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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1*0 1.8 ^ APPLIED IIVMGE Inc SSr^ 1653 Eas' Moin Street ^2 Rochester. N»w Yort- 14609 SA ■^ (716) 482 -0300 -Phone ^S (716) 288 - 5989 -Fox 7 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. TRANSLATED FROM THE;FRENCH OF PAUL FiSVAL. 4-^ Uttotttyf ttl * PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN LOVELL, FOB.SALK AT THE UOOKSTORES. 1868. .0? T On the fi towards s( vellars, w descended lay groape formed the Lazaretto t half league whose clot been on foo One of t: pitied, beinj appeared to wore the c voice and that be wai night rendei features, wh beautiful tre The other and robust. not deficient their vigour. see that he b end of a s girdle; a SOI to his kneo, i of bright cop trowel. Some lighi dOws of the ] travellers, be journey, gave " Eric, my lievethat I co ing hunsclf ai of the door, ' also- stopped, tender commi " Thon art Our beautifi Eve. You wo of Eve, to re who spoke— b you of that, ai •' i dared no good brother, hare carried m great a burde THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. CHAPTER r. Om the first day of March of the year 1202 'eCr«° "''"^'.''? '^ evening' two t;«: sellers, who tetmed harassed and fatigued descended the abrupt hill, at the foot of which ay grouped the conlused set of building! whch ormed the Lazaretto of St. Lazarus. From he h^^l':!}^ r" '' '^,'^'y-"^ reckoned a Jiau league, if not raore, and car two travallppq whose Clothing was all' covered wTth dust had been on foot since sunrise. ' One of them, the youngest, was mnch to be pitied, being a graceful and delicate child who appeared to be scarcely fifteen years of ago He wore the costume of a cavalier, but his mh thTh*"^ f'*'*'^"* ^e'"'' «««'««'» t" JenTte ni^ht r' T '*,"'• '^.P''^®- Tbe darkness of tl e night rendered it impossible to distingnish his ftaturcs whieh were further concealed by the beautiful tresses of his fair hair. ^ The other traveller, on the contrary, was tall not deficient an grace, were more remarkable Ibr their vigour. In spite of the obscurity, one could cna ot a staff. There were no arms in bis £'h a i * *''' f ^'""^ ^*«*ber apron descended toh,8kneo,and upon that appeared a trianfcle drtwaTf !i?\*' ""^"^ '^''"'^^ "^^ *'«' narrow win- ddws of the Lazaretto, and the youngest of our travellers, believing himself at^the end of hi journey, gave a long sigh of relief. " Bnc, my poor fric," said he, " I do not be- Iieve hat I could have taken another step I'' seat- •"8 himself at the same time on one ofX steM o the door, which led to the LazaJettr Eri^ also stopped, but shook his head withal air of tender commiseraUon. *" ThoD art then very tired, Eve," said he Our beautiful child with the fair hair was called Eye You would not have had to waiuhe rTply ot bre, to recognize that it was a young girl vou of^lT'*^''^'''^''*' ^<»"''l hare'oon^fed you of that, and Rv« ropii« chefs' <<.?£J- .Paf '8. where she is a prisoner I" f„i ^k'!'"A^ P "''" ««><* Eric, rising to the ftill height of hM tall figure. " Ilad mt God been with us, we should have neri«h«d ten iwZ- E^' 2."^ u" P*"*'.*"' ""e land andof fhi'sea.'^ fll^f^ bereyeg fixed in thedirection of Paris. to h!a«„ w?""*''/""' <**"'*» <'e"ent prayer to hema. When she rose, she found she had ':if 4 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. recovered a little strength, and (eaniii;; upon tlie arm of Erie, they resumed their road, 8ci\rcciy during to exchange a word, for fear of wasting the breath now bo necessary to carry them through. From the few words, however, that did escape thoni, it could be gathered that they came from the North coimtry, — that they had crossed the Baltic sea in a Danish vessel, and had landed at the north of the Elbe. Krora thence they had directed their steps towards Paris— passing on foot through Uatavia, Belgium, and France. Their resources were ot the most modest description ; for they spoke of all sorts of privations that they had borne on the road. As to the motive which had led them to under- take that ' iiig and painful journey, one could only guess it from their conversation. It is only in the dramas of the high school, where you will find the dramittis jiersuna: mutually explaining, , with minute care, matters with which each are marvellously well acquainted beforehand: this intuitiveness is the ell'ort of art— our hero and heroine were children of nature. All that is permitted us to infer from the few words that were exchanged between Eric and his sister is, that they were pursuing the accom- plishment of a mysterious mission, full of peril, and that they worked with a rare courage, but that their humble strength bore no proportion to the greatness of their task. They had now passed the stream of Menil- montant, which courses round the northern boundary of Paris, and empties itself into the Seine, behind la Ville-Evoque. They were walk- ing in the midst of cultivated grounds, having on their left the high walls of the Abbey St. Martin ; night was coming on, and the roads were com- pletely deserted. All at once they heard the sound of horses' feet, in the direction of the Lazaretto. Eric pressed the arm of bis sister. " The prophecy I" whispered Eric. Eve trembled. They both stopped and gained the hedge which bordered the road. The horse- men approached. The moon, which was now rising dull and red behind the towers of the Abbey of St. Martin des Champs, enabled Eric and his sister to distinguish the profiles of the new- comers. There were two, the one wearing knight's armour, the other bad upon his shaved head the turban of a Saracen. There was but one thought in the bead of poor Eve. The Prophecy I the Prophecy I We shall know presently what that prophecy was. The Knight said to the Saracen — " Well, then, comrade, so you have come to Paris to kill a man ?" " Yes, my lord, to kill a man." " And might we learn the name of that man?" " You cannot learn it, my lord." " Not by begging hard ?" " That would be useless." " Nor by fighting hard for it ?" " That would be dangerous 1 " " Possibly. Thou hast, indeed, the air of a bold fellow, my man— and, besides, should I kill the« that would be a, miaerabk way of getting al thy secret." " And if I should kill thee, my lord," added the Infidel frankly, " thou would'sl be none the wiser." " True," said the knight, laughing. There was then a pause. The Christian and the Saracen had now passed the place where Eric and his sister were sheltered ; — the latter followed tho horsemen, keeping close tu the he()gp. " Comrade," resumed tho knight,. " this is a strange adventure ; for I also am going to Pari.'*, bui tu kill a woman I" Kna and his sister trembled to tho marrow of their bones. " The prophecy I" whispered both at once, Tho Snrncen seemed to take the thing as a matter of course, for he replied, yawning— " Ah ! thou art going to kill a woman ; my lord," he added, however, " is it thy wife ?" " No," replied the chevalier. Another pause. After some seconds the knight resumed— " Is your man easy to kill ?" " The most difficult man to kill m the whole kingdom, my lord," " It must then be the king ?' " I have told you that you cannot know hii name. And your woman V " She is also tho most difficult woman to kill in the whole kingdom." " That must then be the queen ?" The knight then burst into laughter. Eric was obliged to put his hand over the mouth of Eve, to prevent her crying out. The moon had now risen over the towers of the Abbey, and the knight availed himself of the opportunity to examine better his strango companion. " Ah, hal" exclaimed he," it is, then, with tho blows of a hammer that thou desirest to kill thy man." " The way signifies nothing, my lord," replied the Infidel, who bore the scrutiny of the knight with a grave courtesy. In short, the Saracen carried, like our frieud Eric, a trowel by his side, and a heavy stone- cutter's hammer over his shoulder. " What does that meau ?" asked the Christian. " You miscreants have secrets of your own." " It is the simplest thing in the world, my lord," said the Infidel; "one cannot always kill, when one would." " To whom tellest thou that ?" intenupted the knight, smiling. " Ah," said the Saracen, " it must then bo a long time since thou did'st any work, my lord ?" " A very long time." (< For my part, I have scented a man seveu years, and havo tracked him over six thousand leagaes." " Pish t and hast thou killed him T " The first day of the eighth year, my lord, yes— I say then it is necessary to wait tliy oppor- tunity— livo to wait, and eat to live : this ham- mer is my bread-winner." " Thou art, then, not a man of arms?" " I am a mason, my lord." " And how callest thou thyself?" " Mahmoud el Reis." " Ah, well, Habmoud el Reis, I believe that thou art s precious rogue ; — perhaps one had better enter into a compact with the evil one than with thee ; but——" " But," i and tool, ' 11 y lord." " Exactl. two soul.-i, i iJom, let us '• J am vt "I will slittlt give r '• AitreeiJ 'liristian ami [ilace wiieiu ; — the latter :lose to llio I " this ii :\ ling to I'ari^, marrow of 1 at once. e tbing h3 a rning — woman ; my r wife ?" h the knight in the whole- ot know hij oman to kill iter. ind over the gout. he towers of d himself nf bis strang'i hen, with tin; 3t to kill thy lord," replied )f the knight :e our frieu'l heavy atouc- he Christian. 3ur own." le world, roy : always kill, tenupted the st thon be a k, my lord ?" i man seven six thousand ?" ar, my lord, it tliy oppor- e : this ham- ms?' believe that ips one bad evil one than THE TWO WIVES OP THE KINO. " But," inttrposed the Saracen, always grave and tool, " you have not the evil one at liuud, uy lord." " Exactly, since thy man and my woman are two soul.-", bearing the highest crests iu the king- dom, let us league together." '• / am very willing." '•' I will help thee with thy man, and thou shult give me a shoulder with my woman.' " Agreed." " Wliere art thon to b;; found ?" " At the purtiilu of Notre Dame, where I cut stonea afier the manner of the Haraeon." " Good J thou shult hear from me. Ju revoir." The knight win ubuut, to use hia spurs, when the Sanveen, without ceremony, retained h'M by seizing the bridle of lii.-j borae. " TUoii hast forgotten to tell me thy name, my lord,' said he. The kniglit appeared to hesitate a moment but he recuvercd liimdelf, and replied, '• 1 am Amaury Montrucl, Lord of Anet, and the friend uf tlic kiug." " Friend of tlie king ?" repeated the Saracen ; " and one may lind tlieo — ?' "At tlio tower of the Louvre." Mahmoud released the bridle and bowed ; Montruel left ut a gallop. "Friend of the king I' repeated Mahmoud again. Then Eric and his sister saw him bear over the neck of his horse, who neighed slightly, bounded off and disappeared with incredible swiftness. " ilahmoud el Reis — Amaury Montruel I For- get not these two names, Eve," said Eric. CHAPTER II. Not far from the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, and beyond the city of Upsal, there was an im- mense forest, consecrated to the worship of the god Thor. In the forest lived the prophetess Mila, who commanded the winds and the tem- pests. Nobody had been able to find out the place of Alila's abode ; but whoever required her services, had to betake themselves to the edge of the forest precisely at mid-day, and there sound a horn seven times. Seven days after, at midnight, if the same person went to the same spot, Mila would be there to meet him. Old men said that in their youth, Mila was more than one hundred years old. When a voice from on high had ordered Eric and Evo to leave France, they went to interro- gate Mila. Eric and Eve were children of the peasant Atho, a vassal, holding directly from Canute, King of the Danes : and though Chris- tians, they were still under the influence of the superstitions of the north. One day at noon Eric sounded the horn seven times on the borders of the dreaded forest, and seven days ufier. at the hour of niidnigli.t. Eve and himself stood trembling on the same spot. Mila was at the rendezvous. She was a woman taller than any man of war, i'er floating grey locks fell over lier liiuk shouMer.J, her eyes siKme in the darkness from the dei>tli of their cavernous orbits. " If you wish to leave,' suid she, "de|)art!" before they hud put a (inestioii to her ; " the roud will remain open to you for one year ; you will .sillier hunger anil culd ; but you will lirrivo at tlie cud of your journey.' "Andslmll wo be saved?" demanded Eve. " Thinkest thou to be stronger lliuu fate?" muttered the prophetess. Then she addeil, " Listen to me. Win u you approaeli the walls of the great city, llie llrn per?oii Iliat you meet on horiebaek, nud talking of ileulli, will he ihe enemy of her that is dear to you, her enemy, and her misfurtune. The second person that you shall meet will be Destiny. Withdraw. ' Eric and Eve wished to ask more ; but uu in- vincible and rcsi.slless force bore them mvay from the forest. The journey lasted a year. The first person that they met on horseback, under tijc wail.s of Paris, sjioke of death. The journey lasted a year, because the peasant Atho was poor; though he was the king's vas.^al, and his wife had uourisbed at her own breast the daughter of the (picen. The children of Atho did not carry mucli money. In order to subsist, Eric had been obliged to work, with his trowel and hammer, through nil the towns where they had passed. The prophecy had been proved true on two point- out of the three. There re- mained to bo solved the third. Before entering Paris the children of the peasant were going to encounter " Destiny." When Mahmoud el Reis disappeared in the darkness, Eric and Eve rogumcd their way. " It was of her that tlicy spoke," said Eve, " my heart tells it me." " Ye,s, yes," replied Eric. '■ I trembled to the marrow of my bones. It was of her tliat tliey spoke.' lie hurried on. Eve no longer felt the pain of her poor little wouuded feet ; besides the object was so near 1 They heard already the voice of the sentinels, who kept watch in the turrets of the Porte aux Peintres. But Paris, like every paradise, (and according to our roguish old uncles, Paris is at least the paradise of woman,) has nlWH ""ien difficult of access. The sentries of those _■ 'nt times were not les? disagreeable than the i;n en-coated gentry, fathers of families, who at the present day have the care of our bar- riers. It is even possible that they were still more disagreeable ; indeed, if the modern green- coats imprudently put their dirty hands into the boxes of your carriage, when they are out of temper, still they allow you to pass on without beating you like a dog. The soldiers of that day, on the contrary, whold beat you like a dog, and not allow you to enter afterwards. The soldiers who guarded the Porte au.^ Pein- tres told our two travellers to go to the Porte de Nicholas Iludrjn. On their arrival there they found it closed ; the soldiers who kept it cried out to Eric, " Friend, go tn the Port." Moritm.arfre !" They retraced their steps, and gained the Porte Montmartre— it was closed. " Ilola," cried some one from the high ram- It' , fc 11 >.} •., '(•■' ii THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. p«rl«, " do yni: not know that at thig hour tlio only cntranco h by the Porto Coquilliiro?" Half-wny froi,. I'orto Ooqiiilliure, they lieird a clock Btriku ; it waa I'orto (;(Kiuilli6re, cIosIdk '" its turn. And you may believe thot those pre- caiitionM were not usoleM, at n, time when the night will iho projicrty of tliicvcn ; liowcTor, through tho wicket of I'orto Coqudliiire a. set- gi'iint criou out to thorn, " Ik-wiire of npproacliing here ; go nnd Hoe If thry will nllf w you to ont^r by I'orto Ht. Uonorii, which it) lull open to-night lor the piwuago of tho king." " iMy good nmstf r," d«mnnd«d Eric, " can you riiroct us, lifter pnasiiig Porte Ht. Honord ?" '• There n tho river, where they ought to drown nil such riiacnls as you I' Kric and hi,4 sister resumed their journey • it wm H sad welcome to the City of I'uri.^. ' •' .My bi'uiher,' said Kve, "aliall wo seekhoapi- lality at some nioniiitery?" Eric was angry. " [ know not," aain or by fire, but fa- tigue has killed him. We have come from such a long distance, and the archers refused as an entranon into Paris, where wo might hare found a bed and nourishment." " Kutigue woundu an badly as iron or fire, I know thai," murmured the unknown. Then ho added, turning to his page — " Albrct, (lisniount my son; thou hast good legs, II mi the way in not long from hero to the IloUd do Neslc." Ho far "Destiny" showed himself propitious. The page obeyed inimedialely and coinplais- antly assisted Eric to place the pretended young boy upon the saddle. " lie is very light," said the page. Then added, addressing him, "mount tlieo, nlso, if thou wishest, friend, my horse can carry three at need, and another still— like tho celebrated horse of the four son.-", Aymon." Eric replied, " I am a man, and will walk, to testify my graliiudo and my respect to itie noble lord who hiw furnished lis with a.ssistunco." " As thou will, friend," said the page— and he look tlio lead. The gentleman approached his horse to tho side of the traveller. " Thv compuni^. seem.^ very young," said he, " to' undertake such a journey." " True, my lord," said Eric, " but you know necessity has no law.' Eve lowered her head, for she saw that tho gentleman was watching tier— while she had no necessity to turn her eyes upon hira— for she had So thoroughly scanned him at their first meeting tliat the features of tho unknown were engraved upon her memory. She found a strange iniijesty in his giave and sonorous voice. Poor Eve was thinking of the pro|iliecy of Mila. Albret, the page, who was walking in advance, said to himself, " Never have I seen a young bov so light as that," " " It i.s necessity, then, that has brought theo to Paris ?" enquired the gentleman. " Ves, my lord." " And from what country comest thou ?" Eric did not seem disjiosed to tell the truth on this question, for he answered without hesita- ting— " My lord, we come from the city of Cologne, upon the Rhine, where they have skilful workers in stone. The gentleman turned his eves, which had re- mained fixed upon Eve, towards Eric. Evo breathed more freely. " I had not remarked," said he " that thou carried tlie hammer and trowel. Art thou a Freemason ?' " Ves, my lord, I received the Accolade at Ais- la-Chapcllo from the hands of Master Cornelius Hausser, the first and the last." " And thou art sure of finding occupation at Paris?' " Occupation?" repeated Eric, with a singular inflexion of voice ; " Oh, yes, ray lord," and his eyes drooped under the piercing look of tho gentleman. " I mean occupation as a stone-cutter," said the latter. Eric hesitated. " May God reward you, my lord, ■ ropileu im at last, " for the charitable interest you have taken in a poor man. I know a little of master Christian the Dane, who fol- THE TWO WIVKS OF THE KINO. lowcil queen Ingebiirpte, when Kite came over to marry tlio king of Paris. Hut ClirLitiun may littv.' no groat credit, now that the noor qufou id in ili^grace." " All, all !" laid the gentlcmnn, with an oir of couMtraint, "then they know down tboro that the <|iiecn U in fKsgiacu?" " Wo also know my lord, that ilic king liax given her place to Madnmo A^ncx, daughter of Utri''oud do Mcran, the llohemian." ' daughter of Uerthoud, Uuko of Mcranie," corrected dryly, tin; genllcnian. "I will call that woman according to the good pleasiiri'of my lord," miid Kric ; "for excepting t.hrniian the I)an<>, [ know not u livinu' soul in the great city of I'arirt." '• And thou wisliest to engage thyself atuonj; the artuans) that King I'illip Augustus employs upon tlio mouumcutj of hii capital. Is ii uot do, my IV i end T ' " Tliat would bo my dearest wish." "lint thy young companion is not Ktrong enough to handle the hammer ? ' "OhjSaidKrir," hlu.shing lightly, "my young brother mi.Te.s the mortar and carries the Hand." " U hat, with such liands a.i these ?" inter- rupted the unknown. Evo hiil her hands under her ca^.sock. The gcnllemaii smiled. " 1' riend," aaid he, afterwards brusquelv, " there is the city gate, and now we seimrate. " How do they call thee ?' " They call nio Eric, my lord." " That is a northern name," said the unknown, with .1 slight frown. " My father, who settled on the River Bhinc, caniu from Norway, my lord." •'And thy young brother?' Eric was not prepared for this simple question, and was opening hid mouth to repeat the name of his sister Eve,— when the young girl, antici- pating him, replied in her soft and gentle voice— " I am called little Adam, noble lord 1" They arrived at the Porto St. llonord, which was wide open; twelve archers, .si.x on each side, were drawn up under the gateway. The captain ct tho gate stood, hat i.i hand, upon the threshold of tho guard-house. Tho gcutleman passed and .saluted, withhis hand, while tho soldiers received him with military honours. Eric and his sister exchanged a look of aston- ishment. They could not understand how it was ihat they were not turned out, and saluted still as rogues and vagabonds. Tho gate closed heavily behind them. The gentleman, who had passed through first, now turned round. " Little Adam," said he, addressing Eve, when they had got about fifty stcpa from the gate, " 1 wake thee a present of this little purse, in which are twelve 6cu3 in gold, in order that thou mayest remember me." Eve dismounted, and the |iage took the bridle of the horse. Eve, con- fused and happy, received the purse with respect ; nor did she withdraw her forehead, when the gentleman, bending graciously over his saddle planted there the kiss of a friend. " As to thee, Eric," resumed he, "to-morrow HiorQiug ihuu wiit go and seek Maurice do Hully, bishop of Paris, and beg him for tho love he bears me to employ thee oa the works of bis cathedraL" " On the works at N.jtro Damo ? ' orclairaed Kric," that i^ what I desire more than anythiu!/ iu the world!' ' "* "liulet'd? Ah, well, mon maiirr, then every, thing miei right, ^lu revoir, litllo Adam j I wish iheo happincin. He vfiii leaviug, whou Eric calleil to him— " My lord, my bird I in whone name am I lo present myself to my lord the Dishop of Paris?" Ill his turn the uiiknowu now appeared to hesi- tate an in.Htaui, then he replied with u smile, "in the nanu' of hi^ gos-iip, bieudonnd." He turned the angle of a. ntreet which ascended towards St. Kustaclie, and disaiipeared, followed by Albrel, Un page,— who said to himself, " N'lver saw 1 lad with skin so white anu ey« so soft ! ' ' CHAPTER 111. .''(10 and his sister stood alone, in tho middle ol he street .St. llouord ; Evo holding in hor hanu 'he purse which tho unknown lord had generously given her. The rue St. Honored wai one of the largest and most beautiful in the whole city ; but wo are eonstrainod to acknowledge that that is not say- ing much. Everyone knows tliatut that period, and for a long liiuo after, the houses of Pari.s did not present their froiitd to tho public highway. Each hou.so projected over the street the shadow of Us narrow gablo end, pierced with small \yindowa ami guarded with iron bars; for the fii-it requirement of u house at that day was, that It might servo at need for a fortress to its dwell- ers. Theso gable-ends had no windows in tho basement, and there were none <*f those brilliant shops which, in our day, light up our streets better than tho public lamps. The ordinary buying and selling took jilacc in s.u.ji^ grouped together as at a fair, and were kept open ooLv till sunset. * The taverns, as much frequented then as to» da.v, had their dark entrances at tho bottom of loni.' and tortuous alleys. Public society as well as the family circle was concentrated far from the street, which was left exclusively for male- factors. In those dark nights of ancient Pari.', tho hungry thieves laid wait for tho rare passen- gers whoso necessities compelled him to bo out late, but scarcely earned their bread at it. A prudent bourgeois would rather have leaped from tho top to the bottom of tho ramparts than bo perambulating those dark haunts at night. Tho gentlemen of that day were always preceded by torch-bearers, and servants with drawn sword.^-. It was a sorry trade that of the robber; but their ranks were always overcrowded. In the midstof that silent obscurity, disturbed only by the roar of the orgies going on down the aforesaid alleys, Eric and Eve felt more lost than in the ojwn fields, or in tho plantations of the Louvre. They knew not which way to move. The street lay before them dark and tortuous. In tho distance they could perceive some trem- bling light smoking under some one of the votive offerings which, down to a very late day, wera to be found stuck up in our highways. ».■>■ '4; 8 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. F,vo, friglitpiicd, prcgsod ngainst lier brother, to whom thP darkness seemed full of threatening I'hnDtoms. Indeed they were both so frightened that they thonglit not of (lio prophecy. Ah I had some tliicf, np to ids trade, appeared at lliat mouieiit, liow cheap he might have ob- tained that imrso of goid, tliongli Eric had his iron hammer over liis shoulder, and a brave lieart in his l)reaat? Tiio darkness oppressed and paralyzed liim ; 'he dark jierspective of the luc St. llonor«S appeared to him unfathomable, and he had no longer the courage to take a stej) tor ward or br.ck ward. At that moment a slow and grave melody fell upon the cars of our two travellers. It was a cliorns of men singing In llie German language. Eric listened, and the blood seemed to warm in his vein.s, as if he had suddenly in his distress heard the sound of some well-beloved voice. Tlie chorus ai>proached, and they could distinguish these words : " It is a great distance from sea to sea. "Where does tliat bird go to, which remains on the shores of the niiine only three months in the summer ? " Wc build high towers that the swallows mav nestle therein." Eve fell iulo the arms of her brother, and her joyous emotion brought tears into her eyes. The chorus continued : ''Lisa I Lisa! daughter of our master I Lisa, child of out old man. " Where is the hammer? The husband of Lisa Bhonld bo the strongest of us. '•■ Since she is the fairest of the fair. "When the swallows return, the copper vane shall bo turning on the finished tower." A light now appeared at the end of the street, while the measured step of a troop of man kcDt time with their song. The song continued : " Master, master, thy daughter has borne a son, and thou art happy, and the sons of tin- daughter shall bo called after thee. " The shining trowel is the sword of the Arti- san—we will all attend at the baptism. " Arc Bottho bells in our towers already rusty for want of ringing?" The street was now full of men, who advanced, imnd in hand, carrying lances without points, but ornamented with flowers. As they stopped before a paved doorway, Eric took his sister by the hand, and approached them, joining in the chant. " The swallow is come. His nest is in the tower. Master, alas ! the bells ring, " Thee and thy daughter must die, we shall all die ; but the tower shall live. " And after a thousand years, it will still be the house of the swallows." The man who walked in advance of the troop struck his lance against the pavement of the street. " Who art thou, comrade?" exduimed he, ad- dressing Eric. " I am of the haratnor and trowel," replied the young man. '^ •■ Knowcsi ihou any of us?' " I am one of you." " By what title ?" " Hy the title of free companion." The chiet of the troop was a little in advance of his comrades, who had stopped, and were list- ening. " Approach," said he to Eric, " and Ik thv hand speak to my hand !" Their hands touched and they e.\clianged tlmt mysterious sign which has ever been llie pass- port of the lirotherhood of Freemasonry. " Oh, ho!' said the chief of tlic band, tuniinQ- towards his troop, '•our friond is a cousin .ff Solomon. I have recognized from his finger ends the accent of Cologne; open vour ranks, niv pretty follow-i, and hail the arrival of a brotlier'"' Brother!'' cried the clioristers,— ' we! conic, since thou bringest thy stone to tlic tempi " liut he is not alone," said a voice in tjio crowd. " Who is this ?•' said the chief, pointing to Eve. " Eric tor.k his sister by the hand. " Woman ' said he, " is an easy prey to the evil-disposed • but I am now at tlio end of my wanderings, and' i do not distrust my brothers. This girl is nn- sistcr." •^ " The sister of our brother is our sister," said the ciiief gravely, "enter both of yon with us." The sticks rattled again upon the door, whicli was opened, and an instant after tlie street was silent and deserted. Prom tlic threshold of a neighbouring doorway a mi.s-shaped object, like a bundle of rags, began to move, and iVoni a dirty cowl of coarse stuff, which denoted a vaga- bond monk, there proceeded a whistle. A simi- lar whistle answered from the other end of tlio street, and another bundle of r.ags i)ut itself in motion. I have already said that the trade of a robber had gone to the Evil One in those timc^ III consequence of the keen competition. ' '• Ezek.el !" said the first bundle of tatters " Trcfouilloux!" replied the second hean of rags. " They -\\. re both close to me," said Trefoiiil- loux! m a oitter tone of regret. " I was about to plant my knife between the shoulders of llie tallest one- — the little one was but a woman ' "Ah!" said Ezekiel, in a melancholy tone, " we have no luck." Trefouilloii.v took his forehead in both hands under the soiled debris of his cowl. "And yet they say that king piiillip governs his kingdom well," groaned he, " to allow snch Idlers to run the streets after the couvre-feii has sounded !" " That's a great scandal," sighed Ezekiel, " it IS horrible I" ' Trefouilloux thrust his cutlass into the twistxi rag that served him for a girdle, atid our two unfortunates resumed their way. Alas! all the rest of the night nobody passed ; and thev had to tighten their waists iie.\t moruing for want of a bwakfast. But in our days I can aftirni that the night thieves breakfast on good beefsteak, and chickens' legs, cm impiUoUs. Why ? because we have now a well-ordered police, so they say ; and because a good police gives confidence— and lier^UQe flnnpnliit^,.^ I,..n« 4lw.:j. „-*; _ -- - .. i.ii_D _| i..i,ii .,. ,,), ir aciiun un coni!- dence. AVo pray that those speculators, who work by day— will be pleased to remark that we make a distinction between them and the night thieves. ;^-- THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 9 Preemnsonry wag a beautiful institution in ,ie (lays when it sbed over onr soil tlio raiirvolg of tliose illnstrious temples, loft for our admiration in the tliree last corlnrios of the miilillo agog. Notre Dauic wm tlie commencement of that Hplciidid and Christian art ; then followed tlie Cathedral ot Cologne ; then Sirasbnrg ; and lastly, Westminster— that glorioug jewel of Lon- don. Other artg remained in their infancy. The masons alone— we desire not to encroach on the title of architects — the masong alone conveyed ill their inspiration the simple mystery of the Christian idea ; reaching at one bound tlie utmost limits of the grand and beautiful, and studding Europe all over with chefn-d'teurre. They went forth the disciplined instruments of a will, one and hidden ; the labom- of their life was but a cipher in the unheard of amount of labour that the ogo expended. Often they knitted but one mesh of that gigantic tissue. Very rarely, at least, those wlio saw the laying of the first stone of the edifice, lived to witness the cele- bration of its opening. But what signifies that ? Their task wag ful- filled. They had lived to work and sing; thev had fought iu the army of peaceful soldiers. True, their name died with them ; but were tliey not named collectively— Westminster, or Xotrc Dame of Paris ? These vast association.? bore the stamp of a Northern origin. Tlie Ghiides had for a long time overrun Norw.iy, Sweden, Denmark, Ger- many, and even Hungary. The St. Vchnie succeeded to the dispersed Ghiides, and had its free judges, from the Danube to the Loire. Free- masonry cania only tliird in these old and illus- trious institution.s, though onr modern adepts liretend to trace its origin up to the sons of King D.ivid. However that may be, we repeat that Freemasonry was a serious and strong institution. It jirotccted the weak, and honoured tlie strong, and flourished because it was wise and just. The place into which Eric and his sister were introduced was a broad and long hall, forming the whole basement of the house. All around the apartment might be rend sentences framed iu circles of oak leaves. Here and there hung ma.sonic trophies. I'pon a raised platform stood an iron tripod, surmounted by a level which b.ilanced itself from the arch. The fete which had gathered tho Freemasons of Paris together was intended for the solemn reception of a new ailcpt. When the candidate entered, Eric and Eve were both struck with the same thought ; they had seen that man some- where before. He was a young man of slender but nervous form ; his long, pale face had a singular e.vpression of intelligence- his blnck eyes ?hnnc like two carbuncles, under 'he deeply arched eyebrows. He walked with a light, quick step towards tho tripo.l, where he seated liim.self. On being asked his name, he reiilied. " Jeau Cador."' The sound of lija voice was snfiieient .it once to restore him to the memory of onr two travellers Eric pressed tightly the arm of Evo. Either that man lied at that moment, or he had lied two hoursi liefore, under tho walls of the Abbey St. Martin, for he had then said to Amanry Montriicl, Lord of Anet, and friend of tje King, " " -My name is Mahmoud cl Reis." CHAPTER IV. The Chevalier Dieudonn,5, the " Destiny" of Milus prophecy, on leaving our two travellers whom he had so generously taken under his prol tec , on, ascended, as we have already said, one ot he narrow and unpaved alleys which opened S F , nn ""; '";' «'-"°"'"-'^' ""J led towards bt. Eustache. In that narrow nllev there would Tiefomlloux, if not many more. Uut these good people seldom attacked well-.irmed and well- mounted knights Hunger weakened them and made hem tira.d ; it was only one or two cen- turies later, that increased security made provi- s.on.s more plentiful in the Court of Miracles. Aflera few minutes ride the Chevalier Dieudonn6, and Ins handsome page, Albret, stopped before a m,i9Sive sculptured door, which served as an entrance to a building as large as the Louvre, where the king lived. "u«il, This builtiing, isolaf d surrounded by high rees, occupied nearly . same s,,ot as the pre- Hotel de Ncsle and belonged to Jean H, Lord ?Lt f' ",',"' ^'""'■''^"'<^ "'■ "--"K^. Elides HI, Duke of Burgogne, one of the most powerfu vassals of the King of France, was alsi nt this motnen residing there, as the guest of its master. Ludes de IJourgoguo wa.s not what one could pro- per y call a rebel ; he fought f.r the king during ^ar, but during pease he gave him that unceas- ing opposition, which renders the comparison of he grcftt vassals of the middle age to the grea bourgeois of our own times perfectly intelligible The comparison is, perhaps, not very flattering to the grea vassals of the Middle Ages ; but we must say what we think. The Due de Hourgogne kept up an intercoiir,se with Pope Innocent III, prince had been the mojiarch only of a do7,en people Burgogue had also an understanding with Leaudoin of Mauders.and John Sans Terre also counted a little upon Eudes de Bourgogne. * * * • • • That the reader may be better enabled to fol- low our tale, it is indispensable that we relate in a few words the circumstances in which France and her king found themselves at this juncture Ihilhp Augustus was not apriuco'frce from defects, nor can we pretend to conceal that he was the prime cause of all the embarrassments which marked his long and brilliant reign. I'hil- l.p Augustus was at the period we are speaking ot about thirty-five or thirty-six years of n-e and hat occupied the throne since lii.s flfteeiuh year I e was the sixth king in descent from Hugh Capet. The opening of his reign wa.s stormy btU giorions. He Bubjugated Burguudv aijd I- landers, and annihilated the pretensions of King Henry of England, father of Richard Cosur de Lion and John. History accuses Henry of having abused tho confidence of the Young Alice of France, sister Wc |i"-| hm 'it •y. ?f; 10 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINa hLrilL'r-® ";"'^'''° ^"^ •^^o" confided to hi3 care by Ivmg Louis, as the affianced wife of Henry s eldest son, Henry of the Short Cloak. ,roarlH.riT',? "" '' ,*''""' ^''''''P "'"^t ^<^ re- proached with never having punished that in- famoiis outrage. Uichard Occur do Lion w ,u d not accept that part of the heritage oT is S'"'!^:"'' •'"J""'«J ''i^ ""^rriage witl. Augustus, at that time quite young, from form- va^^nl" '"/■.'""^.'■'■''••^dship Ink Richard l?^s Itftf , ''■'""J-'l^'P 'Ulended with strange Wcis- s.tudes-but qualified by historians as chivalrous • * • • • Phillip A „gu.,tus and Richard Cmur de Lion went together to the Crusades. In that land of adventures the king of England completely eclipsed the king of France. He was more 3 omo more brilliant,and more da..l:„g- rongor tus was therefore jealous of his friendand vassal and o such a degree ns to cause him a dangt: the HO ofn ^' " 'T,r ""^' ^'■^'"'r'l. ^killfuH I tue use ot arms and dar ng to follv excited nni versal admiration. Ho was the he^o of tl e" Crusade... J^omaucers adopted him for their ow'if though the Crusades had no result ' Indeed that was the fate of all Richard's un dertakings Phillip returned to France Richa"3 who wished also to recover his esta"etwa made prisoner on reaching Austria ; and h^^e haZn' h?sto";of" .h""r ^""''^ '''^'° °ff^- S l"e Idol's- '=^'3£;£s^?^: roj-al prisoner, are well known It 13 said, also, that when the celebrated Trou badour 13 ond.l, replied with this guttor toX song which he heard Richard, his king sine n^ rom lis dark tower, and whe . •'uTfevel^ lante had succeeded ia sending to sTeen lit trJohn' '!,"J,t'--'»^,'"-3 -"astef Phillip"! r '^ ilu we «hn n'r- "'° ''"'" '^ unchained I" iiut we should distrust all that is found in fim dictionaries ; the special mission of these di ion naries beiug ,o mystify those for whose usJ they are fabricated. IJuf ;„ inot rni,„ ,r i , > care. He betrayed Phlui >"a t' ha'd befrayed fe'Sel'the-lwo'Ss."" "" *"--'^'"- honi"!v i'' .'"• '■'' ''"'"'^ y°""'. I^ad married Isa- ingeburge ^ A:,^i^.f^„te 'oT^Del'i", "T^^ burge was adorably beautiful, and m' ch in ad-" Bu 1 er 'bS:"" r' " ?'' ""^•""'^ of 'her miud." „dS ..V™" "'"^^ '■« '•«P"di'^ted rn^ebur^« who ame daS't^r T2lf 'T'\^'^'''' ^'"^ M«'- who' baTasstm^edX mie'^'rlr 'Xy''f I vorce, followed by a second maSS; tlXi- ily of w-hich was more than doubtful, was the source of ali the fracas which embarrassed « grand reign of Phillip. Ingeburge protested! tlamdirs""^ "* convent, and the Pope issued his As to La belle Agnes, she conducted herself ike a woman who desired to give future ages an Idea that she had played the chief role in a tia" gedy. .She i)ei-formed the part of Queen licreuice she intngued, she flattered, and amazed the world with her tale of lore. lucoinplote as are the details left us bv con. temporary writers, it is impossible to hesitate a moment in estimating the character of these two bo"u,'ti"f,',/"f' '^",''^° ^'"^ ^^''^'- '^''"•'>' ^'^''^ ''-^l!' ueaititul, but Ingeburge was as superior to her rival as the sun is superior to the stars It is triie, that poor Queen Ingeburge had her unlove- able name against her. But PiiiUip Auo-ustus had adorned the daughter of the IJoht^nliau iJeithoud- whose proper name was Marie— with the name of Agnes ; could be not have done as much for lugeburgo ? Besides the frightful name ' Ingeburge" was duo to French i-rouunciarn 111 the days when she was a happy younir c'iri the princess of Denmark was called Angelbor After the death of Richard, Phillip missed tbat spur which was constantly urging him on to audacious enterprises. We cannot say that ho was lulled to sleep in the arms of Agncs-for their romance of love was at best but a rhyme m versos of six feet-but ho plunged into his war Willi the Holy See as into an agreeable pastime, till the deati. of youngDuke ArthurdeBretaffne assassinated by John Sans Terre, aroused him Arthur was tho husband of Marie of France, daughterof Phillip Augustus and Isabelle. Phil- lip was, however, now thoroughly roused ; ana see what hi-, .