ga~~M
I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I 
AND WITH HIS SLOW, STIFF ARM WROTE THUS.




THE
CHAPLET OF PEARLS;
OR,
THE WHITE AND BLACK RIBAUMONT.
BY THE AUTHOR OF
"THE HEIR OF RED CLYFFE."
WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
90, 92 & 94 GRAND STREET.
1869.








CONTENTS.
CHAPTER                    PAGE  CHAPTER                    PAGE
I.-The Bridal of the White and  XXII.-Departure..    158
Black.... 5     XXIII.-The Empty Cradle..  163
II.-The Separation..  8   XXIV.-The Good Priest of Nissard.  169
m.-The Family Council.. 14  XXV.-The Velvet Coach... 176
IV.-Tithonus...   20    XXVI.-The Chevalier's Expiation.  184
V.-The Convent Bird..33   XXVII.-The Dying King... 190
VI.-Foully Cozened..  38  XXVIII.-The Orphans of La Sablerie  198
VII.-The Queen's Pastoral.. 46  XXIX.-In the King's Name. 204
VIII.-" Le Brouillon"..  56  XXX.-Caged in the Blackbird's Nest  212
IX.-The Wedding with Crimson Fa-  XXXI.-The Dark Pool of the Future. 219
vors..         62   XXXII.-" Jam Satis."...  233
X.-Monsieur's Ballet..  69  XXXIII.-The Scandal of the Synod of
XI.-The King's Tragedy.. 75       Montauban... 239
XII.-The Palace of Slaughter.  80  XXXIV.-Madame la Duchesse.. 246
XIII.-The Bridegroom's Arrival. 91  XXXV.-The Italian Pedlar.. 254
XIV.-Sweet Heart...   97  XXXVI.-Spell and Potion.. 261
XV.-Notre-Dame de Bellaise.. 110XXXVII.-Beating against the Bars. 266
XVI.-The Hearths and Thickets of the  XXXVIII.-The Enemy in Presence.  274
Bocage...   118  XXXIX.-The Pedlar's Prediction.. 280
XVII.-The Ghosts of the Templars. 126  XL.-The Sands of Olonne..  287
XVIII.-The Moonbeam...  133    XLI.-Our Lady of Hope. 2.94
XIX.-La Rue des Trois Fees..142  XLII.-The Silver Bullet.. 300
XX.-The Abb...   146   XLIII.-Le Baiser d'Eustacie.. 312
XXI.-Under the Walnut-Tree..151  XLIV.-The Gallimafr.. 321








THE
CHAPLET OF PEARLS;
OR,
THE WHITE AND BLACK RIBA UMONT.
cap of the same color bore a long white
CHAPTER I.                plume, and was encircled by a row of
pearls of priceless value. They are no
THE BRIDAL OF THE WHITE AND BLACK.    other than that garland of pearls which,
"Small was the ring, and small in truth the finger; after a night of personal combat before
What then? the faith was large that dropped it the walls of Calais, Edward III. of Engdown. —"
Iwn."fnt B   (AUBY DE V.   land took from his helmet and presented
Infant Bridal (AuBREY DE VERE).
to Sir Eustache de Ribaumont, a knight
SETTING aside the consideration of the of Picardy, bidding him say everywhere
risk, the baby-weddings of the Middle that it was a gift from the King of EngAges must have been very pretty sights.  land to the bravest of knights.
So the Court of France thought the     The precious heirlooms were scarcely
bridal of Henri B6ranger Eustache de Ri- held with the respect due to an ornament
baumont and of Marie Eustacie Rosalie so acquired. The manly garb for the first
de Ribaumont du Nid-de-Merle, when, time assumed by his sturdy legs, and the
amid the festivals that accompanied the possession of the little sword, were evisignature of the treaty of Cateau Cam- dently the most interesting parts of the
bresis, good-natured King Henri II. pre- affair to the youthful husband, who
sided merrily at the union of the little seemed to find in them his only solace for
pair, whose united ages did not reach ten  the weary length of the ceremony. He
years.                                 was a fine, handsome little fellow, fair and
There they stood under the portal of rosy, with bright blue eyes, and hair like
Notre Dame, the little bridegroom in a shining flax, unusually tall and strongwhite velvet coat, with puffed sleeves, limbed for his age; and as he gave his
slashed with scarlet satin, as were the hand to his little bride, and walked with
short also puffed breeches meeting his her under a canopy up to kneel at the
long white knitted silk stockings some High Altar, for the marriage blessing and
way above the knee; large scarlet rosettes the mass, they looked like a full-grown
were in his white shoes, a scarlet knot couple seen through a diminishing-glass.
adorned his little sword, and his velvet  The little bride was perhaps a less




6                       THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
beautiful child, but she had a splendid Picardy-and had thus been brought into
pair of black eyes, and a sweet little the English camp, where, regarding Henry
mouth, both set into the unconprehend- V. as lawfully appointed to the succession,
ing solemnity of baby gravity and con- and much admiring him and his brother
tentment in fine clothes. In accordance Bedford, he had become an ardent supwith the vow indicated by her name of porter of the English claim. He had
Marie, her dress was white and blue, tur- married an English lady, and had requoise forget-me-nots bound the little lace ceived the grant of the castle of Leurre
veil on her dark chestnut hair, the bosom  in Normandy by way of compensation for
of her white satin dress was sprinkled his ancestral one of Ribaumont in Picardy,
with the same azure jewel, and turquoises which had been declared to be forfeited
bordered every seam of the sweeping by his treason, and seized by his brother.
skirt with a train befitting a Count's  This brother had always been an Ardaughter, and meandered in gorgeous magnac, and had risen and thriven with
constellations round the hem. The little his party-before the final peace between
thing lisped her own vows forth without France and England obliged the elder line
much notion of their sense, and indeed to submit to Charles VII.  Since that
was sometimes prompted by her brides- time there had been a perpetual contenmaid cousin, a pretty little girl a year tion as to the restitution of Chateau Riolder, who thrust in her assistance so glibly baumont, a strife which under Louis XI.
that the King, as well as others of the had become an endless lawsuit; and in
spectators, laughed, and observed that she the days of duelling had occasioned a
would get herself married to the boy in- good many insults and private encounters.
stead of her cousin.                 The younger branch or black Ribaumonts
There was, however, to be no doubt had received a grant from Louis XI. of the
nor mistake about B6ranger and Eustacie lands of Nid-de-Merle, belonging to an
de Ribaunont being man and wife. Ev- unfortunate Angevin noble, who had fallery ceremony, religious or domestic, that en under the royal displeasure, and they
could render a marriage valid, was gone had enjoyed court favor up to the present
through with real earnestness, although  generation, when Henri II., either from
with infinite gaiety on the part of the opposition to his father, instinct for honcourt. Much depended on their union, esty, or both, had become a warm friend
and the reconcilement of the two branch- to the gay and brilliant young Baron de
es of the family had long been a favorite Ribaumont, head of the white or elder
scheme of King Henri II.             branch of the family.
Both alike were descended from An-   The family contention seemed likely to
selm de Ribaumont, renowned in the first wear out of its own accord, for the Count
Crusade, and from the brave Picard who de Ribaumont was an elderly and childhad received the pearls; but, in the mis- less man, and his brother, the Chevalier
erable anarchy of Charles VI.'s reign, the de Ribaumont, was, according to the usual
elder brother had been on the Burgundian lot of French juniors, a'bachelor, so that
side-like most of the other nobles of it was expected that the whole inherit



