians；　and　gave　especial　honours　and　rich　gifts　to　Giovanni　Pipino；　Count　of　Altanuera；　the　enemy　of　all　others　most　dreaded　and　detested　by　the　Neapolitan　barons。　　Then　the　Counts　of　San　Severino；　Mileto；　Terlizzi　and　Balzo；　Calanzaro　and　Sant'　Angelo；　and　most　of　the　grandees；　exasperated　by　the　haughty　insolence　of　Andre's　favourite；　which　grew　every　day　more　outrageous；　decided　that　he　must　perish；　and　his　master　with　him；　should　he　persist　in　attacking　their　privileges　and　defying　their　anger。

Moreover；　the　women　who　were　about　Joan　at　the　court　egged　her　on；　each　one　urged　by　a　private　interest；　in　the　pursuit　of　her　fresh　passion。　　Poor　Joan；neglected　by　her　husband　and　betrayed　by　Robert　of　Cabane；　gave　way　beneath　the　burden　of　duties　beyond　her　strength　to　bear；　and　fled　for　refuge　to　the　arms　of　Bertrand　of　Artois；　whose　love　she　did　not　even　attempt　to　resist；　for　every　feeling　for　religion　and　virtue　had　been　destroyed　in　her　own　set　purpose；　and　her　young　inclinations　had　been　early　bent　towards　vice；　just　as　the　bodies　of　wretched　children　are　bent　and　their　bones　broken　by。　jugglers　when　they　train　them。　　Bertrand　himself　felt　an　adoration　for　her　surpassing　ordinary　human　passion。　　When　he　reached　the　summit　of　a　happiness　to　which　in　his　wildest　dreams　he　had　never　dared　to　aspire；　the　young　count　nearly　lost　his　reason。　　In　vain　had　his　father；　Charles　of　Artois　（who　was　Count　of　Aire；　a　direct　descendant　of　Philip　the　Bold；　and　one　of　the　regents　of　the　kingdom）；　attempted　by　severe　admonitions　to　stop　him　while　yet　on　the　brink　of　the　precipice：　Bertrand　would　listen　to　nothing　but　his　love　for　Joan　and　his　implacable　hatred　for　all　the　queen's　enemies。　Many　a　time；　at　the　close　of　day；　as　the　breeze　from　Posilippo　or　Sorrento　coming　from　far　away　was　playing　in　his　hair；　might　Bertrand　be　seen　leaning　from　one　of　the　casements　of　Castel　Nuovo；　pale　and　motionless；　gazing　fixedly　from　his　side　of　the　square　to　where　the　Duke　of　Calabria　and　the　Duke　of　Durazzo　came　galloping　home　from　their　evening　ride　side　by　side　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　　Then　the　brows　of　the　young　count　were　violently　contracted；　a　savage；　sinister　look　shone　in　his　blue　eyes　once　so　innocent；　like　lightning　a　thought　of　death　and　vengeance　flashed　into　his　mind；　he　would　all　at　once　begin　to　tremble；　as　a　light　hand　was　laid　upon　his　shoulder；　he　would　turn　softly；　fearing　lest　the　divine　apparition　should　vanish　to　the　skies；　but　there　beside　him　stood　a　young　girl；　with　cheeks　aflame　and　heaving　breast；　with　brilliant　liquid　eyes：　she　had　come　to　tell　how　her　past　day　had　been　spent；　and　to　offer　her　forehead　for　the　kiss　that　should　reward　her　labours　and　unwilling　absence。　　This　woman；　dictator　of　laws　and　administrator　of　justice　among　grave　magistrates　and　stern　ministers；　was　but　fifteen　years　old；　this　man；　who　knew　her　griefs；　and　to　avenge　them　was　meditating　regicide；　was　not　yet　twenty：　two　children　of　earth；　the　playthings　of　an　awful　destiny！

Two　months　and　a　few　days　after　the　old　king's　death；　on　the　morning　of　Friday　the　28th　of　March　of　the　same　year；　1343；　the　widow　of　the　grand　seneschal；　Philippa；　who；　had　already　contrived　to　get　forgiven　for　the　shameful　trick　she　had　used　to　secure　all　her　son's　wishes；　entered　the　queen's　apartments；　excited　by　a　genuine　fear；　pale　and　distracted；　the　bearer　of　news　that　spread　terror　and　lamentation　throughout　the　court：　Marie；　the　queen's　younger　sister；　had　disappeared。

The　gardens　and　outside　courts　had　been　searched　for　any　trace　of　her；　every　corner　of　the　castle　had　been　examined；　the　guards　had　been　threatened　with　torture；　so　as　to　drag　the　truth　from　them；　no　one　had　seen　anything　of　the　princess；　and　nothing　could　be　found　that　suggested　either　flight　or　abduction。　　Joan；　struck　down　by　this　new　blow　in　the　midst　of　other　troubles；　was　for　a　time　utterly　prostrated；　then；　when　she　had　recovered　from　her　first　surprise；　she　behaved　as　all　people　do　if　despair　takes　the　place　of　reason：　she　gave　orders　for　what　was　already　done　to　be　done　again；　she　asked　the　same　questions　that　could　only　bring　the　same　answers；　and　poured　forth　vain　regrets　and　unjust　reproaches。　　The　news　spread　through　the　town；　causing　the　greatest　astonishment：　there　arose　a　great　commotion　in　the　castle；　and　the　members　of　the　regency　hastily　assembled；　while　couriers　were　sent　out　in　every　direction；　charged　to　promise　12；000　ducats　to　whomsoever　should　discover　the　place　where　the　princess　was　concealed。　　Proceedings　were　at　once　taken　against　the　soldiers　who　were　on　guard　at　the　fortress　at　the　time　of　the　disappearance。