-vwakcniig reveakd lu him, John Sans Torre was master of Anjou, Aqui- taine, and Little Bretagne, while Beaudoin of Flanders had extended his domination over nearly the whole of the northern part of his kingdom. •^r THE TWO Wn^ES OF THE KING. Othou IV., King of the Romans, and nephew of Juhn Plantngenef, was pressing on the eastern frontier while the Pope threatened the south. Canute, King of Denmark, was said to be arm- inff a powerful fleet to avenge the gross outrage inllictcj on his sister, Ingeburgo. It was ceitainly not Berthoud of latria soi-dic- '■nt Due do Mcranie, who could aid his royal son-in-law in this difficult crisis. The internal condition of PhiUip'a kingdom was not much more favourable. Tlie fluancRs— impaired by the continual wars— by the armaments destined for the Crusaders— aud by the great architectural undertakings that Phillip had begun— threatened ruin. Nor was Parij tranquil ; the quarrels be- tween the students and the bourgeois liad just begun, and blood was flowing iu the streets. Lastly, a straugo and mysterious rumour, full of (orrible menace, began to spread itself; it was told with bated breath at Paris, and through the Avhole kingdom, that the princes leagued against Phillip would not only attack him in the field, but that within the military league, another league had been formed to assassinate him, and into this league they said that besides John Sans Terro, Beaudoin, Olhou,and Canute VI., Saladin himself had entered. They ])ronounced the name of the Old Man of the Mountain — 'i name as dreaded as that of Satan himself. Who had put the poignard of that terrible Ishmaelitc, successor of Hassan-I3eu- .Sebbah ? Who was it that had spread the hatred of Philliiyg name unto the gorges of the moun- tains of Liban ? Was it Saladin ? Was it Beau- doin, then Master of Constantinople ? Was it Othnn, the emperor? Or was it John Sans Terro? But since we have entered upon the gossip of the thirteenth century we must tell the whole. Queen Ingeburge was despised, outraged, and a prisoner ; and there were not wanting some who insinuated that Queen Ingeburge had sent an emissary to the " Old Man of the Mountain" with a promise of five Imndi-ed thousand golden crowns ; und whether this is true or false, it is not less certain that Pliillip was menaced on all sides. StUl these menaces would have been vain, aud these embarrassmeuta would have counted for nothing, with that great mind, had it not been paralyzed by another very grave evil. Innocent III. had launched the lightnings of the church against Phillip, on the occasion of his marriage wiili the Bohemian ; Phillin A ugus- tus was anathematized 1 excommunicated I Now the plague was as nothing compared to this frightful punishment, which could bruise the life of a king as surely as (hat of the poorest vassal. Reason stands aghast before the prodigious power of that moral arm, by means of which the .sceptre of St. Peter humbled so many crowned lieads. Under the weight of the anathema, there was no pride that could not be brought low. Resistance was impossible, and there was nothing for it but to acknowledge yourself conquered and to make the amende honorable, with naked feet and uncnvered hciid, before the chureh duuro-. For if you were obstinate, and kept up a sense- less struggle, an immediate void was produced around you. Subjects and servants fie w from you iu aU'right; the evil was contagious— the 11 m< .a preceded you, and for you there was ;y^ jer neither friendship, devotion or love Ca, .,/ Itself, that liveliest of all human pas- suns, c^ded to the terror inspired by the anathe- ma Excommunicated, and you could not find a dealer who would weigh you out your bread or hll you n cup to drink. The leper could find a rctdgu in the compassion of his fellow-man ; but coinpassion to one excommunicated was a crime ' We remember the history of King Robert, who after having been struck with the lightning of the church, kept two servants ; and the trait is worthy of being cited— for it proves that the two servants were faithful, and that the King had '!'•' in lum whicli commanded lovo. But the two servants of King Robert served him with gauntlets of steel, which tliey i)urified afterwards by hrc, and instead of ealing the debris of Uio K!ng.i table, they threw it out to the passing It would be idle to deny the utility of that omnipotent rein which set some bounds to the caprices and brutality of our semi-barbarous liings; without the thunder of the church all the thrones of the middle ages would have toppled (town— but like all violent remedies, it was a dangerous remedy. The first effect of the major excommunication was to relieve the jieoplo of the obedience they owed to (hen- legitimate chief The Popes were the fomenters of revolt— the I opes, therefore, were the fathers of the revolu- tion. We have in our time seen a Sovereign Pontiff driven from his States, and travelling sorrowfullv on the road to exile. At this very day is noi Pius IX. suffering from all the troubles excited for- merly in Europe by his predecessors? At the period when tlie son of God said ; " Render to Ca;s!ir the things that are Caesar's," Ctesar ren- dered not to God the things which were God's • consequently, the Vicar of Jesus Christ judged revolutionariiy — went against the letter and ngamst the spirit of the gospel. By crying aloud from the height of the Vatican, " To obey is a crime,'' the Popes unwisely dug the abyss on the edge of which their throne totters to-day. They committed the greatest of all social crimes. For the spontaneous revolt of a people has for itself a thousand arguments, which the heart often accepts, though reason may combat them. But an excitation to revolt tan never have either pretext or excuse. The people weigh themselves against their king, and take precedence of him— the j)cople have rights against a king who pre- varicates—since the riglits which a king pos- sesses are bestowed upon him by the jieople Then, in striking, the people strictly speaking invoke a right, if the most absolute of human rights can be exaggerated to cover the crime of parricide. But beyond these two symmetrical rights, there exists, politically epcaking, none other. Whoever lights the impious torch of civil war, between a king aud his people, is a male- factor. To those who held the Papacy in profound re- spcct and admiration, not only from a Christian point of view, but still from a social and civiliz- ing point of view, it belongs above all to regret the spots on her history. Let others flatter, and gathering up the fagot of historical lies, eall r^'. 12 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. them the Crimes o/tfui Popes— hat for our part we fed that wo have told them their true crime and their only crime. The absolute and divine iuithority which they exorcised by their spiritnal right they allowed to be filtered through their temporal interect— they usurped and invaded the, rights of others— and, like all intelligence become blind and stumbling as soon as they entered upon the false road— they struck at tlie guilty kings over the shoulders of their innocent people. Behold the direct and certain result of those excommunications, which applied political chas- tisement to private crimes, and that result was not reached by ricochets— 'So. The Pope, in excommunicating the king, simply put the whole kingdom under interdict, and in such away that tlie consolations of religion were pitilessly refused to a whole people for life or death. It' excommunication had struck the king only as a man, one might safely affirm that the light- nings of the church would almost always have struck justly, and especially in the case which now occupies us. Phillip of France, as a Chris- tian, deserved punishment for that double mar- riai.fl which gave to Agnes the Bohemian, tlie 111 ico of the beautiful and pious Ingebiirge. But jiinocent III. had published a special Bull which relieved all the subjects of King Phillip from their sworn allegiance. Ho had said to all the vassals of the crown, in so many words, Rt'voltl It now required all Phillip's strength to con- jure the tempest which pressed upon him from 111! quarters. He was paralyzed by the thunders of Rome I At the moment when the Chevalier Dieudonnd and his page drew up before the great door of the Hotel de Nosle, tiiere was a largo reunion iu the Hall of Honor of the Hotel. This was a iniilding quite new, and Jean II, one of the richest Soigncura of that time had built it witli miicli niiignificence. The Hall of Honor, an enormous apartment, in full arch to the centre, and pierced with •windo^Y3, which affected the thickest Roman style, was ornamented with draperies and fais- ceaux d'armes, mingled with escutcheons already regularly blazoned. Iu the centre stood an octagon table, supporting the famous lamp of gold, a chcf-dmuvre of tlie goldsmiths of Bruges. Around the table were assembled a dozen great lords, under the presidency of the Due de Bur- gogne, seated by the side of his host, Jean de Nesle, who bad before him a pitcher of wine and a large rude goblet. Among the other lords might be distinguished William des Roches, seneschal of Anjoii, a renowned warrior ; Henry Clement, marechal of France, Count Perche, Duo de Berri, Count Thouars, and the Counts of Nevers, Flanders, and A umale. Opposite Jean do Nesle, and sepa- rated from the thick of the assembly, was a man of arms, handsome and still young, who bore no titles and was called simply Cadocu. This man, however, was not the least important personage of the reunion, for he had the honor of command- ing all the- highwaymen of rhe fine kingdom of France. After the King, I believe, indeed, that Caduco's was the heaviest arm in the Kingdom, between the Rhine and the sea. But the worthy young man did not seem any the proader for that ; for he civilly assisted the Lord of Ne^le to empty his pitclier of Burgundy wine. Lr„tlv under the mantelpiece of the vast chimney were two men— the one standing and the otlier aw lessly .seated with iiis foet to the fire. The latter has already been presented to vou in company witli the Saracen, Mason JIahmoud el Reis, who c.inie from a great distance It w.qs Amaury Montreul, Lord of Anct, filund of tl'ie King, wlio carao to Paris to kill a woman. The other bore the sacerdotal costume His name was Gratien Floront, he was liisI,op of Orvieto, and legate of his Holiness Pojie Inno- cent III. It was lie who was speaking wlieii we entered into the Hall of Honor of the Hotel do Nesle. " My lords," said he, " though ray voice is already exhausted, I do not flatter myself with havingenumorated all tlie dangera which threaten the King of France ; it would require a miracle to s.ave him, and who can dare to think that God would work a miracle in favour of a Prince who has incurred the Major Excommunication ' Mv last word is this: Phillip Augustus is lost!" He made a pause— during which the vassals of the King looked at him with anxiety and indeci- sion. "The fact is," murmured the Duke of Burgundy, with a touch of timidity, " that the people are complaining since they were deprived of the sacraments." "Pardieu!" exclaimed William des Roches seneschal of Anjou. " I heard a clown saying the other day, / also want two or three wives, since henceforth we are no longer to be cursed for that." ■' Jean de Nesle took a draught from his groat goblet I " There, there," said lie, " let my Lord, the King send this Agnes to the Evil One, and then wo shall have peace." " Why Madame Agnes?" asked sharply Amaurv Montruel, " why not Ingeburge?" Jean de Nesle took a second draught, " Be- cause," muttered he, " becauie, Madame Inge- burge IS the Queen." Jean de Nesle was neither for ingeburge nor for Agues; but it fs necessary to note this strano-e circumstance— for in spite of her marriage, the liohemian was not accepted as Queen seriously by any body : she was the mistress of the Kino- Ingebui^ge, on the contrary— outraged and de- ^J^Ji^--}<^S^^»rgc was the Queen. The power ot 1 hiUip Augustus had not been able to undo that which God had done. Ingeburge was so superior to her rival, that public opinion would not allow Agnes to be called a rival. "Phillip of France will not drive his concu- bine away," said the legate, " the spirit of hard- ness and impenitence is in him. Be ye sure that he will be obstinate in his criminal existence " _ "But," interrupted Amaury Mnn'reul, answer- ing Ins own thoughts, " if Ingeburge should hap- pen to die, would not the Pope leave us at peace ?" Gratien Florent cast upon hi' . ■^icrcing look. " Pardieu I" exclaimed, rnnghly Jeaa de Nesle. "I had the same idea as thee,'mon compere Amoury, " if that Agn -3 could only be passed from life to death, we should all be like so many little saints I" THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 13 Amaury Montruel shrugged his shoulders and ^growled out somo uuintelligiblo words. "My lord," said Gratien Florent, tho legato, " these are vain suppositions ; let us reason upon the future. Do you intend to be lost with Phillip of France, or will you save yourselves with the church?' Tho question was skilfully put. However the vassals of the King still hesitated— those w'ao were the most forward against Phillip, undertak- ing to clear tho road for others. " I will go with the church,'' said d'Aumale, from whom the King had recently taken his two countries of Boulogne and Dammartin. '■ I will go with the church, also," said Ncvers Du Perche, and De Thouars said the same thing. Henri Clement, marechal of France, and the seneschal of Anjou, William des Roches, replied in their turn, " If the King, summoned in due form, rejects the authority of the church, we will side with the church." '• I will follow the others," murmured Montruel. •' Good!" e-xclaimed Jean de Nesle, " me also! me also! Pardieul but I should like to know, what mon compere Antoiue says — he seems to have put his tongue in his pocket this evening." That compere Antoine was Cadocu, and Ca- docu, in fact, had not opened his mouth during the whole sitting. Tho chief of the highwaymen, thus addressed, raised his head a little, and be- gan by yawning impudently, while regarding, turn by turn, each member of the assembly. " Me," replied ho, at last, " I say, compere Jean, that there is no more wine in thy pitcher, and I am clioking." Eudes HI., Duke of Burgundy, lowered his l^row. " Are we in a tavern ?" murmured ho. " Tliank God I ' replied Cadocu, without in the least disconcerting himself, " I have never re- gretted the time I have passed at the tavern j but this I call lost time but," said he, in a good- tempered way, " the Duke of Burgundy has for- gotten to tell us what may be his intentions." " I am a Christian," said Eudes, in a firm voice, "and my sword is for the church." " Ah ! well then, mon compere Jean," resumed Cadocu, "fill the pitcher; for I am about to make a speech upon three points : for as I have the smallest title of any of you, my lords, I think it my duty to show myself the greatest gossip," blowing his nose, and coughing gently, after the manner of a licentiate about to unravel his thesis. Among all these noble barons, Antoine Ca- docu, sou of a villan, was not so small a seig- neur as he wished to api)ear. lie was a very powerful man, and much dreaded. A moment ago, tho Duke of Burgundy desired to send him away — but the Duke of Burgundy dared not. As to tlie moral sido the chief of the highwaymen had scarely any faith, and no law ; but he was what they called a good fellow, and in short was worth more to the King of Franco than all those great unquiet vassals — jealous and tlin-.-jtly interested in lowering the iaausnce of the crown. " Sire legate," said he, saluting Gratien Flo- rent, " in sending ygu over the Alps, did the , Holy Father think at all of poor Cadocu ?" I " Doubtles?," replied quickly the Bishop of O;-- vieti), "his Holiness expressly told m" that uiv mission would not be fulfilled as it should be, if I did not conciliate to the cause of Komo tim brave and illustrious captain of whom all Euroj)!; speaks." " As to that, sire legate, Europe must needs Uilk of something, but we do not hear itoursclves. Did the Holy Father add nothing?' " The Holy Father said that he held you in high esteem." " Good, good — and what sum has he charged you to propose for me, su-e legato ? ' The Bishop of Orvieto paled with anger. Jeuu de Nesle- burst out laughing witli all his heart, and his hilarity was shared by nearly all the members of the reunion. Cadccu, alone kept his grand seriousness. " Holy Cross, my good lords 1" said he, " I am much honored by your laughter, but 1 joke nut. You have lands, fields, mills, tilled lands, great woods, and all that fills your pockets annually : but I have nothing but an army of great gour- mands, who earn nothing, and eat all day, only stopping to drink — and think you that 1 could persuade them that they carry a sword by their side only to play at Easter holidays?" " But," replied the legate, " those are not the considerations——" " What considerations would you have ?' exclaimed Cadocu, " I will furnish you some — if Jean de Nesle will pour me out a bumper, for I am stilled !" Jean de Nesle passed him the pitcher, and he swallowed an heroic draught. " Now here are some considerations," said he, " and famous ones. In the first place, if I was Phillip Augustus, King of France, it would not be two poor Queens that I would have. Twentv- four would be necessary to me at least — since, a.s simple Cadocu, I have already a dozen ; and if the Pope had anything to say about it, I would turn Musselman to vex him." " Thou blasphemest," said the legate. " Yes, indeed, sire Bishop, I blaspheme," replied quietly the highwayman, " that is my manner ; and if the church has any thunders left, and if it can afford them any diversion, lot them try to excommunicate me ; my hide is hard and my back is broad. We shall see which is worth most, the parchment of your bulls or my skin 1" " My lords," exclaimed the Bishop of Orvieto, " will you allow the Holy See to be thus in- sulted before you ?' " Abroad and in open day, perhaps not, sire legate," said Cadocu, "but here in the secure den of Jean, mon compere, that can ))e attended by no consequences; besides I am about to argue. I promised a speech on three points." "Master Antoine," observed the Duke of Burgundy, " perhaps you may abuse the liberty which is given you." "Do you find it so, my lord; ah! well, then, I will abridge my matter— if such is your good pleasure, I only wish to say this — Treason fur treason ; I prefer paid treason !" " Do you intend to accuse us ?" exclaimed tho Duke, putting his hand to hisswonl. " Not at all, my lord, not at all. If you ask -a-'^ .^. 14 BPm he i» able to proposo for me ?' Graticn Plorent wns about to give rent to «I1 rtoc,s,on and reflection-the Co.mt d'Aumak svr.tV5iSr^'«--.'^'^'c''er he''whS\'rM"'^,*"l'^*r'''«'"«''' ""'"""red ' yol" ' " thou3<,nd ciowns ^iU suffice " Twenty thousand " rnd^rsureiSctsiSr-^ --- - -- iijo oisnop that IS an enormous Bum I" Cadocu trowned in his turn "Tho hr«.» man does not like to bo cheLned'' V^nt -0^1'"^'^'' 1^^°"" ^'«» toThetgate"^"""^ said ?hT S p'tSTsKj^ ^~--' *'^-." tlmt will co3t us dear r^ ' *^" *' *" '"**'"1'«' the*^W^'il! ''"k"^- '"'?'' '"« "hair and approached LrL ''1° ^r ^ '^^''"""end you to wrUe i tm I^n^l """ ^'^^ y^" ^'^^'l" ^ifh pleasure rl. "i'^.opPaiy you to your dwelling I" ITp ?S:^:Si^i:^iS- to engage; by hiHignTt'uJ? ;'b;h"^S^^: H^" A'poSS'.^"'"'''^' ''^ '"'^-^-^ t.!e «Eu7e? "','* «^°"^'°»° -^ '"ffioient," ex^ilirth? ""^ "'■ ""^'" ^'»«^'«i "lore or less SfpCiiTsr^jr^rs a^„ns rains?" '"* ^'^ -'•dependent and suze- .S^:-«--P-atta.hed THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. pres:SS"o?'tirt^So^^'^^^^^^ of March I2f,9 i 7, .• l;^' *""' fi™' dav graeedl^od'a'n^ L £iy AposSc « ' 1^ ."'"'^ of Orvieto, lateral legale of'^h,? Father, Pope InnoceSe Th Id uleZ ""'; the engagement and oath nf .k ^^'^^"'«d noblemfnf who promise upon their"h"''^"'^'^ this lile, and upon tZ^%SJ^Tn t^T'' "' succour their skid FatheHn Jer,rViV'''''> '" «ll comers, Christian or Pa^rfnH' ''^•''''' against Pl/illip of Fmnce' ''P*'''"'>" tov^ards tho said PhTlIin of Vr *"'=»'^"«« SJ,vorcign Lord. declaring''bim"'h.X" deprS rebellion, sacrilege JntfSC """"'>"'="'=*' '°^ andtEenJ!!"'.^'"'' ^"^^ ^^''^ «'"''-. -""ts, Amaury turned pale .^ MVhat is that r said Jean de Nesle, half ris- him bvThrh-II "^''Pr^e^d, for Montruel, seizing Sr7d'7h:if h''"'' ••""° and tTef disl';! io tern. J. f. *K^ and counts wore endeayouring to account for the motive of that unexnected and bizarr* action, when the folding doors opened "The King I" CHAPTER VI. tTred'lZth''l''1f ^t''"^'^ ^^^ «"»» who en- were Is embld 47''''' "'' "'^^^"'^ «f ""^ ^•^^'^n tl,! rfL 1 ^' '^^" ^^ 1'0'nted him out to owero?7h«"r '"'"■'*'* ^'"«'' !«'» f™™ the was the rhP.t'r''n. \^^^ ^"'^'^ ^t. Honor^; It was the Chevalier Dieudonn^, the second persoa met on horseback by Erie and big sister Eve oordinXTh"'"'^"''^' and conse ue^ ij^aci oordmg to tho sorceress, Mila, "Destiny " And you see that the sorceress was not much d^ ce.ved , for wa. not Phillip Augustus "Desfin'v" S hJrSsT/ ^'"^ ''"'''^ ^'«> ''•»'» ^"^ dept-hs pa Je*" Al'h£f °- '"fl *'°"'' '"*''"« *>»« handsome page, Albret, in the neighbouring room. We THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. 15 ^ftve already said that lie dressed with extreme 'jhnplicity ; but this simplicity could not be merely a jirccaution at a time when all the world knew that he was threatened by the assassins of John Pluntagenct — by the assassins of Cmiiite— of Othon, and of the Old iMan of the Moniitiiin. But in the midst of these titled soldiers— course, shrewd, seiesh, and cowardly, as they were, if not on the field of battle, at least in the conueil— in the midst of these great vassals — restless traitors, who rounded their vulgar foreheads with their golden coronets. Phillip Augustus, in spite of his grey livery, had alone the air of a gentleman. We remember hearing, in our childhood, a beautiful story of this king. It was said that on the eve of the battle of Bruvines, Phillip Augua- tus assembled his jealous vassals at the church, and depositing his crown upon tlie altar, before them, exclaimed, " if there is any one here present who believes himself more worthy of wearing that crown than me, I freely give it him." This speech has been immortalized by poets and painters. But some sauans, having nothing better to do, quarrelled with that speech and put it to death J and not contented with that murder, instead of allowing it to rest in peace after having «bssa3sinatcd it, the merciless creatures in- flicted upon it the last outrage, that of burying it in a dissertation of their own belief. Phillip Aognstus, say they, never said any such thing. No, never, never, never I For our part we believe religiously in the words imputed to the chivalrous Cumbronne, and even in the forty ages of N.ipoleon the 1st, perched, though badly at ease, on the apes of the Pyramids, we shall always remember the beaatiful speech of Phillip Augustus. And all the better if some baron had put forth his hand to take the crown, for Phillip would certainly have left him one-handed. It is thus at least that we understand the thing, and to interpret that speech differently, whether apocryphal or not, would be an Insipid platitude. For a king never surrenders Iiis crown but to God. Phillip Augustus crossed the great hall of the Hotel de Nesle, with a firm and decided step. The lords assembled round the table {were very deferential, as would have been said in the days of the Fronde ; they scarcely knew what kind of a face to put upon the matter, for Phillip was the last person they had expected to meet them that night. The master of the house blushed, gtam- mered, and was seeking something to say. The others tried hard to keep a good countenance. All rose — the king saluted them, and seated himself in the duke of Burgundy's place. " God keep you, my lords," said he, " I have long promised to visit the palace of my cousin de " Nesle, which puts our poor Louvre to shame ; Rn though it is a little late, I have fortunately fixed upon this evening ;.to find all my faithful ' companions assembled." " What I' muttered Jean de Nesle, " did the king know ?" Phillip smi'ed. " The king knows everything," said he. Then casting his eyes round the table, theyeneonnier- ed those of Oadoco, to whom he gave an imper- ceptible movement of the head, but to which the highwayman replied with a wink of his eye. " We were assembled, sire," said the Dnk« of Burgundy, " not for serious matters, bat for our common pleasure." " I see I r see I" replied Phillip, " when yon heard the king announced you sent away your dice and false cards." Cadocu burst out laughing, and Phillip, addressing him especially, added — " Were they, then, snaring birds, Captain Antoine?'' ^ Cadocu cast a look towards the door, hidden by the folds of the tapestry, and through whi«h the legate aud Montruel had disappeared. "My fuith, very dreaded lord," replied, he " I know not ; but perhaps they may have been." "Come," said the king, without losing the smile on his face " you will excuse me, gentle- men, for putting an end to your diversion. But seeing around me so many brave ard loyal bar«r.?, I should not like to lose thij opportuaity of treating for my estate of France. The whole of Europe, and I believe other parts of the world, are against us at this moment. But it is my opinion that we shall have our rights from Europe and the whole world." We should not conclude that all the lords assembled on this occasion at the house of Jean de Nesle were all equally deep in the thought of treason. Henry Clement, maiechal of Prance, and William des Roches, were both ancient warriors, and ready to die for Phillip— but for Christian Phillip, and not for Phillip, excommu- icated. With the exception of the Count d'Anmale, the personal enemy of the king. Count de.Vevers, the evil tool of John Plantagenet, aud tlio i'uke of Burgundy, who was too powerful, and too near the throne not to look upon it with envy ; the others were really neutral— and equally with the thunders of Rome the chances would have been all on Phillip's side in that assembly. But under the interdictof Rome they believed Phillip Augustus crushed aud lost. "By the help of God," murmured the Duke of Burgundy, " the chevaliers of France can stand against the universe." "By the help of God, my cousin, as you sav," replied the king, drily, "for it is God who makes the hearts of men brave and faithful. Gentlemen," resumed he, suddenly raising his head and Changing his tone, " we require your loyal Support, and we reckon firmly upon it. The Pop", unmindful of the services that we have rendered to Christianity in the holy wars of the Crusades, and mixing himself up too lightly in our domestic affairs, has given an iniquitous Sentence against us." "Very dreaded lord," interrupted d'Anmale, " the sentences of our Holy Father cannot be iniquitous." ■The lips of the king turned pale, while a fugitive carnation mounted to his cheek. " Count," murmured he, between his clenched testh, "has he promised to give thee back Boulogne, Dampierre and Dammartin ?" And as d'Aumalo was about to reply, he re- duced him to p.ilense by an imperior.s gesture. "John de Nesle," resumed he, "the king is thy guest ; see that they do not again interrupt him." " Let nobody iatemipt the king any more," 16 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. proclaimed tbc Chatcliino of UriiKSKrav.lv pushing Hway Ins pitcher and goblet, and draw'- ing his sword, he placed himself standing by the side of King Phillip, who said tc him : ;' My cousin, it 13 good and I know your willing heart." '' CadocM laughed in his beard, and thought Oh! the joker! who spoke just now of bird sinning ?" The king proceeded. " lie would lie in his throat, who should accuse me of not venerating and not loving the Vicar ot Josuo Christ upon earth. If the great Pope innocent III. hadacted properly towards the Kini; ot Frmice whom he has for so long a time called his well-beloved son, the King of Fiance would have accepted on his knees his paternal remon- strances. But instead of employing the mcrci- I nil means as taught by our Divine Master, the 1 1 ope has struck mo cruelly, and without anv I resemblance of mercy, as if I had been the guiltiest of the guilty. Gentlemen, I have sought in the depth of my conscience, and have asked myself, what crime I have committed? Is it III having fought against infidelity; for the Pope Innocent III. has made common cause with the infamous Prince of the Mountain, whose polff- nards seek my bosom in the dark !" There was now a sensation among the seig- neurs, and though the argument of the king was certainly not very solid, there was 11 certain skil- Juliiess in showing that the knife of the Infidel was leagued with the sword of St. Peter, and was calculated to impress strongly those coarse but subtle spirits. " For my part," continued the king, " I cannot see what common interest can cement this alli- ance between heaven and hell. Is it a crime on my part for having called to account John of England for the murder of the husband of my daughter? But John Plantagenet, though him- self excommunicated for that murder, employs m my city of Paris miserable beings charged with putting me to death by treason ; so that if some day you should find me stretched upon the earth, and weltering in my blood, you may justly say, John of England has given this stab ■ out It was Rome who opened the king's cuirass," Here a murmur was heard behind the tapestry " Oh I hoi" thought Cadocu, "that is sire Bishop, who will soon betray himself behind the uoor crying out Nego JUajorem !'' The lords looked at each other. " I am then excommunicated," repeated Phillip ''me ! the Champion of the Church against infil .. advance of yours on the field of battle- wSu! you have desired that the King of France shou bow down his head like a criminal vTssa??'- " No," said the seneschal d'Anjoii. ^No," said the marechal of France That was all ; the other lords kept silent However, Jean de Nesle and du Percho cav,. JersHadT'""^ "^ "'" ^''"^'' ""'^ ^^"'-' '"^"' " J07, de Dieu I" exclaimed Cadocu, " mv dreaded lord, the king has not interroga ed m ^ troulile ; but 1 have seen the English cut in ! pieces at St. Omer, at Gisors, and elsewhere- and I say still, Vive le Roi I" "'-wm.rc— The rough Cadocu knew how to flatter as well as another. Phillip thanked him with a graciou gesture Then, just in the manner that the egate Gratien Florent had done, he drew from Uis breast a large parchment. At the sight of this, Cadocu, who had ceased drinking on the arrival of the King, filled his goblet and empti , It at a draught. Jean de Ncsle, «-ho daroi! not imUaiB him, regarded him with a sorrowful and jealous air. • ^''p''P Augustus unfolded his parchment sav- ing "I should be glad to believe that all hero who have not yet replied, arc, nevertheless ol' your opinion, my faithful companion.'!, William and Henri-I should be glad to believe that ii, the house of my cousin, Jean de Nesle, there are neither traitors or cowards ; but I shall be more sure ot It, when each person present shall have put his signature to the foot of thi.- parchment " All parchments of this nature resembled each other, at mat period, when folded ; but by good fortune the parchment of King Phillip Augustu-i was exactly the same in every particular, at least in appearance, as the parchment of the legate and might easily be mistaken for it. ' ''I am ready to sign," said the seneschal d'Anjou and the marechal of France, both together EudeTof Sgin^!!^'' "'^ '"^ '"'°"-" ^^2"" inter?ut!edThJ klnS"''""' ^^P**^'" ^"'°'"^'" Cadocu obeyed and the king read :—" In presence of the Very Holy Trinity, the first day of the year, 1202, I Phillip, by the grace of God, King of France, &c. I have received the engage- ment and oath of the undersigned Nobles, who promise, upon their honor, in this life, and their salvation in the life which is to come, to succour tlieir said lord the king, against all comers, CUristians or Pagans, notwithstanding the sen- ence rendered against him by Innocent, third of that name, Bishop of Rome. " For inasmuch as In reward of their faithful support, I have assured the said Lords the possession of the fiefs which they hold from mv crown, declaring their rights and privileges secur- ed to them and to their suceessofs. " ^,5 f icb ft way that the said Dukes, Counts and Noblemen I THE TWO WIVKS OP TUE KINO. "The king give*i iw iiotliing— inUnniitea licro the Count de Nevcrs. •' Silence, ' said Jean flu Nesli-." " The; King knows rU," said IMiillip, for ilie sccoDd time, '-and he pardons— ij tljut uo- tbing ?' '• It is not enough," replied ili.i Count d'Aii- male, boKllv, '• u. lijflit with Rome it lu bo lost in thij world, and damned in llii; other— no! it i:S not eiioiigli I' Count do I'crciie mid the Uiic do Herri iv peated, "It U not enongli. ' 'ii fact, the king luid offewd nothing to hi-; great vassiiL-', in reward for tlie lii^rhest )iroof of devotion lliat a sovereign coidd aak ; Liit was not tliat becausu the king had nothing to offer ' ieyond hia naked walls of the tower of ilic Louvre, his crown, and his sword, I do not see ^vhat Phillip Augustus could have given to iiis peers ; for all these noblemen were at least as rich a^ Inmsulf— all that ho possessed over them was lis right and his genius. This was a great deal- but It gave nothing. There was a long silence in the hall of the Hotel de Nesle. Cratien Florent, thu lateral legate, who was spying this scene tlirougli some slit in the tapestry, must at this moment have entertained gooos3ession of their minds; and each one had a hope of fixing the crown on his own head, and becoming king. France, it is true, would no longer exist, but independence ! ah, independence ! Some future day each of these indcpendcnt-i might be devoured piecemeal by the Knglish or by '•ome other power — this did not raise I avenue leading from the Hotel to the Uue St ; Jloinnc. ' i " Von linvu gained your bei, sire llishop," sail I Aniaiiry, laughing. : The legate could see, by tho light of the mooii, I thirty sergeHnts-„f.ftrms of the guard— a body I recently lu.stiluted by Phillip Augustus. The: i >l'^^'i, '"I'.';' «'''"0"'' plates shining on their I shoulders like mirrora. I " W"'! ly there are other issues,' murmured lie. I biro liishop,' said Amaury, " there are alsu I other .-evgeants-oflarms. ' The legate was seized I with a ht of trembling. j " ForUinaU'ly," said he, as if to reassure him- sell, •' fortunately thu king does not know wc are here. ' " Tho king knows all, ' replied the merciless Wontrnel. • Well I ■ said tho king again. Tho Count du Perche said, with somewhat a bad KiHcc, '• 1 will sign. ' "That makes four," said tho king .slowh , llierc! ivinaui still ,uy cousins the Dukes of Bern and Burgundy, tho Counts do Thouurs, d- Nevers, de Flanders, and d'Aumale, Viscounts do bainte;^ and d'Auxerrc, Baron do Molitbard, Chretien ilo ]>n,y„,, J^au do ChatiUou, niid '• Very dreaded lord," replied the Duke of Burgundy, •• all those whom you Lave named le.ii Cud more than the king. '■ That is a formal itifusal, cousin of Buritund v It IS a refusal." „,'.'""""' <-'a'locul rouse thee!" exclaimed 1 liillip Angnsins, in a voice which vibrale.l through the hull, raising himself at tho aam- time to his full height. Tho highwayman shook on his seat— ho was m fact half asleep. " What would you with me, mon aire?" wul- tored he. " I wish to know, ' replied tho king, " how many bravo boys you have to sell me, if I eivo you a proper price?' ''God's faith, mon sire," replied Antoine Cadocu, '• If It's a questioa of fighting your good cousins, Burgundy, do Berry, do Nevers, d'Au- male, and do Thouars, I believe that I shall eivo yon my little children gratis !' " Hear that!" groaned the Bishop of Orvieto ; he asked me a hundred thousand crowns just now 1" ■* " No, no ! Captain Antoine," said the kin<' whose gaiety at that moment might appear rather bizarre, " good reckonings make good friends 1 wish to pay thee, and to pay thee cash ; only tell mo how many lances thou canst furnish me ?" Cadocu assumed tho air of a man who was making a complicated calculation. " Ala foi, very dreaded lord," replied ho a< last, " I cannot tell you exactly. In the county or Koissons I have a company which is worth a little more than the whole contingent of the Duke of Burgundy. In Orleans I have twice as many of ft!! arms than would he neressary ti> swallow tho whole of Berri, its sheep and its Diiko. At Boulogne 1 have my brother Francois, who would be the happiest roKuo in the world It you would give him the i- ->f breaking the 1. ; '*' 1: 1 m. 18 THK TWO WIVES OF THK KING. head of tho Count de Navers. In Normandy, sire, Willi«m dn Roches can tell jou ray band IS iin army." Tlio stn^chal d'Anjmi gave an affiiraativo sign of tho head. "In short," pur- micd the highwayman, "with roundness and simplicity ia your plare, very dreaded lord, I would rather have ut my service the poor Antoino Cadocu nlono than that crowd of high valors, who inscribe upon their banners " Kack for flimtelf," and who take refuge behind the name of God every time they desire to accomplish n treason," and the voice of the highwayman shook with anger. All those whom he had insulted so audaciously were knights as well as high lords, and not one among them could be accused of wearing a .sword, which was not always ready to fly from its scabbard, It was ten to one that the great hall of the Hotel de Ncsle would not have blood shed upon it.s pavement that night. King Phillip Augustus laughed kindly and made triendly and good-tempered signs— some- limes to tho seneschal,— sometimes to the marc- ihal— sometimes to John de Nesle, or to the Count du Perche. And yet King Phillip was not of an exceedingly frolicsome character. Was all this a comedy or was Cadocu only rehearsing .1 role composed by the king ? Some of them believed so. Seeing the general commotion, the king said, " my lords, be calm, I warn you ; and above all touch not your oworda." " We liave been ontraged unworthily," said Never.?, who had already drawn his sword. The king looked at him. " Take care. Count do Nevers," said the king lowering his voice a little, " the king is of opin- ion that Captain Antoine has spoken properly." "Ah I" groaned tho IJishop, "there is no blood in their veins this evening." "Ma foi, sire Bishop," whispered Amaury Alontrucl, " I— who pretend to know the weak and the strong Bide of every one there,— I confess that I see not^ drop ; I would, indeed, give the Evil One something if be would tell me how all that is going to end. ' Nevers and all tlie lords, whom Cadocu had joBulted, were now standing. CHAPTER VII. Cadocn had turned himself round upon his scat, and never seemed more at his case. In spite of the orders of the king, the great vassals were gronped at the extremity of the largo table, engaged in earnest debate. The Duke of Burgundy tried in vain to moderate their rising anger; and it was a strange spectacle to Witness— on tho one hand, the rage of the vassals, restrained only by the presence of the king— and on the other, the quiet scorn with which the king regarded them. No previous king of France would ever have been able to restrain that ancrer so long. Phillip Augustus had already raised the throne two or three steps ; but the great blow "' Bouvmes had not yet descended on the nock of the feudal opposition. It was indeed cvidon; that the Hwords wore about to leap from tbei' scuhbards. " Come hither, mon compere Jean," laid tljf> king; De Nesle obeyed immediately. " Thou didst not deceive thv.''clf, Jean, mnn eou.sin," resumed Phillip, " when you said \h.,\ I came into your house alone and confiding v lliy g been surrounded, without the knowledge of it« owner ; surrounded by my orders— the ord»rs of the King of France, who does not feel himsclt quite old enough yet, to let Lis crown fall into your hands. Pardon me, Jean de Nesle," addei! he with cordiality, " the king knows his friend^ as well as his enemies. My lords," resumed lie taking all at once that air of royal gravity which he knew so well how to assume on the right occasion, " our fathers bad no guard ; I hav.> taken one to defend me against tho Jknife cf tin: Englishman and against the poignard of thi; Saracen. It is not my fault if it is also callci upon to help me againsi. your swords." Ho made a sign, and through two of the prin- cipal doors, twenty-four macemen entered. The legate could scarce contain his anger be- hind tho tapis ; but ho was doomed to witnes-; more unpleasantness. Cadocu gave a beartv shake of the hand to 'Jacques Belin, captain of the sergeant macemen of the guard. " God forbid, my lords," continued the kin<,'. "that I should disarm the chevaliers of France I Keep your swords so long as you are chevaliers of France ; and take your places if that will be. agreeable to you. I will aitend.to you presently ;" and with his head resting upon his band he ap- peared to collect bimself for an instant. At length, in a deep and sokran voice, iio cxclaim- ci,— " I am the mnstei ! God has confided to me these peoiile of France, to govern and protect them. WiiosoTcr sliall place himself before rac — too evident, indeed cvitlon: enp from ik'j: Jean," (aid tlj.^ 'ly. elf, Je«n, mfin you said tbit i confiding i: 'er conw to t!." Jlut I kucv. )ii9 assembl:!;: I ciimo ,nluiir d; Jean, uio:i led the kii,^ maces of joi:- ', these mace jrawn iu gpii. " said Never? ny longer—— us, raiiiing 1,1- ) appeared ou 'biliip Lad cii- ided the kiaj.' ers," replied ,t pale. " Arc igutDe NesiL- "does hostili ouare notbe- IdeNesle lin- iwledge of it* •the orders of t feel himseli wn full into ((esle," addei! xs his friemi- resumed lio ;ravity whicii on the right lard; I hav,- Jknii'e cf tin: jnard of tL- I also callec Is." 1 of the prin- Otered. is anger bc- 1 to witness vo a beart.v I, captain of led the kinp. I of France ! re chevaliers that will t)e I presently j' Land lie ap- Instaot. At he cxcliiim- ifidod to me and protect, befoie mc— TUE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. 19 to obftruetm&— I will break him down. Wh )cver comes to my aid, him will I reward to the extent of my power. Jean de Neslo, tliou art as iioblo as myself, nnd wealthier than I am ; i can give theo nolbing but my friendship : it ia thine, (iidllaiime des Koches and Henry Clement, you have been a long time the lirit licutcnanis of the crown. Whatever thy wish nuiy be, Count du Fcrche, thuu must tell it. But here ij mon com- iwre, Antoino Oadocii, who is neither very noble nor very rich. Now listen and attend, all you who are present, and learn whatn King of France id able to do!" He drew his sword, saying, " Approach Mes> i'iro Antoiac." Antoine waited not to have his name repeated. " On your knees I" said the king. Cadocu knelt. The king touched him on the cheek with the* flat of his sword, Buying, " By the Ornoe of God and the Archangel Kt. Micliivel, Antoino Ca- docu, I dub theo knight !" There arose a murmur at the end of the table. " That does not seem to idease you, my lords," said the king, resuming his bitter smile ; " Think you, then, that u faithful sub- ject will tarnish the ranks cf your chivalry ? But you Bball have cause for stronger murmurs jet. Cadocu ! Wilt thou be a baron ? " Why not?" replied the brigand. "Wilt thou be a count?" " If it is agreeable to yon, most dreaded sire."' •• Wilt thou be fi duke ?" " I will be a prince, if you wish it." Though to tell the truth, Cadocu did not appear to be much enchanted ; and it was but too evident, that he would have ))referred to have been rewarded In money, for was lie not .'ilready more powerful than ii baron, count or duke 7 •■ It is all very well, Messire Antoine," said the king, '• but it docs not suit me that you should Ijc a baron without barony ; a, count without a county ; or a duke without suzerain states. By reaaou of high treason and forfeitures, I am iibout to dispose of a few baronies, several couu- 1 ies, and two duchies at leas t ; so we have a good choice." The great vassals found themselves like so wiiy foxes, entangled in a snare, and looked !it each other more abashed than angered. The blood spurted from the lips of Nevers. The Bishop of Orvicto, who had heard all that hail passed, said to himself— " This is a skillful man; he cnts down the forest of the Holy See, to e.