THE BRIDAL OF THE WHITE AND BLACK.                      7
ance would centre upon the elder family. bride, conducting her through its mazes
However, to the general surprise, the with fatherly kindliness and condescenChevalier late in life married, and became sion; but Queen Catherine, who was
the father of a son and daughter; but strongly in the interest of the Angevin
soon after calculations were still more branch, and had always detested the Baron
thrown out by the birth of a little daugh- as her husband's intimate, excused herself
ter in the old age of the Count.     from dancing with the bridegroom. He
Almost from the hour in which her sex therefore fell to the share of the Dauwas announced, the King had promised phiness Queen of Scots, a lovely, brightthe Baron de Ribaumont that she should eyed, laughing girl, who so completely
be the wife of his young son, and that all fascinated the little fellow, that he conthe possessions of the house should be vulsed the court by observing that he
settled upon the little couple, engaging to should not have objected to be married to
provide for the Chevalier's disappointed some one like her, instead of a little baby
heir in some commandery of a religious like Eustacie.
order of knighthood.                    Amid all the mirth, it was not only
The Baron's wife was English.  He the Chevalier and the Queen who bore
had, when on a visit to his English kin- displeased looks. In truth, both were too
dred, entirely turned the head of the great adepts in court life to let their dislovely Annora Walwyn, and finding that satisfaction appear. The gloomiest face
her father, one of the gravest of Tudor was that of him whose triumph it wasstatesmen, would not hear of her break- the bridegroom's father, the Baron de Riing her engagement to the honest Dorset baumont. He had suffered severely from
squire Marmaduke Thistlewood, he had the sickness that prevailed in St. Quentin,
carried her off by a stolen marriage and when in the last August the Admiral de
coup de main, which, as her beauty, rank, Coligny had been besieged there by the
and inheritance were all considerable, had Spaniards, and all agreed that he had
won him great reputation at the gay court never been the same man since, either in
of Henri II.                         health or in demeanor. When he came
Infants as the boy and girl were, the back from his captivity and found the
King had hurried on their marriage to se- King bent on crowning his return by the
cure its taking place in the lifetime of the marriage of the children, he had hung
Count. The Countess had died soon after back, spoken of scruples about such unthe birth of the little girl, and if the ar- conscious vows, and had finally only conrangement were to take effect at all, it sented under stress of the personal friendmust be before she should fall under the ship of the King, and on condition that
guardianship of her uncle, the Chevalier. he and his wife should at once have the
Therefore the King had caused her to be sole custody of the little bride. Even then
brought up from the cottage in Anjou, he moved about the gay scene with so diswhere she had been nursed, and in person tressed and morose an air that he was evisuperintended the brilliant wedding. He dently either under the influence of a scruhimself led off the dance with the tiny pie of conscience or of a foreboding of evil.




8                       THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
No one doubted that it had been the tained with piled velvet, stood on a sort
latter, when, three days later, Henri II., of dais at the further end; there was a
in the prime of his strength and height toilet-table adorned with curiously-shaped
of his spirits, encountered young Des boxes, and colored Venetian glasses, and
Lorges in the lists, received the splinter filagree pouncet-boxes, and with a small
of a lance in his eye, and died two days mirror whose frame was inlaid with gold
afterward.                             and ivory. A large coffer, likewise inlaid,
No sooner were his obsequies over stood against the wall, and near it a cabthan the Baron de Ribaumont set off with inet, of Dutch workmanship, a combinahis wife and the little bridal pair for his tion of ebony, ivory, wood, and lookingcastle of Leurre, in Normandy, nor was glass, the centre retreating, and so arhe ever seen at court again.          ranged that by the help of most ingenious
attention to perspective and reflection, it
appeared like the entrance to a magnifiCHAPTER II.                cent miniature cinque-cento palace, with
steps up to a vestibule paved in black and
THE   SEPARATION.              white lozenges, and with three endless
" Parted without the least regret,  corridors diverging from it. So much for
Except that they had ever met.  show; for use this palace was a bewil* * * *
Misses, the tale.that I relate,  dering complication of secret drawers and
This lesson seems to carry:   pigeon-holes, all depending indeed upon
Choose not alone a proper mate,
But proper time to marry I "-  one tiny gold key; but unless the use of
COWPER (Pairing-time anticipated)..
that key were well understood, all it led
"I WILL have it! "                  to was certain outer receptacles of fra"Thou shalt not have it! "grant Spanish gloves, knots of ribbon, and
"Diane says it is mine."            kerchiefs strewn over with rose-leaves
"Diane knows nothing about it."     and lavender.  However, Eustacie had
"Gentlemen always yield to ladies."  secured the key, and was now far beyond
"Wives ought to mind their hus- these mere superficial matters. Her youthbands."                               ful lord had just discovered her mounted
"Then I will not be thy wife."      on a chair, her small person decked out
" Thou canst not help it."          with a profusion of necklaces, jewels,
" I will. I will tell my father what bracelets, chains, and rings; and her finM. le Baron reads and sings, and then I gers, as well as they could under their
know he will."                        stiffening load, were opening the very
" And welcome."                     penetralia of the cabinet, the inner chamEustacie put out her lip, and began to  ber of the hall, where lay a case adorned
cry.                                   with the Ribaumont arms, and containing
The "husband and wife," now eight the far-famed chaplet of pearls. It was
and seven years old, were in a large room  almost beyond her reach, but she had
hung with tapestry, representing the his- risen on tiptoe, and was stretching out
tory of Tobit.  A great state-bed, cur- her hand for it, when he, springing be



