stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第25章
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funnel skilfully cut in the wall of box。 At my end the opening was rather
larger than a man's face； at the other end about as large as the palm of the
hand。 The funnel rose gradually； so that I took the further extremity of it to
be about seven feet from the ground； and here it disclosed a feather
dangling on a spray。 From the light falling strongly on this； I judged it to
be not in the hedge； but a pace or two from it on the hither side of another
fence of box。 On examining the remaining loopholes I discovered that they
bore upon the same feather。
My own mind was at once made up； but I bade my valet go through
the same investigation； and then asked him whether he had ever seen an
ambush of this kind laid for game。 He replied at once that the shot would
pass over the tallest stag； and； fortified by this； I mounted without saying
more； and we retraced our steps。 The hound presently slipped away； and
without further adventure we reached Fontainebleau a little after sunset。
I expected to be received by the king with coldness and displeasure；
but it chanced that a catarrh had kept him within doors all day； and； unable
to hunt or to visit his new flame； he had been at leisure in this palace
without a court to consider the imprudence he was committing。 He
received me； therefore； with the hearty laugh of a school…boy detected in a
petty fault； and as I hastened to relate to him some of the things which M。
de Boisrose had said of the Baron de Rosny； I soon had the gratification of
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perceiving that my presence was not taken amiss。 His Majesty gave orders
that bedding should be furnished for my pavilion； and that his household
should wait on me； and himself sent me from his table a couple of
chickens and a fine melon； bidding me at the same time to come to him
when I had supped。
I did so； and found him alone in his closet； awaiting me with
impatience； for he had already divined that I had not made this journey
merely to reproach him。 Before informing him； however； of my suspicions；
I craved leave to ask him one or two questions； and； in particular； whether
he had been in the habit of going to Malesherbes daily。
〃Daily；〃 he admitted； with a grimace。 〃What more； grand master？〃
〃By what road； sire？〃
〃I have commonly hunted in the morning and visited Malesherbes at
midday。 I have returned as a rule by the bridle…path； which crosses the
Rock of the Serpents。〃
〃Patience； sir； one moment；〃 I said。 〃Does that path run anywhere
through a plantation of box？〃
〃To be sure；〃 he answered； without hesitation。 〃About half a mile on
this side of the rock it skirts Madame Catherine's maze。〃
Thereon I told the king without reserve all that had happened。 He
listened with the air of apparent carelessness which he always assumed
when the many plots against his life were under discussion； but at the end
he embraced me again and again with tears in his eyes。
〃France is beholden to you；〃 he said。 〃I have never had； nor shall have；
such another servant as you； Rosny！ The three ruffians at the inn；〃 he
continued； 〃are the tools； of course； and the hound has been in the habit of
accompanying them to the spot。 Yesterday； I remember； I walked by that
place with the bridle on my arm。〃
〃By a special providence； sire；〃 I said； gravely。
〃It is true；〃 he answered； crossing himself； a thing I had never yet
known him to do in private。 〃But now； who is the craftsman who has
contrived this pretty plot？ Tell me that； grand master。〃
On this point； however； though I had my suspicions； I begged leave to
be excused speaking until I had slept upon it。 〃Heaven forbid；〃 I said； 〃that
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I should expose any man to your Majesty's resentment without cause。 The
wrath of kings is the forerunner of death。〃
〃I have not heard；〃 the king answered； drily； 〃that the Duke of
Bouillon has called in a leech yet。〃
Before retiring I learned that his Majesty had with him a score of light
horse； whom La Varenne had requisitioned from Melun； and that some of
these had each day awaited him at Malesherbes； and returned with him。
Further； that Henry had been in the habit of wearing； when riding back in
the evening； a purple cloak over his hunting…suit； a fact well known； I felt
sure； to the assassins； who； unseen and in perfect safety； could fire at the
exact moment when the cloak obscured the feather； and could then make
their escape； secured by the stout wall of box； from immediate pursuit。
I was aroused in the morning by La Varenne coming to my bedside
and bidding me hasten to the king。 I did so； and found his Majesty already
in his boots and walking on the terrace with Coquet； his master of the