^ult his own throne. I would rather have a Hock of geese than these same terrible seigneurs I We have lost a beau- tiful game, nor do I care to have i-evengo. It will be more profitable to take a hand in that man's game." "Which would suit thee best, Cadocu?" de- manded the king, — " The duchy of Berri or the duchy of Bourgogne ? ' Cadocu hcLiiuicu for a laoiBent, aud that moment was at once seized by the grand vassals of the throne of France to make their submis- sion — they were not afraid of the king's ser- freants-at-arms, nor of Messire Antoine, with his myriads of brigands, but rather of the king and hJR iron will. They hndexiiccted that ho would Imve broken down under all the embarratsmentf that had surroimded him at once. They found him however firm and strong, and they were sub- dued. They felt that their iutiuence— all rebel, lious as it was— withered up in presence of thul uu.'iliakeabU) will. The ago was progressing ; power had ca«t off its swaddling clothes, and light began to dawn on the governmental chaos. Cerles we wish not to say that Cadocu, the highwayman, was a pure repretx^ntativoof the will of the people; but who- ever had witnesssed alt that had just passed in the givat hall of the Hotel de Nesle, might have- guessed that already the people and their king were about to shake hands over the bowed head-^ or decupitulod bodies of the high barons. Tlie vassaU of i'hillip Aiigusliis knew, that with the support of the highwayman, to say nothing of the seigneurs who would rally to the throne, the king was well able to put his threat into execution ; and they knew, moreover, that the resolution to do it was not lacking. They were therefore afraid. '' Most dreaded lire," said Eudes do Bixrgogne, advancing respectfully, holding by the hand the Duke of Herri and followed by counts, viscounts, barons and chevaliers, " it is enough ; may it please you to have pity. We have deceived ourselves by good Intentions nnd devout scruple.i. Receive us with mercy ; nnd do not debase too much those who are your peers by the act of God." '•■ Thou seest, then, Messire Antoine,'' whispered the king, " they do not think thee worthy of l>ecomlng a duke and pccrl" " By God's faith 1" growled the brigand, " I would have played the prince better than then had they come to me, I would have done theii business, and stripped them ns naked as little St. John, and set them to work with some gang of earth-diggers : but ns to the iKjerage, the wine of Messire Jean is more to my taste." In proof of which he emptied an enormous pitcher. " Cousin Bourgogne," said the king, " do you speak in the name of all our vassals ?" " Yes, sire." And in sJiort, dukes, connts, barons nnd che- valiers assented in one chorus. '■You desire, then,' said the king, "to attach your signatures to the act with which I have already wade you acquainted ?" " That is our desire." "Then, in that case, my lords, let m be good friends, and forget the past ; only," added he, while pointing to Cadoeu, " it is but lust that you should bear the expense of the joyous advent of this chevalier. I therefore levy a tax of two hundred thousand crowns of gold to be home umoiig you, according to your incomes." "Behold a brave king!'' exclaimed Messire Antoine. " Venal sonl!" thought the legate. Jeftii Befliii, eaptalii of the sefjesHts-at-annS, departed to perform his round of duties. AH was pacified. The seigneurs signed the engagement to sns- taiu the excommunicated Phillip Augustus ; and among our national archives that act is still pre- 20 t«K ^\vo \VIVES OP fHK KIXG. Wrvcil, showing, for lU UrH signature, ihi. u( Eudca lir, Duke of Ik>uj!<|ug„(, t'Hi^im vm. '■ Now, Jpftii (1e Ne^i,- n. ^ay p),iiiip Atigiistiis, Imigliirig, •■ »,,„,, ,,.. . , *k.u hidden tho good Hiahop of Orvicto, Uterul fc,s»le of our Holy FntliiT ? ' " Morblou I it roftllvftppenrsiia tlioiigli the Iving known everything," aiii<) Messiiro Jcnn. It is not to he supposed thiit the hurailiiitej grand vassals wore vexed to see tho legato con- .t'ounded in his turn. Hut it in easier In confound ii Ihiko of Durgogno than an Apostolic legate, siH'cially when that legate liaa been listening at the door. An Jean de Nesle rose to seek the bishop in his hiding place, that functionary burst sud- denly through the door, withasrailo upon his lips. " Since the king knows all," said he, Jbowing with res|>ecf, " it ia not necessary that I eliould now inform liii majesty that our Holy Father wishing to preserve, at any price, tho j eatest king in Christendom within the communion of the church, has deigned to convoke a now coun- cil to ro-cxaminc tho affair of tho two Queen" and /hat, ion. at tho special request of his well- !■ •edsor ''hillip, King of France. i» wa»i( 'btless in tJiceventof Phillip, King ot f>ance, . sing to submit to tho decrees of this new coiuK-il, that sire Bishop of()rvicto was instructed ' secure, in writing, the concurrence ot the grunvi Tassals.' "The king knows all I' replied tho Bishop, with ft gracious reverence, " it is impossible to iiide anything from hiui. It was, in short, for that." ' Phillip Augustus frowned; and for a moment, one would have thought that his anger was about to deprive him of all his advantages. For- tuately for him, at that moment, Amaury Mon- iriiel, in his turn, came forth from his hiding place. Phillip was this time really surprised •' Thee here I' exclaimed ho. " 1 was with siro Bishop, replied Montfuel, 'and I canoflirm to my dron :(1 lord, that sire Jiishop 13 tho passionate admirer of the merits of Madame Agnes." Oratient Florent trembled— a new interest had arisen aud a new mystery. •' Has siro Bishop spoken to you of Agnes?' cmiuired the king, naively, for the shrewdest poli- ticians become children when the object of their love is in question. " Sire Lishop h.is spoken to me of Madame Agneg, replied tho imperturba'.'o Montruel " he told me that tho Holy Father "! ' ignorant of the greatness of her sou. many virtues." " indeed !' "But"— would have interposed tit: V' •'And I promised him, to i-elate i, - ,e word", in order that you might regard t .'.> a still iTioro favourahlr: rvr," The legate bowed—not daring todenv; buL he thought to himself—" In what coin do'es this .Madame Agnes pay this Amaury Montruel?" It was break of day when the gates of the ' i'i nowise •(d cf her •s ■I) llot< I de Neile opened »« l^t out that numeroui and t)nlli»nt calvacafJe.-*, unposed ot Kiii' I'hiUip Augustus, his gii.nd »«.n^\a some low haunt to grt up a dunce, in honour of his two hundred thou- sand (TOWIH, Amaury Montru.l, tho friend ol the king be- took hiiiisrlf to a little ,ireet, situated U- i,i.| llie lower of St. JiU(|iie3-la-Boucherie— in wlu.'', inight be seen a simple archway, old and badlv built ; tlie door wliiih formed the angle ot llr street opened under a turret overliaugini: ili" wall. Oil clearing tlio threshold, the visitor UmnA himself in a broad vestibule, leading to a larj,' hall, fiirni.slied with a eorlaiii magniticence. Tli ' friend of the king had tho reputation of a man of exceedingly relaxed moral--, aud tliis resi- denco of bis in ih," qimriier des Arci.s— w;n said to be used by him for iho purpose of liidiu - his orgies. Otliers maintained that thii housi^ wliich had an entrance in an alley, wiiliout a name, and which commuuitated in" another pur* with ruo St. .lacquej and ruo des Ecrcvain^ was the place where the friend of tlie kiu^' n I aembled all the spies whi-li he kept in I'ari^. For tho friend of the k'lig also passed as tlie chief of ft sort of police,— sufficient! v well or- ganized to enable King Philli]) to "say with a certain degree of truth—" The king knowi all. ' These two versions were equally well founded : it was quite true, that in this mysterious plac ■ Amaury Montruel kciit a vigilant police. A poljco was an institution little known at tlin* Iieriod, and in which enlightened people placed no faith— and which the vulgar feared, as they fear every phantom. To remove every suspi- cion regarding its functions from the minds of tho grand vassals of tho king, Amaury Mon- truel had only to raise his shoulders and smile, though ho took care, very adroitly, to wheedle out of them their own projects. But whatever stories may have reached them aliout the nature of the function of thepoli ', they could nor for shamesako show themselves as credulous about it as foolish girls and street vagabonds. Thus we have seen the " Friend of the King" qiiietly installed on the Hotel do >fcBlo in tJie midst of conspirator.';. We must, however, adil that if any of the grand vassals moro clear- sighted than the others had thoroughly sifted the fads and made themselves onco acquainted V7ith the man, they might have, perhaps-, dis- co>'"'-'d, under liis mask of sceiiticism and in.b I'ercnce, sufficient good in him to have -'>ubly re-n5au'--'d them. They would, besides, avo discovv;: .". that Amauray was under the iofiuciico 01 vue tiiiiglo paasion, wliicli. liy its violence, contrasted singularly with the assumed coldness of his character. Montruel was in love, hopelessly in love, and the woman that lie loved belonged to the king. 1%' TUB TWO WIVES 01" TIIK KINO. 21 Tliore wfti in the Imll of Monlniel'H ilwi-lllnjf, anil wlioro, lu Wi" luivi; nbown, In- liitil just filtered, a clerk, weiiritiff tin- conliiini' of tliu clrrki III piirlianifiit, unit linlf reclining iiikjii woollin ciHliioni. Ilo wm Htlll yuunif, but pule uny llio ni« dci4 Kci'ivaiiiH ; ho Huid llmt ii iiic8»tugi' Imd coint! from Noinuindy, to tlio crt'cct tiiat John Nans Tfrii- liml landed tlicrc lust wook. (Si'hidar Tri.^tan runio in l\v the rue tit. Jacqueit, and niiid that for one bundi' d (golden crowns ho could sot tiro to Hic four (pmrln- , of the city. I think, iiiy lonl. I'^iil S. holiii' I'listain will niukc II marvclloiijly prolty rogue." MoiiiitR-rij only reply was ft slight gegturo of contempt. "Well, well!'' •■. ^wlcd Samson, "I know, indeed, that in Uio liiultcr of rogues we ought to be particular. Slaster lIonor6, the freemason, hIso camo in by the little gate. The noisy crew lire to iiieet again to-niglit at the Cross of Tra- hoir. They have been chanting and placing garlands on the walls, and have been welcoming a new ncolyto who calld himself— stay — who calls himself— I ought to take the names down ill writing, for my memory fails rac." " Thou driukcst too much," said Montniel. " My lord," replied Samson, impudently, " I drink nothing but what you leave in the bottom I f your bottles. Hut the name does not matter. Hut at that ceremony assisted twt other vaga- bonds of the trowel and hammer — countrymen of Matlame Ingoburgu corfainly— Eric or C'edric, the Dane, and little Adam. ' " Is that all?" demanded Montrucl. "No; but tlicro is still another name which fails mc," replied the oflicioiis clerk — " the name of some |)agan miscreant ; he arrived last night by tho I'orte-au-Peintres. lie was mounted like a lord ; but instead of a lance he bore a stone-cutter's hammer, and ii trowel instead of a dagger." The "Friend of the King" smiled. " Hammer, trowel." growlingly repeated the clerk. "We see nothing else, now-a-day?, in Paris. All tho money in the kingdom is being turned into mortar and cut-stone. T am certain tbft there arc at this moment ten thousand 111. sons in the ciiy." ■ Come, com ' i^ lorniptcd Montruel, with an ,". of satisfaction, " I see that my men have not slept this night; but tell me, Sam-son, about that new adept of freemasonry, whose name thou hast forgotten ; did he not call himself Jean Cador?" " Pardien !" exclaimed the clerk, clapping his hands, " Jean Cador ! that's the name." "And the Infidel who entered by the Porte-au- Peintres," continued Montruel, " did he not call himself Mahmoud el Keis." "'Twas nothing else but that.'" said Samson, with admiration. "It appears; too, that you h.i7C no: been .nslccp, my lufil !'' Montruel cast off his cloak o-^d threw himself into a large easy chair. " I never sleep," said he ; then, in a brief and ■Ool quick t and bid wine, and seinl Aorou imperioui ton<>, ho added I I'ln bring me »orao Urcc uuc for Koutniiello. " " Is that thy will ">' rt>pl|ed Samion. " Kon- tanellu must bo glwph -^ ; for they li ■ been drinking and dancing ui l|i'r house alt ihkIiI" " Let them give tier the rwl," »aid Arauury, " and Fonlani'lle will come." The chrk went out, leaving .Mm 'riiel alone, Willi his ticad resting on his hands. tie remained for some minutes, |)liingcd into a profound mi'ditrttion ; then rising all at once and Hhakiiig back his long hair, he paced up ami down tho chanibor with gr>'at strides. Ilis phy- siognomy underwent a great cliunge— lie was pale and tiaggard, " Wtiat do I want ''' ho murniiireit, clinchiiig his fists with anger, '• I know not, or where to go. The work upon which I am engaged might load an ambitious man very far. The gibbet lias no terrors for mo ; nor does the throne cause niu any envy, and yet I goon, on — laboring as though my designs were as grand as those of tho Eui|)eror Charles, or of the King Hugh Capet. Designs! I swear that I have none. 1 would have served Phillip, who has the lieart of a king, bravely and faithfully; for that would tiavo tjeen a tosk witliin my strength,— but that woman lias come between us, and thot woman I must possess. I seem incapable of comprehending more than that. Beyond that thought everything appears to mo puerile and contemptible." He stopped and again pressed his head be- tween his trembling liaiids. ••pool that lam," he exclaimed, "it is the thought itself wtiicli is puerile and contemptible! 1 know it well and fed it ; but what is to bo done ? There have been fools liefore mc and there will be fools again after me ; and after all, what differ- ence is there between the foolish and the wise?' A noise was now lieaul at the door through which tho clerk had left. Amaiiry suddenly composed his features, and resumed the cool manner which was habitual to him. The door opened and a beautiful woman of twenty-five, and whose dress set all sumptuary laws at defiance, appeared upon the threshol' " Enter Fontanelle," said Amuury. Fontanelle obeyed, liolding in her hands a flagon of Greek wine and two silver gilt ciip.^. "My lord," said she, in a voice somewhat hoarse, and which corresponded badly with the 1 xquisite regularity of her features, " I wished to servo you myself aa is my duty." " Thou hast done well ; approach, and pour out the wine." Foutanelle filled one of the cups, leaving the other empty. "Cans'tthou give me no reason for that?" demanded Montrucl. " No, ray lord," replied Fontanelle, smiling humbly, '■ unless it be that I am past twenty-four years, and am aged. I have therefore brought yon Agnes." Montruel closed his eyes and his lips trembled. " Agnes ! ' '.le murmured in a changed voii e ; " oh ! f"-! «'••--* ? -rr--, rr.'-r.fva.hh-. ihct] !" Fontanelle looked nt htm and smiled. '• She is there," resumed »Ue, "in the neighbouring chamber, and is waiting thee." <><• TUii TWO WIVES OP TUE KING. " If tlio poor child •' I do not desire to see her!" exclaimed Mou trucl." ■'Cliut!' said Fontanelle should hear thee, my lord." Amimiy raised his eyes and looked at Pen- tanello with an air of suspicion and fear. • Dost thou think that she loves mo ?" said 110. •' Do I think it? I know it. She adores you!" Montmel said again, but in a lower voice, " I di) not wioii to see her !" rnntancllc suppressed a smile. •■ Woman," said Amaury brusquely, " let us sptali of business. 1 have work for thee • it is necessary that thou should'st draw into thy liouse two men that I am about to indicate to thee." ' that man " My lord," replied Fontanelle, has not yet seen Agnes." Amaury trembled and turned away his eyes I forbid heo to let him sec Agnes," murmured froni him " '""""'"'^ ^^'^ '° "'"'"» '"« ««"«' •• I will draw a thousand there," to please mv lord. ' '•Silence! The first is a freemason, of the name of Jean Cador." Kontauello bowed her head with an air at once modest and trumphnnt. "The second," continued Montruel," is an In- tulel, Avho came to Paris to cut stone after the Sunicen style ; his name is Mahmoud el Reis." Fontanelle put more pride into her smile. ■• Thou understandest me?" said Montruel •'I can reply to my lord," said Fontanelle, " that his orders have been anticijiated. I have already ivceived into my house, Jean Cador, the free- mason, and Mahmoud el Reis, the image- cutter ol tlic East. Amaury drew near, curious and attentive. •'IJiil," continued the old woman of past twcnty- lour. " My lord speuks of two men— while I have received but one !'' "VVhat sayst thou?" demanded quickly the friend of the king. •' I say," my lord, " that Jean Cador and Mah- moud cl Rcis are one and the same person." Montruel could nut restrain an exclamation of astonishment. •' And how knowcst thou that ? ' ■' .Master Honors, the freemason, brought to my hou.'io this night,-— replied Fontanelle,— -a comimnion that he called Jean Cador. The Lnglishinun, HerlKrl, came an hour before day- iglu_to pass away tlic time, ho said— for he had been knocking ut the gate of your retreat in v.iin. W heu Herbert saw that Jean Cador, he went straiglit up to liim, and though they con- ^el■sed HI a low voice, in ii diafnnt corner of the chamber, I heard llerljeit call him several times iiy tUc name whicli you have mentioned." " Mahmoud 1 1 Reis 7 ' ■' Malnnoiul el Kris. ' "Htrango !" tli()u>;lii Montruel. " There are then, some thiiiu;,-! wliicli I do not know ! Per- haps llerbert wishes to deceive mc . A ml what lias this man Ix-eii doing in tl,y hoise ">" lo- siimcd he, addressing Fontanelle. -^ Muster llonoio olfered him wine, but he re- tM.-cd It, and drank tno lingers deep of pure water; and then e.vtendcd himself upon the carpet-wrapt in a cloak, softer than linen- i\w\ turned l„. f;,n. towmds Uic east." ." biippose I should hid thee get Lis secret from hira— how -vouiajt thoti do it V' Fontanelle bowed respectfully " I will try, my lord," replied she. Then she chambe?- ""^ "' ''"' ''•"'' °' '^'^ "cigbbor^g " My lord forgets that she is waiting ? ' "Withdraw, and let her enter," said Montruel with weariness. ""uv,i, Fontanelle rose, but instead of obeying immc- dia ely she remained standing before Montruel I have a Immblo request to prefer mvre" spectcd lord," said she. ' ' ^ ' I Art thou in want of money," said Amaury. 'No! replied the daughter of folly_seemiii2 t^nul '■rf;'^'^'-«'l.'»,^'«g"o souvenir of her lost UM /^rT -^ a.'n '•'clier than many noble ladies W hat I desire is, that your valets may be ordered to spare mo needless outrage." inlifJ^M "'''' Montruel, yawning, "have they insulted thee, my poor Fontanelle ? ' rods^°"' **'*'""*' ^*""^''"' threatened me with "lias he insulted Agnes ?" asked Montruel, shghtly frowning. ' "No! my lord ; he has only insulted me." ^ 1 he look of Amaury was distracted, and lost in Fontanelle waited a moment for his reply, and a silent tear roUeddown her cheek, but wasquiek- ly dried up, for her check was burning Had Amaury noticed the look of Fontanelle at that moment, it would have caused him some fear- he who never feared anything. " May God kee)) you I'my lord," she murmured trying to speak in a gentle and resigned voice hho withdrew. Immediately after a young girl entered the apartment, light as a sylphide, and ran towards Amaury. She was tall and slender, but of beautiful pro- portions, witli black hair, more brilliant than the jay, and with restless eyes, like these of the daughters of the Ziugari. She appro.Khed Amaury, who tried to repel her, but the young girl fastened her arms round the re- sisting chevalier, murmuring in his ear at the same time the fondest words. Amaury complcte- y conquered, drew the forehead of Agnes to his lips. And now the coquette, certain in her turn ot influence over him, resisted his caresses as he had resisted hers. She threw herself back, smil- ing and mutinous. " What ails thee ?" demanded Montruel, re- proachfully. Agnes who had slipped out of his embrace looked at him with iv joyous, bantering air, say- ing, in a voice that her pertness could not entirely deprive of sweetness, " Art thou going to make me ricli to-day, my lord ?" Amaury frowned. "Oh," thou dost well to ve.t thyself!" resumed Agnes, " I desire to have my fortune made (it ouce. Thou art rich— thou "s yest thou lovest me; I shall certainly, then, not have to wait long!" THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. '! 'A^ti 23 She saw that Iho chevalier was bewitched by her smile. " liyo and bye," said he ; " but remember! thou hast confessed also that thou lovcat me." " Thatmay be wealth enouRli for thee, my lord; hut as to me, I desiro to bo' rich I" ''Then it is not for myself that thou lovest me?' fnid Montruel, with an air of melancholy, which Mppcnred strange at such a moment and before such a woman. Agnes gave way to a burst of uncontrollable laughter. " I love thee a little for thyself," said slic, " that is much for me to say ; but is it not the Avay of the world?' And as Amuary continued to gazo upon her with sadness, she frowned in her turn, and suddenly changed her tone. ■'.Aly lord," said she, raising her eyes boldly iijion liim, " darest thou i)ledge thy faith as u chevalier that it is for myself that thou lovest me?" The eyelids of Ainuary drooped, and the smile ct' the beautiful Agnes became more bitterly mocking. ■'No! thou darest not,' resumed she, "and thou art right, for it would he a useless perjury ! I- it for my sake that thou hast changed my iKirae from Jeanne to Agues? Is for my sake tliut thou hast given FontancUe orders to furnish mo with golden gauze, ermine mantles, girdle, decked with precious stones— everything, in short, that a (pteen might be proud to wear. Is all that for my sake?' .\maury seemed dumb with fear. •■ Tiio wife of Phillip Augustus— Agnes dc Meranie, resembles me,' continued the young girl pitilessly ; " Is it on my account that thou fol- lowcst her everywhere and always with those ardent eyes?' • Be silent, " murmured Montruel, with fear ; but there was scorn in the glance that Agnes the pretty threw at him. ■ 1 am more beautiful than the wife of Phillip Augustus,' exclaimed she, "and younger too ; and yet it is not for my sake that thou lovest me I" And then Agues reined up and began to play carelessly with Uie gold fringe of her girdle. Amaury passed the back of his hand over his face which wad streaming with perspiration. "Us true!" muttered he, with a sort of im- potent rage, " all that sho says is true. I ivm mad, and my madness, it appear.^, is no longer a secret ; young gixl," said he, rising suddenly, " thou shall have tlie gold, not because I love thee, biti because I hate thee ! ' '' What diflerenee does it make," said Agnes, '• whether the gold comes from hatred or from love ?■' Amautry bid her be silent, with a peremptory gesture. " Thou shall bo rich," contiuited he, "rich at once — but not an imprudent word, not an indiscreat look—" •' My lord I" resumed Agues, resolutely, "not only shall thou jiay lue, but thou shalt res|)ect me. £ am stronger than thee, and I will not take thy threats I" Amaury tremblnd ■wU.h rRgn; ho fcll for lua dagger, and Agues waa, ul ore bound, at the oilier end of the chamber. •'Yes I yes!" said she, gmiliag with disdain, and seizing the latch of the door, " Ihouhastyct that advantage over me ; so long as I am here, thy dagger! but thou hast failed in nimbleness, my lord, and I shall prolit by the occasion. A< levoir, and remembar thy promise. ' lieforo Amaury could leave his seat, she had dis- ajipeared ; her hard and mocking laughter might bo heard in the adjoining chamber — a second door slammed noisily — and the scene was over. When Amaury Montruel turned, he saw Sam- son — that clerk, who so mucli resembled an old woman, standing in the middle of the apart?uenl. Montruel could not exhibit more paleness than ho had already done, but he trembled as though he had been suddenly struck by an unseen band. " Thou there ?" muttered he, " then thou hast heard all I" "Why! my lord thou hast drnnkbut one glas.^ of Greek wine — the beautiful Agnes was theu not thirsty this morning ?" Amaury had time to recover himself. " I gave thee leave of absence," said he, " what brings thee here ?" " As to having heard anything," resumed the clerk, avoiding a direct reply, " that was the last of my thoughts ; but your days of generosity, my lord, are tiir before those days in which you ex- amine matters too closely." Montruel throw him his purse. '• He has heard everything!" thought ho.' " Oh," said Samson, " I asked you for nothing, unles.'j perhaps for thanks ; for I canio to tell you something which, in my opinion, ought to please you. Two people, who arrived here yesterday evening, have come to Paris to assassinate the king!" Amanry darted upon him a look, which struck him with astonishment. There was in that look Uie sudden fright of a man who fmds his most Inmost thought laid bare in spite of himself. " Oh ! oh ! ' said master Samson to himself, "it must have been by the aid of the Evil One that I have seen so much as that." " And thou believest, misarable," exclaimed Montruel, who had, though all too late, recovered a Lule presence of mind, " and thou believest that the arrival of such people as that can give mo pleasure ?" " Ood forbid !" replied master Samson, frankly. " I know too well the loyal devotion of my lord. You did not allow mo to finish ; I reckoned that my niws would rejoice Messire Amaury, because I thought that Queen Ingeburgo might possibly be an accomplice in their design." " Iiigeburge is not queen," interrupted Amaury. " There is no other queen than Madame Agnes, the legitimate wife of our very -'readed lord, Phillip Kiug of France." Samson bowed, as a aign of respectful acquies- cence. " How could Ingaburge be au accomplice ?" demanded Montruel. " Because," replied the clerk, " those who have come to aasossinate the king are both from Den- mark ; and Thomasf, the lodging-keeper, who has discovered them, says that they are foster-brothers of Madame Ingeburge." " Hnw dost thou i^aU them ? ' " I have already told you their names," replied the cleik, " they are Eric, the freemason, and his little 'orothcr, Adam. ' UD or PAUT I. ^3 PA..IIT II. CHAPTER I. Thomas, Ihe lodging keoi)cr, pogseased ti large halt nuned building which stood on tho con- lines of the estate belonging the chanter of the cathedral of Pari.^,the narrow and ill-formed windows of which looked upon the purlieus of ^otre Dame. For many .years it had been Mllowed to go to rum, I^causeits deraolilionhud been decided upon, in order to give place to the great works that had been projected by Maurice 'lu buly Ihc neighbourhood woh therebv covered all round by similar places, joining on one side tho principal street of tlie city-and on tlie other, the empty spaces which were covered by bushes and by the debris, caused by the erec- tion of the tower of the new basilique. Paris was jilroady an old city-spreading its strength far from Its original centre. Pliillipe Augustus and Maurice dc Sulh—the great prelate, founder of Notre Dame, both desired in begmning those gigantic works to place the Hou o Paris in its normal centre, and they suc- ceeded in doing so for some years at least; but ■ 1 aris, like those trees whose sap constantly rise-* to the lag host branches; had ' "' •"'^"•«^'« ckbinsstrein among the nuns, there was an extensive space of which the purlieus now existing round Notre uTl^r "?/"''*■ '1''"' s«i'oft!iis placowat low and muddy, and the slightest rise ot thr' ^a'heVniT • ', '"'"?' ''' ""^ si^Tot.nVi'gs of t ca ledral into ,, impractie.ible marsh. liazarsraade of planks, of all sizes, encumbered « purlieus, and were coloured 1 v 1 1™ A , dust MS covered the scaffolding of the lu - arches then in coure of erection.^ These Lzaiv or shops, were like a permanent fai r'whe e'h ! families of the masons, penned up in'ou cor ir HI I ?\ri'^ "^'r "" "'^ "^'^essaries o f...o;'o£r:J^SrSS're5Hc^:^ Dalll?''r-' '"" g'=-'^"t'c sketch of' No, Daine showed its confuted but already imi.e.i.,,- whiclHfi-"'*''''"'^^" '•''"•S^ 1»<="'"-- '""lo».^ times, bu It IS true, also, that we shall novo- bmid another Notre Dame i ^"■""ll^^' trin?"^:'^ ''*'"•'' ""'"'" "■'"«'' ow I'istorvbe- g IS, some minutes after sunrise, two men li tl ' wr',"P°'.^ ?',''' ^P°'' ^y '"« •••'•"ing un teady as though they had just risen from luZr'^"-, °"" "^ ^''^'"^ ^^"' enveloped in a of c.v 1 ' ^'"'"^-"'^ «tl>ei- li«l the costum> of .1 cavahcr, covered bythesurcoat of ascholar. 1 V on^'n 1"""^ """'"J^^ ^'"^ •''"'=■•. "''^^l *'^'Jed tave ns; but they affected a certain eleirancc and he who wore them had something o , ho a ^ ■biilt^'ir?'"'- "« ^vns tall, thinf and well 1,^ iL .^"?' ™' "arrow-brimmed hat, worn by the men of the robe of that dav, was placed crosswise over a head of magnificent black Cl noi fed I I /^""i,'" '''^g'«"'V>nd his buskin., Celt'llr"''"'^'"^''^"'''''^'^'^*'''-*^- the°l!?idHw! ""'' ^>"*"""' "' tl.oir romances of el,.l . 1 .1 T'-J'"^^ '^ ''""''r^'' '™es over n„?l . r 1 ? *"'"* "^ «••*'""••''' Oit-sided, bony, bbaiTolp^''^'?'^' •?"' preserving still a'certa, biza le beauty, ,n spite of its diabolical form, 1 he man m the great coat was our good clerk uTZ' *"' '^"'l"'^" «"vi,orofMessirLmaur ;' lie other was the scholar, Tristan de Paraiers cloik, of Parliament. Samson and Tristan had been carousing the whole night at some drink- ing booth, in the neighbourhood of the old Palace. .uid tho 7u '1°'?'"^ """"■ "-"y "'"""S the h and the closed bazars, a man covered with a large dark cloak and coiffe. with .. .mu» n,,.i n"n!l'«.',"''""^ e angle of theme de laCalandro; and , as proceeding in the direction of the cliurci; o at Jnhen. Beyond these three personages, the place was ijnite deserted. THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. ;!P 25 The clerk and the scbolar followed, as well na they were able, tbe bank ol'tbe Seine, and readied tbat promenade, planted witb scrubby bushes, and called the Motte-aux-Papelardg. Ou pass- ing the lodging bouse, kept by maitrc Tlioinas, Tristan stopped short — extended bis long thin arm in tbe direction of the bouse, and witb a gesture full of emphasis, said — " It is there !' " What is there ?' asked Samson. " It is there tbat dwelk tiie prettiest girl in Paris !" Tlie clerk shrugged bis shoulders. " I saw her at that window," resumed Tristan, '■ and at sight of nie slie fled away. Inccssii patuit dea. ... I tliouglit I bad seen Venus herself illuminating, with her beauty, the darkness of that frightful dwelling." " Let us speak of business. Yes or No?" de- manded Samson, growling. Tristan remained immovable, like a Mny-pole, before the house of Tliomas, the lodging-keeper, with bis bands crossed on his breast, and his eyes raised to heaven, witb an air half impas- sioned and half jok''ng. " Had I but the lyre of Ovid— had I but the liarmonious citbn" f Propertius — or the viol, v/ithits garland of roses, of old Anacreon, — now would I c'lelrato ibo celestial charms of that divinity I" " Mon compere," interrupted Samson, " thou fcttest me to sleep. Rest thee here and sing, without cither cithern or viol, while I go and find my bed." '' Oh, heart of rock!" groaned scholar Tristan, with melancholy ; then changing bis torio, he added — " Miserable thing ! is it thus that a rogue like thee darest to speak to a man of my con- dition ? If I have a fancy for drinking, thou f^hould'stgive itmc ; if for singing, thou should'st open thy long ears ; and if it is my pleasure to i-igh, thou sliould'st wait and be silent." " Still it is mc who pays, seigneur scholar," replied master Samson, gently jingling the gold crowns in the purse that hung at bis girdle. The scbolar smiled. " Well, well, Samson !" said he. " tliy purse is right. After nil, if' thou art a villain, void of heart and soul, thy gold crowns arc noble ; and I can agree with them, as my peers and companions. I will return presently. But now I will go witli thee ; scold as much as plenseth lliee, I will listen ;" and they resumed the road to la Mottc- uux-Papelards. The man in the dark cloak, who had entered tho purlieus by tbe opposite way, and seemed to come from quarters on the right bank, had stopped Id watch them, but all unperceived by the clerk and the student. While they bad remained before tho bouse of maitrc Thomas, the man in the dark cloak, hid- den behind tho corner of a chaptl, had seemed to hesitate about leaving his shelter till they had passed the foundations of Notre Dame, but as soon as they had gouQ, the man in the cloak raised the visor of his toque, and discovered the young and iioncot face of tho handsome page, Albret, who, as wo recently related, liad given up bis horse to the two distressed travellers. " Samson!" muttered he, that rogue of Jlont- vuel's, with tho king of tlie clerks of Parliament! that presages some mischief What conld tl>ey be looking at?" added be, shifting his ground among the shops to gain the precise spot ; " it was liere," said be, after having moved in an easterly direction, " but I see nothing very inter- esting.' His eyes at that moment were fi.xed upon the house of Thomas, the lodging keeper, tho miserable windows of whicli were all closed. " AUons!' said he to himself, " I shall not guess the secret of my old companion, Tristan, this morning; let us rather to our work, — for tlie king lias bid mo fetch him tliat pretty lad that we met yesterday ou our way to the Louvre. On my soul, 1 am ac<|Ufiiutcil with more than one beauty who would like to have the com- plexion of that youth ! A very Iiouqiiet of lilies and roses ; and his voice — it seems as though I could hear it still. IJut all tlii-s will not tell me where he lives ; and when the king has once said, ' I will it so,' to return empty-lianded is no longer to be thought of." Ho took a few steps in the direction of the confu.sed mass of old buildings, then muttering to himself again, he went on, — " Tlicre arc two, — three,— sis, — there are twelve, — there are twenty, — the deuce ! — there are at least fifty ; and, I suppose, I must knock at every' one of those worm-eaten doors, and cuter all tliose dark alleys, to ask fifty times of fifty old furies, ' pray is it at this house that Eric, ilie mason, and his little brother, Adam, live ?' ' And he shook bis handsome bead, with an air of comical embarrass- ment. " A fool's business,' he continued, " for eacli fury will show mc her broken teeth and send me to Jericho ; but the king has .said, ' lu-ill it so !'' ' At this moment he was only some steps from the bouse of master Thomas, and one of tho small windows tbat looked upon the luirlieus opened, and the head of a young girl made itsappcarauce, illuminated by the rays of the morning sun. Albret stood petrified. " I am dreaming!'' be murmured, lie stood in the sliade of one of the bazais, and was not perceived by the young girl, occupied as she was in gazing with curiosity on the strange neighbourhood we have already en- deavoured to describe. The suu rejoiced in her simple and charming smile, and the morning breeze played with tho ringlets of her golden hair. Her large blue eyes, dazzled by the strange light, were half closed, revealing through her long eye-lashes the exquisite softness of an angel's look. While Albret stood in contemplation of that rare beauty, be was obliged to press bis hand upon bis heart, whicli was beating as though it would break; be rcllected a moment. " That is not him, it cannot be him, and yet what a strange resemblance !" He threw back his liair, passed bis hand over his brow, and feared he was lo.sing his sensc.<. " It was night when we met," said ho to him- self, "and I scarcely saw him, and yet could two faces be more alike ?" The young girl, half clothed, as though she had just risen from her bed, encouraged by tin' apparent solitude of the placciiemained supported on her elbows at iliu « liiUow. "Alas! I have found something that 1 wa« not seeking," sighed the pretty page, " Behold me thoroughly in love ; me who have ever mocked those who loved. Jly heart never beat before '■^* '^1 m i5 26 but once, and that was when I saw Queen Inirc- burge, so noble, so beautiful, ami so unfortunate but nem before (lid it beat as it has beaten to^ sud1ie,liy 'cff """^ ''^ '"" "^"^ "'" ''^^''''^ wlllM'.L"'''^ liP, trembling, "this, ,K;rhflps, ia Wi. t Instauwas looiiing nt so earnestly T' In i^p''/.!? I"-etty page was already jealous as h tiger, though only u minute old in lovo mi.J' T?" ""*f ,"'"'' ''^""^ '" *''° interior of master Ihomas's house, and the charming young fppeare'd *""" ^' ''"'''* "^° ''''"^<^^ ^"'^ '''^^ Albiet felt as though hig heart would burst I love her," murmured he, bending his head under the weight of that passion which licfe ^tZ'^f, T,",'"'° T'''' " «"'^''^" '^'"1 invincible li^^fJfere.-' "'" ''' ""' ^"^ '^•^««"^ ''f' "'^^ There in the dwelling of Thomas, the lodger of masons, he destiny of Albrefs life, 'that youth of aseignorml race, and the favourite page of the most powerful king in the universe' ^ As to the orders of Phillip Augustus-as to the ' ra.S6,on that ho had received,-all was confus on and disorder in the mind of Iho handsome page ihe truth was too romantic for belief; but still somethmg told him, that the little Adam and tha adorable young girl were onoand the same person ■ bu he repelled the idea as much as hoTuld.' Oertamly the simplest thing would have been to have entered mto that house, which was so nea ; but^m such cases, how rarely we do the simplest Albrct said to himself, " I will search every houso but I will accomplish the king's orders - though at the same time he budged not, but re- mained with his fascinated eye lixed upon that wmdow, now closed, but which had so recenUy served as a frame to the radiant vision that had appeared to him. The clerk and student were all this time walk- ing among the bushes of la Motte-aux-Papelards like wise men. ' ' The clerk said, " I know enough, see'st thou Zf^^^^' " '-^^ ""^ ^ g-t',:?^;?fa th;;Sfsri^rjr^a^:^^'?^'-'"-'^ The clerk placed his bony and mis-shapen hand upon the student's shoulder, and in spite of the enormous quantity of wine which ho had im- bibed, assumed an air of gravity and reflection I am not joking, friend Tristan," said he and though thou art a little insolent betimes, if thou Bhowest thyself reasonable, I will protect thee when I become a great lord." 'To show how reasonable he could be nt a pinch, Tristan controlled a burst of laughter, which made great efforts to escape him. "We may see as strange metamorpho.scs as that, resumed the clerk, whose tone became more and more solemn, " without going very far to seek tl;.em ; but yesterday Agnes the pretty was but a iwor foolish girl, and to-da v have r ,Jt c»„„ nor pass lu a gilded Utter, going to take uosses- fuon of Lor chateau d'Btampl^" ' " her chateau d'Etampes," repeated Tristan, THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. '■'the chateau d'Etampes belongs to MontruM given him by the king." "loniruei— '•■ And Montruel has given it to Agnes " cnr ed'lh''e'schoiar'^ "'""' ""'"'' ^ *''^«^' ^'^^-^• Samson looked the scholar all over . A secret," resumed the scholar, who had ■„ his urn become almost serious. '' A sec t J b-'o her, which is worth suoh a chateau a 'S- chateau d'Etampes, must be a good secret " ^ nio'rSTnys" et^s «r '° "'" ""' ''^^"-^ " ^''" , '' ^ffh" said he, in a low voice, « my secret .. ;^"'''r",'.°"r''^ ^enes and'anoTher w tl lier. Montruel is the friend of the king • he ha' other chateaus besides the chateau dEfa'mpes hldso'mesTr'^"'"'^"^"^"'^^^^^''-^^^^ As they were thus talking, an object camo in Dame'S-^- '"^ "T' °''^° 2nd ot N t" lie ob ect was surrounded by men. who were advancing slowly, and they could at 1 isTscar ' hstiuguish it, seeing only some gilded thTn^ lefleotiog the rays of the rising sun ^ " By Jove," said Tristan, •' we were sneakiusr of a litter ; I could swear I see one-and a^eau tv upon my faith I" oeauiv, Samson looked on in silence ; but as he looked bis eyes changed their expression, and all the intoxication that still remained about hfm was evidently leaving him. "ruT bast nothing tosay ?" resumed Tristan. Thee, who see'st so far," said the clerk in a changed voice, '< say, is the/e any one withtn iha' afinM^IJ- ^^"^.f ^'' <^J'«^ ^'"^ ^'^ band, and Hfte looking attentively, said, " it is empty." The clerks brow then recovered a little from its paleness. The littor approached towards^ boat upon the left bank of the river, o^osi the eastern point of the city ; the men vho were he's i,;? "'° litter jumped i^ito the boat, cro sed panion " "" ^""^ °''°"' '"'° «^'"- temZl^,?.""""''!?'^ '"""'■ ^'^il^ Tristan con- templated hini with a curious eye When the boat touched the shore, the scholar "^HH '""'°" "'.""'^'•ing to himself, " it is indeed u V,".''''T^''y haii it returned empty ?' I' riend Samson," responded the scholar, with thee'-'' """"' """^'° ^''"^ P<^°P'« ^''"W tdl ' ««mson recoiled! his face was livid; for in thooo who accompanied the litter ho recognized the inmates of that mysterious houso thatAmaury Moutruel occupied in la rue St. Jacqucs-la-Bouch- erie the tall and robust members of a police force withou control-men that Samson himself had selected and trained to obey, without over ques- tioning the orders of their master. H'Pt?,^" 9"'''' , "'""in.e from the chateau SimSrthe^r"'*'^''''' ^'"''' ''''^''^ "p' maitre Samson," replied the chief of the baud who recognized him, " we have not been so far as that," aud the man had a hideous smile upon his lips. i 1 THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. 