THE SEPARATION.                              9
hind her on the chair, availed himself of Baron, while Madame returned to her
his superior height and strength to shut embroidery, lamenting the absence of that
the door of this arcanum and turn the dear little Diane, whose late visit at the
key.  His mortifying permission to his chateau had been marked by such unuwife to absent herself arose from pure love sual tranquillity between the children.
of teasing, but the next moment lie add-  Beranger, in his dark closet, comforted
ed, still holding his hand on the key-  himself with the shrewd suspicion that
" As to telling what my father reads, that his father was so employed as not to be
would be treason.  How shouldst thou  expected at home till supper-time, and
know what it is?"                    that his mother's wrath was by no means
" Dost thou think every one is an in- likely to be so enduring as to lead her to
fant but thyself?"                    make complaints of the prisoners; and
" But who told thee that to talk of my  when he heard a trampling of horses in
father's books would get him into trou- the court, he anticipated a speedy release
ble?" continued the boy, as they still and summons to show himself to the
stood together on the high heavy wooden visitors. He waited long, however, bechair.                                fore he heard the pattering of little feet;
She tossed her pretty head, and pre- then a stool scraped along the floor, the
tended to pout.                       button of his door was undone, the stool
" Was it Diane? I will know. Didst pushed back, and as he emerged, Eustacie
thou tell Diane?"                    stood before him with her finger to her
Instead of answering, now that his at- lip. " Chut, Beranger! It is my father
tention to the key was relaxed, Eustacie and uncle, and Narcisse, and oh, so many
made a sudden dart, like a little wild cat, gens d'armes. They are come to summon
at the back of the chair and at the key. M. le Baron to go with them to disperse
The chair overbalanced; B6ranger caught the preche by the Bac de l'Oie. And, oh,
at the front drawer of the cabinet, which, Beranger, is he not there? "
unlocked by Eustacie, came out in his    " I do not know. He went out with
hand, and chair, children, drawer, and cu- his hawk, and I do not think he could
riosities all went rolling over together on have gone anywhere else. Did they say
the floor, with a hubbub that brought all so to my mother?"
the household together, exclaiming and   "Yes; but she never knows.    And
scolding. Madame de Ribaumont's dis- oh, Beranger, Narcisse told me-ah, was
pleasure at the rifling of her hoards knew  it to tease me?-that Diane has told them
no bounds; Eustacie, by way of defence, all they wanted to know, for that they
shrieked " like twenty demons;" B- sent her here on purpose to see if we were
ranger, too honorable to accuse her, un- not all Huguenots."
derwent the same tempest; and at last    "Very likely, the little viper! Letme
both were soundly rapped over the knuc- pass, Eustacie. I must go and tell my
kles with the long handle of Madamre's father."
fan, and consigned to two separate closets,  "Thou canst not get out that way;
to be dealt with on the return of M. le the court is full of men-at-arms. Hark,




10                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
there's Narcisse calling me. He will come  Follet was evidently attentive to this
after me."                           peroration, turning round his ear in a
There was not a moment to lose. B- sensible attitude, and advancing his nose
ranger flew along a corridor, and down a to the apples. As Beranger held them
narrow winding stair, and across the out to him, the other boy clutched his
kitchen; then snatching at the arm of a shaggy forelock so effectually that the
boy of his own age whom he met at the start back did not shake him  off, and
door, he gasped out, " Come and help me the next moment Beranger was on his
catch Follet, Landry! " and still running back.
across an orchard, he pulled down a cou- " And I, Monsieur, what shall I do?"
pie of apples from the trees, and bounded  "Thou, Landry! 1 know. Speed like
into a paddock where a small rough Bre- a hare, lock the avenue gate, and hide the
ton pony was feeding among the little key. That will delay them a long time.
tawny Norman cows. The animal knew   Off now, Follet."
his little master, and trotted toward him  Beranger and Follet understood one
at his call of "Follet, Follet. Now be a another far too well to care about such
wise Follet, and play me no tricks. Thou  trifles as saddle and bridle, and off they
and I, Follet, shall do good service, if went through green grassy baulks dividthou wilt be steady."                ing the fields, or across the stubble, till,
Follet made his advances, but with a about three miles from the castle, they
coquettish eye and look, as if ready to came to a narrow valley, dipping so sudstart away at any moment.            denly between the hills that it could
"Soh, Follet. I have no bread for hardly have been suspected by one unathee, only two apples; but, Follet, listen. ware of its locality, and the sides were
There's my beau-pere the Count, and the dotted with copse-wood, which entirely
Chevalier, all spite, and their whole troop  hid the bottom.  B6ranger guided his
of savage gens d'armes, come out to fall pony to a winding path that led down the
upon the poor Huguenots, who are doing steep side of the valley, already hearing
no harm at all, only listening to a long the cadence of a loud, chanting voice,
dull sermon. And I am much afraid my throwing out its sounds over the assemfather is there, for he went out with his bly, whence arose assenting hums over an
hawk on his wrist, and he never does take undercurrent of sobs, as though the expoor Ysonde for any real sport, as thou citable French assembly was strongly afand I would do, Follet. He says it is all fected.
vanity of vanities. But thou know'st, if  The thicket was so close that B6ranger
they caught him at the prelche they would  was almost among the congregation becall it heresy and treason, and all sorts of fore he could see more than a passing
horrors, and any way they would fall like glimpse of a sea of heads. Stout, ruddy,
demons on the poor Huguenots, Jacques Norman peasants, and high white-capped
and all-thine own Jacques, Follet. Come, women, mingled with a few soberly-clad
be a loyal pony, Follet. Be at least as townsfolk, almost all with the grave,
good as Eustacie."                   steadfast cast of countenance imparted by