household； Vitry； La Varenne； and a gentleman unknown to me。 On seeing
me he dismissed them； and； while I was still a great way off； called out；
chiding me for my laziness； then taking me by the hand in the most
obliging manner； he made me walk up and down with him； while he told
me what further thoughts he had of this affair； and； hiding nothing from
me； even as he bade me speak to him whatever I thought without reserve；
he required to know whether I suspected that the Entragues family were
cognizant of this。 〃I cannot say； sire；〃 I answered； prudently。
〃But you suspect？〃
〃In your Majesty's cause I suspect all；〃 I replied。
He sighed； and seeing that my eyes wandered to the group of
gentlemen who had betaken themselves to the terrace steps； and were
thence watching us； he asked me if I would answer for them。 〃For Vitry；
who sleeps at my feet when I lie alone？ For Coquet？〃
〃For three of them I will； sire；〃 I answered； firmly。 〃The fourth I do not
know。〃
〃He is M。 Louis d'Entragues。〃
〃Ah！ the count of Auvergne's half…brother？〃 I muttered。 〃And lately
returned from service in Savoy？ I do not know him； your Majesty。 I will
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answer to…morrow。〃
〃And to…day？〃 the king asked； with impatience。
Thereupon I begged him to act as he had done each day since his
arrival at Fontainebleauto hunt in the morning； to take his midday meal
at Malesherbes； to talk to all as if he had no suspicion； only on his return
to take any road save that which passed the Rock of the Serpents。
The king turning to rejoin the others； I found that their attention was
no longer directed to us； but to a singular figure which had made its
appearance on the skirts of the group； and was seemingly prevented from
joining it outright only by the evident merriment with which three of the
four courtiers regarded it。 The fourth； M。 d'Entragues； did not seem to be
equally diverted with the stranger's quaint appearance； nor did I fail to
notice； being at the moment quick to perceive the slightest point in his
conduct； that； while the others were nudging one another； his countenance；
darkened by an Italian sun； gloomed on the new…comer with an aspect of
angry discomfiture。 On his side； M。 de Boisrosefor he it was； the aged
fashion of his dress more conspicuous than everstood eyeing the group
in mingled pride and resentment； until； aware of his Majesty's approach；
and seeing me in intimate converse with him； he joyfully stepped forward；
a look of relief taking place of all others on his countenance。
〃Ha； well met！〃 quoth the king in my ear。 〃It is your friend of
yesterday。 Now we will have some sport。〃
Accordingly； the old soldier approaching with many low bows； the
king spoke to him graciously； and bade him say what he sought。 It
happened then as I had expected。 Boisrose； after telling the king his name；
turned to me and humbly begged that I would explain his complaint；
which I consented to do； and did as follows：
〃This； sire；〃 I said； gravely； 〃is an old and brave soldier； who formerly
served your Majesty to good purpose in Normandy； but he has been
cheated out of the recompense which he there earned by the trickery and
chicanery of one of your Majesty's counsellors； the Baron de Rosny。〃
I could not continue； for the courtiers； on hearing this from my mouth；
and on discovering that the stranger's odd appearance was but a prelude to
the real diversion； could not restrain their mirth。 The king； concealing his
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own amusement； turned to them with an angry air； and bade them be silent；
and the Gascon； encouraged by this； and by the bold manner in which I
had stated his grievance； scowled at them gloriously。
〃He alleges； sire；〃 I continued； with the same gravity； 〃that the Baron
de Rosny； after promising him the government of Fecamp； bestowed it on
another； being bribed to do so； and has besides been guilty of many base
acts which make him unworthy of your Majesty's confidence。 That； I think；
is your complaint； M。 de Boisrose？〃 I concluded； turning to the soldier；
whom my deep seriousness so misled that he took up the story； and；
pouring out his wrongs； did not fail to threaten to trounce me； or to add
that I was a villain！
He might have said more； but at this the courtiers； perceiving that the
king broke into a smile； lost all control over themselves； and； giving vent
suddenly to loud peals of laughter； clasped one another by the shoulders；
and reeled to and fro in an ecstasy of enjoyment。 This led the king to give
way also； and he laughed heartily； clapping me again and again on the
back； so that； in fine； there were only two serious persons presentthe
poor Boisrose； who took all for lunatics； and myself； who began to think
that perhaps the jest had been carried f