27 " In tho forest," resumed he, " we met some bandits, who wanted the rich girdle of the damsel." •' She is dead " muttered the clerk. " Aye I dead enough !" maitre Samsou, "said the man," moving on after the bearers of the empty litter. Samson stood stupefied. " Diable," said the scholar, " if thy secrets are worth as much as those oi Agnes the pretty, friend Samson, thou will neither be hung, nor become a great lord." r>y degrees the troubled face of the clerk recov- ered some serenity. •' Friend Tristan," replied ho at last, " the chateau d'E'ampes is a long way off, and there is a thick forest upon the road ; I will choose two chateaus that are nearer. But now to our business again, if it please thee j this contre- temps has quite sobered lue, and I am about to talk to thee as out of a book." '• I am all attention," said Tristan. Samson drew him toward the extremity of la Mottc-au.x-Papelards, and resumed, with his ordinary dry and firm voice. ■' Amaury Moutruel, my worthy master, desires to produce some little show of an emotion ihrougli the city during these days." •' That is easy enough to do," interrupted the scholar. •' Doubtless," pursued Samson ; " and I should have no necessity for thy services, if only an ordinary row was in question. But Jlessiro Amaury has his own ideas — it matters little to' him when the scholars and bourgeois e^ichangc broken pates in the streets. What he wants now is a popular revolt, on a small scale, directed comine il faut, and striking a sure blow." " What— against tlie king ?' demandedTristan. " For the king," replied the clerk. '•' Then try to explain thyself more clearly." •' The king is much embarrassed," said Samson, taking an air of presumption, " he is more enamoured tlian ever with Agues de Mcranie, and knows not what to do with Queen Inge- burge. Montruel, who is tlie friend of the kiug, naturally wishes to come to his aid j dost under- stand?' '• I understand tliat Amaury Montruel is the mortal enemy of Queen Ingcburge," said Tristan. ■' That is nearly about what I dtsired to tell ihpp, my brave companion. " Now follow me again." King Phillip is weak enough to have a Ibndncss for lliose schools." '• That proves King Phillip's good taste,'' said Tristan." ■' I do not thiuk so," said Samson ; " but let as not dispute about that j for after all, I belong, like thee, to the university. King Phillip thinks that uU tliese colleges, instituted or res- tored by him, will make hia name renowned, and prove to be the glory of France. Ah I if he knew the respectable corps of Paris scholars as well as I do!' '■ Come to facts, gossip," interrupted Tristan again. A bell was now heard from the pur- lieus of Notre Dame. The passers-by increased at every moment and were covering both sides of the river. It was half-past six in the morning. " Thou art right," gaid the clerk, " the labour- ers are about to resume their work, and God knows we shall soon have company enough. I will bo brief Tlie king, right or wrong, being attached to the schools— a fact whic)> he ha.s proved by deciding two or three causes m favour of the university, wlien, at the same fimo, the students and all the clerks of Parliament deserv- ed to have been horsewhipped out of Paris. An opportunity now offers itself to the scholars to show their gratitude to the king. Consequently, my master wishes you to raise these learned philosophers, and that you assemble them altogether before the palace, making them cry out against Madame Ingeburge. Tristan shook his head. The deep and prolonged hum of the swarms of artisans employed on the cathedral, was now heard: numerous boats were rippling the quiet surface of the river Seine — clumsy tumbrils, loaded with stones, were labouring through the heavy roads which followed each bank of the river; over the rising walls of the cathedral, countless human faces could bo traced, profiled against he sky : the bells of the neighbouring churches and convents began to chime, and the thousarid other noises of Paris burst simulta- neously into life. " Against Queen Ingeburge," continued the clerk, who had not yet remarked the negative uit of his companion — "Against that foreigner, who is the unhappy cause of all the calamities under which the unfortunate kingdom of France lan- guishes '." " That's a patent lie I" objected the scholar. " A lie that is proclaimed aloud," replied the clerk, " is better heard than a truth proclaimed in a more rcasouablo voice. Say, will you cry it abud ?" Tristan .seemed to hesitate. " Besides," continued the clerk, " do not our professors teach us that every question has two sides ? For example, if Queen Ingeburge did not exist, Phillip Augustus would have but one wife ; the major-excommunication would disap- pear — the people would again obtain the sacra- ments which the church has refused them — all would thus be for the best ; and thou can'st not but admit that from that point of view, Madame Ingeburge is the true cause of all our misfor* tunes." Tristan shrugged his shoulders. " Hast thou, then," said he, " so much sophistry to expend, that thou should'st waste it upon me ? Ingeburge was queen before we had heard of this Agnes ; and it is she who has drawn upon us the thunders of Rome. And though, to tell the truth, these thunders of Rome give mo little con- cern, you should reflect that the ignorant peo-, pic are not so advanced as the members of the university I The jjeople suffer, and they under- stand very well that Agnes do Meranie is the cause of their sufferings ; and it is exactly on that account that Amaury Montruel desires that the scholars should go to the people and tell them that they uie deceived. Auidury Moairuci does not know the scholars ; there may be young fools among them with many vices!" " Say every vice," said maitre Samaon, cor- recting him. ..Jill ■ «8 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. "Every vice," repeated Tristan, "well, I will even ftccord iliec that ; but remember they are younger than us, moii compere, and thcii- hearts are not dead." Maitre Samson set up a Inugb ; " Iheir hearts I'' said ho, with ft singular inflexion of voice. Tristan folded his arms upon his breast, and looked at hjm curiously ; " Friend Samson," saiil he, thou hast not yet reached thy thirtieth year, and yet thy visage is that of an old hag of litty ; thy grimaces, when speaking of the lieart, are hko those of an evil one, whohasdipped liis claws into holy water. Tell me, Samson, hast thou retained the smallest idea of what thou wast at thy twentieth year?" "No !" replied Sap; - m, without any hesitation. } lio eyes of the a^. ■ u, ■ became I'reamv, while a niy of intelligent .U pride shot across his withered brow ; " For my part," said ho, in a slow niid sad voice, " I shall soon be twenty-siic I littvc lived at the rate of one lustre, (five year.=) per annum j but I do not forget that 1 have been >^0""K— "I'lt I have believed— that I have loved! And I teli thee, moreover, compere Samson, that it at that day— when I was myself— if at that day n rogue like thee had come to me with the proposal that thou makest me to-day— to kill a woman by rr.Uimny— to assassinate lier— not with a poignard, but to raise against her the blind mob, to tear, her to pieces with their nails and to devour her with their teeth— I woul.l have replied to thee with my dagger and not with words !" and he grasped nervously the handle of his knife rthich hung at his girdle Samson bore all this unmoved. " Yes ! thou wouldst have done all that form- erly, compere Tristan," said he coolly, " but to- day what wilt thou do?" " To-day !" exclaimed the scholar, carried away by an impetuous movement. The clerk thrust his hand into the depths of his pocket and jingled Jiis golden crowns Ti's- tan hesitated and his head fell upon his breast' < 1 0-day,' said he, giving that word a very | diirere... inflexion this time, " to-day I am almost asgreatasiunerasthee.compercSamsou. Mv heart I 13 no longer touched by a regret or a reproach, i mat 13 a disease 1 would fain cure; to-day I , leave my dagger in its place— I enter into dis- ' cussiOD with the rogue and if I find his propo- ! Bition materially acceptable— aii! well— I wiU accept it." CHAPTER ir. There was nothing more now between the acolytes, but a question ofe.xcution— or possibility of cxecu ion. Tristan was overwhelmed with debts ; that sudden good impulse of his heart could not endure, and his insatiable thirst for debauchery, which bad become his second nature returned in fidl force. ' Samson drew from bis satchel twcntv-five golden €ro\yu3, which he counted out 'upon the spot, already too much exposed to the gaze ot the numerous passers-by. In fact the Uargair. wns closed, " We are not children," said the clerk, smil- mg with complacency, " though I do not quite share thy opinion upon the chiv.ihous spirit of ho Pari,sstudentsj for ihouph I admit that so- 1.- big words incautiously acldiv^^cd to these iLi,,. headed beings might be Millitieiu to makean q.| venture fail, such a^i, ^A.ssassiuate a woman ! In^Vlt a woman!' and the like, an., v.oiild b,. a|,„>' certain to bring the blooil into b.anllo.. chc.'- and rouse up all the fooli..|, impulse,. „( vouth' still remember, friend Tristan, that Vle^s '■ Amaury and myself set ..mall store uponthv rcckOT" *''^'°P'*"'""^-" '^ ''l"in thoo ihatw:; "Still," said Tristan, "with all the will in ti„. world, I cannot get up a riot bv nivself ■ "Pshaw I" exclaimed Samson, "'do our litil.. 1 arts students wear llieir name and nualiir inscribed upon their faces?" A stronger repugnance still was depicted upon the feature.s of Tristan. ' "I do not understand thee.." said Tristan ■ but was it because he did not wish to uuder^tam'' '• I thought 1 had warned thee of that" =-„! Samson " looking him through ; tliou hast'mv twenty-hvo crowns, and hencelbrth we must hav.. no more joking, mon compere 1" "Perhaps thou wilt explain thyself," ^M Install. '■Good! Good! I have no faL>e shame, aai i I will put, then, the dots to thine i .-. All men I resemble each other do iliov not .' What dit- j lerenco is there between a sctiol.ir nml abeo.^ ■„• I d the beggar has the .same dre.ss as the .schobu- '' I '-That is infamous!" said Tristan; but thc^o j words were not pronounced with that b-ave ; tone indicated by his jauntiiy pose.l c.ip and liis ferocious moustach.! ' "The question is not whether it be good or , bad," said Samson, diily, "but whetlier it i^ I feasible— is it feasible?" '• 1 think'— began the scholar— "Ohlifiiis not feasible," interrnpted Sam- son, "give me back my twentv-'ive crowns, iu order that I may provide myself' elsewhere." Tristan put his baud upon his satchel, not to give them back, but to defend them to the kin extremity in case they should be attacked. "If, on the contrary, it is feasible," resumed h.'jmson, "hold out thy baud aiTain, raon com- pere, and I will count out t went v-hve more crowin for thee to pay for disgiiisii.V' the beggars as scholars." Tristan hesitated— stamped ami nwore— but at last held forth his hand. The approaches to Notre Dame being now en- cumbered with labourers, venders, and spectators, Samson, the clerk, and Tristan, thescliolar, seimr-- ated. CHAPTER III. In the house of Thomas, the lodging-keeper, and behind that dosed window, that still trans- fixed the eyes of the handsome page, Albret, three persons were assembled. These were Eric, the mason— his pretty sister. Eve- and that vener- able old man, with the white liead and lie.ir.l. called Christian the Dane, Wc have already heard his name in the moutli of Eric, when the poor traveller, replying to ilie t !| THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. 20 swore— but ■»" '"'ow not of. God ? IJ^r; "r"' ""''■"' "» ""^ ^"y. « power. weak agft Dst the onomiBa of onr queen • but J...., v..,, will listen to o.,r ardent DraverT «n?l'fr«l c.;Si..7 ^"'r T" "^ ♦" '^'-^- SS cm Miller DieiHlonnd, wlio will, nerlians \^ rowe..f..l enough to open the doors oS^en^ -ipiSw^!:r;i:?^'^'-v'ik„ow viv-ndi;' ^U grTaVh.::r'.' " '''''" '"'' ^'-''' "'"' And ft. .i,/i? '' ' '"" "''"y '^"'■'ain of it." wliirh iJii^K .?^ einbarrasamcnt from tb. 1101,0 or mite"'','?!' ,"''■' »*"li >UfleJ befnrp on „„ P^' ""^ liisbop was sealed S whiclnnoT.^' "'"""^^''Pt- posed npon a sl«ne workVi r . /"''f '^"'^ '"'«'' '"with open owers a ml! i'^ " '■« '"<=e-porticoe8 and proud ^'-a. ho i. now^uSd'Sr;, witll'LTktXS""'^ THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. ont nr • T'.''^' " ^^y ^''^ ''' 'ii' 32 on uw Hi, t <,ucen luKcbiirgo l,a,l cscupcl from tlio lu. mig 01 lur ,,m.,m jailor., und w.w to bo fuuu.l ill bo i.oiiso o m .sto. Tboruna. Tba principal fiictoncoc3tubliHb„.d, amltbo how nn.l tbo X commenced .N.vcr «,,s Paris so cmbarnw.ed to im I I lidiculon. reply ,., „„ i„,po,,ible question. ilic wuftU iKddlnr.s ibu bypocraa vendors, tho ol. uo,„en ami lh« l„.gg«,..., invented tbo ,no3t i"geniou.s and improbable debiiLs. Wo slionld '0 remiss were wo nut to tell that among tbese beggars wero to be found, in the first rank, our wWortunale friends, E/.ekiel u,id TrefouiUoux the ■'■-rturmil bandils „f the ruo St. Honor.? l^iko tbcir suueessors of the present dav L/.oku.l and TrefouiUoux rubbed CS.tSd b.^Y'l ''r d")-- ^ Their begg,ng bnsincs. fvaV o 'Mul. more piu.llablc than their brigandage fur here aguu, ihey found a detestable amount of eompcl.uon, Tliero mus in Paris twice as man v j beggars as charitable eonis, and the surj.lus 3 hat peaceable profession which might otberwie Lttvc had so mi\ny charm.-i. "lutiwict Xo one can b.> ignorant of the l)ftneful effects of compei.i.on-kiliing all industry and exS al- Zl , "'" '■'.'■"' '••'"O'l'g companies, giving Irce passage.., either by bind or by wa er < uid even oftorhig travc|:...s refreshment oi. the Cd Z""r,'' •'";'■""?,"''' ""^i'-'""t"al destruction ; mnclness. ijni;.; „, a noimal stale, n besmir SSf u? '"'^';' > '^ l«"«'3-zed'a™S passes ,u cvei-y country for a sturdy beggar excite he diarity of phssers-by. liut it was „o^ so Withu, the puilieus of Notre Da.ne-ne^esstv hat ufTspriii^ of competition, had then Se he i.nag.„aiions and iuvei.tiv'e lac.ilties of he it^^uleh'hl" rf''" ,r'-'^-J'«"^'. «'• -«n drat lug then legs after (hem ou little truck=i and even paralytic.., had but moderate sucie ? hTsflla^'T"" ^'""-e.and less classic thl.l Ezekiel, who, aa a beggar, was one of the «51ite had trussed up both legs behind his thighs kj " capon prepared for the table ; he bad h s wo arms reversed and a ghastly ^vound scored^^ red ochre across bis brow. o^uieu in ^.J^f"'!'"r*''"?.''"°'''" veritable artist; ho •ad pamted upon his left breast a compli;;ted nicer- his breiist was bared to the ligh and TrefouiUoux constantly announced th!t for a bard any body would be permitted to look through that fearful skylght, and might seo the woS lit V r"' '""S^- The veritable EngYsh gobcmouchc hud not yet been inventPrt «pX unhappy Trefouillou.. wouirhave L?iken a his word; ,n our day he would rerTBoon have' fouiid some curious gentleman who would have paid his money and thrust his lorgnette into the I maias stomach-but in Trefouillo!xs day after ' all the trouble he Lad been at, and the pain he ex'e"e'""'' '''' ""'"^""'^ ^'-^ -^ c'C itl A gigantic woman-Mtended on some straw before L,l ''^ " S-^-^t-carnc-a evuy.ijiDg THE TWO WIVES OF TilK KINO. ( K'ckiel, in a pialm-singing tone. cried-S. s: ::;"Scv;^4;£'i=■r Wee, Chriatiani, resumed Trefouillour .1, grea ulcer of tho unhappy man who I, s'o. one day more to live-condemned by the cul ; and a ready pierced through and tl ro ul bv t ' fr;:^,y:°''"^-''''''"-^-ouring't,'fiS: But it wag all of no use ; there arc soma n,., sons who .icver have any h.'ck. W.^w Zi, irnssed limbs,,.leers and sabre:stroSmS hu surcont worn b«.-e' by leaning so m ch r , pol, eVtT-""'^ "J'.'' '"-^ uniSeasnr" ?o omted buskins. Tristan de Pamiers I ..i well illed, and be came now to ramble a liu round that dwelling which, to his toeenc lo m not without acquaintance with such matter bold To k S T'" 7 ""'' "*''" -" P" :. Doia look, the door of raaitre Thomas's hoi. was opened, and Christian the Dane, E ic av little Adam came forth. ' " The noisy crowd knew nothing of the la- two; as to old Christian, he hadformny mon'l • kept Bhop within tho liberties of No^roZmV pat: iridttti"":'^' ^''"«'''"'' «■— s r„;; thoiVSi/oSS ''''"' '""^^''^'- " tha^'^'^'' ""^i" ^""""* '^° disappointed crowd. Agnes deEir" '"^^'"^'"^ "^^^^'^"-^ pace' All^iV,"' 'V™'"' ^'^'''J 'bo handsom.. page, Albiet, " and u is her niso-l am sure oi boui'rA^arrdtr"""' ''"""-"^ '-^^"^-^ h-ZLf^'^-,' ^^°'l"*d Tristan, who had pos'.oi himsel insolently in tho passage of o«r i' fe:>d=. what means this masquarade ■'" .If"' !5'^.u '?'*'■' """^ "^'^ Christian the Da:!--, continued their walk to K„f^ n-^.- , . talking with great vivadfy,' and*^ppearer-'o F».vnontteolic!g- THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. \. ki>' "I tlio them. Etc Btill continued lier efforts to con vinco Cliriatian, who remalnpil obstinately in cre'lulouo. " The king can do anvthingi" said Ere defy you to dnny that." "The king can do m he likwl'' replied old man, shaking his white head. " When the king knows wlio I nm— ' began hve, again with petulance. " Speak lower," said the old raan, iMirceiving that they were observed. He saw Albret, witii Ins nose in his cloak, following them throueh the crowd, ° " If it is nothing about (piocn Ingeburge or queon Agnes, at any rate they are talking about the king." " The king would like it," exclaimed Eve nt that moment. Tl•i^tnin, without any ecrmony, laid hold vf her hy the chin. " ....1 1" .said he, twisting his moustache with hifl ctiirr hand, " I should liko to know why you tb 18 !;ide the most delicious figure that there is in thj world under the ignoble livery of an apprentice mortar-mixer." Eric tried to place himself between his sister .ind the scholar ; " '^his is but n child," said he taking his heavy hammer iii his hand, " wait till he is man's age before you insult him, mou mnitrc." " Aliens," said Ezekicl, in a melancholy tone to Trefouilloiix, " here are two idle fellows going to kill each other, on purpose to hinder us froui gaming mir bread." " And yet ihcy will till you that king Phillip mnnages his city of Paris veil!' e.tclaimcd TretouiUoii.v, who always , inclined towards Jiolilics. liutjastas fiiend Tristan had proudiv took hold of his dagger, an unseen hand grasped him by the collar of his surcoat behind, and threw him back several steps. " Who dares to touch the king of the baro- cho ?"• exclaimed the scholar. At the sight of page Albret, who stood before him, he stopped and crossed his arms upon his breast. "Ha, Ha!" said he, recovering himself, "I did not expect to find thee here, my old eompa- iiion ; I know only two good wars of meeting a friend after a long absence— the' first and best way is to click two full glasses together ; the second, which also has its value, is to click bravely two sharp blades. Aliens I mon pere I would rather thy dagger than the hammer of that villain." Ezekiel and Trefouilloux, drew themselves forward, with incredible contortions to have their share of the spectacle. " Let us profit by the disturbance," said father Christian, " to pass on our way." Eric and his sisterexchanged looks ; thcv had both recognized the handsome page of Dieu- donnd, " Thou cau'st not abandon him," said Eve in a low voice. ' " Withdraw, if yoii ts'I!!. masfsi- Chri-tisn " said Eric. " I must remain '; for that gentleman has taken up my quarrel." ♦Clerks of Parliament, 88 Albret did not draw his dagger, but regarded tlio scholar with an air of scornful superiority " Never again will my glass touch thy glas^ "Tristan Uo Pamiers," said ho ; "as tomydagirer' that s another thing ; but before arriving at thai last thou no desire to settle the old account between us ? I have lent thte many gold crowns in former times." At this disdainful apostrophe of the page Tristan's pride was touched and be changed' colour ; he plunged his hand into his satchel -ind drew It out full of gold pieces. But we have already seen, in the course of this history, that Tristans first impulses were t)Ptter than his subseipient notions. Jle held out MIS hand reluctantly to the page. 'The crowd thought he was going to settle the nrst debt, and arrange the other afterwards I romme il fu„i ; jJm Trisuin contemplated the' I crowns which were shining in his hand, hesitated and showed too plainly the conflict raging within' iim : " Shame on thee," exclaimed he at length can St thou not give mo credit, Albret ?" ' That name soon ran through the crowd, who repeated in every tone— ' " The king's page I The king's page!" crediv' "''""^ ^'^'*"' " ' '''"' ^''^ ^*""' """""^^ '■ Ah! well Jlien,"said the scholar impudent. y, and returning the crowns to his pocket, • then thou Shalt not have the honour of measur^ ing blades with mo t.Ms morning, sire poge [ make no love gratis, seest thou; and besides," too deaA '°^ '"' '''"''"'^' "*'"' money cost A howl cnme forth from the crowd Tristau drew his cap over his eyes and sprang into the thick of the rabble ." R"K";slhut you are l' do I owe you any. ^'"«I ,?"'"* K've me passage, or I will break «o o. three dozen of your beggarly skulls. tlio.igh I could not split the head of a gentle man." 6^"">;- IIo pushed forward, clearing his way thronirh he crowd, who flew before him, and only eS MS cx.t after everybody had witnessed the deep humiliation to which he had been subjected '^ Messirc," said Eric to the page, " this is the^second service that we have received from klltf^il^ '' please yon, mon maitre," said Albret, " I am about to render you a third. Your young brother spoke just now of the desire he had to present himself before the king " ^^Eve's eyes fell and she turned as 'red as a ^^l•l^''' '"1'"'^'^ "''"'"' while, messire," replied Christian, who now stepped forward to take part in the conversation, "to take notice of what children will say." "Master Adam is no longer a child," said Albret, casting a furtive glance at him, " and besides that matter depends no longer upon you mon maitre," said he, addressing the old man' with courtesy « nor upon ne, nor upon himself' The king wishes to see him." Our three friends stood stupefied at that decla- ration. Eve, however, recovered -first, and fixed upon >-M 34 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. tbtf pag(< Ler large blue eyes, wliicli shone with a quiet bravery. " I am rcaily to follow you, messire, " eaiil she. " Can I not accompany ny yoiiijg brother ?" said Uric. " You cannot," replied tlio page. Bto offered her cheelc to lier brother wlio kiascd it tenderly. " May Ood protect tlico, my chilil,' suid lie ; " QoU has not heard my pruyer — fori priiyeJ him to reserve nil diingern for me." Ohriatiun embniccd the young girl in his turn. " lie prudent," murmured he. Evo scarcely replied to their caresses, for her thoughts were elsewhere. " I am at your service, measire," Baidahe to the page. Albret bowed and led the way to the spot where ho Lad entered the purlieus, Erie and Cbrislian turned sorrowfully towards the works at Notro Dame. Tho crowd separated, gossiping about and criticising tho afluir — which was for thcra ft complete eiiigmit. Two horses wire tied to the gate of the Chapel St. Landry. Albret put little Adam upon one — though she did not look like a very skilful ca- valier — and mounted tho other himself, lie had, however, given his knee to little Adam as a stir- ruj)— what could bo do more for the noblest damo in the land 7 They galloped along the road by the river Seine, in the direction of la porta St. Ilonord. Tho first moment.^ were passed ia silence. Albret looked nt his young companion, from time to time, with ft very tender interest, but seemed to foar lotting her see what whs ])a3sing in his heart. " MessiiT, ' said Eve, at len|,'lli, whose voice now began to tremble— for the exultation which had at first Bupportcd her began to cool—" are you indeed the page of tho chevalier Dieudouud?" " Yes, master Adam," re[ilicd the page. And in fronouncing tlmt name, " roaster Adam," ho could not conceal a smile. This troubled Kvo more. '< And the chevalier Diendonn6," resumed she, " is doubtless tho servant of the king ?" " The king has F\ot a more devoted servant," replied tho page. Eve remained quiet a moment, and then con- tinued — " Sire page, could you not permit me to see the chevalier Dieudonn6 before seeing tho king? ' Iler accents were bo like ft gentle prayer, that the heart of Albret was stirred to its depths. But he could not accord the impossible, " You will see them both together," replied he, turning away his head. Poor Eve dared not persist; and the remainder of the journey was made in silence — Eve sighing a little — the page very much. When they had passed the porte St. Honors, and had reached the open country, the page suddenly stopped bis horse. " Maitro Adam," said he, " do yon remember this place ?" Eve looked all around her — behind her were tho walla of the city, and the porte St. lIonor6 flank- ed with two pointed towers ; before her was the tower of tho Louvre-, with U.s battlements .ind donjons ; to her right and the left was the open country. They had entered an alley of younifelia trees already tall and vigorous. " No, messirc," replied slie ; " I do not think I have ever Hcen this place before " "Its true-it WMS i„ the night time, m»itr« Adam, and the ^now always changes the aamn ol thmgs ; still you cannot so soon have foriot- ten your nocturnal distress and the two cava- liers?" " " ^Vhat I" exclaimed Eve, whoso eyesiparkbMi, " was It here?" » i ■> Love does not see with the eyes of the world Albret thought her as beautiful iu her apprentice costume, as though slic had woni the brilliant apparel of more fortunate young maids ''It was here," rei)eated he, looking her for the first lime in tho face and permitting his eyes to express nil their emotion; "It was hero ihat I j?ave my hoise to you and to your brother— it w.is hero that I first saw your pale ond handsunie lace...." Evu trembled. ''It was here that I admired your supple aiul charming figure. . .and divined your secret " Evo nearly fell fiom her saddle. " What would you say?" murmured she. "Look at me, before you suffer yourself to fear me, resumed tho i.age, in a supplicating and soft voice," "I know you are u young girl. I bvo you Look at me and tell me if you think you could love me." liut the more he prayed Eve to look at him, the more she feared to do so. " Perhaps you love another?" murmured Albret in a veritable fiiglit. Evo smiled. " .\o," said she ; but so low that Albiet scarcely understood her, and yet hia look became radiant. '• Hear me I' murniured he ; " I believe this is my destiny ; tliey tell me that voii aro the sister ol queen liigelmige. " Tho brother," said the young girl, wishiiiK to correct him. " Oh 1 do not try to deceive me longer, I coii- jiiro you. And if you cannot love mo as I love you, nt least place confidence in me, and regard mo as tho most devoted ofyour friends. It is out ot affection for queen Ingeburgo that you have left your country. Ah ! if any thing could induce mo to cherish you more, it is the attachment that binds you to that noble and unhappy sove- reign." " Do you also love queen Ingeburgo ?" exclaim- ed Eve casting aside all prudence. " I would lay down ray life for her," ropliftd the page, " if she required it." "And yet you are a Frenchhmen. You do not know her?" " I know how she suffers ; and I know how holy and noble slio is." Eve gavo him her hand, smiling. " Thank you," murmured she. " Ob, it is long since my heart experienced so much joy. Every- body, then, in that great Paris, does not detest my darling queen— my adored Angel— my sister. And it is a Frenchman who has told me that queen Angel is noble and holy ; oh I thank thee —thank thee, from the bottom of my soul, mes- girc ; an.i since you are go good, I bciiovo that i shall love you ; for I am, indeed, a young girl !" She withdrew tier l,und, i„ ,,!,„.« it „non |,er licart, an.l m]M, in a low volte- ^ "Slay— I fcor tliat I love you already." TIFR TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. . .■»•' 3S CHAPTER Vr. Messlre Amniiry Montruel, lord of Anr( nn,l fnc«J ofthc king, wasted „o't tbat daylthc 2ve o» which lie Imd so well commenced AVo witnessed, in the morning, tiie scene ir. which Sumso. the clerk, one of In. ngeni" e" eculea u r'«rt of hi, orders; hut Messire Anmury ad many strings to his bow, and did not coZ lino him.,elf 10 8uch small malt,.s. At about the s.uuo hour ad the juige miined the I.ouvre with his pretty companion, es 'i « Aramiry wr,s in his retreat at the Rnosl .hmm\. hi-Uoiicherie, ,„ conference with two much more jrnpor ant personages than the clerk, Samson or the seholar, Tristan. ' ' ^ The lirst of the.io pprsonagcj wna a man of fifty, with a swollen and blotched countrrnce and nisty grey hair, he was called Herhert Melfugf ' ord ot Canterbury. Ho had been a long S to private and confidential counsellor of John 1 lantogenct. For more than a year ho had been tZJr^ '"^^="'^"^" -"'•'. traveligi;' iMirope, and even in Asia. Those who knew John Sans Tcrro and his worthy servant, ,|,e lord of Canterbury, b" tlia? ho latter had not been travelling ue rely for l.leasure. He was met i„ the divers courN of turope, at Copenhagen, Germany, liohem" 'nd wia"1bo Vllew' ""■^'^^ "-ii-^Sorus, to ^'on ' shnrVini f^ ?™'7°'' '"Constantinople: in short, he had made a bold push into the heart f 1 at country, so little known in those days and which was grovelling in the Mussulmans' r or irh '^""/'•""I'^'l. t''«y saiil, the Hangers of barbarous Kourdistan, and cleired the limi s o the fearful country of assassins I The other personage with Messire Ainaury was that man with the remarkable and intelfi face that we encountered in the opening of our history, upon the high road betweea sl Laza o and the Porte-aux-Peintres. An engfe nose-a keen and proved look-hair dark as ebony cut «nf rV ^r^ Bligl'tlylepressed; of^a'ta and slender figure-but under whoso fa nppearauce was hidden an uncommon degree of strength. He was handsome, though not from a European point of vicw-which exact, a round! ness of contour and an amplitude of form as imperiously as gracefulaess-his was the b zar?e SaTKserT"'' '""'' ^"""^ '" '''"''^^ "«"« He was, in comparison to Euronean warrinra what the high-bred Arab st^ed, ^ifh bis m scT^ of steel, js to ourrobust and heavy chargers from Norraandy or Luxembourg. E viy thing abou^ hiin denoted a man of decision-his beard was S ir"^'"' ""J'^ ^"° "''° 'b« talons o?a tiger. 11.3 visage bore the impress of great wa- v.ty and coolness and all his movements betSyl c-tl that quiet indolence of the hnnfia^r,. .i./_ by which we are so deceived, until we have'S fi^btened by the prodigious vigor of ij leaps ilis age appeared to be about thirty. The reaT; already know, tlmt this man bore two name K" S tl Atsrr' '^•"".^-•-- »'^'--' i I IS was thP Mussulman who came from Hvria ith a mysterious and terrible mission amE I'e man that Herbert Welfast, loH cf C.lnte hurt hud been to seek at the neril nc i,i. iv ■ ' .he deep gorges of "the ' A'tllife, "^■',n';^ tl LT '"""'' u """^ ""'^^ '-rotherhood. raHed tlie tedavt, or Sons of tli<« Crystal Po ir mr. who^o^uted the orders of th/pi;rM hadTmfi,"„''r,''"'! ""' '"""'Sins'ic artisan, who 'md profited by the crusades to learn at their ^:rrJo^^^-r~itte,-^^E accountof John Sans Tme, his master. Jcnn Cador carried the sharp gouge of the spoto : he dreamed only of delicate linn<._[,and. some arches-and beautiful granite saints X I"ous prelate, Maurice do Sully, after havi g seen one of his sketches, had shaken his Uvo hands wall enthusiasm, calling him his dearesTson '• .Now," said the lord of Canterbury, at 'the moment wo introduced our readers to the scene enacting in the retreat of the king's fHend Now, Messire Amaury, my cousin, the time fo^ hesitation has passed-l warn you of it; before "0 leave this place, we must know whether you are with ii.s or against us. ' '' Amaury's eyo was fixed and his brow was ba bed in persp.ration-for he was a rogue with- out any strength for mischief-but traitor enough for a dozen ; and ]-hillip Augustus would seen to ha^e been inexcusable for having chosen suc'i n man (or a favourite. We can understand kings deceiving themselves, and opening their under r'TH •'" ^"""^ criminals, and we cannot understand a king soiling his hand by bringinK 't HI contact with such imi,otent perversity "^ Araaury Montreuil made no reply. Herbert been littlo better than a mute from his birth 1 po.ntmg to MahmoudelReis-and my cousin wiTn T' ""'^^ \'''^^^'' "''« * ''■"i'l old woma Thirlg » '^" '"« "^'' *" '^•^<='^« "P«" "S " If it wos a thrust of the lance or a blow of the sword " said Montreuil. ^ "' " Ah I Mort do Diablo I" interrupted tlm Englishman "if I was in thy place I would soon choose between the lance and the sw^rd Thou hatest that man as much as we do-more than we do-forthou art madly in love-Tnd thl? r^hKtr''^^-^^*^---'^Sttu' Amaury wiped his anguished brow. «.ir „""*"''' conUnued Herbert Melfaaf hi Sble anrtf "'^^'k''^'^ ''"^-^b^" «Kti Ills table and thy couch is snread hpfn~ j,:. j " ihT^lfu^l' "■''lyet.ina'tead of "killing him thou watchest over him. When thnn ^l ITt^r 1"^ "^•'^ ^'^'"'^ him could'st th^u not usethylauce? When heslee,. after the 36 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. ropast of the morning could'at thou not use tliy sword?" " Wo, French chevaliers," said Amaury, " have other uses for our weapons, milord," in a tone which showed that for a moment he had re- covered all his pride. Melfast gave him a bitter smile of disdain. " Say plainly that tiiou art against us !" said Ijc, in a dry and hard tone. " I could heartily wish that T was, my lord, at the price of half my blood ; for Phillip of France is my lord, and I have sworn fidelity to him. But alas I have neither strength nor reason ; I love Agnes to my utter ruin. I am not against yon. I am with you." These last words were uttered as with a feeling of pain and regret. In spite of this assurance the countenance of Melfast still expressed a doubt ; as to Mahmoud cl Reis, lie remained standing in the middle of the chamber as immovable as a bronze statue. "If thou art with us," said Herbert Melfast, with a tone of distrust, " make thy conditions. my cousin ; I have power to accept them, what- ever they may be. Amaury seemed to collect his thoughts. " In tlie first place, I wish for Agnes de Mera- nie," said he. " The love of Agnes," replied Herbert ; " slie alone can give thee ; but as to her bodv, thou shall have it,, though a wliole army of chevaliers disputed it with thee I" " And as it is necessary tliat Agnes sliould be happy, that is to say, powerful and rich as a Queen, I must have the appenage of a prince." " Choose among the duchies of France and England, my cousin." " I desire the dnchy of Burgundy, in France and the duchy of Suffolk, in England." ' " Thou Shalt have them." " By letters of the king." " By letters of the king, sealed with the great seal I" "But," resumed the friend of the king, " Agnes has been suffering a long time." Herbert Melfast pricked up his ears. Amaury seemed to be selecting his words. " The hatred of a woman," said he, lowering his voice, " is not like the hatred of men, so longaslngeburge lives, something will be want- ing to the happiness of Agnes." The Englishman assumed a cynical smile. " We must do something for that beautiful and excellent lady," said he ; and then turning to Mahmoud, he addr ssed himself to the Sy- rian " would'st thou have any repugnance to poignarding queen Ingeburge ?" The Syrian folded his arms upon his breast. " None " replied he, in a grave and soft voice, in spite of its strange guttural accent, "she is a queen— she is a Christian,— and she is con- demned." Herbert Melfast turned towards Montruel " See my love for thee," exclaimed he ; " and this should make thee great shame, my cousin Amaiiry ; the bargain is then concluded. We Will {jive ibcc .-; qnccn and two duciiies, and thou Shalt give us a king. It is not a bad bargain for thee; and Mvill concede that thou liadst thy good reasons for holding out ; but let us to facts— how wilt thou deliver to us the king?" '•The king is now always surrounded by hi.< new guards," replied Montruel ; " we mu.st watch our opportunity and give— give My cousin the noble John Sans Terrc, is subject to clianges —I must first be secured in my duchies and iu the balance." Herbert Melfast did not show himself in tho least offended by the distrust testified against his master. " Tlie duchies are my concern," said he, "witli a great laugli ; " but as to the balance, my cousin speaks of, that is the affair of thy poignartl friend Mahmoud." ' The Syrian raised his handsome figiuv, rolled bis eyes from one lord to the other, ami then made a sign that he was about to speak. He threw a strange and solemn dignity into all his actions. "There is only one God," said he, slowlv, " and Mahomet is his Prophet ; seven tinios glory to God, and tliree times glory to his Prophet. The sons of Sebbah were sent direct from Allah. From the day of his translation to the regions of felicity, liis successors became heaven's representatives on earth. I nni Mulimoud el Reis, son of Omar. My master Mohammed, said to me, follow that man— poiut- ing to Herbert Melfast— and take thy poignani with tliee I I love Dilali, who is more beautiful than the daughters promised for the eternal pleasure of the faithful ; I was loved by her. We were about to be united. Dilali shed tears that my burning lips tried to dry up. Tho master said to me, if thou returnest with tim blood of the king upon thine hands, I will watch over Dilah for thee.' The eyes of Mahmoud turned towards heaven, and he still spoke more to himself than to liis two companions, as he continued — " I went to Dilab, at the hour when the great trees cast their shadows on the terraces of the City of tho Pure, and said to her, I will return wilt thou wait me I Dilah gave me her timid brow and replied—' I will wait for thee.' " And as I left the next day, at the rising of tho sun, I heard the voice of Dilah murmuring be- hind the flowery hedge, 'return quick 1' " From that day," continued Mahmoud el Reis turning towards the Englishman and the French- man, " I am a body without n soul — my spirit remains in the shady gardens of the Pure. When the sun sets my eye seeks tho same cherished star in the sky that Dilah watches, whilo waiting forme; but you have nothing of ours here, — not even our stars. If the blood of the queen will give me the blood of the king, then tlie queen must die, in order that I may return to my betrothed I" Amaury was about to reply, but Melfast re- strained him quickly. "He has allowed tis to speak," whispered Melfast, and he is noble among his brothers. " I have promised to the priest with whitn liairs," continued tho S^Tian, "" to carve him a statue ; eight days are necessary to enable me to keep my promise. In eight days, if I have finished my statue, and if the queen is dead, ..V THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 37 thou slialt show me by wlint road I may arrive at the breast of the king!'' Eight days, for men of the temper of Amaury Montreul is an age — they reckon on the events 0/ the day, without a tliouglit of the day after. "In eight days," replied Amaury, "if tlic Danish woman is no more, 1 will do what thou aslLest me." At Montreul's gate there stood a horse of tlie purest Arab blood, richly caparisoned, in the I'ersian style ; two black slaves waited at the stirrups. Mahmoud leaped into the saddle, and gently stroked the shining neck of his horse, while the slaves handed him his stone-cutter's tools, and then took the road to the purlieus of Notre Dame. All Paris was waiting, with curious anxiety, the arrival of the celebrated image-cutter that had been engaged by Maurice de Sully to sculp- ture a statute of the Virgin — to complete the twelve signs of the Zodiac, which were to orna- ment the chief portals of the cathedral. As soon ns Mahmoud made his appearance, the crowd became more dense and tumultuous than in the morning. " Jean Cador ! Jean Cador !" they shouted on nil hands, " that's the good artisan who is going to give us an image of our lady !' The Syrian, on his magnificent Arab, and fol- lowed by his black slaves, passed through the press of his admirers, taciturn and proud. On the arrival of Jean Cador at the chief door of the church, two deacons presented themselves and conducted him to a temporary atelier that had been constructed forhitu on a level with tlie first gallery; Cador entered it with his two negroes — the doors were closed — leaving the disappointed crowd grumbling like the audience of a theatre upon whom the curtain has been let down too soon. " I suppose that's too great a lord to work in the open air, like ordinary people," said one. "Does he think we want tu learn in his school ?' said a jealous artisan. " We have not been among the Pagans," said a third ; " we work as our forefathers worked, and without the assistance of apprentices like demons. I hope that man will bring no misfor- tune on the chureh, or on those who are building it!" At that moment they could hear from the little work cabin the dry noise of the hammer on the granite, and the splinters of stone flying off ib every direction, striking sharply against tho sonorous wooden jiartition ; it was as though twenty men were working there with all their might. Artisans and bourgeois looked at each other, find more than once crossed themselves, repeating the words of the stone-cutter, " God forbid that that man bring us any misfortune I" CHAPTER VII. Through the largo trees of a vast nnd ir- regular garden, planted on the side of a hill, might be seen the towers of an immense old abbey. 