THE SEPARATION.                            11
unresisted persecution, stood  gathered Heaven hath been the means of saving
round the green mound that served as a many lives this day."
natural pulpit for a Calvinist minister,  Maitre Isaac Gardon, a noted preacher,
who wore the dress of a burgher, but en- looked kindly at the boy's fair face, and
tirely black. To Beranger's despair, he said, "Bless thee, young sir.  As thou
was in the act of inviting his hearers to hast been already a chosen instrument to
join with him in singing one of Marot's save life, so mayst thou be ever after a
psalms; and the boy, eager to lose not a champion of the truth."
moment, grasped the skirt of the outer-  "Monsieur le Baron," interposed Jacmost of the crowd. The man, an ab- ques, "it were best to look to yourself. I
sorbed-looking stranger, merely said, already hear sounds upon the wind."
"Importune me not, child."              "And you, good     sir?" said the
"Listen!" said Beranger; "it im- Baron.
ports —--                               "I will see to him," said the farmer,
"Peace," was the stern answer; but a grasping him as a sort of property. "M.
Norman farmer looked round at that mo- le Baron had best keep up the beck.
ment, and Beranger exclaimed, "Stop the Out on the moor there he may fly the
singing! The gens d'armes! " The psalm  hawk, and that will best divert suspibroke off; the whisper circulated; the cion."
words, " from Leurre," were next con-' Farewell, then," said the Baron,
veyed from lip to lip, and, as it were in a wringing the minister's hand, and adding,
moment, the dense human mass had bro- almost to himself, " Alas! I am weary of
ken up and vanished, stealing through the these shifts! " and weary indeed he
numerous paths in the brushwood, or seemed, for as the ground became so steep
along the brook, as it descended through  that the beck danced noisily down its
tall sedges and bulrushes.  The valley channel, he could not keep up the needful
was soon as lonely as it had been popu- speed, but paused, gasping for breath,
lous; the pulpit remained a mere mossy with his hand on his side. Beranger was
bank, more suggestive of fairy dances off his pony in an instant, assuring Follet
than of Calvinist sermons, and no one re- that it ought to be proud to be ridden by
mained on the scene save B6ranger with his father, and exhaling his own exultant
his pony, Jacques the groom, a stout feelings in caresses to the animal as it galfarmer, the preacher, and a tallthin figure lantly breasted the hill. The little boy
in the plainest dark cloth dress that could had never been so commended before!
be worn by a gentleman, a hawk on his He loved his father exceedingly; but the
wrist.                                Baron, while ever just toward him, was
"Thou here, my boy! " he exclaimed, grave and strict to a degree that the ideas
as Beranger came to his side; and as the even of the sixteenth century regarded as
little fellow replied in a few brief words, severe. Little Eustacie, with her lovely
he took him by the hand, and said to the face, her irrepressible saucy grace and
minister, " Good Master Isaac, let me pre- audacious coaxing, was the only creature
sent my young son to you, who under to whom he ever showed much indul



12                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
gence and tenderness, and even that Baron. "That child was sent amongst us
seemed almost against his will and con- as a spy. Tell me, Beranger, had she any
science. His son was always under rule, knowledge of our intended journey to
often blamed, and scarcely ever praised; England? "
but it was a hardy vigorous nature, and  "To England! But no, father, I did
respectful love throve under the system  not even know it was intended. To Engthat would have crushed or alienated a land-to that Walwyn which my mother
different disposition. It was not till the takes such pains to make us speak rightly.
party had emerged from the wood upon a Are we, then, going? "
stubble-field, where a covey of partridges'Listen, my son. Thou hast to-day
flew up, and to Beranger's rapturous de- proved thyself worthy of trust, and thou
light furnished a victim for Ysonde, that shalt hear. My son,.ere yet I knew the
M. de Ribaumont dismounted from the truth I was a reckless, disobedient youth,
pony, and walking toward home, called and I bore thy mother from her parents
his son to his side, and asked him how he in England without their consent. Since,
had learned the intentions of the Count by Heaven's grace, I have come to a betand the Chevalier. B6ranger explained ter mind, we have asked and obtained
how Eustacie had come to warn him, and their forgiveness, and it has long been
also told what she had said of Diane de their desire to see again their daughter and
Ribaumnont, who,had lately, by her fa- her son. Moreover, since the accession
ther's request, spent a few weeks at the of the present Queen, it has been a land
chateau with her cousins.            where the light is free to shine forth; and
" My son," said the Baron, "it is hard though I verily believe what Maitre Garto ask of babes caution and secrecy; but don says, that persecution is a blessed
I must know from thee what thy cousin means of grace, yet it is grievous to exmay have heard of our doings?"      pose one's dearest thereto when they are
"I cannot tell, father," replied B6- in no state to count the cost. Therefore
ranger; "we played more than we talked. would I thither convey you all, and there
Yet, Monsieur, you will not be angry with amid thy mother's family would we openEustacie if I tell you what she said to me ly abjure the errors in which we have
to-day?"                             been nurtured. I have already sent to
"Assuredly not, my son."           Paris to obtain from the Queen-mother
"She said that her father would take the necessary permission to take my famher away if he knew what M. le Baron ily to visit thy grandfather, and it must
read, and what he sung."             now be our endeavor to start immediately
"Thou hast done well to tell me, my on the receipt of the reply, before the
son. Thinkest thou that this comes from  Chevalier's information can lead to any
Diane, or from one of the servants?"  hindrance or detention of Eustacie."
" Oh, from Diane, my father; none of  "Then Eustacie will go with us, Monthe servants would dare to say such a sieur?"
thing."                                 "Certainly. Nothing is more impor"It is as I suspected, then," said the taut than that her faith should be the same




