from the memoirs of a minister of france- 第40部分

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　oblige　me　by　walking　as　far　as　the　end　of　the　gallery　with　me？〃

She　complied　involuntarily；　being　almost　unable　to　stand　alone。　But　the　two　had　not　proceeded　half…way　down　the　gallery　before　a　low　murmur　began　to　be　heard；　that；　growing　quickly　louder；　culminated　in　an　astonished　cry　of　〃Madame　de　Conde！　　Madame　de　Conde！〃

M。　Bassompierre　dropped　her　hand　with　a　low　bow；　and　turned　to　the　Queen。　　〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃this；　I　find；　is　the　lady　whom　I　saw　on　the　Terrace　when　Madame　Paleotti　was　so　good　as　to　invite　me　to　walk　on　the　Bois…le…Roi　road。　　For　the　rest；　your　Majesty　may　draw　your　conclusions。〃

It　was　easy　to　see　that　the　Queen　had　already　drawn　them；　but；　for　the　moment；　the　unfortunate　girl　was　saved　from　her　wrath。　With　a　low　cry；　Mademoiselle　Paleotti　did　that　which　she　would　have　done　a　little　before；　had　she　been　wise；　and　swooned　on　the　floor。

I　turned　to　look　at　the　King；　and　found　him　gone。　　He　had　withdrawn　unseen　in　the　first　confusion　of　the　surprise；　nor　did　I　dare　at　once　to　interrupt　him；　or　intrude　on　the　strange　mixture　of　regret　and　relief；　wrath　and　longing；　that　probably　possessed　him　in　the　silence　of　his　closet。　　It　was　enough　for　me　that　the　Italians'　plot　had　failed；　and　that　the　danger　of　a　rupture　between　the　King　and　Queen；　which　these　miscreants　desired；　and　I　had　felt　to　be　so　great　and　imminent；　was；　for　this　time；　overpast。

The　Paleottis　were　punished；　being　sent　home　in　disgrace；　and　a　penury；　which；　doubtless；　they　felt　more　keenly。　　But；　alas；　the　King　could　not　banish　with　them　all　who　hated　him　and　France；　nor　could　I；　with　every　precaution；　and　by　the　unsparing　use　of　all　the　faculties　that；　during　a　score　of　years；　had　been　at　the　service　of　my　master；　preserve　him　for　his　country　and　the　world。　Before　two　months　had　run　he　perished　by　a　mean　hand；　leaving　the　world　the　poorer　by　the　greatest　and　most　illustrious　sovereign　that　ever　ruled　a　nation。　　And　men　who　loved　neither　France　nor　him　entered　into　his　labours；　whose　end　also　I　have　seen。







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