1 1 was at that season of the year when tho large trees are still bare, but in which the shrubs are just putting forth their verdure. Wandering through the parterres whose com- partments represented hideous monsters and and fabulous animals — might be seen a young damsel walking slowly, and followed by two women in the costume of nuns. The latter had their faces covered with long veils — they spoke not a word, aud regulated their steps by those of the young girl wlio prece- ded them. The young girl had just descerded the moss-grown and half-ruined steps which led from the cloisters of the abbey into the narrow- paths that wound through the bushy parterres. She appeared a little older than tho sister of Eric, the mason; but she was at that time of life when a few yeai-s only add additional charms to beauty : and she was therefore, by so much, more beautiful than our pretty Eve. If we were not afraid of perpetrating a comparison too aca- demical we shotild say that Eve was the rose-bud and the other the full-blown flower ; further, we may say that there was a resemblance between our charming unknown, and if not strictly n family resemblance, they were unmistakeably of the same country. Both were blondes, with the same soft golden hair — both had blue eyes— both were slender and well formed ; Eve's figure was jierhaps the stronger — but the recluse of the convent was more graceful and high-bred. For this delight- ful unknown was a recluse, and the two nuns who accompanied her, might well pass for her jailors. The cloisters, towers, and vast dwellings, whose austere profiles could be traced througli the trees, belonged to the abbey St. Martiu-hors- de-Murs — the nuns were there only by a favour conceded to royal authority, for the convent be- longed to the monks of St. I3enoit, whose severe rules forbid the presence of women within their abbeys. The beautiful young girl was the sister of Canute, King of Denmark, and was the wife of Phillip Augustus, King of France, Queen Ingeburge. And yet, though we have called her a young girl, it was not from forgetfulness, for Ingeburge was as much a maiden as on the day when she quitted the old forests of her native country, and sailed for the land of France, with a heart full of hope and pride to be the queen ... to be the well-beloved wife »f the most glorious soverign in tho universe ! It was only necessary to sec her to read in her face the virgin purity of her soul. The poor queen had wept much ; but she still preserved a little of that childish insouciance which can sometimes smile through its tears. It was early in the morning and the sun was playing over the newly- opeiiCd leaves of the lilies and white thorns. On first coming out of her cell the bead of the young girl-queen was bowed sorrowfully upon her breast, as though she was overwhelmed with her grief and solitude. History has told us tliat she loved her ungrateful husband with a pro- n)und find undivided love. And eT?n tho=o who have elevated the coarse Agnes into a heroine of romance, have never been able to tear from the truthful brow of poor queen Angel th{ sweet and poetic aureole that adorned it. iri 38 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. And for all the scorn, and all the injiistico, and all tbe honors which were heaped upon her unworthy riral, and which where so many bleed- ing outrages, the loving young queen had always, in the depths of heart, pardon and devotion for her lawful lord. Slio ioved : and in that slow martyrdom, which was consuming her youtli one word could re-animate— one caress would have made her happy. .She thought, alas I by times, of the fate of other women who were wives and mothers, and of the smiles of their cradled infants, while she, though queen, was neither a wife or mother. In days gone by, she had her brother, lier companions, her country. Phillip Augustus had robbed her of all these, and had given her, in- stead, a solitary and cold prison. And wherefore 7 what had she done to that king? At the first call she had thrown herself into his arms, all radiant with joy. She had brought him her youth, her beauty, and all the exquisite perfections of her heart and soul ;— and in return for these priceless gifts — the Idng had strucls her down, without anger as without pity, and given her a living death. And still she loved the king. We have said that she was sad on leaving her cell, but as she left the gloomy arches of the cloisters, the fresh air struck her bent brow and she raised iicr beautiful blue eyes, full of melan- choly, and when her pretty foot had once toucli- cd the gravel of the parterre, a smile already bhono through her sadness. Like those first flowers, called by the country people "pierce snow"— which, by the aid of tlio sun, thrust their heads through the frozen ground queen Angel raised her head, and her lungs drew in that sweet air so different from the air of her prison. She gave au involuntary start, and seemed about to run over the grass plats, still wfit with dew. The two nuns gave a cough, which reminded poor Angel that she was the queen, and she re- sumed her slow and measured step. But the breeze shook gently the branches of tlie odorous cytises — the amorous birds were singing in the green bushes— and the heart of Angel expanded in spite of herself, and in spite of her two austere duennas— a voice seemed to speak to her from the depth of her soul and promised her happiness. Alasl if she believed in these promises it was the hopefulness of chililhood — hoping ever. What happiness could the inhospitable and treacherous land of France give her — that land which, in- stead of the promised power and felicity, had given her death and abandonment ? All at once she uttered a cry — a veritable cry of joy. The discreet nnns gave another warning cough ; but the queen gave u spring light as that of a fawn and cleared at one bound the wide border which separated the parterre from the grass plat. "Madame I miidamel" shrieked the two nuns'. But the young girl run over the grass, with her hair flowing over her shoulders, and her white robe streamin:; in the wind, fil-.o w.t= n.-> loiif^er queen Ingeburge, but Angel, daughter of the North, and free, as formerly, in the fields and woods of her own country. Tiie two nuns, who had quickened their steps to overtake her, found her kneeling on the grass and as they weio opening with a duet of re- proaches, she turned towards them witli a smile on her lips ami tears in her eyes, and in her hands she held a bouquet of small blue nowcr= " Pardon me, my sisters," said she, with tho gentleness of an infant, "I could not resist- foi- I saw from afar, that ray i'cn«c«(forgot-me-uoU-!) liad blown." ' " What does tliat signify," began one of tli.^ duennas, and the other supported hercompanious question by a sliarp glance. Angel looked at them with astonishment. "What signifies my i;eHn(;«/'' exclaimed she clasping her beautifid white hands, " can you' nsk mo tliat, my sisters? You know not, then tliat this is the first flower wliicli makes its ar- pearanco upon the terrace ofour palace at Copen- hagen ; it is the flower of souvenir— it is tho flower of our country." llcr voice trembled a^ she bore the bouquet to her lips. "Oil! my poor country l"slie murmured, "oh! my cherished flowers ; see how weak they are and how their stems bend. That is because thev are not the native flowers of France. They ar'o exiles, like me; perhaps tlioy suffer like me. Oh! my sisters," she added, bursting into tears, "your France is not good for everything that comes ■from our country ! " Some minutes after this queen Ingeburge was seated on a stone boncli by tho side of a friar, whose b.ald head and while beard gave liiin a very venerable appearance ; tho monk and the queen were conversing in a low voice— the two nuns stood off at a distance. " I have confessed my faults, father," murmur- ed the queen, her hands still joined and her eyes still devoutly lowered ; " but I feel that I am still wanting in resignation to tho will of tho Lord. I have many desires and many regrets. 1 sigh for the past— tho happy days of my child- hood— my country— my brotlier— my companion.^. I long for some new country instead of the one to which they have brought me. I desire the attachment of some one near me — a little libertv and the confidence and love of a husband. Alas! everything that I have not, my father. I know that it is sinning against God, thus to murmur under tho weight of his chastisements. But God will pardon me, my father, for I have suffered so much and am so weak I " The priest, who was the prior of the abbev, looked at her with a commiseration full of respect and tenderness. "God has pardoned you already my daughter," replied he. "God pardons sim'ple and honest souls like yours ; but it is a fault to give way to obstinate despair, and to complain wiihout ceas- ing. Judge whether heaven has abandoned you : the legato ofour Holy Father has just arrived to cite Phillip of France onco more before the council, to compel him to renounce his criminal life, and the guilty consequences of his second marriage." Tho young queen shook her fair head doubt- "igij- " I am but a simple maiden, mon pere," said she, " and perhaps I do not understand every- thing; but all tliis was judged in tho former THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 39 council, aud the second marriage was then con- demned. Should not the first sentence bo revoked, before they entcrinto judgment again ? ' Prior Anselmo involuntarily turned his eyes away. Women and young girls possess the sagacity of a lawyer, when their private interests are at stake; and though this lias been apparent to us ever since the days of our mother. Eve, we never- theless continue always to express our astonish- ment at it. "Oh! pray," resumed the queen who had observed the movement of the old man, " do not attach too much importance to my word/i, my dear father, I am sure that the churcli will sus- tain my cause ; for the church could not b? a party to any act of injustice. And lliesojudLj- ments and those councils. ..." She stopped and the prior gave her an inquir- ing look. Ingeburge finished with a still more sorrowful smile. " I desired to say that nil these tilings could not give mo back the heart of the king, my husband." A silence ensued, during which the old priest, holding the queen's white hand in his own, con- templated her with paternal interest. " There are somethings which are beyond me, my daughter," said he at last, " but to my mind you are queen of France and were you only a poor girl, without support or protection,! should still feel myself attracted towards you; because your pure conscience is to me like a beautiful book— the pages of which I can turn over with love. If there i? anything that you desire, and that is within the limits of my authority, as prior of this abbey, tell it me without fear." The queen blushed slightly, and replied — " Is it really true that my prayer will be granted ?" Pere Anselme nodded assent, "Ah, veil," said Ingeburge, "they tell me that in anothei and distant part of the buildings of your abbey there is an hospital for poor patients." "You have not been deceived, my daughter," replied the prior. " Accomplish, then, your promise, mon pere," continued the young queen, and grant that which I shall ask thee." Here I am useless to others as well as to myself. Here I can do no- thing but dwell on my sorrows, and shed useless tears, which are an ofifence against heaven; I %vould rather that my days were turned to some good account. I should like to devote my time 4o ministering to those poor patients." " You — the queen I" interrupted prior Anselme. " If I was indeed queen," said Ingeburge, " I should know how to relieve the suffering aud aid the afflicted in a different way — but since I can do nothing. ..." " My daughter," again interrupted the old monk, whose voice betrayed his emotion, " there are too often in our infirmary, contagious diseases." '< And if I should die by their moan?," mur- mured the queen, with an angelic smile, " I should no longer have to complain that France had refused me the queen's crown, since she -would have givea mo a holier one I" The prior contemplated the queen with admi- ration and raised her hand to his lips. " Your wish shall be granted, my daughter," said he, " you shall minister to our poor patients. Have you any other desire V " Oh yea!" replied Ingeburge quickly, but immediately hesitated — as one about to ask a favour too ardently desired. " Mon pere," resumed she after a pause, " I am here alone — and my heart can only open itself to you. These holy women — (pointing to the nuns — who stood at a distance like two statues of old wood — stiff and severe)— who follow mo always and everywhere, these holy women do not understand me. Perhaps they do not love me. Is it not possible to give mo a companion of my own ago ? and if you cannot accord me a young girl from the North country, speaking to mo my own tongue — then a young French woman." " The orders of the king are absolute," replied the prior. At that moment a noise was heard coming from the cloisters, the arches of which were hidden from the queen and her confessor by the trees and shrubs. Neither of them paid any attention to that noise. " I am told that you have much influence over my dreaded lord. King Phillip Augustus,' continued the young queen, in a supplicating and caressing voice, " mon pere, I pray you on my knees : it would do me so much good to hear the gentle voice of a young girl ; she would soon love me. Oh, I am sure slie would soon love me ; and should I not love her who would consent to share my afflictions." The old man could make no reply ; the noise In the cloisters increased, and tiiey could distinguish the voic« of a woman behind the thick bushes. The attention of the queen and the prior was not yet aroused. A tear from the beautiful blue eyes of Ingeburge was coursing down her pale cheek. " I do not insist," murmured she, " for if you refuse me, mon pere, you, who are so good — it must needs be because my demand is unreason- able. I will try to forget the foolish wi.-'h which I have so nourished, of not being always alone and abandoned— and of having the heart of a friend always near me — a heart which might have received the overflowings of my grief. Alasl it is too true, when I reflect upon it — it would have been too much joy." She wept and the good old prior felt that ho was about to do the same ; but he sought not to encourage a hope in her, that he could not share ; for in all that related to Ingeburge the king had shown himself inexorable. The young queen put her hands to her burn- ing brow, and spoke no more, but her sobs be- spoke her deep distress. At that moment the noise behind the bushes redoubled and seemed to draw nearer. Inge- burge still paid no attention to it. What could that noise signify to her? but the old prioi raised 'lis head and lis'^'ned All at once, among the confused murmurs, 8 clear and sweet voice arose — it was the voice ol a young girl— and that voice said : " Angel— my sister Angel! — where art thou?' 40 The young queen rose with a convulsive start ; w^T ' ^f,'«°".P'»ler, her eyes wandered-she threw baclc the ringlets of her long fair hair- and muttered in accents full of fear— Jl ^'' ' ^ T ''r°'»'"K mad !"_the prior him- self knew not what to think. Again the voice repeated, " Angel I where art thou— my sister Angel?" The queen pressed her cold hands to her temples-then, as though she would combat that maduesg, which for a moment at least had made erhappy-shofell on her kness, exclaiming- Here I L ve— my sister, Eve !" iSuddenly the rusthing foliage opened and a young g rl, clothed all in wl.itelfaira^,d ^harm. mg as the queen herself, flew like an arrow fh^Tlf^r'Pj"' ""'^ l"'ecipitated herself into the arms of Ingeburgo. n,A'f T,""'" ""'° Eve, who was no longer master Adam, and who had laid aside for ever ncr disguisa as a mason's apprentice I Pvo'^n*^'ffi' I""' "Z"^^"^' '' ''-^' 'long I'eforc Eve could find words to tell her joy to the lauel,- ing, weeping queen, who threw her arms round hves neck, looking at her affectionalely a Ion? tune, without speaking. ' ^ " My Bister ! my sister I" murmured she— with- out knowmg that she was speaking— '• Oh! mv sister ! 00 I see thee again ?" ^ " Oh, my queen I" exclaimed Eve in the xVorse language, 'I hav- suffered much to reach thee, but I see thee. I ki« thy dear hands, and THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. irdod°!'> °^ '' '^^ ^"' '° ^^''' the goodness Ingeburge eotitinued to contemplate her as though she dared not trust the evidence of her eyes and ears. At that moment tho old nuns hastened forward and each seized Ere by an rtrm. '"">«ru " What do:a this woman want ?" said thev in one voice-'. V\'e have order, to prevent anv ?fD°enrrarkT"'''""" '''"''"'' '" "" 1'"°-^' niztr^hl''""'^ "°" ''°-",''^ '^"^'^ "° '""g" recog- nized the young maiden, whose portrait we have just been sketching-she rose sudden y into a strong and proud woman. The prior had no time to speak for uer 'To the queen of France!" said she slowly while her haughty look disconcerted, for a mo- ment, the two nuns. ' "' " ™° " To the queen of France," repeated one of the nuns who still held Eve bv the arm-'' be U so that title avai'. you nothing, madame-and you U" Thirer" ^\^y}^'l?'P'<^^ J-ou show'for Ihese^fasTCdr ''°--'^'"— conveyed in " My daughter,' said the prior, moving towards Ingeburge, " the orders of the king are st^i^t " cut ^ve, drawing a parchment from her bosom, interrupted him— she/ *"" ^^"^ ^^ ^^^ *"''^"' °*" *'"' ^'"B'' sa'«l The nuns could not conceal their incredulous T?™ '"'"'^f .*'^.*' P'^r^l'ment towards him! Ihe queen seized it in its passage, and eascrlv sought for the king's signature. When =! e Vd juuiid It she kissed itrespectfully, without know- ing the contents of the order. wh?re!id U r'"''""^ ""^ P*''<='""''°t to the prior '• The young girl does not lie," said he " tl„> ST' "'.,'"'■ ^"''" ^^"^ companion of m'adame Ingeburge, the queen." '^uauiL The two nuns withdrew, muttering to them- . ri ^^' Y'!"^'""' "^ ^'^'' servants, a" other keepers of the monastery, who hadcWfsed Eve through the bushes, did the same, on ic- ce.yingas.gn from the i.rior, who at the san ,■ ^me laid Ins two hands upon the fair head of " Thou hast a good heart, young gir),' auid >e ; " I pray God that he may give tl.eo be he consolations and joy, that tho^i has broug oour poor recluse. May this day," added 1- turning owards the queen, befoi^' whom J bowed, "bo the commencement of a happier Tlie queen extended to him her two hand, which he kissed, and withdrew with a slow s^ ,/ we 1-for he had been her support and protec o in her sad prison-was nevertheless anxious to be left alone witli Eve, that she might enjov more completely the souvenirs of herf-outh an 1 JJJVTI-''^'- ■^■^'°"" therefore, as the o prior had disappeared aiuon^ the trees, she drew Eve to her breast, and held her a lon^ time hi her embrace. * '-Tliank thee-thauk thee 1" murmured slio hrough her tears-" since I set foot on the hm,i or France, I have never had but this one moment pt true happiness, and it is thee who liast given Jw''°^Tr" •^'=!°^«JEve; thank thee-thauk thee! They mingled their tears and thei. smiles, while unintelligible words fell from the iueenh!,;'o',f:"'""''''"^°'-'^ °^'^'-<=°'"« 'I"'" ""' "How beautiful thou hast become, mv little sister, resumed Ingeburge, holding Eve "off, tho bet er to examine her. " VVIien I departe.l tVoni that dear country-which would to God I had never left-thou wertstill a child ; now thou w tuU^^T^ ^r"*!"'^"' «'"^- "^'^^' y««' thou an indeed beautiful, my sister Eve!" " And thou, also, my sister angel— who wert renowned as the most beautiful, in the days of which thou speakest-how pale thou art ? But thy paleness suits well thy royal brow ! Oh, mv queen and my sister, how blind and how lieart"- less that man must be ?" Ingeburge turned away her head, with a sorrow- ful smile. " Ho is my lord," said she, " and I love him. bpeak of him ever as though he loved me " " And who knows but he shall love thee yet, Angel? e-xclaimed the young- girl, whoso blue eyes suddenly sparkled. " The Bohemian woman has captured his soul, by the aid of sorcery, that i.j^as well known in Denmark as at Paris. But the king said in my presence to-day—' Queen Ingeburge is holy— queen Ingeburge is beauti- " The king !" stammered out the poor queen, the king said that? speaking of his imprisoned wife. Ah I Bister Eve I thou wouldst deceive me ;' HDu she tried iu withdraw Ltr head— but Eve re- tained it and covered it with kisses. " I have much to tell; listen, my sister. Angel, THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 41 and never distrust tne ; for though it were even to save thee. I could not tell a lie !'' Seated, side by side, on the grey stone bench, both young and smiling — both happy in their mental restoration — the respmblanco to each other was not so great as it would appear at first sight. Eve was the rustic beauty; but Ingebiu'gc, to the exquisite softness of her physiognomy, added the proud beauty of royal blood. Eve had been speaking for a long time, relat- ing her adventures in the simple poetry of her native tongue ; the queen was wrapt in attention and lost nothing, aud the different impressions produced by the exciting tale of Eve, were re- flected and passed over hcrscnsitivr features like the images of clouds and birds passing over the polished surface of a lake. " Ah ! the good lord 1" said the queen, at the moment when the young Dane came to that part of her story it. which she related her weariness on the evening of her meeting with the chevalier Dieudonnd, who had opened the gates of Paris to her and her brother, Eric. " Yes, my sister,'' said Eve, whose smile had now an arch expression. "The chevalier Dieu- donn<5 is very good; and since that he has done still more for me." " Relate it— relate it, my child," said the queen impatiently. Eve desired nothing better. When she came to the ride she had taken in company the with hand- some page, Albret, from the liberties of Notre Dame to the tower of the Louvre, it was the queen'd turn to smile archly. '•Iladst thou any previous knowledge of him ?' asked the queen. " It was ho who lent us his horse,'' reiilied Evo. " But before he lent you his horse?" " No," said Eve, " I had never seen him before that." " And what did he scy to thee on the road, my child ?" " Nothing up to the moment when ho entered into the alley of elms, which is behind porte St. Honors." " And when you had entered under the elms which are behind the porte St. Honore?" •' Then," replied Eve, without hesitating, and lookiug frankly in the face of the queen, " then my sister, he told mo that he loved me." " Oh I these pages," cried the queen laughing, " and that made thee very angry — did it not, my sister ?" Eve blushed; for she thought the queen's words sounded like a reproach, and she felt quite unable to acknowledge the page had not made her angry. "Ah, if thou couldst know, ray sister," mur- mured she, " how that page spoke of thee I and with what an air of sincerity he compared thee to the angels ;" I love everybody who speaks well of my darling princess." "And therefore thou art in love with page Albret?" continued the queen. , " I told him that I believed I should love him." The queen was about to open her mouth to give expression to a moral, but Eve closed it with a kiss. " I know all thou wouldst say," said she " and it is not necessary to tell it me, my sister ; and if I liad remained alone in this great city and without protectors, of what use would have been all our fatigue.-^ and our long journey ? I desired to sec thee happy ; and if i remain the worthy daughter of my honest father, wliat signifies a word ora smile more or less?' and Eve resumed her uarrative, without giving the queen time to reply. '■ The page conducted me over a draw-briUge to a great gate, where hung a horn wliich he sounded. We entered, without dismounting, under a dark arch which led to tlie interior of the fortress. ' was still in my boy's clothes ; the page assisted rao to dismount, in a narrow court surrounded by high buildings. ' Eve,' wliispered he in my car, as we passed through a vestibule supported by large carved pillars, ' pardon me if I cannot tell theo before- hand who is the chevalier DieudonncS ; I should betray the orders of the master that I serve.' " It is needless to say that I was not in the dwelling of a simple chevalier; and then thou knowest, my sister, tliat in the summer palace of thy noble father, king Canute, we amused our- selves by studying the escutcheons of all the hristian princes. I can emblazon a crown nearly as well as a herald-at-arms, and I saw all around me, the crown, with globe and cross, and the azure field, sprinkled with golden lilies without number." "What!" exclaimed the queen, whose eyes began to open wide and who was losing her colour. "I guessed," pursued Eve, " that the / cheva- lier Dieudoun^ was the king." '■ The king!" repeated Angel, who instinctively drew close to Eve. " But all prepared as I was," resumed Eve, " when the page raised a screen of cloth of gold, and ;ntroduced me into the immense hall, where I saw the royal throne under its velvet canopy, 1 felt that my strength was leaving me and I had no longer any courage. The chevalier Dicu- donnd, bare-heeded and without arms, was tlien ■>,I1 alone, pacing up and down, with long strides, and seemingly lost in reflection. In my agitation I turned, as though to seek the support of Albret, but the thick drapery had seimratcd us, and I was alone with the king of France." The queen drew still nearer. " During a minute, but which appeared to me an age " — continued the young girl — " the king pursued his pensive promenade — then stopping suddenly, looked me in the face, and bid me ap- proach. I obeyed, aud bent my knee to . the ground.'-' ' Has Albret warned you ?'— muttered , he, frowning. "No I dreaded sire," I replied, for I know the title by which to address the king; " upon my eternal salvation I swear that you! servant has not betrayed your orders. If any one is to be punished it should be me alone, who deceived the king on entering into his palace, a? one looks for the presence of Uod, on passing over the treshold of his temple." ''Eve, Eve,'- muttered the queen, "that was an act of impiety." " The king did not appear to me offended b; the comparison," replied the maiden with a cer- 'm 42 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. tarn complacency; "my eiatcr Angel do not scold nie— I felt tlio necessity of winning tlio Kings good graces, and I thought," added sho with a loolt of prido " that no old courtier coulj liavo steered Im barkmoro skilfully througU that difficult passage." Tlio simple ghl did not know that it was tlio policy of tlie king t!iat had helped her at that trying moment. Wo should add, however, the beauty of Eve to the policy of the king, for these things never jostle mih the most hardened poli- tician. ' The king continued to regard rac," regumcd the maiden ; "and I thought I saw that in spilo of 1113 trown, he had a strong desiro to smUe I re- mained kneeling wth my hands joined ; I must acknowledge that I had somewhat forgotten my i-olc of a young boy, and I was scarcely conscious ot tho costume I ^rore. When tho king called me 'young man,' I trembled from Iicad to foot, lor I felt that I was on tlm r.oint of betrayinir a smUed""^""'^"' ^'^'"'°'" ■ ^""^ now fakly •Come,' said lie, with a little soveritrin his voice, ' wo do not yet know bow to lie I' "And OS he saw I was about to reply—he in- teiTupted mo ^rith a look full of indulgence— Child,' said he, 'never try to deceive the King. The king knows all 1' ''I was verwhcmed by these words which seem- ed to reproach mewith Ingratitude; forthatman wa3 tny benefactor, as well as the king of France • before ^"'"^ ^° ^^^ "^S*^' 'My daughter,' resumed ho in a gentle voice, I guessed your sex at tho moment I welcomed you with your brother. Tho king knows all : and I know that you como from that country be- yond the Northern Ocean; and I know also that you came to seek the princess Ingeburge, and to succour her in her peril.' s , "uu lo I' He did not say the queen," interrupted Angel. "No," replied Eve, "he did not say the queen; the J'qJ?,'P*''^"'=^ "y S'S'er, and hear my talo to 'I know,' continued the king, 'through what that your brother, Eric, the mason, carries a poig- Jiard as well as a trowel ; but there are already so many poignards in Paris destined for the breast of the king, that the king scarcely heeds my daughter, a poignaid more or less.' In saying this he looked at me with a calm and intrepid air ; he does not boast, for that heart never knew fear." " Oh, yes," exclaimed Ingeburge, pressing tho young girl as though to thank her, " that is a bravo chevalier, my sistcrl" Eve continued. 'Would it make you very happy, my daughter' said the king, 'if I were to'teU you that Jou We going to 800 that princess again, who appears so Qcsir vo you ' "My dreaded sire," rcpUed I, pressing irith both hands my palpitatina heart, "for nparl^ o year 1 have journeyed and eufifered-supported by that hope alone." 'Are you noble?' asked he lu tho north country," I replied, " all laboreia are men-at-arms. My father is a labourer and I may bo the chamber- woman of a queen » Tho countenance of Ingeburge assumed an ex- pression of reproach. '■"iunex. '' And theo also," murmured sho, "thou darest not, then, say the queen." "No, my Bi3lcr," retorted Eve resolutely "I fhl r,'-''«'='»"'"". nbovo all, I desired to ses thce_lo be near tliee-.tosoiTQtheoonray knees And wlicaono desires to gain something from the ''do " " "* '^'^^^^'y ^^ '^*^« ^^^ea as -This littlo Eve had, after all, some tincture of the samr vivre: it comes naturaUy to younir gills of 8i.Tteei»— we know not iiow. ^ " Tho king smiled," coutioued she, '• and touclied mo on tlio chin." 'Ah well, master Adam,' said he. modiingmc 1 consent to your happiness. You shall ba your queen's page from to-day, and you must enter the cunvcni,' " I restrained my transports out of respect for the presence of the king, but I thought that tho presence of the Holy Father himself couM scarcely have prevented mo from Liaphig with 'lu^V-^ ^l" liko one beside myself, and seized the king's hand to kiss it a thousand times 'Well! Weill my child, proceed; I see that thoa art honest.' And it was hero that th.^ king n(lded.-' You do well to love that bcauti- lul and holy ^voman, who suffers with fiicli resignation, and who has not deserved her suffer. ing.' Torrents of tears roUed down tho cheeks of queen Angel. I For some time Eve remaiaed mute, respecting tho profound emotion of her sister. After awhile sho a^ain resumed her tale. " Tho kinir made mo a sign to withdraw, and as I moved towards tho door— he added ' Your brother, Eric, has nothing to fear from me; I havo no suspicions of those who love queen Ingeburge.' Ingeburge raised her eyes to heaven, plunged m a sort of ecstasy. Ono intoxicaiiug hope came over her, in spite of herself. "The king said to me," concluded Eve, 'Pnncesscs aro always surroonded by liars even when they aro unhappy. If any ono has toltt Ingeburgo of Dennuuk that tho king of France has suspected her of having purchased tho knife of the Syrian assassin, they havo deceived her, and I wish that Ingeburge should know it.' ° "II" exclaimed the disti^cted queen, " 1 1 his any one, then, dared to accuBo me of that frightful crime ; and is it possible that therecxist murderers who threaten the lifo of the king?" " Both tho life of the king and the life of tho queen," said Eve, impressively. The hanasoma countenaoco of Angel assumed an angelic expression. " My Godl" mirnnured she, "my poor lifo is as nothing; but the lifo of the king of Franco —the life of my husband— for he has proclaimed me bis wifn before God's aliar, and God alone can break the tie that unites us. Has he sufficient guards to protect him, Eve? Has ho faithful friends around him ?' 'i-: rilE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. tho cheeks of That word /n>nrf seemfid to awake a sonvonir in the mind of the young (rirl, and instead of replying to the queen, she allowed her thoughts lo run aloud ; "lie whosaid ' I came to Paris to leilt a woman,' lives at tho Louvre, and calls himself the friend of tho king!" The queen did not understand her. After some moments of gilence, during which her deep emotion was somewhat calmed, she asked her young companion if she bad related all that the king had said to her. Eve seemed to awake as from a dream, for she thought of tho threatening discovery that she liad made under the walls of the very abbey in which they were now confined, and sho thought also of the prophecy of Wiln, who had foretold that meeting, as well as that with the sovereign arbiter of the queen's destinies. The words of Amaiiry Montruel rung in her ears as though she heard them at that moment. "The king I'' said she, trembling; " true— I had forgotten something— the king said to me, just at tho moment when his page Albert raised the arras and came to conduct mo here.— 'Take this parchment, and announce to the princess of Denmark that sho will receive a visit from me before the sun goes down I' " The queen rose from her seat, but so agitated that she could scarcely stand— for she could not believe ihal she had heard aright. " Philli;) I '■ exclaimed she at last, " I shall re- ceive a visit from Plnllip Augustus before the sun sets I Why hast thou not told me that be- fore ? " and then she added with great volubility, '• Oh ! Eve, I have hardly time to make myself beautiful; and I desire to be very beautiful if Phillip Augustus is coming to see me. I have never seen him once since that happy and that cruel day." The poor queen was like one out of her senses. All at once sho ran towards the monastery, then turned and ran back again. " My venneii .' exclaimed she, " my well-belov- od flowers, which have brought me all the good fortune of this day— for it was only this morning that I first saw them blow--there were none yesterday I And when I first spied their sweet blue heads peeping out of tho grass, my soul rejoiced. Let us remain here, my child, and gather all the vcnimt, for they wilt all disappear to-night. Dosi thou remember how beautifully they used t.> set otf our fair hair? Let us twine gai lands of them for ray head-dress. Help me, my little Eve. If thou hclpest me, the king will find me pretty; and peiha))s '- She could not finish— but a smile of childish coquetry played upon her lips. Tho tears came into Eve's eyes— and why? They twined thegarlandj; andthe sweetllowers of the noriii shared their beauties with tho ad- mirable blonde hair of the queen. It was a rare toilette that they made on that grey stone bench, and in the austere solitude of that convent garden; and a mysterious sadness l.overej ovti the aiene. Eve would have smded, but hid her head to weep— and why ? As to tlie queen, all decked with her graceful garlitnds — she locked as beautiful as mo beauti- ful angeis in heaven , liut, alas! the poor queea 43 was fated to be deceived. Eve wept, because she had not yet told the queen all. Eve had not yet told the queen that at tho moment when she was leavin;^ the great hall of the Louvre, she turned round to make the king a last reverence, and that she had then seen at tho end of the hall, the golden arras open, and a young, beautiful, but haughty woman enter whose hitter smile seemed to say, " I have heard all I " A woman who had in her eye, a look of im- placable he-dness, — tall and "richiy dressed— .a coronet on iici brow, loaded with precious stones — tho broad fillet of which scarcely hid the jet black hair which fell over her masculino fore- head. Tho king exclaimed, with some agitation, "You here I Agne,^, my dear.'' And Eve had heard that woman in the royal coronet say — "You shall not go!" /rhis was what Eve had not told the queen before. And it was for this that Eve wept. CnAPTER IX. The sun went down — and Ingeburge, all decked as sho was— still waited, clinging obsti- nately to her fond hopes. Tho sun went down but still the king came not. At the hour when he should have come, a dazzling calvacade, eomiiosed of lords and noble ladies, were folluwingtho vightbank of tha Seine and proceeding to tho city of Paris. Itwasmadamo Agnes and her suite. Madamj Agnes had taken a fancy to visit that eveuin-jt, the works of Notre Dame, attended by ueaciy all the great vassals of France, now traasforineJ into eager and supple courtiers by iho rougii lesson they had received the night before. Eudes 1 [I., Duke of Durgogne, was ihen attend- ed only by a single page, and there also were the earls du Perche, d'Artois andde Dammariin. Jean do Nesle, Raymond do Poitiers, and nearly all those whom wo cited as being present at tho secret conference held under the presidsncy of tho Bishop of Orvieto, the lateral legale of the holy see. By the side of Agnes de Meranie capered Amaury de Montruel, lord of Anet, dressed in tho richest attire, and mounted ou a magnificient genet of Cordovan. The bourgeois of Paris pushed and crowded to got a good vicv of that elegant cavalcade, and many were the biting sarcasms that were uttered on the purity of the king 3 couch. On tho other side of inadaine Agnes might bo seen Herbert Melfast, Archbishop of Canterbury, looking like a colossal red pepper, and covered wall jewelry, iho product of more than one raid. Behind, in tho crowd, our friend, Tristan tho scholar, was capering as well ns he could upon an old steed which, in happier days, had been a war-horse. Tuo worthy clerk, Samson, also bestrode an ancient looking animal, whose sires could be judged by his own long and sharp- pointed caiA Mixing up with the peaceable bourgois were an active and noisy crew, crying, '• Largess ! largess I" 'ir 44 nol'ioinln^'fK" """ "^" •"^'" '"-^ -"''^ truel drew „,, close to tlio side of Agnes and pomtcd out to her, in the crowd of specUtors a SLr^S.^^ ""'• "'^ ^"-"^^ » «'"-- "for^TbiM^n'"''"' '°''^.""'." whispered Ammry, lor that la a man of importance. He k called ma. er Honord, the free.nason, and leads hi. brethren were ho please,,, like a'flo k o g oele '' . Agnca smiled on tho n^an and gavo h m a m'a C10U3 wave of tho hand ^ *" JIastcr Ilonore blushed deeply; for that flat- tering favour had taken him b^ supri"e Ik raised Lis hammer over his head and cri^d w I Teas t de/ect "''"«"' °^ "^° *«™' ^"^ ^-^^ Motitruel gave a lan.iyuishing sigh, exclaiminf^ -;^OI.l my queen , that is thf w.aVVoutaiu al! her^ u"mo \T' ^f *''•'" '''« "'''^'^ "<>' to waste wei time in captivating Montruel's heart— that was«„^„,.l Agnes desired nothing better th n to ,u k m=n those funds by the siniles n,> g " i'o J words which cost her nothing. And ^ U 1 1 great array of forces was to be hi Id Sa poor queen Angel, who was wee,>iug ndum, J vile, for the absence of Pliillin Anirn,* L , abbey of St. Marlin-hors-de-Murt ^ ""' '" '"" hach smile and each salute added ,.nn. strength to tho clamor that welcomed tim cav cade A success of this kin.l not bein" so d ; cu t to accomplish at that period as it h toi ' But the crowd which followed the escor ' r As>ies was suddenly brought to i <,tani i auother crowd, composed of^'',o t vt^^ki^"" ,S ha- established themsclyrs within the liberties No ro Dame, for the supply of the workmen and 1 was not without an active use ofTi; Z^Sol^ that the hire.; euthusv-sts of nue Agnes could clear a passage tor he ' Wo Lave said before thac tl.o true Parisiain ,. we as all true Frenchmen, regarded " i^d nt as their real queen, and Agnes do Al^ra. i Vs ouy the king's concubine It was the tbn eirt "e'r bv-r'n '' ^'^''''''" ehould 1':,"; tiieir anger, by hostile criticisms, on the woraiu for whoso accommodation they had been unceremoniously pushed aside sai'dt^e!*'' '""'"*" *"° "'"^'^ '"°"^>-- Mm, ■ "Besides what she has sent beyond tli.> " The Bohemian I" " The Jewess 1" " Tho Gypsey I" in'aSr'"^'''' J^^P^ '^'"•Popr young queen '' A dark cell, watched by monks !" " VVli-";!^"'"' refuses her the sacraments !' VVliats tho use of building churches wlii,', will neither give our children baptism oexTrm unction to those who wish to'driirchrt I Mingled with those threatening- murmur! might be heard from the hired crowd, " LaZ for queen Agnes I" ' ■^'"*''-" Agnes turned pale-Amaury Montruel turned IMS anxious eyes from side to side. Tho vassal of the crown had followed tho edge of the S n a order to gain tho rear of tho church Evorv- oiSi^rrr^'"'" ™P"*'^ '^' '*°^«'- "f " CO- , once irritated, increases. Before the corteo-e n f Agnes had reached tho middle of tie square the rS 'if '"^"''^'y ^''^I'^J'^d it,'and 'w stniles and salutes were no longer cun-ent coin Witn ills crowd. riendT^F.i-". """f ^'"""^^"^ ^^"''•^ o"'' old riends, Ezekiel and Treffouilloux. They were THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. 45 03 lint! gi-acio(i.