THE SEPARATION.                            13
as yours! But discretion, my son: not a let him do so in my absence? He had
word to the little one."              made over her wardship to me, and has no
"And Landry, father? I had rather right to resume it! "
Landry went than Eustacie. And Follet,  "Well, perhaps I might have insisted
dear father, pray take him."          on his waiting till your return; but, you
After M. de Ribaumont's grave confi- see, the children have never done any
dence to his son and heir, he was a little thing but quarrel and fight, and always by
scandalized at the comparative value that Eustacie's fault; and if ever they are to
the boy's voice indicated for wife, foster- endure each other, it must be by being
brother, and pony, and therefore received  separated now."
it in perfect silence, which silence con-  "Madame3" said the Baron, gravely,
tinued until they reached the chateau, "you have done your utmost to ruin your
where the lady met them at the door with  son's chances of happiness."
a burst of exclamations.                That same evening arrived the King's
"Ah, there you are, safe, my dear passport permitting the Baron de RibauBaron. I have been in despair. Here mont and his family to pay a visit to his
were the Count and his brother come to  wife's friends in England. The next morncall on you to join them in dispersing a ing the Baron was summoned to speak to
meeting of those poor Huguenots, and  one of his farmers, a Huguenot, who had
they would not permit me to send out to  come to inform  him that, through the
call you in! I verily think they suspected network of intelligence kept up by the
that you were aware of it."           members of the persecuted faith, it had
M. de Ribaumont made no answer, but become known that the Chevalier de Risat wearily down and asked for his little baumont had set off for court that night,
Eustacie.                             and there was little doubt that his inter"Little vixen! " exclaimed the Baron- ference would lead to an immediate revoess, " she is gone; her father took her cation of the sanction to the journey, if to
away with him." And as her husband no severer measures. At best, the Baron
looked extremely displeased, she added knew that if his own absence were perthat Eustacie had been meddling with her mitted, it would be only on condition of
jewel cabinet, and had been put in pen- leaving his son in the custody of either
itence. Her first impulse on seeing her the Queen-mother or the Count. It had
father had been to cling to him and pour become impossible to reclaim Eustacie.
out her complaints, whereupon he had Her father would at once have pleaded
declared that he should take her away that she was being bred up in Huguenot
with him at once, and had in effect caused errors. All that could be done was to
her pony to be saddled, and he had ridden  hasten the departure ere the royal manaway with her to his old tower, leaving date could arrive. A little Norman sailhis brother, the Chevalier, to conduct the ing-vessel was moored two evenings after
attack on the Huguenot conventicle.  in a lonely creek on the coast, and into it
" He had no power or right to remove stepped M. de Ribaumont, with his Bible,
her," said the Baron. "How could you Marot's Psalter, and Calvin's works, Be



14                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ranger still tenderly kissing a lock of Fol- of the chimney-piece on either side of the
let's mane, and Madame mourning for the glowing wood fire.
pearls, which her husband deemed too     In the seat of honor was an old gentlesacred an heirloom to carry away to a man, white-haired, and feeble of limb, but
foreign land. Poor little Eustacie, with  with noble features and a keen, acute eye.
her cousin Diane, was in the convent of This was Sir William, Baron of Hurst
Bellaise in Anjou. If any one lamented  Walwyn, a valiant knight at Guingate and
her absence, it was her father-in-law.  Boulogne, a statesman of whom Wolsey
had been jealous, and a ripe scholar who
-o'~~ had shared the friendship of More and
Erasmus. The lady who sat opposite to
OHAPTER ITI.
CHAPTER III.        him was several years younger, still upTIE FAMILY COUNCIL.           right, brisk, and active, though her hair
He counsels a divorce."     was milk-white; but her eyes were of unSHARSPEABE (Jfing Henry VIII.). dimmed azure, and her complexion still
IN the spring of the year 1572, a family retained a beauteous pink and white. She
council was assembled in Hurst Walwyn  was highly educated, and had been the
Hall. The scene was a wainscoted oriel friend of Margaret Roper and her sisters,
chamber, closed off by a screen from the often sharing their walks in the bright
great hall, and fitted on two sides by  Chelsea garden. Indeed, the musk-rose
presses of books, surmounted the one by a in her own favorite nook at Hurst Walwyn
terrestrial, the other by a celestial globe, was cherished as the gift of Sir Thomas
the first " with the addition of the Indies " himself.
in very eccentric geography, the second  Near her sat her sister, Cecily St. John,
with enormous stars studding highly gro- a professed nun at Romsey till her twentytesque figures regarded with great awe by eighth year, when, in the dispersion of
most beholders.                        convents, her sister's home had received
A solid oaken table stood in the midst, her. There had she continued, never exladen with books and papers, and in a posed to tests of opinion, but pursuing
corner, near the open hearth, a carved her quiet course according to her Benedesk, bearing on one slope the largest dictine rule, faithfully keeping her vows,
copy of the " Bishops' Bible," on the and following the guidance of the chapother, one of King Edward's Second lain, a college friend of Bishop Ridley,
Prayer-book. The ornaments of the oak- and rejoicing in the use of the vernacular
en mantelpiece culminated in a shield prayers and Scriptures.  When Queen
bearing a cross boutonnee, i. e., with tre- Mary had sent for her to consider of the
foil terminations. It was supported be- revival of convents, her views had been
tween a merman with a whelk-shell and a found to have so far diverged from those
mermaid with a comb, and another like of the Queen that Lord Walwyn was
siren curled her tail on the top of the thankful to have her safe at home again;
gaping baronial helmet above the shield, and yet she fancied herself firm to old
while two more upheld the main weight Romsey doctrine. She was not learned,




THE FAMILY COUNCIL.                          15
like Lady Walwyn, but her knowledge in  and as soon as a suitable interval had
all needlework and confections was con- passed, she became a far happier wife than
summate, so that half the ladies in Dorset she had been in either the Baron's gay or
and Wilts longed to send their daughters grave days. Her son had continued under
to be educated at Hurst Walwyn. Her the roof of his grandfather, to whose
small figure and soft cheeks had the gen- charge his father had specially committed
tie contour of a dove's form, nor had she him, and thus had been scarcely separated
lost the conventual serenity of expression; from his mother, since Combe Manor was
indeed it was curious that, let Lady Wal- not above three miles across the downs
wyn array her as she would, whatever she from Hurst Walwyn, and there was alwore bore a nun-like air. Her silken  most daily intercourse between the famifarthingales hung like serge robes, her lies. Lucy Thistlewood had been brought
ruffs looked like mufflers, her coifs like to Hurst Walwyn to be something behoods, even necklaces seemed rosaries, tween a maid of honor and a pupil to the
and her scrupulous neatness enhanced the ladies there, and her brother Philip, so
pure unearthly air of all belonging to soon as he was old enough, daily rode
her.                                 thither to share with Beranger the inEager and lively, fair and handsome, structions of the chaplain, Mr. Adderley,
sat the Baronne de Ribaumont, or rather, who on the present occasion formed one
since the higher title had been laid aside, of the conclave, sitting a little apart as
Dame Annora Thistlewood. The health not quite familiar, though highly esof M. de Ribaumont had been shattered teemed.
at St. Quentin, and an inclement night of  With an elbow on the table, and one
crossing the Channel had brought on an hand toying with his long riding-whip,
attack on the lungs, from which he only sat, booted and spurred, the jovial figure
rallied enough to amaze his English friends of Sir Marmaduke, who called out, in his
at finding the gay dissipated young French- hearty voice, " A good riddance of an outman they remembered, infinitely more landish Papist, say I! Read the letter,
strict and rigid than themselves. He was Berenger lad. No, no, no! English it!
never able to leave the house again after I know nothing of your mincing French!
his first arrival at Hurst Walwyn, and'Tis the worst fault I know in you, boy, to
sank under the cold winds of the next be half a Frenchman, and have a French
spring, rejoicing to leave his wife and son, name "-a fault that good Sir Marmaduke
not indeed among such strict Puritans as did his best to remedy by always terming
he preferred, but at least where the pure his step-son Berenger or Berry Ribmount,
faith could be openly avowed without and we will so far follow his example as.
danger.                              henceforth to give the youth the English,
Sir Marmaduke Thistlewood, the hus- form of his Christian name. He was by
band to whom Annora Walwyn had been this time a tall lad of eighteen, with,
destined before M. de Ribaumont had straight features, honest deep-blue eyes,
crossed her path, was about the same time very fair hair cut short and brushed up to
left a widower with one son and daughter, a crest upon the middle of his head, a