Bertrand　of　Artois　drew　the　queen　apart；　telling　her　his　suspicions；　which　fell　directly　upon　Charles　of　Durazzo；　but　Joan　lost　no　time　in　persuading　him　of　the　improbability　of　his　hypothesis：　first　of　all；　Charles　had　never　once　set　his　foot　in　Castel　Nuovo　since　the　day　of　his　stormy　interview　with　the　queen；　but　had　made　a　point　of　always　leaving　Andre　by　the　bridge　when　he　came　to　the　town　with　him；　besides；　it　had　never　been　noticed；　even　in　the　past；　that　the　young　duke　had　spoken　to　Marie　or　exchanged　looks　with　her：　the　result　of　all　attainable　evidence　was；　that　no　stranger　had　entered　the　castle　the　evening　before　except　a　notary　named　Master　Nicholas　of　Melazzo；　an　old　person；　half　silly；　half　fanatical；　for　whom　Tommaso　Pace；　valet　de　chambre　to　the　Duke　of　Calabria；　was　ready　to　answer　with　his　life。　　Bertrand　yielded　to　the　queen's　reasoning；　and　day　by　day　advanced　new　suggestions；　each　less　probable　than　the　last；　to　draw　his　mistress　on　to　feel　a　hope　that　he　was　far　from　feeling　himself。

But　a　month　later；　and　precisely　on　the　morning　of　Monday　the　30th　of　April；　a　strange　and　unexpected　scene　took　place；　an　exhibition　of　boldness　transcending　all　calculations。　　The　Neapolitan　people　were　stupefied　in　astonishment；　and　the　grief　of　Joan　and　her　friends　was　changed　to　indignation。　Just　as　the　clock　of　San　Giovanni　struck　twelve；　the　gate　of　the　magnificent　palace　of　the　Durazzo　flung　open　its　folding　doors；　and　there　came　forth　to　the　sound　of　trumpets　a　double　file　of　cavaliers　on　richly　caparisoned　horses；　with　the　duke's　arms　on　their　shields。　　They　took　up　their　station　round　the　house　to　prevent　the　people　outside　from　disturbing　a　ceremony　which　was　to　take　place　before　the　eyes　of　an　immense　crowd；　assembled　suddenly；　as　by　a　miracle；　upon　the　square。　　At　the　back　of　the　court　stood　an　altar；　and　upon　the　steps　lay　two　crimson　velvet　cushions　embroidered　with　the　fleur…de…lys　of　France　and　the　ducal　crown。　Charles　came　forward；　clad　in　a　dazzling　dress；　and　holding　by　the　hand　the　queen's　sister；　the　Princess　Marie；　at　that　time　almost　thirteen　years　of　age。　　She　knelt　down　timidly　on　one　of　the　cushions；　and　when　Charles　had　done　the　same；　the　grand　almoner　of　the　Duras　house　asked　the　young　duke　solemnly　what　was　his　intention　in　appearing　thus　humbly　before　a　minister　of　the　Church。　　At　these　words　Master　Nicholas　of　Melazzo　took　his　place　on　the　left　of　the　altar；　and　read　in　a　firm；　clear　voice；　first；　the　contract　of　marriage　between　Charles　and　Marie；　and　then　the　apostolic　letters　from　His　Holiness　the　sovereign　pontiff；　Clement　VI；　who　in　his　own　name　removing　all　obstacles　that　might　impede　the　union；　such　as　the　age　of　the　young　bride　and　the　degrees　of　affinity　between　the　two　parties；　authorised　his　dearly　beloved　son　Charles；　Duke　of　Durazzo　and　Albania；　to　take　in　marriage　the　most　illustrious　Marie　of　Anjou；　sister　of　Joan；　Queen　of　Naples　and　Jerusalem；　and　bestowed　his　benediction　on　the　pair。

The　almoner　then　took　the　young　girl's　hand；　and　placing　it　in　that　of　Charles；　pronounced　the　prayers　of　the　Church。　　Charles；　turning　half　round　to　the　people；　said　in　a　loud　voice

〃Before　God　and　man；　this　woman　is　my　wife。〃

〃And　this　man　is　my　husband；〃　said　Marie；　trembling。

〃Long　live　the　Duke　and　Duchess　of　Durazzo！〃　cried　the　crowd；　clapping　their　hands。　　And　the　young　pair；　at　once　mounting　two　beautiful　horses　and　followed　by　their　cavaliers　and　pages；　solemnly　paraded　through　the　town；　and　re…entered　their　palace　to　the　sound　of　trumpets　and　cheering。

When　this　incredible　news　was　brought　to　the　queen；　her　first　feeling　was　joy　at　the　recovery　of　her　sister；　and　when　Bertrand　of　Artois　was　eager　to　head　a　band　of　barons　and　cavaliers　and　bent　on　falling　upon　the　cortege　to　punish　the　traitor；　Joan　put　up　her　hand　to　stop　him　with　a　very　mournful　look。

〃Alas！〃　she　said　sadly；　〃it　is　too　late。　　They　are　legally　married；　for　the　head　of　the　Churchwho　is　moreover　by　my　grandfather's　will　the　head　of　our　familyhas　granted　his　permissio