< young queen l)olh in n tcrriblo liumour; for they had ben bogging and wliioing sinco suiiriao witliout o*- trftcting n sou. Unfortunato in their daily trndj of begging— equally unfortunate in thoir nightly occupation of waylaying passengers whoii:;vor came — these bravo boys were sadly in waut of some object upon which they could pour out tho viald of their wrath. " To tho river with raadamo Agnes I" shouted Trcfouilloux. •'Drown her! drown her I" cried Ezekiel. And tho frenzied crowd at onco took n^' that terrible cry " Drown her! drown her I' "Madame," whispered Montruel, whose livid brow Btreamed with perspiration, " wc aru prisoner!!, and must jmy our ransom." '' Empty your purse, messire," said Agnea. But Montruel hud not waited for that ordci his rolo being to «teal from Phillip, and to ruin himself for Agues. For 11 moment the crowd was diverted by scrambling fur tho gold pieces, and more than one drop of blood was shed ; put the ever-persecuted Trofouillou.x and Ezekiel could not lay their hands on tie smallest piece. " A diamond, Agnes !'' shouted Ezekiel, whoso eager eyes were starling from their orbits, " I must have one of thy diamonds I' "I must have ten I' said Trefouilloux, "and largo ones I' "TIic diamonds! tho diamonds!" cried tho whole crowd, closing round tlio liorso of Agnes. " In the name of G od, madame," whispered Mon- truel, more dead than alive, " do not refuse them." But this was said timidly, for he knew the parsimonious habits of Agnes, and the difficulty of making her part with anything of value. But, contrarv to all his expectations tho beauti- ful Agnes, with a perfectly good grace, took off her diadem, her pearl necklace, lier car-rings, her agraffe, and her girdle set with rubies. Slio kept nothing, and, smiling, cast all her spoils to tlic |)eople, saying — " Keep them, my friends— keep them ; I brought them all foi you!' Tha crowd struck up an heroic epic, allowing: the cavalcade to pass and busying themselves in fighting fo;' tho jewels. When Agnes had got out of hearing of tho crowd, and had reached tho steps leading up to the great entrance of the cathedral, she turned to her faithful Amaury. "Thank God!" said she, "that I had the prudence to leave my real jewels at tho Louvre, or they would have had more than thirty thousand crowns worth." " What I" stammered Montruel, in admiration of her sublime prudence. Agnes pushed him towards the entrance to the cluirch, saying,— " They were all imitations!" Ezekiel had three teeth knocked out. Trefouil- loux had picked up two black eyes ; and be- tween them tbey had only gained a small piece of red glass, that Agnes would not have repur- chased for a half.sou. CtliPTEE X. It must be acknowledged that tho king's great vassels had not very valiantly defended Agnes de Meranie. Eudes, duke of Burgogne, had limited himself to forcing his licavy charger through tlie crowd— brcal.ing an arm hero and there — tho other lords contented themselves with striking with tho flat of their a.- n-d.^, to clear a pasaago to the church entra c-. But nono of theni had seemed to caro much what bccamo of Agnes do Meranie ; for to tell the truth, tlionRli nearly all of these iwwerful vassalahatcd Phillip Augustus, most of them would willingly have joineil the people in crying — "To tiie n cr with tho Bohemian!" not from any feeling of devotion, but to spite the monarcli whoso heavy hand had began to crush out their influence. Some entered the cathedral, whilo others rodo ronnd tho open works. Within tho building, and under tho magnificent rose window already indicate!' stood the clergy of Notre Dame, headed by their chief, Maurice de Sully. Agnes saluted the venerable prelate rather cavalierly; for Amaury Montruel, her )>olitical cicerone, had not marked the worthy bishop nn a man worth gaining over : and in fact, Maurice deSuHy paid little attention to the quarrels of tho council, and to the great matrimonial strug- gles calling unceasingly for the interference of the Pope. Tho interests of his darling church, which ho saw day by day rising towards the sky, like tho most imposing and the most magnificent of all prayer.?, was sufficient for tho pccupation of Maurice do .Sully. But nobody was, perhaps, so indifferent to the progress of Notre Dame as Agnes do Meranie. Among the priests who surronnded Maurice de Sully, Montruel pointed out a man with a long pale face, whoso eager eyes were half hidden under bushy black eyebrows. " See, madame," said he, " there is the bishop ofOrvicto, legato of the Holy Father, who will have the upper hand in the approaching council." Agnes walked straight up to the Italian, and taking his long thin fingers in her hand, she kissed them respectfully. " My father," said she, assuming a gentle and submissive voice, "I have heard much of your great virtues, and I have como expressly to seek a blessing from one who is reputed to be a saint upon earth." The legate made an effort to preserve a look of humility, but his eyes rose from the ground in spite of him, and his whole countenance betrayed an emotion of supremd vanity. " My daughter," replied he, meekly folding his hands upon his breast, "I am but a poor sinner." . "Kneel down," whispered Montruel, "and the man is ours." Agnes obejred willingly. The bishop could no longer resist — he laid his hands upon her head and blessed her. Agnes rose, and her joy, which was far from being feigned, was highly flattering to the bishop ; and her joy was not diminished that she had joined another partisan without any expense. Agnes advanced up the centre of tho nave, and looked all around her ; but sho was too much a woman of tho world to be an artist, and the marvellous creation of art before her was to her a sealed book. She saw nothing but un- finished columns and broken lines. 46 Monfr^ 1 ?, "'^*?"? f ''»<=«'' ^^0 'vLiapercd to ftml ?* ' ?f?'""' '° «"« soracthiug b«ttcr;" 1 Uia not look for so iniieh religious splendor I" finpo"" ""'•'?"* to himself, "What wit I-what tZTl "^.^""^T'^ ^«nton might have s„Dg tliat flong ot bl.ick and white as well as Airncs do Meruuie. The good bishop made a low bow^, o \S^ !"^e'-«"ti"le ; for ho loved all those ^ho called hid dear church beautiful aulU'ln''^ " wearing," said Araaury to his (juettn, "and our tune is getting short." ' Respected sires," said Agnes, immediately to he clergy, " can I be permitted to see the image" wlio 19 workmjj on the «tatue of tho holy Mary " .daunco ,le Sully at hrst .^.de no rcfc, Agnes alluded to Jean Cador and everybody at Notre Darao was obedient to Jean Cador who bad strictly forbidden any one, under whatever pretext, to disturb him at his work '^"""-'" >,eJn '','w'^ Jwin.Cador was tornn the risk of fn, il •'''m"','''^"'""'' *''^°"' ''o^^n '"3 tools ami leave Ins block of granite a shapeless stone ; and then where in the whole universe could they find the like of Jean Cador ? ''AladumiV stammered the good bishop Mau- ice, whowas picking his words, not knowing how to iianie his refusal, " assuredly I would do anything in the world to please you Agnes divined what the nature ofthisrenlv not to refuse my request; before my lord the m'^J"'' ,""• "'? '1'"^'= «f Agnes, I was called m..« 41".^ '"' L"^y '3 n'y well-beloved patro- uess. buffer me, my father, to go and wor- ship my patroness." hoi?nnf!'r'"','''?' f,'''^™'"j' Pof. Maurice still held out; fur he had heard nothing that seemed hkel3^to contribute to the success of his work- but the legate came to the aid of Agnes My venerable brother," said he, <• let me add my entreaties to those of the illustrious "gnes thnl^h!' "='^''.«°f .yi'h P^iJe ; for it was seldom that she received that coveted title— Agnes of Maurice de Sully dared not now resist, for the legato was too direct a representative of the papal lamily. *K " ^«*' according to your wish, venerable bro- ther,' saidhe, bending before the legate, " may n please God that none of us have cause to re- pent the step. That staircase, madame, which is before you, leads to the atelier of master Jean cador; but, pray, do not ask me to accompany Little as Agnes was inclined to giving, she would willingly have paid for those last words that the good bishop had uttered; for her only fear has oecn that the bishop would desire to ac- company her to the workshop of maitre Jean Cador For this visit which she was about to make to the mysterious artisan was the very ob- if Parif "" ^"^'araous pwsage tiu'ough the streets THE TWO WIVES OP THE KINO. Mahraoud el Reis was in his workshop, seaud on a bench, with his elbows on his knce« ,nd hi. . The two black slaves, half naked, were stream ng with prespiration, and striking' heavy hlZ" on the block of granite which was about loiT come a statue of the holy Virgin On the boards of the workshop, there was a ketch traced out in black chalk, \ vh cl inZu ted the contour of the image, and w ch was now lighted up by the last rays'oftlie set ,« g^^ It was truly beautiful 1 a Christianarti wo J .erlmps, have put less abandon into tl ,o,o of bu ho certainly could not have endowed h. wi h a larger measure of physical beauty It Avas the boauly (<-tho dieum of an Eanem poet or of the divinities of the Persia^, r.l!: ," It was indeed beautiful, but it was nott^hrini ,-. The slaves redoubled their blows. Mahmoud ^'^ w.^irK^"","^"","'' «""'y-'*nd thenamoo- W h It was in fact, Dilah. and not theVir»'>«^'" «° -trance "That is his secret," said Montruel. The noise of the hammers still drowned the sound of their voices. " He neither sees nor hears us," said Agnes. . When we are in love," whispered Montruel, ma tone of bitterness, « we often become blini and deaf, madame." Agnes would not understand his meaning. _ ' Messire," said she, " tell me, I pray you, what is the name of the young girl whose memory he treasures up with so much passion ?— it mav wrve me.' " She is called Dilah." 5,^^_^^int smilo was visible on the lips of -the laint echo— "DUahl » THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. ■^iJi» 47 Agnes raised her gorget and put I- r hand into her bosom, seeking some hidden objfM i there. " I have not yet given everything to tlio Ixsg. Kiirs," said she. " Call that handsomo tiger of the desert here, Mcssiro Amanry. Montruel called " Mahmoudl" in aloud voioo. Tho Syrian btill remained iraraovablo for a moment — then turned slowly towards tho voico that ho heard so near and so unexpectedly. It i3 only for us Europeans to tremble at tho first siipridc, and thus to betray our socrets, liko ch-l'''-eu. Tho Khurds of Asia, tho Ethiopians, ..>i Kabyles, and the Indians of North America, wnoso brows aro red as blood, aro different men from us. They know how to hido their fears — their hopes and theirastonishment — their joy and their pain— in such a way that an enemy can never penetrate tho secret of their soul. Tho two sLivea suspended their labours, on a sign fi'um theit mastei . " What would'stthou ?' said Mnhmoud coldly, " and why hast thou brought that woman here?" His eyes turned till they met tho.,o of Agnes. " This is the wifo of tho king of France," re- plied Amaury Montruel. " Tho queen ?" demanded Mahmoud, casting upon Agnes a furtive glance. Agnes anticipated Montruel and answered in a firm voico. " Tho queen." Mahmoud showea no astonishment, but Mon- truel, advancing another step into the work-shop, the Syrian rose briskly and whispered those word* in lii.j car — " This id my house, and wo never soil our 'jn tlic ground . T!ie pearU fell into his hand, and he muimured as to him- self some expression of acknowledgment. On descending tho narrow staircase which led from Jean Cador's shed to the nave of the cathe- dral, Agnes whispered to Amaury-" Another gaiued T " Oh I madame," replied the infatuated Mon- truel, "You havo only to wisli it, to havo tho whole universe under your feet." Mahmoud el Reis remained motionless, with the necklace of pearls laying across his hands. Hy a sign he ordered the two negroes to discon- tinue their work and to bring his horse. Night Iiad sot in, and as soon as Mahmoud was alone, ho turned his eyes to the sketch drawn upon tho wall. " That woman ' ns seen Dilah !" said he ; she uttered her name I Why did the name of Dilah, from that month, strike me as a bitter outrage 7" lie held up the pearls between himself and tho light and tho last rays of the sun piercing through them gave them the appearance of largo drops of rosy dew. " Tho woman was beautiful, and these gems aro rich and rurc," he continued, " yet why do I despise them?" He opened his hands and allowed the pearls to roll upon the floor, adding again — " Why do I hate that woman ?" and he crush- ed the pearls into the dust under his feet. " Why ?" repeated he, still grinding them mechanically under his feet. " While she was looking at Dilah, it seemed to me that Dilah was angry and knit her brows and I thought her voice whispered in my car, ' Avoid that woman— I will not accept her presents.'" lie threw his rich cloak over bis shoulders, and buckled on his yatagan. As ho passed towards tho door, he again spurned with his foot tha pearls which were iu his road, and they fell through the open boards among the debris made by the chisels of the negroes. Mahmoud mounted his handsome Arab— forbid his slaves to follow him — clapped spurs to iu.9 Bteed, and ^disappeared. ' BHD OF PAET,Ui' : *«*»*;■■..■ PART III. criAPTEn I. At the very moment when madame Amc^ on « mff l,er«lf on huviuK gnino,) ono morn partisan was tolling her that a simplo gesture of lierTwai cnongl. ,0 lay the world at hor feet, a grca noise f„i^?',', 7"1 "T""*^ ""''"' ''"'^ '°«''e'' ^ery sorrow- was ea off l,y Alhrrt in the morning ; and lii-i mag.natu,.. exaggerated rather than softened the dangers of the great unknown city ' Ho regained the |,„uso of maalcr Thomao the odgmg-keeper in company with Chri.tl who Uod bo pleased that some good fortune mav have happened to our girl." ^ Lord.^, men-at-arms, in short, tho whole escort Lonv'f to1he''''f' '""'""•^ Agnes from the iT.,l .1 . r"-^'' ^"O ^''ending their wav back to tho nght bank of theSeine. The be^I^s T±'i "•' '"«''•. l^nKgagc- the small peC c eared awny their sialls-anrl the distant liihL ^Inning out of the dark street., were al'^adv Tho Duko of Uurgognc led the wnv nnrt ™„» about to pass the an|le^f la 'uole Manure when, all at once, a noisy and drunken crowd shot across tho road and barred tho way 'Clear Uie road, clowns," cried the dukp putting his hand to I'i. sword ' " Oh I oh I" answ^ ed a loud and jovial voice SaTu't' °r °^'"^''"' night's noble-'companio.s -Salut, mon seigneur; you do not recognize i.is"ho;i: fSrr^'^' '"" ''"''^' '^^'"^ '° «p- Night WIS rapidly approaching and tho torches of the cortege were not yet lighted The crupper of the duke's borso struck against nkZh?" "'*'* f'-'/l'oken, but immedfa eTy sunk to tl ground under the blow of apoi^nard STi^'^ltr;-^^''" "^ '" '"^ ''-^'^ ''cfwr " 'Ti3 a pity to kill such good horseo " said <),« 4^fo.':'«^^':r.^„x„rz™,.-''''"'''' ILejovial band, whose chief had so uncTremo- n.ously unhorsed Eudes III, Duke of Bur.o-ne struck up ,u chorus a mat shnnf. nf Sf.l'.' and ai the same time'a cry run thrmigiribe b;£X'"'°'^«''"'-"'^'''>'''^K'''''J^' The Montrud seized tho arm of Agnca and l„ hncf and hurried tones, said to hcri" That ma , Diadarao, must be gained m any i,ri,o „il .. ' others will count for nothing wiK t hii ' " The j„vial chief laughed uvico as 1.2 «. i . companions ; but he kL ho J^ p^^y a^^ oJs I •..t-n.r with his own hands he lioS ?,"' uuku upon his legs. ' "- " Ma fol mon seigneur," s«id he, « but vou arr. heavy, and this laughing takes a wav .iT s.rength-and yet y^u wouhlbkrt? ,." « m^ cut to pieces-hey ? Is that the way you ,2 oM your obligations V »/>ou pay oil "It is that ribald, Cadocul" said the Couni ;lu I'orche, from the midst of tho escort 'and h IS drunk into the bargain I" ' "' Cc^tes tho lords seemed in no hurry to obev tho warlike summons of Burgogne-tliey r^ad . no charge, and it was as well for^hem forS brigands were nil tho time pouring ou of h avcrns wuh a great clattering of sfeeTand lh« lords wuuld not have had tho best ofit U ould it require a largo sum to Kain that man?' enquired madamo Agnes, who di lo feel in any immediate danger, for the vhl escort stood between her and^h'e brigands "Tho Bishop of Orvieto offered him one Ouo hundred thousand crowns !■ repeated Agnes, withaffright," one hundred thou i K Our Lady, wo will let him pass." V ou cannot pass him," added Montruel in a irp.ro^'e;S'^°-'''"-^--"''t»^^^ A^nXi"'"' """"" '^'•"""^'" «--^^ "Bu(," added Montruel, " he would not take tl. B.sliop'3 one hundred thousand-for the ki^ gave him twice a , much !' ^""^ Madame Agues was suffocating Twice as much," she eroanpd in n i.,if atifled accent, ■' the king gavf hTm Iwo hun r d Uiougandcrowus; but that WHS our money and What will become of me if the fiuanc's^rr^'thus The chief of tho brigands had ordered his men to light the r torches, nnt', these orue« were better executed thau those of the dukoT The J|l, smoky light of the resinous so, fit i.p ^b whet four'^tr."iT'""'' " 'r "«=iUbou?hood ' were fflll of n„ /""r''*^' "'''^ these streets were lall of nameless alleys, with underirrounri quarters; such as tho hideous i u, oSy S our day alone could furnish an example of. Cadocu took a torch from the lianUs of one of "IS ra.,11 ar.a iieia u before his own fa( —'■not ugher than thee, mon sire, n3 tbouseest,^ said he. with his loii forgotten o Jean do Ni I am luro I sign of life. '• Bonno tho voice ol •scort, " th »ep that ; p and may Cd The dukt face all livi( This was tl gauds had two ilaya. "If I nvei tered he, im] shalt pay fo " Good, g " it is a goo iiig; and I • Hie thirty th taxed thee v much gratiti wish, I shou gogne, and > poor Antoine " Monseigi '• though I kI jewels, messi duco tho (>n( that man ?'' '■ I will he! and he told mortgage for Agnes 3ca thought; but reckoning, si interview wit " An intei liigiitencd. " Ves; I dc " it is impc " I wish to " Certainly '• my presence Agnes cut tone, " I wish Montruel sn dieting the be: " AUonsI a under tho gen some nobles It keeper at St. 1 dit for thee, m all of you, n Since Jean dc not the mau t( men, unless yi Landry, and d ter acquaintan "Another ti Antoine," repli ono that could Iiumouredly. Cadocu mou of th5 r-9 de I an imperious si along the hous the two rows < THE TWO WIVES. OF THE KINO. with his loiKl dr.mlicn Iniigli, " thou hast gurt'ly not rorgotton our soagjon of the niuiit huforc Inst If Jcun da No»lo 1.^, then, utnong these Kci.llimen, si^ITof life '■ '^'" ^'*'' ''" '^"'"P'*''''' AMtohic, tlie "Honno nuit, mon compdro Antoino," crieil the voice of Jean
  • Mcort, " thou h.4,n supped comme-il-faut, I ciui see thut ; pray Kivo way, and h't us do ns mucli, and may G(.d Iteep thee I " The duiti! of DurgoKne was now stnndinjr. Ilia nice all hvid and hi.i pnlo lips frinRod will, foun, Ihis was the second limo the chief of the hri- gands had insulted him cruelly within the hist two days. " If I ever catch thee at Dijon, my man," mut- tered he, imprudently ventilating his rage, » thou Shalt pay for oil this at one reckoning" " Good, good I messire," replied Cueen kept in tin- l>«ek ground, " my Lord .lid not tell us of these," Hud he raised his toroh and gave them a salute not altogether devoid of grace. Antoine Cadocu was a stout, handsome man- at-arms, and was an object of great interest to ilie female part of tlie escort. " Jean de Negle!" cried he, "is madnme Agnes among this gentle flock 7" Ijut Jean .lo Nesle was al ready out of heoring, so the good clerk bainsoii, who was just at ihut moment passing, and who was aiixioiis to make friends with the brigand chief pointed out to him llie wife of 111 111- Augustus; "Brave sire Aiifoine," said he " there she is." Cadocu raised himself on tip-toe, the better to command a view of tlie whole party. "Ah," mut- tered be, "she is accompanied always by that cowardly rogue, Montruel. I have, heard all about 11 ; and they tell me that she i.sembles that poor Agnes the pretty, whom the cowardly scoundrel has hail assassinated. It's true, pardieu ! shcdots resemble her!" Modarae Agnes at this moment passed bcf.re liiin. She had heard the chief of the brigands asKing It she formed part of the cortege, and the CO or come into her face, not that she was cither ashamed or frightened, but because tho curiosity of tiiduco seemed so well calculated to answer her design. She was thinking of how to save lier two hundred thousand crowns. Cadocu saluted liernml slie replied with one of lier most cliannint' aimier " Pcste," tho. ihe brigand, who was in- flaramab to il,o last degree ; " Peste I poor Agnes, thuNuh tbe pearl of Madame Fonianelle's boarders, could Hfurcely smile like that." Agnes, with li r smile, had also given 'urn a coquettisli nod of her head. And as tadocu stood lust ni astonishment at the queen's blan- dishinonts, he observed her moving towards Amauiy, delivering in the cir of that faithful serviteur some very imperious mandates. Amaurv bowed and left the cavalcade. " Allons! my merry men I" exclaimed Cadocu, when tho escort had passed, " let us now to the bt. Landry; for w.> are drunk enough Im find even that scoundrel Gauthier's wine sweeter than nectar." The brigands were just rushing away to the tavern tumultuously, when Montruel came up, and laying bis band gently upon Cadocu's arm, said, "A word with you, master Antoine, if you please." ' ■' The brigand turned upon him and looked him through. "With thee?" growled he. " I warn thee, thou would'st be better anywhere else than here. That Agnes that thou hast killed was my tri.nd._ I have no love for white-livered vassah who hire other poor devils to fton-niif a==~==:ii'i- tioiis, without incurring the danger which'raises even tho soldiers of the high road above them " " r am not asking thee whom thou lovcst or whom thou dost not love, maitre Antoine," re- 60 THE TWO WLVES OF THE KING. plied Amaury ; " I come to thee with a message — wilt thou listen to it ?" " Would it not please the best if I said ' no ?' " muttered Antoine, between his teeth ; " and then thou could'st return and say thou had'st done thine errand. Ah, well, I consent to hear thee —but not here, at the next tavern, where thou can'st drink at thine own expense; for by all that's glorious, Antoine Cadocu will not ring glasses with thee I" " Thatwuitemo very well," said Amaury, laugh- ing, " for certainly, by all that's glorious, 1 should not like to click glasses with Antoine Cadocu." Antoine turned and laid his hand upon the short sworn wiucli hung at his girdle, Amaury shrugged bis shoulders and kept his arms folded. •' Pardieu," exclaimed Cadocu witli iiu air of scorn, " why, I am playing the same role as the Duke of Burgognc ; I toucli my weapon witliout drawing. Follow mo, Amaury Moutruel ; when thouslialt have delivered t^y messago, it will be time to attend to other matters." The highwayman had now gained the tavern of St. Landry, where, on his arrival uiih Mon- truel, the noise within was as though hades had broken loose. CHAPTER 11 The place they were about to enter was a large, low room, with a floor of worm-eaten boards laid on the moist earth, and aeachtd by descending half-a-dozen stone jteps from tlie street. There was a torch stauding in the centre, and a small boy was cmp'oyed constantly in keeping it trimmed ; and hero and there on the tables stood resinous smoky candles — and yet with all this lighting up, half the enormous cave remained in obscurity. On the appearance of the chief, a swarm of women, coming from all corners of the place, surroinided him ; for in that pandemonium there seemed to be as many women as bandits. " Saint I captaine — saint I" cried a hundred hoarse and screaming voices. There was, however, one sweet and soft voice. This voice belonged to a young woman of dazzling beauty, 'who preceded the rest, and who threw her arms round the neck of maitro Antoine. " Bon jour, Catherine, bon jour, ma mie," said the chief of the highwaymen, with an air of protection. •' Shall we dance 7" asked the beautiful Catherine, "shall we sing?" " Not yet," said Cadocu, " wo must first drink a little, and let >is have peace a little while ; fo" 1 have business to discuss with this gentleman." The swarm disappeared as quickly as they had assembled j but as to silence that was not a thing to bo had there. The master of this establish- ment, Frangois Gauthier, was a jovial fellow of about fifty— strong as a Ilurcnles, and brown as an old copper bell. Cadocu and our host embraced cordially. " Wine, maitre Antoine ?" demanded Gauthier. " A pitcher of it," replied Caducu. " With two cups ?" It was now Amaury Montruel who replied— " One cup." Gauthier looked at him from head to foot. Then turning to Cadocu, added — " Is it true, compere Antoine, that Phillip Augustus has lately invented stones and spies ? For every body in the city knows that we have thrice as many spies as stones." Amaury Montruel stood, head erect, immovable and whistling low the refrain of a drinking song. " AllonsI mon compere Francois," said Cadocu, " and fetch me my jiitcher. If this gentleman Is a spy, that's his business. Pardieu !" exclaimed he, as soon as Francois had turned his back " the brave boy does not know how exactly hi' has hit the mark, massire Amaury. But for mv part, I begin to esteem you; fori thougiit I saw you pale a little as you entered my domain. " " If you saw mo turn pale, maitre Antoine, it is because I have no relish for the perfumes 'hat that surrouid us here, which is suflicient to give one three or four enieiics ; but let us be seated and finish our conference." "If the king has sent him," growled Cadocu to himself, " he is, perhaps, worth hearing ; for the king knows what he's about." " Be seated, mossire Amaury," he rcsimicd aloud ; " see, ray wine is poured out. Speak, i! you wish it, and I will listen to thee." Montruel sat down and placed his two elbows on the table. If he was not anyways alarmed, he had at least the appearance of being rathii embarrassed ; for he was at a loss how to open with his negociation. " I have come to thee," said he, after a sliorl silence, " on the part of the cjueen." " What queen ?" demanded Cadocu ;" for it 'a difficult to know where wc are these timc.- among the queens." " I speak of madamc Agues." " Ah I ah I and thou callest her the queen!— But the council with soon decide wlietlier thou art right or wrong, Messire Amaury : I suspected that thou hadst come from madami.' Agnes. Well I ^hat wants she with me " The words stuck in Amaury'a throot, ami it cost him i\ great efl'ort to bring out these few words — " She wishes to see thee." " Ah 1 ah I ' exclaimed Cadocu, again, " that does not surprise me ; for I have exactly ilie same thought, and I have been taken with ilio fancy of seeing her." It was impossible to felicitate Amaury Mont- ruel any more upon the color of his complexion : his cheeks could be seen to blanch and his dark brow became furrowed with deep wrinkles. He had but one sentiment left, and that wa'^ his love for Agnes de Meranie. Every word of Cadocu's entered his soul like a barbed dagger. lie, however, managed to dissimulate his feel- ings, and said in an altered voice— " That is fortunate." " Yes," resumed the highway chief, swallow- ing at the same time a largo draught of his wine, " and thou who has ruined the other A gnc- can well imagine my feelings. Poor girl 1 ht- cause she resembled Madame do Meranie. It i'^ the same with uio. I wish to see Hadamu di- Meranie, because she resembles the other Agnes. Big drops of cold perspiration stood upon Amaury's forehead. svm, C:^prcsscc THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. 51 At this moment aloud tumult was heard in the hall — the women sereamed — the men yelled— cups were dashed on the floor — and they could even hear the noise of swords leaving their scabbards. Cadocu seized his pitcher and rapped violently upon the table. Then with his stentorian voice, dominating over every other, he cried — " Ilola I there 1 1 asked you to keep quiet only for a quarter of an hour, and the time is not yet up. If any body wants a broken head, why don't be knock it against the wall?" A little silence followed this appeal, for Cadocu never spoke in vaiu. Amaury had profited by this interruption to suppress the rage wliich Avas taking ]>os3cs3ion of his braiu, and he renewed the conversation with a calmer accent ; but one could road in his face a determination not to allow himself to bo moved by anything that might happen. " Since the queen desires to see thee," continued he, " and that thou wishest to see tho queen, niaitro Antoine, my commission is at an end ; for the queen is waiting for tliec at my house." " At thy house ?" repeated Antoine, in an iron- ical voice, " Ah I ha 1 then Phillip Augustus has not such good eyes as people say he has 1" " Answer 1" interrupted Amaury drily ; " wilt thou come?" What Cadocu replied must have been insulting to tho last degree ; for Montruel, in spito of the secret oath that he had made to keep calm through everything, leaped to his feet as though he had been struck in the face. lie turned on his heel, and directed his steps towards the door, without saying another word. Cadocu held his sides, laughing with his whole heart ; he was delighted with himself for finding the opening in that cuirosss which seemed so long impregnable. " I have bitten him," thought he, " bitten him hard enough to draw blood I Messire Amaury," cried he, clipping his words in his irresistible (it of hilarity, " thou hast left me without speaking tho last word ; but remember if thou should'st take it into thy head to return, I shall be here till sunrise, and drunker and drunker every hour, Messiro Amaury I AUons, aliens I my sons," added he, rising in his turn, " allons I my girls ; 'tis time to begin our revels. Dance, sing, how], fight and strangle yourselves for joy. Come here, Catherine, ma mie, the good time has com- menced." CHAPTER III. It* that same chamber where Amanry had for- merly given audience to Fontanelle — in that same chamber where ho had promised mountains and marvels to poor Agnes the pretty — before assas- sinating her, the professed wifoof Phillip Augus- tus, Agnes de Meranie, was alone. She had already been waiting a long time tho return of her ambassador, and her face, stamped with the consuming passions that agiuted her i:;uui, expressed a icrcrish impationco. " What will the king say," murmured she ; " tho king is waiting for me and looking for me ; perhaps he already suspects me I" A fit of trem- bliog Bcized her ; but she soon threw it off and resumed her pride and her smiles. " What mat- ters," she resumed, " do I uot know how to ren- slie found ii mirror, and bringing it to the llglit. she began quietly to improve her toilet She put off her hat, hcrermlne cloak, and the embroidered gold stuQ's which covered her shoulders, nuJ jiroudly surveyed the charms of her almost naked neck. She rehearsed several poses with which she intended to receive her impatiently expected guest and it must be admitted that these poses did not indicate any great severity of morals. She smiled ; passed her hand through her abun- danthair — then threw it behind on her shoulders ; satisfied with this trial and feeling certain of her omnipotence. '■ I shall subjugate this man," murmured she. " I am fortunate ; for it seems t) me that I am at my best this evening. I intend that he shall leave this place as much my slave, as Amaury Montruel himself." Suddenly she knit her black eyebrows as thougf^ome painful thought had struck her. "It is not him," resumed she, listening again to tho noises outside, " perhaps he is obliged to beg and pray. Oh!" exclaimed she, with a sudden burst of anger, "is it she? — is it my detested rival, from the depths of her prison, who devotes mo to all this misery and shame? — Me, Agnes de Meranie I Me, the queen I — to be here waiting the coming of an obscure soldier— a baudit — ti mlscrcaut, whu lives by pillage, aud that robber— that miscreant — that bandit comes not immediately to the rendezvous accorded him tho queen of Franco I" She resumed her prome- nade around the chamber. "k^ m m 62 THE TWO WIVES OF TUB KING. " The queen of France," she repeated, with a bitterness full of hatred ; " there are people who refuse mo that title, and who will refuse it-as long as that odious Dane lives ; days succeed days,' exclaimed she, raising her clenched hand over her head, " it is lasting too long— shall I never be relieved from her ?' She sunk again into the great chair ; and with her head resting in her hands fell again into deep and dark thought. "He is necessary," she resumed, after a short silence; "if this Jean Cador dares not do it— Oadocu, who is said to possess neither fear nor pity, must do it. What signifies these councils, and these thunders of the church, which never overtake any but fugitives. I will brave all I I will be queen; and when I am queen," added sh», with an insolent pride, " then woe to those who shall have braved me !" Her thoughts seemed all at once to take ano- ther current. " Amaury," said she, wearily— while her dis- tracted look wandered in space—" What shall I do with Amaury when I am queen ? These kind ot people are necessary to one, while we are ttying to reach the goal, but when once we are there we find them in the way. Those who mount to the assault of a fortress, often kick down the ladder by which they ascended— that's prudent." She played negligently with the long purple cord tied round her waist. She resumed with a strange smile— " They say that Montrucl has killed that poor girl that they called Agnes the pretty, because she knew his IV" 1^ '^""^'^ '"^ ^*y if I used his receipt?" At this moment a door was slammed with violence. Agnes listened and heard the jincliuK of spurred boots upon the steps of the ante- chamber. him.'^'' I I told him that the queen wished to see "At last!" said she, endeavouring to compose The door which was opposite to her opened wide, and Moutruel entered hurriedly. He was done : he dashed his plumed cap upon the floor, and came towards madame Agnes— standing mute and with his arms folded before her. " Well ?'■ stammered Agnes, whose lips trembled with anger and impatience, " will you never speak, messire ? Speak, I say I" Amaury was as pale as at the moment that he left the tavern of St. Landry— his clothes were all mdisorder— and everything about him announced that he was suffering from some extraordinary trouble His mouth moved convulsivelA-but no words came forth. " Speak, I say 1" again cried madamo Agnes bursting with impatience; " why have you re- turned alone? Pardleu, mcssii^, I begin to believe that you have disobeyed me " himse^f'"^' made a great effort to command « Yes, I have obeyed you, madame," he at last got out With difficulty. " Have yon spoken with that mun ?" " 1 have spoken with him." bim r"*^ y°" 'la'^e tolti bim that I wish to see " And yet he is not here?" She looked Montruel in the face with a hard and contemptuous expression. " Thou liest, Amaury," said she, jerkiue out her words. " I am moi-e woman than queen and I tell thee I have seen that man often look' ing at me as I retured from Notre Dame in such a way " *'"-" She hesitated a moment, and finished with- J,t ^r ^""^/'fy. ^^°» "est; that man would not be able to refuse to see me 1" Lost and degraded as Amaury was, he could not avoid blushing for the abandoned womu before him who seemed to have lost all shamr ■ he guessed what was in her mind, aud win' profoundly disgusted. ' Ho remained silent and turned away his cve'< Answer me " continued Agnes, who seeme.i witH I,"" """"ttl^efteling'she 'inspired 1 im with at that moment, " say— has he refused'- Yes or no?' " Madame," replied Montruel slowly, '< for your sake I wish he had refused me." "Oh I" exclaimed Agnes-her features sud- denly brightening-'' then he has not refused thto — he will come?" " He will not Come, madame." Again her brows lowered, and her flaming e\v> seemed to express a desire to strangle that ma'i with her hands, as a tigress would strangle lu prey. ° Though Amaury had exhibited no fear in the presence of Cadocu, he stood in awe of Asne, de Meranie. ° " Hear me I" said he, humbly, " I would rather conceal from thee the details of that detestable mterview ; but you know that I am your slave and If you require it, I must tell yon all " Agnes replied only by a sign of assent, which was more imperious than her orders. " I will tell it, then," resumed Montruel sorrow- fully; "for the first time in my life I must pro- nounce words that will offend you." " Then he has cruelly outraged me ?" said Agnes. r ."3°u?''*" J"^^^ for yourself, madame. When 1 told him that the queen Would be pleased to give him an audience— not at the Louvre— not even m open day and before all the world— but secretly at night in my house— he received the information with loud laughter, followed by coarse jokes on the fact of your being under the root of your devoted servant." '' He did right," said Agnes, drily, " such a fact desei'ves to be joked at— and then ?" o-^'i"^"!?/*^" ^^ **'''' ^'"' ^'^ hateful Liugh, Tis all for the best ; if the woman thou callest queen has taken a fancy to see me, I also have taken the fancy of seeing the woman thoucallest the queen.' " " Well ? well ?" said Agnes— her whole mind too much absorbed with her own fixed idea, to enable her to appreciate the insolence conveyed m the, reply of the brigand—" Well, I agree with h.m that 'tis ail for the best. Why, then, Um he not come T' •" i " Because there remains something more to toll you," resumed Amaury, iu a, tone still more tJ''' I wished to see :e with a hard -, jerking out than queen; in often looli- Dame in such ished with — it man would (vas, he couKl oned woman Bt all shame ; nd, aud was way his eyes. I who seemed inspired him le refused ? — ly, "for your ijatures sud- t refused thee ' flaming eyo ;le that maii strangle its fear in the ve of Agne:i rould rather It detestable your slave, all." isent, which fuel sorrow- 1 must pro- me?" said ime. When I pleased to lOuvre — not world — but jceived the )llowed by J under the r, " such a II?" ;eful laugh, hou calk'dt [ also ha\ e hou calleet rholc mind ed idea, to 3 conveyed agree wi til len, \itui Lu fn'filf'-/'-'""^.'* ''/° C'ft'-avagant, that I hesitate 10 ten It m spite of your supreme commands " Agnes clapped her hands, saying jovfullv "I can guess it." i ^ 8 j j-'uny, i .X. ^'^"^17. ^°^^^^ "' ^" stupefied I for he felt that he did not yet know the queen. ,o,^r''!?!u'"?u'^*,°'/°^"'''" continued Agnes, « has replied that he did not care to put himself out of the way, and would, therefore, expect me at his own place." J^Za\^^^^ ""' guessed it yet, madame," he replied, " 'tis worse than that I" Jr 7i°T ^■^''u *^''"" '■^P^'"^'' Agnes,-cro3siLg her hands on her knees and assuming the attitude ot one who was seeking leisurely the solution of an enigma-" Worse than that I then he must be an insolent joker of a very curious species. Allons 1 messire Amaury, I cannot guess ; I cast my tongue to the dogs-deliver yourself, I pray you, of this great enormity." This lightness wounded Montruel in all the little modesty and delicacy that might still remain to him. "Madanie," resumed he,— with a kind of severity, though to tell the truth, a severity, alas 1 quite thrown away-" I am certain that you will share my indignation presently. No, it is not even in his own Louse that the brigand proposed to me to see you. At his own house, such a proceeding, which is perhaps necessary— though assuredly painful and degrading-migiit at lep be buried in secret. But Cadocu wishes receive you-you, the queen, in th^tavern w . be indulges his nightly orgies !" . Agnes rose abruptly. Montruel proceeded, convinced that her pride would at last revolt-better late than never thought he. " Yes," said he vehemently, " to receive you in the infamous, dirty, indescribable place where he presides over the debaucheries of his brigands 1" Agnes threw her pelerine of cloth of gold over her shoulders. I' In that hell," continued Amaury, becoming animated, « which brings one's heart up in one's throat, and where one's feet slip with the filth that is under th«m I" Agnes fastened on her ermine cloak. "Where one hears nothing but the hideous yelling of drunkenness, accompanied by obscene songs, and where one sees nothing but brutal 80 diers mixed p«e mile with the refuse of the other sex I" Agnes had put on her hat, and was now stand- ing before Amaury. "You are ready to leave, then, madame," said he, happy and proud of the salutary impression he Had made upon her. " Yes," said Agnes, " I am r«ady." "Is it your pleasure that I should conduct vou to the Louvre ?" ' Agnes cost upon him a cold and disdainful look. "It is my pleasure," she replied, " that vou conduct me to the tavern of St. Landry." Montruel started back and stood mute and motionless. " Allons I messire Amaury,'' resumed Agnes 111 a peremptory tone, "you are indeed a skilful Umner, and your picture has given me a strong THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 5S desire to see the original. Come with me, I pray Antoine Cadocu, you can remain outside and wait me at the door." CAAPTER IV. When madame Agnes de Meranie and Amaury Slontruel left the chatelet, and were pa?-rio. over the great bridge which led to the city, all the chimes of the churches grouped round Notre Dame rang out ten o'clock at night It was very late ; for, as we have already said, tlie streets became deserted immediatelv after sunset. The Seine at that day flowed between banks still encumbered with reeds and bushes— in our day It runs through two lines of noble quays- thousands of lights are reflected in the river— which, owing to the lamps on the bridges, and the lights from the windows of the houses on its banks, presents a scene more charming than the imagi tion can dream of. In that day the river rolled oil darkly, and reflected nothing but the stars ; the view was broken by the abrupt angles of fortresses and old buildings, whose walls were washed by the tide V. was a different place then from now, and .ffrhaps a more suitable one for the painter- for "> hen the silver moon played upon the rippling .> aves, and under the mysterious and dark arches you would have said it was one of those magic decorations that the scene-painter of a theatre invents to give effect to the drama. Centuries succeed each other, and the beauties of Pans change with them, but Paris is, never- theless, always beautiful I Agnes and her chevalier crossed the great bridge, and passed the ancient palace which the sovereigns of Prance had abandoned for the Louvre. They entered the rue de la Calandre by the old Roman road that the Casars hod made through the city, and which bore at that day the same name as to-day, the Barillerie. At the time of which we are speaking the rue de la Calandre was full of small drmking booths and taverns, full of cut-throats; and the passenger, long before reaching it, could hear the screaming viol and the piercing flutes mingled with loud bursts of drunken laughter. ' It was the arena of brutal quarrels, an im- mense temple always full of frightful debauchery and blood. ' The tavern of St. Landry was situated near the middle of the street ; Montruel, after having proceeded a few steps down the street, felt con- strained to hold his nostrils, but madame con- tinued her way without any sign of repugnance or weakness. It must be admitted, that madame Agnes had not chosen a very agreeable task for po)r messire Montruel ; for in a street haunted by the cream of rascaldom, skimmed from the whole kingdom, and ii; which scarcely a night passed without witnessing some tragic adventure, Mon- truel was about to stand as sentinel at the door of the tavern of St. Landry. Madame commanded and Montruel obeyed. 