16                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
complexion of red and white that all the " and it is well that it should be the lady
air of the downs and the sea failed to em- herself that wants first to be off with it,
brown, and that peculiar openness and so that none can say he has played her a
candor of expression which seems so scurvy trick."
much an English birthright, that the only  " What say you, Berenger? " said Lord
trace of his French origin was, that he Walwyn.  "Listen to me, fair nephew.
betrayed no unbecoming awkwardness in  You know that all my remnant of hope is
the somewhat embarrassing position in fixed upon you, and that I have looked to
which he was placed, literally standing, setting you in the room of a son of my
according to the respectful discipline of own; and I think that under our good
the time, as the subject of discussion be- Queen you will find it easier to lead a
fore the circle of his elders. His color quiet God-fearing life than in your fawas, indeed, deepened, but his attitude ther's vexed country, where the Reformed
was easy and graceful, and he used no religion lies under persecution. Nathestiff rigidity nor restless movements to less, being a born liegeman of the King of
mask his anxiety. At Sir Marmaduke's France, and heir to estates in his kingdesire, he could not but redden a good dom, meseemeth that before you are come
deal more, but with a clear, unhesitating to years of discretion it were well that
voice, he translated the letter that he had you should visit them, and become better
received from the Chevalier de Ribau- able to judge for yourself how to deal in
mont, who, by the Count's death, had be- this matter when you shall have attained
come Eustacie's guardian. It was a re- full age, and may be able to dispose of
quest in the name of Eustacie and her them by sale, thus freeing yourself from
deceased father, that Monsieur le Baron  allegiance to a foreign prince. And at the
de Ribaumont, who, it was understood, same time you can take measures, in conhad embraced the English heresy, would cert with this young lady, for loosing the
concur with his spouse in demanding from  wedlock so unhappily contracted."
his Holiness the Pope, a decree annulling  " 0, sir, sir! " cried Lady Thistlewood,
the childish marriage, which could easily  "send him not to France, to be burnt by
be declared void, both on account of the the Papists! "
consanguinity of the parties and the    " Peace, daughter," returned her mothdiscrepancy of their faith; and which  er. I"Know you not that there is friendwould leave each of them free to marry  ship between the court party and the
again.                                Huguenots, and that the peace is to be
"Nothing can be better," exclaimed  sealed by the marriage of the King's sister
his mother. " How I have longed to free with the King of Navarre? This is the
him from that little shrew whose tricks most suitable time at which he could go."
were the plague of my life! Now there   "Then, madam," proceeded the lady,
is nothing between him and a worthy   "he will be running about to all the
match!"                               preachings on every bleak moor and wet
"We can make an Englishman of him  morass he can find, catching his death with
to the back-bone," added Sir Marmaduke, rheums, like his poor father."




THE FAMILY COUNCIL.                          17
There was a general smile, and Sir was possible to dissolve the tie of wedMarmaduke laughed outright.          lock."
"Nay, dame," he said, "have you      "The Pope's decree will suffice," said
marked such a greed of sermons in our Lord Walwyn.
Berry that you should fear his so untow- " Yet, sir," still said the ex-nun, " meardly running after them?"          thought you had shown me that the Holy
" Tilly-vally, Sir Duke," quoth Dame Father exceeded his power in the annulAnnora, with a flirt of her fan, learned at ling of vows."
the French court. " Men will run after a " Using mine own lessons against me,
preacher in a marshy bog out of pure fro- sweet sister?" said Lord Walwyn, smiling;
wardness, when they will nod at a godly " yet, remember, the contract was rashly
homily on a well-stuffed bench between made between two ignorant babes; and,
four walls."                         bred up as they have severally been, it
" I shall commit that matter to Mr. were surely, best for them to be set free
Adderley, who is good enough to accom- from vows made without their true will
pany him," said Lord Walwyn, " and by  or knowledge."
whose counsel I trust that he will steer the  "And yet," said Cecily, perplexed,
middle course between the Pope and    "when I saw my niece here wedded to
Calvin."                              Sir Marmaduke, was it not with the words,
Mr. Adderley bowed in answer, saying'What God hath joined let no man put
he hoped that lie should be enabled to asunder?'
keep his pupil's mind clear between the  "Good lack! aunt," cried Lady Thisallurements of Popery and the errors of tlewood, " you would not have that poor
the Refornmed; but meanwhile Lady This- lad wedded to a pert, saucy, ill-tempered
tlewood's mind had taken a leap, and she little moppet, bred up at that den of inexclaimed:                           iquity, Queen Catherine's court, where my
" And, son, whatever you do, bring poor Baron never trusted me after he fell
home the chaplet of pearls! I know they in with the religion, and had heard of
have set their minds upon it. They wanted King Antony's calling me the Swan of
me to deck Eustacie with it on that un- England."
lucky bridal-day, but I would not hear of  At that moment there was a loud
trusting her with it, and now will it rarely shriek, half-laugh, half- fright, coming
become our Lucy on your real wedding- through the window, and Lady Thistleday."                                wood, starting up, exclaimed, " The child
"You travel swiftly, daughter," said will be drowned! Box their ears, BeLord Walwyn. " Nor have we yet heard  renger, and bring them in directly."
the thoughts of one who ever thinks     Berenger, at her bidding, hurried out
wisely.-Sister," he added, turning to Ce- of the room into the hall, and thencecily St. John, "hold not you with us in  down a flight of steps leading into a
this matter?"                       square walled garden, with a couple of
I scarce comprehend it, my lord," was stone male and female marine divinities
the gentle reply. "I knew not that it accommodating their fishy extremities as2




18                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
best they might on the corners of the wall. clung to him without much alarm, and
The square contained a bowling-green of retaliated by an endeavor to box his ears,
exquisitely-kept turf, that looked as if cut while Philip, slowly making his way back
out of green velvet, and was edged on its to the mainland, exclaimed, " Ah, there's
four sides by a raised broad-paved walk, no chance now!  Here comes demure
with a trimming of flower-beds, where Mistress Lucy, and she is the worst marthe earliest blossoms were showing them- sport of all."
selves. In the centre of each side an-   A gentle girl of seventeen was drawother paved path intersected the green  ing near, her fair delicately-tinted cornlawn, and the meeting of these two di- plexion suiting well with her pale golden
ameters was at a circular stone basin, pre- hair. It was a sweet face, and was well
sided over by another merman, blowing a set off by the sky-blue of the farthingale,
conch on the top of a pile of rocks. On  which, with her white lace coif and white
the gravelled margin stood two distressed  ruff, gave her something the air of a
little damsels of seven and six years old, speedwell flower, more especially as her
remonstrating with all their might against expression seemed to have caught much
the proceedings of a roguish-looking boy  of Cecily's air of self-restrained contentof fourteen or fifteen, who had perched  ment. She held a basketful of the orange
their junior-a fat, fair, kitten-like ele- pistils of crocuses, and at once seeing that
ment of mischief, aged about five-en   some riot had taken place, she said to the
croupe on the merman, and was about, ac- eldest little girl, " Ah, Nan, you had been
cording to her delighted request, to make safer gathering saffron with me."
her a bower of water, by extracting the  " Nay, brother Berry came and made
plug and setting the fountain to play; but all well," said Annora; "and he had
as the fountain had been still all the been shut up so long in the library that
winter, the plug was hard of extraction, he must have been very glad to get out."
especially to a young gentleman who stood  "And what came of it?" cried Philip.
insecurely, with his feet wide apart upon  " Are you to go and get yourself unmarpointed and slippery points of rock-work; ried? "
and Berenger had time to hurry up, ex-   "Unmarried!" burst out the sisters
claiming, " Giddy pate! Dolly would be Annora and Elizabeth.
drenched to the skin."                   "What," laughed Philip, "you knew
"And she has on her best blue, made not that this is an ancient husband, marout of mother's French farthingale," cried ried years before your father and moththe discreet Annora.                  er?"
"Do you know, Dolly, I've orders to   "But, why?" said Elizabeth, rather
box your ears, and send you in? " added inclined to cry. "What has poor Lucy
Berenger, as he lifted his little half-sister done that you should get yourself unfrom her perilous position, speaking, as married from her?"
he did so, without a shade of foreign ac-  There was a laugh from both brothers;
cent, though with much more rapid utter- but Berenger, seeing Lucy's blushes, reance than was usual in England. She strained himself, and said, "'Mine was




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THE FAMILY COUNCIL.                          19
not such good luck, Bess, but they gave  " Not a word to wish me good speed,
me a little French wife, younger than  Lucy, now I have my wish?" said BerDolly, and saucier still; and as she seems engcr.
to wish to be quit of me, why, I shall be  " Oh yes," said Lucy, " I am glad you
rid of her."                         should see all those brave French gentle"See there, Dolly," said Philip, in a men of whom you used to tell me."
warning voice, "that is the way you'll be  "Yes, they will be all at court, and
served if you do not mend your ways."  the good Admiral is said to be in high
"But I thought," said Annora, grave- favor. He will surely remember my
ly, "that people were married once for father."
all, and it could not be undone."       "And shall you see the lady?" asked
"So said Aunt Cecily, but my Lord Lucy, under her breath.
was proving to her out of all law that a  "Eustacie? Probably; but that will
contract between such a couple of babes make no change. I have heard too much
went for nought," said Berenger.      of l'escadron de la Reine Mere to endure
"And shall you, indeed, see Paris, and the thought of a wife from thence, were
all the braveries there?" asked Philip. she the Queen of Beauty herself. And
"I thought my Lord would never have my mother says that Eustacie would lose
trusted you out of his sight."       all her beauty as she grew up-like black"And now it is to be only with Mr. eyed Sue on the down; nor did I ever
Adderley," said Berenger; "but there think her brown skin and fierce black
will be rare doings to be seen at this eyes to compare with you, Lucy. I could
royal wedding, and maybe I shall break a be well content never to see her more;
lance there in your honor, Lucy."     but," and here he lowered his voice to a
" And you'll bring me a French fan?" tone of confidence, "'my father, when
cried Bess.                          near his death, called me, and told me
"And me a pouncet-box?" added An- that he feared my marriage would be a
nora.                                cause of trouble and temptation to me,
"And me a French puppet, dressed and that I must deal with it after my
Paris fashion?" said Dolly.         conscience when I was able to judge in
"And what shall he bring Lucy?" the matter. Something, too, he said of
added Bess.                          the treaty of marriage being a burthen
"I know," said Annora; "the pearls on his soul, but I know not what he
that mother is always talking about! I meant. If ever I saw Eustacie again, I
heard her say that Lucy should wear was to give her his own copy of Clement
them on her wedding-day."            Marot's Psalter, and to tell her that he
" Iush! " interposed Lucy, " don't you had ever loved and prayed for her as
see my father yonder on the step, beckon- a daughter; and, moreover, my father
ing to you?"                         added," said Berenger, much moved at
The children flew toward Sir Marma- the remembrance it brought across him,
duke, leaving Berenger and Lucy to- "that if this matter proved a burthen and
gether.                              perplexity to me, I was to pardon him as