11 •4;l 54 It was his punishment on this earth, for all his accumulated mis-deeds. When he had ascended the steps which led to the low apartment, where maitre Oadocn lield his terrible court, Montruel shrunlc into a corner and kej.t himself there as the only cliance of os- caping trora strangulation or the poignanl. The orgio was at its height, and that great artist, Callot himself, could, I thinlc, hardly liavo done justice to tlio frantic movements of tiiat delirior ■ crowd. Men, women and children, were leaping cm- bracing, figliting, and drinking, the Btearaiiig and iinimro atmosphere was as thick as a fo" • and uotliing could be distinctly seen, but a co'L-' fused mel6e,into which every individual seemed turn hy turn, to plunge, and to be lost in that terrible tempest. Maitie Francois Gauthier, the host of this place, was seated on a barrel, half a sleep, and rousing himself only a little, wlienever two of the drunken brigands were crossing blades, or another punching the head of some unforiuuate woman. If Agnes had made her entrance with her face uncovered, .nobody would have noticed her arrival, in spite of her cloth of gold or her ermine cloak, for the women who resorted to these places sft all sumptuary laws at defiance and indulged in the most luxurious apparel. ' But Agnes wore a half-mask of black stuff, and some woman on perceiving it, cried out — " Who is this ?" ' Twenty other women joined this cry in full chorus, and before Agnes had reached the last step, she was surrounded by a raob of bacchantes who scented in her one who was profaning their temple, and who would have asked no better amusement than to have torn her to pieces. " Hold I" exclaimed Agnes, repulsing the woman who wag nearest to her, " Holdl raaitrc Cadocu, wilt thou not protect the person who has come hero at thy bidding ?" At the name of the chief, there was a sensa- tion among the crowd of women, and they re- peated in every variety of tone, " Who can this be T' Some said, " Let us take her to Catherine, the captain's mistress : she will soon tear her eves out I" '' Cadocu was sealed at a table covered with the pitchers he liad emptied. " Catherine, ma mie," said he, "I never heard a woman who could sing like thee." And Catherine immediately struck up, in a really harmonious voice, the couplet of some ear song. ° ■' It was in the midst of this couplet that madame Agnes' voice was heard, above the tumult, calling upon the name of the chief of the brigands. Cadocu raised himself on his elbow, and his half extinguished eye shot out a slight ray of re- meml^anco. 'Tne beautiful Catherine rose all pale, for she had forgotten nothing. . - »"• v-anouti, - With whom nave I an. pointed a rendezvous to-night 7' " I know not," replied Catherine drily. " Good," said the brigand; "if thou knowest THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. not, tlien it must be with some rival for thmi art madly in love with me, Cathos, ,na mie l" Gomel you crowd there I" added he with more strength than could have been expected from his condition and wandering eye <' Allow the woman to pass, since she says that'l sent for iier. Wo shall soon see if she lies ; and ifshf does lie, I will hand her over to yo,',, rn.imt nonnes, to be whipped." " litt'le^ ''''*"* ^'^ ^'**' ''"^ '° ''*'^'°''" ''''°^'="" ^ Agnes crossed the apartment, slill masked, and escorted by a crowd of jealous enemies If a. ook could kill, the look that Catherine gave her would certainly have pierced her throusli and through. Cadocu was right, Catherine was madly in love with him, and there were raanv others in the same case. '' "A mask I" growled he ; " how docs she ex- pect me to recognize her ? But I know so much and so much I . , . ." Suddenly he reined u|>, and indulged in a low chucklmg laueh which nearly shook him off his bench ' "Oh I hoi" said lie, "she is come I thaCs a good joke,_approach, ma belle j for my part I love nothing but queens and wantons I" Agnes ran to his side, Catherine endeavour- ed to place herself between them ; but Cadoc : repulsed her roughly. " Every one in their turn," said he. The women looked on, whispering to eacli other. Some said, "Can this woman be a queen ?" in a^one, which seemed to imply that the thing was impossible. Catherine drew off humiliated, and with tears in her eyes. Agnes whispered some rapid sentences into the ear of the chief, who was still shaking from his idiotic fit of laughter. "Good I goodi;' said he aloud. "Have no fear, madame ; I am not the man to betray thine incognito." " Is it possible ?" said those standing around. Catherine stood at a distance, with her eyes fixed on the queen, and swore to be revenged. Cadocu passed one of his arms round Agnes' waist, as he had just done with Catherine, and raised his enormous cup. Half an hour previousi v Cadocu would perhaps not have been so stupidly- insolent, but there were now too many empt'v pitchers before him. He was one of those drink- ers, whose excesses are always followed by ex- treme suffering, but who nevertheless cannot I refrain from the thing that hurts them. I The bold cavalier, who was treated by the greatest vassals of the kingdom as one of their peers, who held the pope's legato in check, and even the king himself, was about to become, for some hours, a miserable brute, without strength or reason. If Agnes de Meranie had arrived sooner, she might still have found that sentiment of covet- ousuess and sensuality, that she had observed in the eyes of Cadocu, when he saw her in the cavalcade as it was leaving the purlieus of Notre Dame, and by favor of that same sensua- lity Cadocu, would have protected Agnes, and would have given her that kind of reception which gourmands always give to the preferred nuts of the feast. friJi THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. 5e rival, for thon los, ma inie 1' deJ he witli jeen expected ;eye, "Allow tliat I sent for ■3 ; and ifsha fo», mes inlg- orB himself a 1 masked, and nemies. If a .tlienne gave her throiigrh Catherine was i were many does she ex- now so mucU u ly he reiiieil kling laugh, ch. aie ! that's a 'or my part I nsl' i endeavoiir- but Cadoc ; iog to eacli Mian be u imply that d with tears itencea into laking from " Have no betray thiue ng around, itb Ler eyes revenged, iind Agnes' therine, and 1- previously so stupidly lauy empty hose drink- vcd by ex- ess cannot 1. ted by the no of their check, and )ecome, for it strength sooner, she of covet- bserved in ler in the lurlieus uf le sensua- gncs, and reception preferred Though he had just said ho loved only juei-ns and wantons, Cadocu was not much accustomed to see queens surrendering to his caprices ; but there now remained to him neither caprice, or covetousness — his senses were all drowned in the thick wino of maitre Franyois Qauthier. Agnes liad fallen on evil times. She did not resent the coarse speech of the brigand, but said gaily— " Maitre Antoine, I came to ask you a favour, that the king himself could not accord to me." Cadocu assumed an air of importance. " There arc many others," replied he, " who, like thee, come to maitre Antoine when the king cannot help ('"cm ; but I know what's the matter, madame," he, falling against the post which se' j a back to his bench, " somebody stands ii. .-i^ way j and amongst all the fine lords by whom thou art surrounded, there is not one with a willing arm. We will speak of this business another time madame ; this place is for our amusement." " Then let us amuse ourselves!' said Agnes, who, up to this, had superbly "jilayed the sad role that she had inflicted upon herself. " Ma foi," murmured Cadocu, whose heavy head oscillated on liis shoulders, " thou art a fine girl, madame. If I had known of thy coming, I would have drank deeper to keep up my gaiety." lie tottered and held on to the table. Maitre Francois Gauthier gravely brought a large block of wood that he placed beside the post, propping Cadocu solidly between the two. "What cau'st thou do to amuse me?" de- manded maitre Antoine, who breathed a little more at his ease in this new position. " I can do everything," said Agnes, without any hesitation. " Then thou can'st sing ?" " They called me the nightingale in my father's country." " That was a brave man, thy father !'' growled Cadocu, " the siro Berthond do Meran — a true gipscy and a priest of satan. Cau'st thou dance ?'' " Like Terpsichore !" " I know nothing about Terpsichore. Can'st thou drink ?' " As much aa you please, in reason, master Antoine." The brigand shook his head with a satisfied air. To compare him to a Pacha, surrounded by his favourites, would fall short of his merits j for he was a thousand times more despotic than a Pacha. Men and women formed a circle around him, contemplating this scene with a curiosity which increased at every instant. They hardly dared to whisper when the chief vras speaking. One singular thing was that the masked woman's name was in every mouth and yet nobody could believe in the reality of her presence. But they all respected the mistress of Phillip Augustus more than thay respected herself. For she was there, and yet they did not wish to believe that sho was Xhi-TC. Cadocu struck with his fist upon the table and his eyes searched the crowd. " Whore is Catherine ? 'Where is Alix ? Where 8 Jeanne?" Two beautiful girls irauiediately presented themselves : these were Alix and Jeaune ; Cathe- rine waited a little longer, but at last she ap- peared — but her eyes were very red, and it was plain that she had been weeping. Cadocu gave Alix a sign to approach. This was a tall girl of vigorous frame, in whoso pre- sence Agnes herself appeared but petite. " AlLx," said Cadocu, " there are some here who boast of being able to drink." " Eh bien !" replied Alix, " let us drink to- gether." Agnes had good reason to boast; for in the noble fetes which she was accustomed to give at the Louvre, to relieve the tedium of the long absences of Phillip Augustus, Agnes alwa3's re- mained queen of the foast— her gold cup, mounted with precious stones, was emptied, and filled un- ceasingly, with the perfumed wines of Syracuse and Nicosie. She took from the table the great cup, from which Cadocu had been drinking, and filled it to the brim. But that was neither the wine of Syracuse nor of Nicosie — it was that strong nectar, manu- factured from the juice of the grape, mixed with alcohol and spices. The odour which the cup exhaled reached her nostrils, and Agnes allowed a shudder of disgust to escape her. Maitre Autoinc shook his head with an ex- pression of dissatisfaction. Agnes plucked up courage, and drained the enormous cup to the dregs. " 'Tis thy turn, my girl," said she to Alix, hand ing her the cup. Alix burst into laughter, and placed the cup upon the table. " I do not drink out of that," replied she. Agnes smiled triumphantly for she thought her rival found the cup too large. But Alix choose from among the empty pit- chers, which stood before Cadocu, the deepest and the widest, holding twelve cups, and this she filled to the brim, raising the pitcher to her lips with both hands. She continued drinking a long time till she seemed red in the face and the veins of her neck all swollen. Having .drained the pitcher to the last drop, she removed it from her lips, drew a long breath, ami smiling, handed it to Agnes saying, in her turn, " V, is now for thee." As Agnes hesitated and appeared frightened, Alix remarked, " that is only a commencement j when thou hast drunk that, I will do something better." Agnes took the diamond pin which fastened her ermine cloak, and offered it to her victorious competitor. " I cry you mercy, my girl," said she, hoping to cover her defeat by an act of gen- erosity. But Cadocu did not approve of this mode of settling the drinking bout, and growled between his teeth—" She can't drink well." Agnes was not more succssful with Alix, who threw back her diaiaond piu with disdain, say- ing — " I know what your jewels are worth j for I saw those which thou hast given this morning to the beggars in the purlieus of Notre Dame !" " Come hither, Jeanne," resumed Cadocu. 56 A gill stopped forwarJ, of a supple and bean .fully rounded figure, lik^ those woman of Catel hm , wbo travel the world raaking gold bv the Madame Agnos was right when she said she could dance like Tcrpsicliore. Nobody coud at^roachher in the noble fetes givon\y tie Couit. As soon as maitro Antoino had given ho signal, and the viol had played the prel do yZl~ , ,' 0' sP'C«d wine had rnouuted to her brain and she surpassed herself i„ those gracious nnrtoi T" o'^"' ^'"<='' "'« Crusaders had Tm ported from Constantinople. Cadocu yawned and said— danc?7' '^"""''' "'"'^ ""''^"'"^' '">^ ^° «'»» Jeanne, at one bound, made a perilou<. lonn over the table covered ^i.h pitchers s"e was a performer of remaikable strcngth--witl7 a ... totaling ,.„ „rn, „i,^„ .,:i,rs " That's what we call dancinir " ani.i n„A "Come hither, Catherine!" Catherine had dried her tears-comforted by seeing her hated rival disconcerted atevervsteD-I and she now stepped forward holding a ™,.< ,.1'ourrendro; Koutier, routicr, pour prendre au fort ttreiidronuJ'or Au frAre Misure '. Cadocu pushed back his cup and cast a look of true tenderness at Catherine. Catherine continued : Eoutier, routicr, lo vin du roi Coulo pour toi Lafillo Gentillo, itoutier, routier, eourit toujours A tea amours KouvcDes „ ,. Et belles. Kouuer, la reinoa des bijoux Et dea yeux doux, X>a reiue „ ,. Moraine. Kouticr, routier, tu les auras yuand tu voudras; I'rincesso, Biohnssc • Catherine had finished her triumphant song, and she turned to cast a spiteful look upon her rival, for even victory will not always disarm the anger of a jealous woman. " I will not say," said she, "that the princess never gives anything, but at least she never gives anything valuable." Two or three loud laughs came from the crowd, proving that two or three women had understood the sarcasm. Cadocu understood nothing, and yet Cath- erines song had somewhat restored him— if not to reason, at least to life. " Come hither," said he and he placed a loud kiss upon the young girl's brow, already intoxi- cated with joy. Then he tried to rise, supporting himself on one side by the post, and on other by Catherine's shoulder. Br*owne"*" ^'^ "^°'"° Order, traduction AnglaUe do iJ' THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. 67 " Aa to tiee I" resumed he— addressing himself to Agnes, who stood liite one stupefied—" Thou hast spoilt our night. See bow quiet they are nil, when thoy should bo making a noise ; for ut this hour, I am accustomed to go to asleep to the noise of their revels." Jin seemed serious, for he spoke with much emphasis ; " I said just now," continued he, " that I only liked queens and wantons ; Ijut thou art not a queen — for Ingeburgc, the Dune, was the king's wife before thee. Would a queen come liere ut the risk of soiling her soul and her crown ? ' " Who will know it?" stammered Agnes, aa to herself The merciless Catherine, pronounced those words which wo have so often repeated in those pages, and that Phillip Augustus was so fond of repeating — " The king knows all 1" Agnes trembled, and became pale. " If thou art not a queen," resumed maitre Ajitoine, " neither art thou a courtezan — I say, a courtezan, worthy of us. Thou art beautiful ; but Agnes tl^^etty — whom thy evil favourite, jUnaury Montroll^aused to bo strangled on the road to d'EtumpePi-was much more beautiful than thee. Thou can'st not drink like Alix — thou can'st not dance like Jeanne — thou can'st uot sing like Catherine ; therefore, I want nothing to do with thee. Away 1" Maitre Antoine fell back upon his bench, ex- hausted, while Catherine uttered a loud cry of victory. This cry acted like a signal — the orgie recom- menced, where Agnes had interrupted it ; and amid the bowlings of the crowd she regained the steps leading to the street. Her bosom was bursting with the rage that was stifling her. She looked round her for Mou- iruel, and not seeing him immediately, she called his name in a hoarse voice. Montruel sprung from his hiding place. '• Oh !" murmured Agnes to herself, " I have no dagger I messirc," screamed she, with the foam on her lips, " it was thee, who drew me into this infamous snare." " Mo 1" interrupted Amaury. "Silence!" cried madame Agnes, trembling with fury ; " Thou art a traitor and a coward !" She placed her two hands upon his shoulders, and shook him with the strength of a man. Then reaching the last spasms of her delirium, she struck him in the face so violently, that the blood spurted from his eyes and nostrils. In another moment her strength bad vanished, and she fell, half dead, upon the muddy street of la Calandre, and even before the threshold of the tavern of St. Landry. Half an hour afterwards, you might have met with Amaury Montruel and madame Agne.^, in the avenue of young elms, which led to the palace of the Louvre. They had stopped just at the same place where the handsome page Albret had told his love to Eve, on the morn of this eventful dav. But Agnes had now repaired the disorder of her toilet, and nothing seemed to remain of all that high fever, and of all that furious madness which had so lately overcome her. The bands of her jet hair were arranged with their custom- ary elegance, and her cheeks wore no traces of her recent distreas. Montruel had not been able to recover himself so quickly ; the blow on his face had wounded him most cruelly in his heart, uad his features still retained an expression most piteous and desolate. "Think no more of it," said Agnes. "Before I enter my chamber, I should be pleased in ton- sequence of the esteem I have for you to be well assured that you entertain no rancour towards me." " Madame," stammered Montruel. Agnes tendered him her hand, and in a tone of indift'erence which belied her words, said, " It is well messire, it is well ; I see that you think no more of what has passed between us; and be- lieve me I am happy for it. I feared I had lost a faithful friend." " Oh I my souvfiaine," exclaimed Montruel, " say friend unto death." Agnes again interrupted him, with " Well 1 well ! messire !" "Speak but the word," continued Montruel, kissing the hand that had been left between his own, with idolatry, "do you wish that I should avenge you on that man? ' Agues gave a contemptuous smile. Montruel increased in warmth. " Speak," said ho; " Oil I my souveraine, if it pleases j'ou this very night my archers shall penetrate into that den of drunken brigands, and by to-morrow thee • shall not remain a living soul to accuse the queen of the events of this night." " Thank you," replied madame Agues, without betraying any emotion ; " you think I am ofraid, messire, and you think to reassuio me ; but ! joii is but one person more powerful than the queen and that person is the king — and the kingwould not listen to any complaint against the queea, No I messire I I am not afraid." She drew closer to Amaury, and her coolness vanished all at once as by enchantment. Amaury felt that her hand was trembling, and turning icy cold. " No 1 no !" she whispered, " it is not of these vile brigands that I wish to be avenged, messirc. I wish to be avenged on her who has cost me thi.'S last outrage — on her, who has made my royol life a long series of terror and sufferiug— on her, who still remains there, always banging over my head aa a threat— on her, who prevents my being really the queen ; for that man told me," contin- ued she, in a still lower whisper, " he told me^ thou art no queen." If poor Ingeburge had not been already con- demned by the savage hatred of her rival, that speech of the brigand Cadocu would have been her death warrant. Montruel replied, "you know well, madame, that this obstacle wil'. be soon removed." " I know nothing about it, but I expect it,', said Agnes with energy. " So long as they trll me she shall die. I bbb th.at Bhi? livpfl. And who can tell but that myself am not,~>'tbreatened. This council (.hat is about to assemble — may it not change my lot 'w a single day? Amaury Montruel, dost thou know what a woman can do 58 .?rrW r"''!'" r".' «"*li^o her first, her most ardent, her only desire?' Araaury pressed his hand to his breast to s.ip- press the violent heating of his heart. Tho enchanted horizon which had all at once opened before hira hid intoxicated liim; ho felt no more the outrage burning upon his cheek ; he remem- bered no longer, the miserable man, that the supreme happineas that had been ottered him Cadocr" '^'''^"'"'"""y '"'■"^'^'l by tho brigau.i He fell upon his knees and'presaed the hand of Agnes to his lips. *,!lL''"''lf''^ too much," murmured madarae :X'«7', «% lactation of alarmed mo- desty ; " I shall feci henceforth that it will bo dangerous lo find myself with thee. So till all IS over, and vyell over, messire," said she, dwelling With emphasis on those last words, « it will be vam on your part to seek to see me." The amorous Montruel protested and declared tnat lie could not support life without the sight of his so«wmi«c, but Agnes closed her ears to these declarations, and ordered him to sound tho horn that hung at the drawbridge The drawbridge was .let down and they entered the Louvre. ^ THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. V CHAPTER VI. In that same great hall, whose 'stained win- dows were oadcd with tho brightest colours, and where Philhp Augustus had some hours, pre- vionsly received maitre Adam, there hung a lamp whose light fell full upon the pale and haggard face of maitro Samson, the clerk If the king knew all, and it is "certain that the King knew many things, it was not by sorcery Mails greatness is often made up by an a^fflo- moration of littlenesses. '"^ Phillip Augustus had the genius of a detect- ive. If events had allowed that great prince more leisure, there would doubtless have existed m the thirteenth century a monumental police, organized according to the best rules of art : for i'hiUip was more resolute and shrewd than Louis XI who had been held up by all histo- rians and poctg as the true type of royal finesse. IJut as Phillip had no lesiure to form a good police--compelled, as he was, to defend himself against the disloyal attacks of Asia and Europe combined— he limited himself to the role of un amateur, and even with tho small means at his command, he accomplished some excellent fh!* !^' , ^' '?' J'™'"''^'^ °f b^nff »ble to boast that the king knew all, than to tell of the battles he had gained. There is an old prejudice existing against the pohce-as if It was not an cjtablibhed and his- torical fact, that all great state.'^- • whether under monarchies or republics, hai . plea- sure m establishing and encouraging t'.at liberal art; and many, to use a vulgar expression, have wiUmgly dipped their hands in the dough Phillip Amrustus did not act exactly as the good caliph, Haroun-al-Reschid, did— whom we read of in the Thousand and One Nights— run- ning constantly about the streets of Bagdad, talking philosophy with his vizier, Giaffar— but nevertheless, he did not disdain to watch hi^ Hpie., mid even the spies of his spies. «y the^u means ho knew just three times as much as ho his fViT^'l S-"""?""*^ '"'^■'^■'" l''« r^'l'ort' of lonUfAnet. ' ' '' '^'"''"'>' *'""''"'^'. Maitre Samson was standing, hat in hand, be- fore the king,, who had .ank into a deep easy cha„» with ins hands over his eyes, as tliough 1,0 would protect them from tlie strong light of the i-iL¥j ?''■' '"'^,.'''' """'^ 80 ^^'naury has killed that woman." ^ " Yes," replied maitro Samson, " at three leagues from Paris, on the road to d'Efimpes and because that woman knew his secret 1 VeV she knew it as well as thee and me, sire " "' « And where didst thou learn ft,' niuitro Sampson?" ' '""'"^ " liy meeting the staffmen, who had asdassi- nated poor Agnes, on their return " " Ahl" said tho king carelessly, " then this poor beautiful girl called herself Agn.'s ?" "Mcssiro Amaury gave her th^ name," re- Sn ''^^'^-^'^'"'Siiii fl^^^ftone of accu- Tho king opened his hands a little, to peer Samson "' **"" ^^"^ ^''"""' '""'' "'' """''^^ "And when thou saw the staffmen," said he ^what wast thou doing on the turf at Not.c Uame,just before sunset, in company with tho king of the Basoche ?" Maitre Samson, on first hearing this question, trembled; then his dull eyes took a simple esl pression of admiration. " I should like to know who can hide anything from the king," exclaimed he ; " I was there on business that concerned madame Ingeburge." " What business?" ''My very dreaded sire assuredly knows much better than me ; but since lie deigns to interro. gate mo It is my duty to reply. Messire Amaury wished to excite some tumult in Paris, in favour of the very noble queen Agnes, who is ia a con- stant Ptate of jealously of madame Ingeburge." Ah !•' said the king, for the third lime, as his eyes turned involuntarily towards that magnifi. cent drapery of cloth of gold through which madamo Agnes had appeared like a. dark vision to little Eve. " Thou art of opinion, then, that the queen is jealous, maitre Samson ?" A strange feeling was depicted on the face of the clerk ; and it was plain that he desired to speak, but dared not. " Hast thou nothing more to tell me ?" de- manded the king. " Anything more?" replied the clerk, hesitat- ing ; " I do not remember." " Was it then "—resumed the king, looking him in tho face— "only to tell me that stupid story of Agnes, tho poor foolish girl, that thou hast visited tho Louvre this night ?" The clerk still appeared to hesitate. " Then," said tho king, opening a manuscript and spreading it out before him, if ihou host nothing more to tell me thou canst "withdraw." Maitre Samson rose and was moving towards tho door, turning hia hat round and round, in THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. S9 evident cmbarrasameiit, when he suddenly stopped as though lie had screwed hid courage to the pomt. " My dreaded sire," said he, " may I be permitted, without failing iu my respjct, to address you a humble question ?'' " Ah 1" cried the kiug, •' you are still there, maitro Samsou ? Put a-i mauy questions as yuu please." Samson came forward again softly. " Is messiro Amaury at the Louvre ?" ho asked. '• Ho should be here," replied the king. " That is a difl'ereut thing,'' said Samson j " and the noble Queen Agnes ?, ..." Ho stopped J and as the king interrogated him with a look, he took courage and fini.^hed — " Is she in her apartment V" " Where would'st thou have her bo, at such an hour ? " gaiii the king abruptly. Samson did not allow himself to bo disconcert- ed ; " If my dreaded sire would deign to reply — yes or no," ho began— " Well ! yes," replied the king frowning, " the queen is there." " My dreaded lord is certain of it ?" ^ " Very certain. " My dreaded sire has seen her ?" " I have seen," replied the king, stamping with impatience. " Then," said tlie clerk, bowing very low, " I bavo only to withdraw, craving the king's pardon for having wasted any of his precious ! moments." lie again moved towards the door, but the king called him back. " Thou art not going to leave mo liko that, maitre Samson," said the king ; " why hast thou put all these questions?" " Because — because. ..." muttered the clerk. " Allonsl speak quickly and frankly, or be- ware of thy shoulders !'' " I well tell you the truth, sire," replied maitre Samson ; " If poor Agnes the pretty was not dead, I should naturally have believed it to have been her ; but as she is dead, what other woman iu Paris can resemble the queen to the same degree ?'' " Ah," reiilicd Phillip, rising from his scat, " upon what gamut dost thou sing now, maitre Samson ? I commanded thee to speak freely.'' Samson was frightened ; for he saw the king was growing very impatient. " I have deceived myself, noble sire— I have been deceived," .said he hastily. " Deceived in what?" " I believed — [lardon me tue extravagant idea, for we spies sometimes discover strange mysteries —I believed that I had seen niadame the queen in company with missire Amaury Montruel, to- wards tlio hour of teu at night ; both were on foot and unattended in the rue de la Calundre, at the threshold of the tavern of St. Landry, | where all the brigands of Cadocu had asseui- I bled. I The king set up a laugh— nor could mivitro I Samson detect anything forced in his gaiety. i " Agnes ! alone I on foot in la rue la Calandre ! j at ten at night ! Ma foi, mon maitre, thou hast I indeed become foolish— get thee to sleep!" I Samson withdrew, covered with confusion. ! The belfry of the Louvro struck twelve— miii- night. No sooner was the king alone, than his fea- tures suddenly changed and his handsome and iiit'-'lligent hjad fell upon his breast. "Alone!' murmured he, "on foot !^in the ruo do la Calandrc-^-at ten at night !" It was not altogeWr sorrow that was depic- ted on the features at Pliillip Augustus— it wa.s tirst surprise ; but afterward:^, and above all, an expression of deep meditation. If the king knew all — it must bo remembered that lie turned all to iirofit. Ho rose from his seat— raised the gold drapery, and put his eye to the keye-hole, just as any unfortunate bourgeois husband would do, who desired to snaro his light spouse. " What will she say to luu V ' murmured he, " I cannot see her yet thougli I have been watch- ing for her appearance so long; will she try to make mo believe that she lias never left her apartment ? Yes sho will try — for woman is a bravo boing — and never hesitates to attempt the impossible." At this moment the creaking noise of the drawbridge was heard as it swung on its rusty a.xle. "She has returned," said Phillip Augustus, regaining his seat "and by moans of some bright crowns, tlio guards at the gate will be discreet, and I shall know nothing." He lauglicd again, and presently a light and almost impeiceptiblo noise could bo distinguished on the other Bido of the gold tapestry. " Alone !" said Phillip again to himself — for his thoughts always recurred to those words — •' on foot! in the ruo do la Calandre 1 at teu at night !'' The drapery rose gently and the face of Agnes do Meranio made its appearance, wreathed iu smiles. "Have I not waited long enough," said she, assuming a soft and caressing voice. " Wliy did you wait, ma bsllo mio,'" replied Phillip, with 11 gentleness equally caressing. " I nm always afraid to enter," suid Agnes, " for fear of robbing tho kingdom of France of any of tliose precious hours that its well-beloved sire consecrates to the felicity of his people. ' Slio held her brow to the king who placed a kiss there. " lie knows nothing about my absence," thought she. " Alone! on foot! at ten at night— in the rue de la Calandre !'' thought the king. CHAPTER VIL All the bells of Paris — within and without the walls, of the churches, of the chapels, of the monasteries— and Ood knows they were not a few — rung out together a triple volley ; it was a deafening noise — a concept of bells of every tone and calibre tui.xing their sharp or grave, gay r.r Tr,e!!ir.ch."ly sounds. In most of the principal streets, though it was st'll early, there was a crowd of common people and petit bourgeois — a busy and gossiping crowd, whose active tongues never relaxed for a moment. w 4!-;- it' Si hi GO Some chcriihers, in the full panoply of war, w.-rc crosamj? the stroct on (lorsnback-her. and lliore, ,,t the corner of the public .square, were to be seen animated groups, evidently waitine for some proceasion. Each window formed a iramo hllcd up by us many women's heads as it could contain-grotips of «ossipinK gumins hung nbont the corners— wh«o the worthy shon- koepers were gravely discu^ng matters it their THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. It wag evidently one of thns. orca-ilonfl upon winch Pans stirs itself from top to bottom-iov- T. ?• ?''7''"J " "^^^ "' " battle-for a funmil or a trial— for fireworks or n revolution iho circumstance which on this day gave riip to 80 much agitation among the Parisian popula- tion was the opening of the council, at which Phillip Augustus was to be judged before the delegates of the papal authority. The church had called to her bar the most glonoug sovereign in the universe, and had placed him, so to say, on the stool of the criminal —that in it.self was sufficient to move our im- pressiouable capital ; but tlierc was something beyond that-for the matter could not bo con? s.dered as solely affecting the interests of royalty ~tho interests of the people were also involved- I for the council wag to divide on the interdict ' rLe'kinldom."'""^ "" '"^ '^"''" P°^"^*'°" "^ It was the hour when the prelates, abbots, and priests, composing the church, were to assemble ut the new palace, in the city of Paris • and a? most of them were lodged in the religious e.stob! mcnts of the city or its neighborhood, there was scarcely any street which did not enjoy its share of the spectacle. Those who had no chance of see- ing an archbishop pass, migjit at least, look for a bishop or a mitred lord abbot Tho bellg continued to ring for three hours, fh„ w°i r ^ Pe'-fw-mance of the High Mass of the Holy Ghost was finished in tho holy chape of the palace, to implore that the supreme wisdom council '"' "''^^ °" '"'""'"^ member of the As the last sound of the bells died on the air the archbishop, bishops, and abbots, in the orde; III which they ranked in the heirarchy, slowly descended the steps of tho chapel, singing a La t n l.ymn, and preceded by banners and censors, be- I g.m to wind their way to the ancient throne-room I where their august tribunal was about to be ' organized. An immense crowd wag gathering on the place du Palais, and in the rue de la ifariller e L ha^fi"';"'."^^^"'^ ""tous crowd, such nlJi v^'""''''^, ■^*^"'' ^'♦y t°^'"-'l« Notre IJame— It seemed impressed with the gravity of the occasion. All heads were uncovered, arid a profound silence was observed, as the prelates passed chanting their hymn. i^'waiiss Suddenly the' crowd began to undulate like a sea— a thundering clamor burst forth, while the caps thrown into the air obscured the sun ♦« ^aj the king, who was descending from the A^L^J *i® '^°"^''* ^y *•>«■ grand rue St. Honors and „ bo ,v« about to take his seat before tha itf ^h "^ '^' church-his judges, against whom there was no court of appeal ' The people loved Phillip Augustus, beoan-. I'o wag a brave and rangniHcont kin^ „" ■ I'orliaps, because ho was alwavs -U the «i'. n;.' rarely appeared but at some Holemn onlun^ir^ As to the crime of love of wlii,!, the W n„ ' accused, the people of Paris h J ' ..J^b^^;, .■xceedmgly indulgent ,o that Kind of sin King Phillip was handsome', .-.nd mad.- i rnagn.lcent appearance upon 'l,o"s biu -he wore his armour, and his helmet, with it" rai. d v...or, was surmounted by ,he ^oval crowr Sr oirt:'"" *r""*>'^- ''i.M.owerat , : very hour its master was submitting to th(. pontifical mandate. The king came on , rounded by all his great vas^Is-l^one lil i, J nra ; and the brilliant calvacd. . -x, ended so i^*^ hat some were still praurin. ,n tl^ „e S ' XTo^ftKiSa'^r'^'^^''-"-^-'''; .me suspended " with all these laiue.^ our sire the king, could, if he wished, carry the w ol.; council off to his tower at the Louvre I" lioth the lower orders and the bourgeois were convinced that Phillip Augustus w.*uld never cede the point, even if the sentence of the pre- lates should order him to separate form Amos • for m spite of the interdict from which they were Buffering, the people had a secret desire that the wi e of the king of France might triump any price. The feeling of selfish opposition wh ch engenders a forgetfulness of all patriotism, had not yet descended lower than the high noble.^-e As I hiUip Augustus disapiieared within the groat doors of the palace, one of the knights of his mi', nirV^f"'''"^ toforce his horse through the micuile of the eager crowd, and to take the direction of Notre Dame. u "ino lue The vizor of his helmet was down, but every one recognized messire Amaury Montruel, lord of Anet, and the friend of the kijg. Every one crowded to get out of his road or the .nend of the king was known to be hard towards the defenceless : he was now in one of his worst humours, and struck at the people right and left. Those upon whom lii.s blows fell grum- bled loudly, but Montruel soon left their curses Demnd him, gaining tho eastern angle of tho fquare which led down the narrow streets ad- joining the purlieus of Notre Dame. Here the aspect of things was completely changed, for lude " ""'"^'^ *''"'' ^"^ " complete soli- Montruel put his horse to a gallop. At the corner of the rue de Calandre and at die entronce to one of those dark alleys, which led to the underground taverns, stood Maitre bamson, the scholar, Tristan do Pamieres, and Honors, the freemason, caps in hand. Without arresting the pace of his horse Amaury Montruel gave them a sign of recognition, call- ing out, " this evening ! '" '' Messire Amaury is in great haste,'' said the scholar, in his important way, " it sc^ms to me tuat he might have stopped and saluted me pro- ppriy," ' " You heard him, my compdres 7" said Sam- son ; " he called out, ' this evening '—are we all ready ? " THE TWO WIVES OP THE KINO. 01 TIio ftccmaaon and the scholar wore both drunk. " I am chargcil," replied Trl^tan do I'amicrca, " with leading on thy ftocit of rascals, and with furuiBhing 30mo frippery which Is to five thcra tlie ap[iearancc or students. Well! havo tlw frippery ready ; and when thou shalt have brouglit on thy hi ({gars, wo will sec what cai bo done willi them." " I am charged,' said the mason, " with bring- ing three or four armed workmim, with good lungs, to bellow and gootl hard lists to strike — that's the least thoy can do for a queen, wlio sa- lutes and smiles opon them so graciously ; as to leading my men further than that into the qu.ir- !■ !, its not to be thought of Men who can get their Y\v\ng by lionest labour never mix themselves up in such matters" " All iafor the best, " resumed Samson ; " maitre HonoriS will find the flesh for tlie scholars, and Tristan the costume. That's tho game ; for ray l)iif I I will give the s.iucc — a thousand Boliemians iiud rogues, who will each yell loud enough for fear, nnd who will do something better than that if you give them plenty to drink." .Montruel crossed the purlieus at full gallon. Nearly all the shops were deserted, and there w.>rc but few workmen about tho facade of the j)riucipal entrance to the cathedral of Notre Dame. He tied up his horse and slowly mount- ed n kind of ladder which led to tho workshop of Jean Cador, tlie image-cutter. Several days had passed since that nijjht of adventures — when inadamo Agnes had dared the outrage^ that had been heaped upon her at the tavern of the brigands. During tlieso days Araaury had doubtless suffered craelly : for ten ycuru of furrows and wrinkles seemed added to his forehead. He was pale, and the fever was still burning in his hollow eyes. When he entered tho door of the work-shed, the two black slaves were sitting cross-legged on iither side of a stone statue, still unpolished, and which was evidently about to receive the last strokes of the chisel. Tho eyes of Araaury sought the master. " Where is Jean Cador?' ho demanded. Tlie negroes remained mute and immovable " Tjiw do not know hira by that name," mur- mured AmaUry ; " Whore is Mahmoud-el-Rcis ?" The negroes' rolled the whiles of their eyes, but still gave no answer. AmaiiiY stepped into the middle Oi" the shed, and for tiie first time remarked the finished imago of the Virgin. " WhatI" muttered he. " in eight d.fysf Tho idea that there was some witchcraft about the work, presented itself iraracAiatcly to his mind; but another thought imracdiitely seized him and he recoiled with astonishmi t. " It is her," ho said to himself; " it is the queen I Is this by chance, or has he really seen her ?" He moved round the statue, to examine it more closely— tho ryes of tho neogres still re- maining immovable. " Yes ! yes I" ho repeated, " it is indeed the n'.ieCc ; I c"r.nnt hf" dcccivi^ii. Hai any wnman been here ? " exclaimed he, turning to the two slaves. Still no reply. In his anger ho laid his hand on his sword, and the negroes prostrated thtmsolves before him, uttering inarticulate sounds, and opening their mouths that Amaury might sue that they hail no tongues. " How shall I now be able to learn, if sho has been here, ond who is to tell mo whethrr I can count upon this infidel?" A slight noise was heard opposite tho door of entrance. Araaury turned and saw that a cur- tain that divided tho shed had been drawn, and that Mahmoud-cl-Rois was stamling with his armi crossed upon his breast, before him. Tlii; Syrian had laid aside his rich oriental clothing, and donned the dress of a French workman. " Ho whom thou callcsl an infidel," said M:ih- mond, " lios never betrayed his oath — I hojie it may be thus with thee, Araaury Montruel." Araaury sprang towards him, and seizing him by the arm, demanded eogerly, " Is this a por- trait?" pointing to the statue. Mahmoud nodded by way of affirmaliim. " The portraitof whom?" demanded Montruel. Mahmoud extended his arm, and pointed to ,i sketch upon tho boards of tho shed, which was half effaced. " Ah 1" said Amaury ; " I see— but it is very strange.'' Tho Syrian studied his features with great at- tention, and said—'" Then thou knowest souio woman who resembles that sketch ?" And as Amaury made no reply, Mahmoud ad- ded, with a certain bitterness in his voice—" It is not the woman that came here with thee tho other day, and that thou callest also a queen." " No," replied Montruel, " it is not her. " Then," said Mahmoud, " do all you Christians havo two wives ?" Amanry cnrled his lip, and exclaimed, " I do do not love that one— I hate her I" Mahmoud caressed the image, with a tender and melancholy look. " Diluhr' ho murmured. Then added in a voico so low that Amaury could not hear him^ " Each a Jill has its sister. The woman who resembles Dilah is without doubt the sister of her soul, and whomsoever sho may be I will love her." CAAPTER VIII. Mahmoud had dismissed his two slaves with a sign, and was now alone with Montruel. " Ih our fraternity," said ho. In a slow and solemn voice, " tho man who hesitates to give his life, to accomplish tho commands of tho master, commits a sin ; bat he among us who risks his life uselessly, even though in accom- plishing his masters order, comtuits a greater sin, so great that the seventh peuiteuce is required t J wash it out 1" " Hast thou then not u.idcrstood me?" inter- rupted Montruel ; " Why, it la to-day 1 to-day even '." " I did understand thee," replied the Syrian ; " now try to understand me. In the country that I come from they indulge iu few vain words. 62 King Philhp Augustus wonrs pteel armour, and k gurrouude.! by well «nnnd and faithful purdV 1 do not care to attack king Pliill||, |m > h steel armour and surroundod by his f.iithft,! Kuards." .^.'^T'!'^ r**'' "'"^ '*'''''« his helmet, and wa^ •eated bolding 1.13 hea.l Ixstweeu bid two handn. King I'lidhp A.igngtux," bo r.-|>eatcd, ai though trying to lix hi.s thought.; .: Th., king halveT'' ' '*'"' ''™' •""' ^""y him by Mahmoiid was standing before v .ulowofhia work-shed, running Ilia eye over .maM arm ot the Seine, over which liiing, uuo a I, ..uro nngo holace-likeroof., the small tower., and the butta.8.e8ofthe water arche., b-i from' time to I ino ho turned round and run liis ■ ye over tho confonrj of hi , ,„;,v t,utuc was the morning of tho e, -hth day, and tluit U.e road wliich w„.s to restore him to happiuels was much shortened. ' The man who had Iwen speaking to him he f3fyt^ «"'^ V ""^ '■-'•''tr"ment that Z to facilitate the orders of the master. Then sii.i lenly ho exclaimed, "Salim had steel armour ,.nd faithful guards. Salin. was as much above tlay king as the pvat , I Tbovo the little stars. Sal.m, tho fruud of «od_lho c«ramander of tho faithful. Five hundred black eunuchs, armed with sharp soymeta«, ^^^re always about him-alway. preceding him Ux I'.s progresses, an.l never sparing the unfortu- nates who wore foun.l in the way of their lod lo ook at bin. <„ly was death-lm name alone could make fugdud and the proviuj sZmlT Mahommed, the b.ly and the strong, rep estMr'■'' ''"* "" «"«<^b occasion some demon that haunted the church had split and rent It to pieces." "By Jovo I" exclaimed Montruel out of all pat ence, « thinkcst thou, maitrc Jean Cador. that I have time to stand here listening to thy sleepy tales ?'' *" ■' "1 waited seven years to kill the kaliph ^^allm, replied Mahmoud.cl-Rei.s, with the most perfect tranquillity, "and I have only been ai I'ari.s a ^*ek. If thou hast no desire to serve me precisely as I wish to be served, let us separate. I can wait still." " ^P*^*'^) then,'' said Montruel, with resignation, u ^^™°'> wbo burst that stone," gaid Wahmond, who would not abate a word of his narrative, " was me I 1 had learnt in the king- aorn of Kathay how to manufacfire that terrible dust which bursts at the approach of fire, and bursts through every obstacle by its prodigious powers of expansion; I employed my nights in boring the key-stono. I filled up the hole with that dust of sulphur and saltpetre, then on the eve of the day upon which the stone was to be keyed, I lighted a match .and she ptnnr. wrj!; r:'r.t asunder, f be sultan said to me, ^ Mahmoud-el-' flein, Ihoi thywlf w: it? Ift'i twenty th fail th 111 8 '"I wil stone, an( king of kii light of tn humble sill »lgn to Hpe at his knee met is his i commandei ^vith his Bu key-.'itone, 1 I shall indi ' F"or whe ' Because the presence evil spirits i " I was n stone, whic chamber in finished I pa t the court, the virgins, tlie priesLs, tho doctors and tho kadis were ti n( - company tho kaliph Salim nt tho ceremony All tho musical instruments that Hngdad con- tained formed a concert to celebrate the long-ex- pected completion of the raosciuc-Salim was lull of joy and said to mc— 'WiMt place hir-t thon assigned nie, iM.ih- ainoud-el-Iieis? for I must nc. , . me of my pro. misc as thou hast done of thine.' "I pointed to I he place where I hod fir* thrust my crystal poifrnard in the earth, seven years jireviously, on my first arrival at the cify of littgdad. T!;c; kaliph placed himiielf on tho spot, under a canopy of Oashraerej, borne up by SLXtecn slov.-.i, A t a signal from my hand the ropes tightened in their pulleys, tho enormous stone iett tho ground and became poised in air 1 wag on tho crown of the arch and had a sharp scy- meter concealed nn ^'••»"f"'"« from tl'o pure ono ll tS' wWltwlS."'^'"'""^ ^^- udorestDifat; iMuhmoud-el-Jieis frowned. " Christian,' murmured he, "never pronounrft the name of Dilah ; and, above all, .lever com pare her to that woman I" ' ^"^ Montruel turned pule, and his lips trembled ■ for of all outrages that is tho must cruel Xch i» addressed to tho object wo love, ife, howt-ver mado^an eflbrt to suppress tho reply thit camo7j IHahmoud hod crossed tho work-shed and waa standing before his statue contemp ating ft w7h murmurmed in a voice soft as melody. « Pardon me, Dilah, treasure of my life 1 it was me im- prudent foo that I was for giving them thfimre t wasmowho had no fear of profaning my heari ™^" l^'^ve heard thy name shall no reS t anymore J and I swear to theo an oath, tha they shall never possess thine image." These two last phrases died upon is lips. "^"oiwo Montruel did not hear them. Mahmoud drew a curtain, and the imago of Dilah disappeared suddenly behind that veil. CnAPTER IX-. '' Time passes," said Montruel, " I am waitine " n«f Iff '^t''^' l'''P''*'^ Mahmoud. Thou h^'t not told me how thou wouldst introduce m«i near i„~,i," — — = "' ' -'^'- '"° name or Ingeburge, pronounced for tho first time a rustling noiso was heard behind the wall of the work-shed. 64 Mahmoiul listend attentively, tl.ouRl. tukinjr ruslie 1 Imatily towards tho window. " llaa aujbody overbcard usV" suid lie, liili of lour, ' " Lool<,' said the Syrian. Montruel Mretthed l.iniself a.s far as he could out ()( he opening, bnt could see nothing but a on'stof unlnii8bed clustered columns and stones, lyiUK IMjll-mell, waiting to Ini placed in position. •• lliere was nobody," sj.id he, drawing bis body back ngam into the shed ; by way „( windo"' '^"'■''''' ''^ '^^'•^'"^'l tlio shutters of the "Is access so very .iifficult to the conyont tliat contmnsqueenlngeburge?" said thoSyrian " Nearly impos.<;ible." "«ynan. " t^vi-n for thee, tho favourito of Phillin Augustus ? ' '"'I' " Even for me," th:2;?eS'"""'^'^''"'''--""-'-^- id^'ikje.^:^;,":^'"*'"^ ''""*"""• ^-^'-^^ ^^^^ art'n^t'ii'l ■''^'" '"'' "" *'""''" ^^*-'°''0". ^^ou " I can become so." ;■ *>"« wigl't a-ign if/' began Arannry. '• I did not say I wc-jld feign it," said the S.VT.an, dryly. . , said 1 could easil^ become -hsa-n and lose none of my words. In a inhuite I shall bo lying .here on tho ground wilo,, vo,ce or motion ; thou wilt then^'call ho Se masons who are working below at tho poruls- command them to place me on a litter and r t unk," a.lded be ironie.lly, ■' that t y kCJ, .nHuoneow.l go far enough to induce'tbom o receive a dying man at the bo3|)ital " Wontruel looked at him stupelied. Before be jronihis breast u small flajk ami put it to l) .J At the same mor>cnt lie fell back like n „ struck to the earth by lightning, and 2er„sligl convulsion, b,d no mo^notioii than a corpS Tho ernotlon in the oi y remained as great as ercr Upon ho place du Palai.., in tho rue do la Evciy ono wa.s earrer to lonrn tho smallest U«m ot information regarding the nroceod n^ loto of such high destinies. In the silence of every other bell of Paris that one from tho belfry of ,ho new palace mnj uit at measured intervals, a long and deepW mmouncng to tho city and its neigh,'! rK that tho council of prelates wero dci.beraUng -v. thousand rumouis circulated— for Paris always insists upon having so.a , «ew., iiowever impossible It niuy be to cbt.iiii i '•""^'-vir Tho walls of the tiirono-room were thick • t.i, doors were closed; ,t was certain that ,io a word could o.,apo fr.m that rc.loubtab o ckim ber; and yet the lying and credulous bourSs related to .nch other, from minuto to '.nut THE TWO WIVES OP THE KINO. .,,.,., , , •."III iiiiiuiio lo I'liniitc. all that, .a. passed in tho co.ncil-thcy were not particiilHi- about '. the king, but our holy father in tl J rei-n-seutativo of tho king of kings_au t y o , ar« the representatives of our holy lUther • what soever you shall judge pro,.ei^S„y ...Co 1 maater.s 1 shall accept your s'enteuee devout y' And between these two extreme versions there were a million of inU-nnediate shades- proving that Paris, though as yetonly adolescent, was already tho most famous gossip of Europe ' i ho passing of a closed litter, containing a poor patient, that they were can viiig to the in- firmary, was not likely to attract mu Jli attention roni a, crowd so steeped in political considera- lons. A fe»y asked who that sick man was borne liy our workmen from Xotre Dame, and followed by a ican-at-arms, who seemed to be escorting him. Tliose who, in that man-at-anns, could reoog- nize siro Aii.aury, Bu.spected that some diablart^ was -ill and; but it was not considered so im- probable that some unfortunate artisan misht nave fallen from the scatrolding. Olio remarkaolo thing, however, and which, under other circumstances might have furnished the tcit of many commentaries, was, that the '■Iter bad already passed by many infirmaries without BtO|)piug. Every time they reached thr Uoor ot some hospital or convent, the masons Who bore tho litter attempted to set it down Diit wore urged by Mcssire Amaury to ndvauce! who said to them, " Wbeu it is time to stop I will tell you." ' The lust orders of Jean Cador bad boon csocute to whom he could conlide it. A little belbre they reuehed the great crowd ^W.ch encumbered the approaches to the chatele and at the moment when the gossiping groups we e increasing, that eompagnon with the pa e and trightencd lace perceivwl, at the turn of a street an old man, with white hairs, who was hsk-mug to the rumours of the crowd. His face mmn.'"'''' '""^^"' ""'"'" '" ""•'<-' ''fistian, ,...'?r!'^.i""*r ''""'■'' ''""•"'"' immediately np- j>loached the litter. ' ' slaiid that 1ms design., were threatened with some .atcirupt.on-of what nature he could not gue" -but he desired to prevent the old man from joining and talking with the compagnon Ilo urged on liis horse, but unfortunately all progress became very d.llienll, owing to fheir {.ro^miily to the ,,alace, where the cause of the "/, ,'\".'* ^V". '''^''' ^^'^» being deci.led. „.,r. .. ^ i"'^'^"" "^'."""''^ '^^"''''' '•" ^»'«3 t" se- aatethoold man with whito hairs from that haluls """«-«""" J"«t '« 'IJi-y bad shaken But it was too late, for the stone-cutter had had time to say to the old mun,— " The niari who is within the btter wants to assassmat J queen Angel I " 01.1 Christiaa stepped buck, mi.xeJ with the crowu, and followed the litter Li a distance ihelourth stone-cutter, with the pale face was trie, the Dane, who had come froL the fo ^ off uorth country, to save the queen of Kratlce i-nc remembered the prophecy of Mila. Kric had no lorg„tt«„ the Strang/ rencontre tint ho and his sister had experienced on the night of Iheir arrival at Paris. Ever since he h«d*^been working on the portals of Notro Dame ; ho had never, lor a single moment lost sight of that uian, so plainly pointed out by the prophccy- thai man who bore both a Christian and n Mus- sulman nainc-that Mahmoud-eUleis who had ZtKu^f "'" ''^^^' °f "'•^ Virgin Mary, and that the freemasons called Jean Cador When Mcssire Amaury had been guddenly in- THE TWO WIVES OF TEE KING. 65 Urrupted in the midst of his conversation with Mahmoud, and had thrust his bodv out of the window to see if any one was sta.uling on the wa ch, he could perceive nothing along the en- tablature ot the first story; but the intrepid and agile brother of Kve had been there ami had clipped dowi: the outer columns to the ground Knc had h,ard the whole conversation-but fl wn,"i . T'" f >^"°'^ ^^■"' *'"'" <"' '•^•^'""•<-««- •1 1! .•■•"''" ^'•"'" " '"■""S*-''" """• "' "'« wild (orests of his own country. In Paris he felt lost, nnd was a thousund times more isolated than in hose desert woods were he had passed hischild- l.ood-,n the midst of these unknown manners and customs his intelligence was at fault Uo. sides he missed Eve, that gentle fairv, who was «.id"iuilul ""''"'■'*"""' '''^^ ™"'-"P''". '">* heart At that m,)mpnt he would have given ten years mie,; 'nn'r'V'"" '"■'' «'«'-■. if only for on^ moment, lint where was poor Kve? It w•l^ now a whole week since ,,age All.ret had Uvl e. to the Louvre, by the orders of the king, and hvo had not since returned ; and her brother, in pite 01 all Ins enquiiies, could not lind the pa'g lurtive look that he Pist around him wu w ■ak and almost extinguished. Wahmoud did nothing by halves— the dose of poison that he had taken had not only produced tho appearance of sickness, it had rendered him seriously ill. Tho most skilful leach in the world that mi^lit have been calW in to examine him, would have pronounced his life in danger. It was the lirtt time thatJIahmoud had opened his eyes since his arrival at the abbey of Saint- Martin-hors-les-Murs— his swoon liad lasted several hours, and at the moojent that his senses seemed to be returning, one would have said that he had scarcely a breath of life within him It was sometime before he could distinguish tiio objects that surrounded him. '• Am I blind ?" thought he, while a vague fe-l- ing of tear was depicted on his features, " or id it dark night ?' He tried to raise his hand to pass it over his eyes, but it remained paralyzed by his side. " The dose was too strong," thought ho again. lie however, made no attempt to call for uia. borne more minutes passed, when his sight began by degrees to improve, and he felt that his limLs were slowly returning to life. All at once he perceived the rubicund face of the monk resting on his i.iUow. Mahmoud wa j no longer thinking of his own condition— the thought of his task had returned to him ; he uddu an effort to sit.jp and place his face near to th.iL of the good monk. In this position he examined him long and at- tentively, he knit his brows, shook his head and murmured — '' I Bhal • able to make nothing of him, for he has no jiasslons." Scarcely had Lis intelligence returned than ho tound himself possessed of its full strength— he was able, at one glance, to discover the eoulof the monk through its thick covering, and became to the conclusion that his mind was weaker than his body, and he allowed him to vesetate in his apathetic sleep. Mahmoud turned on his pillow anJ closed Iiis eyes—the exertion that lie hail made had ex- hausted him. Great drops of peidplraf ion broke out upon his forehead, andlie quickly fell asleeu, ovcrwheiraed with fatigue. The good monk, on tiie contrary, wako up having been disturbed by some confused noists in his drean great sign o( " Lord Jei His tremb which had si His teeth ( seemed to hi time, howev( noise of voici The door o made his apf "This is till said the prio you have ear The monk continued hi- " Go I' rep •' Have i," mitted any s been overconi my orisons ; a that the decei " The dece; prior and the At tho sam wrist and felt "Go I my I " and sin no i The monk 1 liis departure. " Is he deat anxiety, timid " His pulse " but thera is They were i of tho monk's corridors. Prior Ansel woman and le " Yes 1 my > if resuming a king appeared Church, and \ who was absen Tho king bore "May God woman in a "The co-uic continued the seen that tho d( will have juatii will be queen Ingeburge r beautiful face \ " Queen of rather the wife ])lace oa the t Phillip Augusti The prior Bmi of that love, wb weaken. "Remember, licitedthefavot It is eight days have neglected when, on «iiiei'i patient had kno admission, in tli " In the nam burge. •rrf ofbeautitude »n, which, up tely soldered, imperceptible recognize the l-cl-I{pu— tlio im Av-u WL-ak —the dose of aly produced rendered him d that might , would haver i had opened )ey of Saiut- had lasted at his senses ive said that 3iu him. It tinguish ih& I vague feel- •63, "or is it I it over his id side. htlio again, call for aid. sight began at his limbs cimd face vt ihmoud wai> idition— the m ; ho undo near to tb.a ong and at- is head and of him, for ned than he rength— he theeoulof ind he came 'eaker than etate in his closed his le had ex- jtion broke fell asleei). in hi3 dream, stood upon his legs and made a great sign of the cross, muttering to himself— "Lord Jesus ! hath not the dead man moved 7" His trembling hand vainly sought his rosary which had slipped upon the floor. His teeth chattered and the shades of evenine seemed to him full of phautoms. Ho had not time, however, to die of fright, for he heard the uowe of voices and steps in the adjoining gallery. 1 be door of the cell opened, and prior Anselm made his appearance with a veiled woman "This is fatigueenough for to-day, my brother," said the prior. " Go and seek the repose that you have earned." The monk, instead of obeying, immediately continued his s-arch for his rosuiy. " Go ! ' repeated thu prior. •' Have J," htuinmered the poor monk, " com- mitted any sin of idleness, my father? I have been overcome in spit« of myself in the midst of iiiy orisons ; and it appeared to me, on my wakine. that the deceased had moved.' ;' The deceased !" exclaimed, in one voice, the prior and the veiled woman. At the same time the prior seized Mahmoud's wrist and felt his pulse. " Go I my brother," said he for the third time, " ana sin no more." The monk having found his rosary, now took his departure. " Is he dead 7" asked the veiled woman, with anxiety, timidly approaching tho ooi'ch. " His pulse beats feebly," replied the old man, " but thera is still life." ' They were alone— they could hear the sounds of the monk's steps dying away in the distant corridors. Prior Anselm took the hand of the veiled woman and led her to the only seat in the cell " Yes I my well-beloved daughter," said he as if resuming an interrupted conversation, "the king appeared in answer to tho citation of our Church, ond I assisted for our lord the abbot who was absent at the first sitting of the council' Tho king bore himself like a Christian." "May God be with him," said the veiled woman in a ice trembling with emotion. "The CO iicil have as yet decided nothing," continued the old man; "but it is easy to be seen that the decision will be in your favour. You will have justice done you, my dear child ; you will be queen of France." Ingeburge raised her veil, showing that her beautiful face was bathed in tears. "Queen of France," murmured she, "say rather the wife of tho king ; I do not desire a l)lace on the throne, but to be by the side of Phillip Augustus." The prior smiled while contemplating tho depth of that love, which no outrage could kill, or even weaken. " Remember, my daughter, that you have so- licited the favor of attending on our poor patients. It is eight days since I promised my consent, I have neglected ray promise till this evening, when, on euioring ihe couvunt, I learnt that 'a patient had knocked at our doors and demanded admission, in the name of tho king." "In the name of the king I" repeated Inge- barge, " THE TWO WIVES OF THE KING. C7 "And I said to myself," continued the prior, "this shall be the first oatient confided to the care of the queen." CHAPTER ir, Mahmoud's cell was now plunged into complete obscurity. The eye, accustomed to darkness, could only just distinguish a white from kneelinir on a pric-dieu. " * A weak sigh came from the bed of the patient, and before queen Ingeburge had time to leave her pniyiug position, Mahmoud raised his voice aud said — "Am T alone?" IIo thought he was dreaming, when, instead of the voice of the old monk, he heard the sweet- est and most melodious voice he had ever heard in lus wliolo life. He thought he was dreaming when that charming voice, out of the darkness, replied to him — ' ^ " You are not alone, my brother. There is some one watching over you, and praying for yoxi. Mahmoud felt aS though some beneficent emotion was suddenly warming his breast. "If I was a thousand leagues from here'' thought he, " in tho blooming aud odorous torosts, where roses spring up from the dry beds of the torrent, I should say that I had heard the voice ol Dilah ! " He rose this lime without effort; for his sleep had driven away the fever. His eyes made vain efforts to pierce the dark- ness which separated him from that ancelic voice. " " Where are you ? " asked he. There was no reply, but he could hear the noise of the flint striking against the steel, one or two sparks only were emitted, for it was evid- ently a novice with unpractised hands, who was trying to strike a light. "Give it me," said Mahmoud, "my breast burns. 1 am thirsty— and I think I should be relieved if I could see a little light." What he desired was to see his unknown com- panion; for he was among those who cannot distract themselves long from thcir ooject, and he had told Amaury that morning, that if there were men about the queen he would ask a day but if only a woman, he would ask but an hour' Mussulmen know the traditiou of our mother Eve— of the apple and the serpent— and they are still more severe iu their judgments on women than wo arc. Mahmoud held out hig hand in the dark, a liglit step glided over the floor of the cell, and a small soft hand touched tho fingers of the Syrian. Mahmoud wished to press the small hand between his own, but it quickly escaped him, and he retained only the flint aud steel. Some minutes fli'fpr thn lamn nrna 1;M,<...1 . „_4 Mi- ll L tV ^ ■■ — """ ' "InE- moud beheld a woman clothed in white, her face hidden by a veil, but showing a young and graceful figure. Through her veil Ingeburge could perceive that the supposed dead man, bad suddenly be- .::fi ■rt* ^ 68 THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. comp a galvanized corpso, and was fixing upon licT his black eye?, wliicb sparkled like diamonds. She was frightened, and yet something at first attracted her towards that strange man, so diferent from those she had seen each day since iier arrival in France, and also from those she remembered to have seen in her dear country in the North. She took a phial from the table and poured its contents into a cup which stood near the patient's pillow. lie refused the drink with an air of impatience. "Water," said he, '-some pure cold water." " This is a remedy," said the queen. Mahmoud continued to regard her with ardent eyes ; the returning fever giving them additional brightness. '• How loiig is it," said Mahmoud "since the Christian maidens have adopted the custom of eastern slaves, in hiding their faces ?" •'Drink, my brother," said I ngeburge, instead of replying to his question. Mahmoud put forth his hand, but it fell again by his side. •' In our arid deserts "—murmured he—" I have seen the wounded lion crawling on the sand, leaving the track of liis blood along his path— until he reached a fountain of pure cold water ; and ever as he crawled, his panting sides, his (irooi)ing mane and his hoarse groanings denoted his near approach to death. But as soon as the l)ure cold water touched his lips, he rose— shook his mane— lashed his sides— and roared like a conqueror. Maiden, I am of the desert, like the lion. The remedies of Europe are not made for me ; give me some pure cold water." Ingeburge listened to liim, overcome by a bizarre interest that she could not define. She threw the cordial out of the cup and filled it with pure water. Mahmoud, like the wounded lion, seemed to recover himself all at once ; he raised his ener- getic head, and a proud light seemed to illumine Lis dark eye. "Thank you, young girl," said he, in a voice which made Ingeburge tremble as though she Lad heard the voice of another man. He gave her back the empty cup, and shifted the lamp in such a manner that the light should not fall too directly on his features. He was about to enter upon a contest and was trying to secure every advantage. " Thou art kind, and succored roe, young girl —the all-powerful always rewards mercy and goodness. For a glass of water, the sacred poets tell U9 that the Prophet gave the rich dates of Aroen to Sidda, wife of Moses. I am Jean Cador, the image-cutter, to whom even princes speak with respect. The high priests of Paris will pay for my stone statue by its weight in gold. If thou wilt accept it, young girl, I will share with theo the price of my stAtue." Ingeburge made no reply— not that she wag offended by the words of the sick man— but be- cause that name, Jean Cador, awakened in her a vague fear that she could not explain. She had a confused recollection that lh.» t name. had been pronounced by her sister, Eve.Yn "the long tale she had related to her, and iu which so many different names soccurrcd. The memory of Ingeburge wandered ovcrthr. details of Eve's story, but she eouldcall tomiu.i no particular incident connected with the nami- of Jean Cador. "Hast thou no desire to be rich?" asked Mahmoud, whose eyes were endeavouring i , pierce the queen's veil. ** The queen was but a woman after all— and had a woman's curiosity j adventures wliich becin bke a romance always take the daughters of Eve on their weak side : the queen was curious to know more, and replied—" Oh ! yes mv brother, I should indeed like to be very rich" Mahmoud thought to himself he had asked too much, when he asked messire Amaury for one hour. •' " Riches," resumed he, softening his voice n< much as he could, "arc like the brilliant var- nish that painters spread upon their canvass \» heighten the effect of their colors. Riches Kiv,. the decoration, which embellishes even beaufy ' ■ " With riches, my brotlier, one may heal wounds and soften the sufferings of the sick ■ Mahmoud was about to continue liis illuslri- tioiis of the theme he had chosen—but he stoo- ped suddenly— and there seemed lo bo some shade of respect in his hesitation. Respect for the simple and pure young girl— who had sanctified, by one word, the expression ot her simple desires. Still Mahmoud had as yet no suspicion of the success of his attack. Poor human nature is sotnetimes carried away by good as well ns by bad sentiments— it is only a question of knowin" how to put on the bait and Low to present U apropos. " There are so many suffering around us, are there not my daughter ?" continued the Syrian shifting his battery, " misery is so cruel in thi.s great Paris. God he praised, tny gifts would not be bestowed on vain and foolish prodigalities Instead of decorating thy beautiful brow with jewels and pearls— thou wouldst decorate thy soul with good deeds." The queen's mind was still seeking to discover what it was that her sister Eve bad told her about Jean Cador — who seemed so good and was yet so ignorant of all Christian thing.i ; at the same lime she listened to Lim attentively, to see if sho could catch a word to assist her memory. " Didst thou think, then, my brother," asked she with eimplioity, " to find in this holy place women delivered over to worldly vanities ?" They had laid Mahmoud already dressed upon the bed — finding that the conversatioc ,»-as not tending toward his desired object, and that the young maiden's replies thwarted his diplomacy too easily — he felt ihat it wa» necessary, without further delay, to produce more efficacious argu- ments—he therefore drew from the breast of Lis surcoat a long silk purse marvellously embroid- ered, and full of gold. In spite of the pious words of his young nurse lie expected to sur- prise her into some expression of coveting this mtjfnificient purge — but Ingeburge was too deep i" i«?r Orrij reSeeiioiis, mid the purao seemed to make no impression upon her. Mahmoud thouglit he had gained one point, for he beleived that liis pretty companion was dissimulating— and in it THE TWO WIVES OF THE KINO. V I? holy place les ?" ssed upon ■ ..-as uot (1 that the liploinacy 5-, without ous argu- ast of hjj embroiii- the pious d to sur- Bting thin too deep sccmci! ia =^ d thought Wm d that hU ^B and ia it 1 game of thi3 kind he who expects to cheat has lost beforehand. " [ have heard say," said he, proceeding with more confidence " that the firsi wife of Phillip Augustus is confined in this convent; Imvu they not deceived mo, my j-oung girl ? ' '•They have not deceived thcf, my brother," replied Ingeburge, reiioubling her attention, " Perhaps you know her?" " I do know her." " And perhaps you lovo iier?" " I love her," 'said Ingeburg, trembling and hesitating. The queen's voice trembled, because h( r me- mory had suddenly given to the name of Jean Cador a terrible signineation, and she felt herself threatened with some fearful danger. She recoiled as though the purse with which the Syrian was playing had been a iioisoued poignard. " You have another name ?' she stammered suddenly. " Yes," replied Jean Cador, without exhibiting any emotion. The queen's knees bent under her. " Oh Lord, my God !" she inwardly prayed, " if this is to bo my last hour have pity on mo and receive my smful soul into your mercy I" for she had at once recalled the name of .Mahmoud-el-Reis, who had come to France to kill the queen. In her confusion she had attributed to .Ma')- moud the design of Amaury. But, alas ! it was not the thought of death whicli most cruelly tor- lured her. Uy o strange chance Mahmoud at this moment said to her — " I will give thee this \mr30, young girl— and thi.^ purse contains a fortune— if thou wilt assis. rac to speak to the queen." Hot tears fdled the eyes of the poor young wife, and the dreadful jiain which wrung her heart might be traced in these few words. " And you were admitted here in the name of the king." She knew well that she was an obstacle, and she concluded that the king had at last deter- mined to put that obstacle out of his way. At th.3 moment of supreme distress, all that Evo had told her seemed now unravelled. This man was the executioner sent by the king, charged to ac- complish a mysterious execution, which no one should be able to reveal. She was the more confirratd in this idea be- causo she adored the king; and the sufferings that she endured from not being loved again disposed her to see in everything new proofs of his hatred. We beheve that which we fear much moi-e readily than that which wo hope. Mahmoud had no idea of what was passing in th- m-nl of his nurse, prevented as he was from reading her impressions on her features, he could therefore only judge at random ; and as almost .always happens to the sportsman, iu such cases he missed his mark. "Yea," replied ho, expecting to advance his business at one stroke, " I am here by the king's orders. " And was it the king who gave you that purse ?■' '' " It was the king." ca The voice of Angol died aw.iy upon her lips. She, however, managed to get out—'- To tempi some one to betray the qiieen into your hands''' She waited for that reply as for her final sen- tence. Joan Cador replied '■ You have guessed it.' The queen utlcrod a foeble cry and fell like one dead. Mahmoud-ol-Ucis was kneeling over (he queen contemplating her, as though plunged into 11 sort ot ccstsy. 111. raised her veil. The light of the amp struck full on tlm uuble features Of [ixre- burgc, whose marvellous beauty liad the wl: uess of death. An exclamation of astonishinout bum fi„m the lips of the Syrian, he passed his hands over his eyes as thougii to assure himself that he was not under the influence of an ecstatic dream. Uilah! murmured iie, in that melodious and tender voice iu wliicli he always pronounced that idolized name. ^' Dilali ! it is her dear aii.l fiupple figure! the divine sweetness of her fea- tures— the same pride on her brow— tlic sadness of her lips. Dilah— such as the pale sun of these climes would have made her— with the the azure of the sky in her eyes, and the tints of cold in her hair I" " He bent slowly and )laced a respectful kiss upon the icy forehead of the queen "Dilah! that kiss to thee," said the Syrian, " I will love this woman, for she is thy soul's sister !" "^ CHAPTER VIII. Under the narrow window, which gave light and nir to the cell, where .Mahmoud-el-Reis was alone with the queen of France, the immense garden of the abbey began to come out of the darkness— the rays ofiiia moon pierced through the leaflessbranchcsof the trees, vaguely design- ing the contours of massivfe and fabulous mens- ters on the iiarterres. The garden was deserted and silent. But beyond the garden, thougli one could not say where, thure was doubtless a great emotion ; for the weak echoes of confused and distant clamours penetrated even into the cell. Sometimes the noise was extinguished, as though the breeze of the night had wafted them away on its course — sometimes they suddenly swelled like the murmuring on tho shore, or like that other murmur raised by agitated crowds of men. Mahmoud-cl-Reis paid no attention to it— tho queen remained in her swoon. Mahmoud, with body bent, and hands joined, kept his eyes fixed iu contemplation of her. At tho first movement of the queen, and before she had completely resumed her senses, the Syrian uttered u cry of joy, and a ray of enthu- siastic pleasure illumiuated his face. He had placed his pillow under the queen's head, and he now placed his arm under the pillow and genljy ialsed it. The queen opened her eyes, and cast around her that stupefied look always given by people returni f to animation after' a fit of fainting. 70 THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. " I have been droamingr," said she, in a weak, audslow voice ; " where art thou, then, my sisf • Eve?" ' '■ Her voice also," murmured the Syrian, -ss ' oje eyelids were wet with tears. That man, with a heart harder then ada- mant, could weep at the sole remembrance of a woman. Ingbiirge, trembling, looked at him, and put her hands over her cye.s with a gesture of pro- found horror. "Oh I" said she, "it is the assassin. My God! then I have not been dreaming!" Mahmoud continued on his knees. " Since tliou lovest Uio queen so mucli," yoiuig girl, said he, slill softening the musical mid touchmg accents of his voice, " the queen shall be protected. Do not tremble thus— a sight of thee alone has made me thy slav.—ncither blush, young girl, for the sentiment I fee! for thee is not that of love." Ingeburge's fears were not diminished. The Syrian smiled. "VVhat fcarcst thou from n.r " resumed the Syrian, " hast thou not been lying there iu my hands and defenceless " There are some arguments whicli strike us so just and forcible, that the mind, ever so alarmed, perceives them, and submits at once ij their in- .'^uenoe. " It is true," thought the qiieen. And besides the voice of the stranger wr-' so ! chaugeM, and had an accent of such respeci''ul am; ttaternai tenderness I The queen was but a girl, :!!;(( perhai.i the most unsophisticated of all young guls. fci..^ demanded nothing but to be- lieve and to be re, ssurcd. '^What, then, ha,; the queen done to you" she stammered, timi^ ;'.■■', and half raising her eyes towards the Syn,;-, "that thou should'st have charged thyself i^iih executing the cruel orders of the king ?" "I have dcc«ived thee, yo:.i.n- g^," replied Mahmoud, without hesitation; • ..nd now that I have geen thy faee I would rather die myself than deceive thee again. It was not by the orders of the king that I desired to kill the queen." Ingeburge crossed her hands upon her bosom aiid raised her beautiful eyes towards heaven, full ot tears ; from the boUom of her soul she thanked Ood for the greatest joy she had ever experienced in uer life. Was it a sovereign balm that Mahmoud had now applied to the wound he had so recently given her I •' Ingeburge almost smiled, and she had suffi- cieut courage to look at Mahmoud, and it now appeared to her that the proud and wiUl -jhysi- ognomy of the Syrian was completely 'trans- tormed_ He was kind, submissive, tender, and hi» look ^yas as timid as that of an infant. Thank thee," said Ingeburge; " thou know- my bm£." *"'""'■'' ""*' ''""* ^"^^^ «''«'' «"«. "Thy brother!" repeated the Syrian, who had never ,,11 ,h,„ understood the signification ol that title of Christian charity "Hut then," said Ingeburg,-', "if it. was not by orders of the ki ig, why shouldst thou have wislieU to assassinad' the queen?' " That would be a lung story to tell thee young gill," replied the Syrian, in a melancholj! tone, and doubtless I could not succeed in making thee comprehend i,, for we have neither tUo same manners nor the same religion " ; What!" exelaimc 1 Ingeburge, " art thou then not a Christian?" Mahmoud folded his arms upon his bre.ist Ihere is but oue God," said he solemnlv, and Mahomet is hi , prophet !" ' In spite of her weul.ness, Ingeburge ro:,o and withdrew to the fur hest cxtremitv of the cell o put herself as far a i possible frJm tliat man taat ber creed taught her was under the direct luHuence of unholy laws. " I know that thou wo a r^t regard me with horror," resumed the Sniau, whose voic l).'earae sad and plaintive; "but I have already sold hce that since thy face is that of my bel.j.e 1 f ilali, I caiino; deceive thee fi;:y more.' These last ., ids were an enigma to the queen. fehc had nevei before heard the uaiue of Dilali " . yet the rq.otition of tlial nuniu now strucic i r :w thi.l of toaie forgotten fnend. • I^ i!iv.e;H.y truth i i he Asiatic creed, and nas vadi -m some i.;r..,..(f sister, who leul I'aeh OU;C."N JOjS rtlMi IMlillS?" Mitih „rd eontiiincd in a grave voice—" Dost thou 10 x iiiy one. voung maiden ?' " 1 I'o," replied she. '■ ^Vith ardour — with passion?" " With ardour," replied Ingeburge, whoso hir-^c blue eyes sparkled. " I love with passion 1' " " To dying for him thou hast chosen?' " To dying a thousand deaths ! ' exclaimed the queen. "He is a happy man," thought .Mahmoud. The queen bent her head, as though humiliated with the thought, that tl e man to whom she was so devoted gave her nothing in return but mdiHerence and disdain. Mahmoud continued— "I sought to kill the queen, because a man said to me, ' 1 will give thee the life of the king for the life of the queen.' " Ingeburge pressed her hands to her brow as it a sudden light had broken in upon her mind— the whole truth of Eve's narrative appeared revealed to her. " Pool that I was !" cried she, " and unfortu- nate ! I that have suspected the noble heart of Philip Augustus, when it wa^ Philip Augus- tus himself that they wished to kill." She stopped as though to recall the name of that other assassin mentioned in Eve's tale. " Amaury Montruel," began Mahmoud. " That is it— that is it," interrupted Ingeburge. ' That is the name of the man who wished to kill me!" The Syrian recoiled in his turn. "To kill theel" murmured he, while his dark brows in- voluntarily knitted. " No I it was the queen of Franco that Amaury Montruel desired me to kill." " I am the :■.■-■■•- of France!" said she. For a mom, lahmoud remained mute. A Ditter strife was raging in his bosom— the inqila- cable fanaticism of his sect was struggling m IJ'st tliou bnve • to tell tbco, I a mclanclioly lot succeod ill u have iieitlicr ligion." "uit thoutlieu liis breast, lie solemnly, urge rojo and ty of tl.(3 cell oiri that mail tier i,b« direct ;ard n-r wit:i vole: l)':eaiue iiheady iolil 't' my bel.;.vl lore.'' . to the queen. ime of liilali, now striiclc 1. c creed, and vlio feel eacli oice— ." Doit , whose largo lassiou !'' liSeii?' ' exclaimed ahraoud. h humiliated whom olio 1 retura but to kill the ' I will give lifu of the her brow as her miud — e appeared nd unfortu- blo heart of lip Augus- t :he name of 's tale, loud. lugeburge. I wi:ihcd to "To kill brows iti- le queen of red me to 3he. route. A •the impla- striiggling THE TWO WIVES OP THE KING. against the chivalrous seutiments engendered in the poetry of his nation. " The queen I" he repeated, with his long eye- lashes drooping over his dark and wild eye. " Tho <(i;icM,", repeated lugeburge; "and I I'.'ui rcpeui, tu ;heo thi words of that coward wh., propose.' ■i.'s rin^-.iinary steii to thee— F',' ch-; blood it the 'lu.vn thou shall have the bwjnd of the king.' ,l!:,i ) ^ay to thee...." Her tear burst forth, at. ' (or a moment her voice lailJd her, tS-jn fai' r,-. on her knee.-?, with ■-;iiHle<( hand; and bfy.c.cbing accents, she con- tmuea ; '• but I say to um; take the lifu of the i';f;on, but let the king li^e.'' And her bauds convulsively tore open the dehcato lineu which coveied her bo.suni, as though to give the poignatd an easier access. " . hou lovest o.iy too well," said .Mahnioud, bhakujg hi:, hea-i: "for ^hou art not beloved Tgain." " I a:ke(; thco for ilcath," said the agonized Ingtbui'ge, anl tkoi. .'iu.,t given me torture I' " There also cxisis one who loves mo,' re- sume i Mahmoud, who seemed to bo recovering his native pride ; " and she who loves me, waits me ; and in order that that long and cruel delay may have an end for both of us, it is necessary that I return to the feet of my master with the blood of King Philip Augustus on the point of this dagger. Saying this, ho snatched the crystal dagger from his breast, and brandished the glitterin" weapon over his head. ° lugeburge shrunk within herself. " That is my reason for having wished to kill the queen," said Mahmoud. A moment of silence ensued, during which nothing could be heard but the stilled sobs of ingebiirgo, and also that strange clamour, the distant and confused echos of which we mea- lioned before. It increased — it drew nearer. For the first time, Mahmoud-el-Rois seemed to notice it. For a moment ho listened, then gav,: a look of impatience, as though he would say "What is it to me!" Perhaps it siguified more to him than he thought for. JHAPTER IV. The queen remained silent— crushed under the weight of her great grief— for this man inspired her with a suspicious fear; she assigned no limits to his power, and her delirium pictured to her the pale corpse of Philip Augustus, with the crystal poignard in his heart, and stretched out in some apartment of that unknown palace