20                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
one who repented of it as a thing done ere months had possibilities been discussed
he had learned to weigh the whole world  among the elders of the family, which,
against a soul."                       oozing out in some mysterious manner,
"Yes, you must see her," said Lucy.  had become felt rather than known
"Well, what more were you going to  among the young people, yet without alsay, Lucy."                           tering the habitual terms that existed be" I was only thinking," said Lucy, as tween them. Both were so young that
she raised her eyes to him, "how sorry love was the merest, vaguest dream to
she will be that she let them write that them; and Lucy, in her quiet faith that
letter."                               Berenger was the most beautiful, excelBerenger laughed, pleased with the lent, and accomplished cavalier the earth
simplicity of Lucy's admiration, but with  could afford, was little troubled about her
modesty and common-sense enough to     own future share in him. She seemed to
answer, " No fear of that, Lucy, for an  be promoted to belong to him just as she
heiress, with all the court gallants of had grown up to curl her hair and wear
France at her feet."                  ruffs and farthingales. And to Berenger
"Ah, but you!"                      Lucy was a very pleasant feature in that
"I am all very well here, where you English home, where he had been far haphave never seen anybody but lubberly   pier than in the uncertainties of Chateau
Dorset squires that never went to Lon- Leurre, between his haughty playfellow,
don nor Oxford, nor beyond their own his capricious mother, and morose father.
furrows," said Berenger; "but depend If in England his lot was to be cast, Lucy
upon it, she has been bred up to care for was acquiesced in willingly as a portion
all the airs and graces that are all the of that lot.
fashion at Paris now, and will be as glad
to be rid of an honest man and a Protestant as I shall to be quit of a court puppet      CHAPTER IV.
and a Papist. Shall you have finished
my point-cuffs next week, Lucy? De-                  TITHONUTS.
pend upon it, no gentleman of them all  "A youth came riding toward a palace gate,
will wr sh dainy le of s   a  And from the palace came a child of sin
+will wear such dainty lace of such a fancgy  And took him by the curls and led him in I
as those will be."                       Where sat a company with heated eyes."iA Vision of Sin (TENNYSON).
And Lucy smiled, well pleased. 
Coming from  the companionship of     IT was in the month of June that
Eustacie to that of gentle Lucy had Berenger de Ribaumont first came in
been to Berenger a change from perpetu- sight of Paris. His grandfather had himal warfare to perfect supremacy, and his self begun by taking him to London and
preference to his little sister, as he had presenting him to Queen Elizabeth, from
been taught to call her from the first, whom the lad's good mien procured him
had been loudly expressed. Brother and  a most favorable reception. She willingsister they had ever since considered  ly promised that on which Lord Walthemselves, and only within the last few  wyn's heart was set, namely, that his




TITHONUS.                               21
title and rank should be continued to his of what he considered as darkness; but
grandson; and an ample store of letters as he had never openly broken with the
of recommendation to Sir Francis Wal- Gallic Church, Berenger had gone at once
singham, the Ambassador, and all others from mass at Leurre to the Combe Walwho could be of service in the French  wyn service. Therefore, when he spent
court, were to do their utmost to provide  a Sunday at Rouen, and attended a Calhim with a favorable reception there.  vinist service in the building that the
Then, with Mr. Adderley, and four or Huguenots were permitted outside the
five servants, he had crossed the Channel, town, he was much disappointed in it;
and had gone first to Chateau Leurre, he thought its very fervor familiar and
where he was rapturously welcomed by   irreverent, and felt himself much more at
the old steward, Osbert. The old man home in the cathedral into which he
had trained up his son Landry, Berenger's strayed in the afternoon. And, on the
foster-brother, to become his valet, and  Sunday he was at Leurre, he went, as a
had him taught all the arts of hair-dress- part of his old home-habits, to mass at
ing and surgery that were part of the the old round-arched church, where he
profession of a gentleman's body-servant; and Eustacie had played each other so
and the youth, a smart, acute young Nor- many teasing tricks at his mother's feet,
man, became a valuable addition to the and had received so many admonitory
suite, the guidance of which, through a nips, and strokes of her fan. All he saw
foreign country, their young master did there was not congenial to him, but he
not find very easy. Mr. Adderley thought liked it vastly better than the Huguenot
he knew   French very well, through    meeting, and was not prepared to underbooks, but the language he spoke was stand or enter into Mr. Adderley's vexanot available, and he soon fell into a state tion; when the tutor assured him that
of bewilderment rather hard on his pupil, the reverend gestures that came naturally
who, though a very good boy, and cram- to him were regarded by the Protestants
med very full of learning, was still noth- as idolatry, and that he would be viewed
ing more than a lad of eighteen in all as a recreant from his faith. All Mr. Admatters of prudence and discretion.    derley hoped was that no one would hear
Lord Walwyn was, as we have seen, of it: and in this he felt himself disapone of those whose Church principles had pointed, when, in the midst of his lecture,
altered very little and very gradually, and  there walked into the room a little, within the utter diversity of practice that pre- ered, brown, dark-eyed man, in a gorvailed in the early years of Queen Eliza- geous dress of green and gold, who, dofbeth, his chaplain as well as the rector fing a hat with an umbrageous plume,
of the parish had altered no more than  precipitated himself, as far as he could
was absolutely enjoined of the old cere- reach, toward Berenger's neck, calling
monial. If the poor Baron de Ribau- him fair cousin and dear baron. The lad
mont had ever been well enough to go to stood, taken by surprise for a moment,
church on a Sunday, he would perhaps thinking that Tithonus must have looked
have thought himself still in the realms just like this, and skipped like this, just




22                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
as he became a grasshopper; then he are as Heaven made us. All lies in the
recollected that this must be the Cheva- management, and if you had the advanlier de Ribaumont, and tried to make up tages of training, perhaps you could even
for his want of cordiality. The old man turn your height into a grace."
had, it appeared, come out of Picardy,  "Am I such a great lubber?" wonwhere he lived on soup maigre in a corner dered Berenger; "they did not think so
of the ancestral castle, while his son and at home. No; nor did the Queen. She
daughter were at court, the one in Mon- said I was a proper stripling! Well, it
sieur's suite, the other in that of the matters the less, as I shall not stay long
Queen-mother. He had come purely to to need their favor; and I'lI show them
meet his dear young cousin, and render there is some use in my inches in the tilthim all the assistance in his power, con- yard. But if they think me such a lout,
duct him to Paris, and give him intro- what would they say to honest Philip "
ductions.                               The Chevalier seemed willing to take
Berenger, who had begun to find six on him the whole management of his
Englishmen a troublesome charge in    "fair cousin."  He inquired into the
France, was rather relieved at not being amount of the rents and dues which old
the only French scholar of the party, and  Osbert had collected and held ready to
the Chevalier also hinted to him that he meet the young Baron's exigencies; and
spoke with a dreadful Norman accent, which would, it seemed, be all needed to
that would never be tolerated at court, make his dress any way presentable at
even if it were understood, by the way. court. The pearls, too, were inquired for,
Moreover, the Chevalier studied him all and handed over by Osbert to his young
over, and talked of Paris tailors and pos- Lord's keeping, with the significant intiture-masters, and, though the pink of po- mation that they had been inquired for
liteness, made it evident that there was when the young Madame la Baronne
immensely too much of him. "It might went to court; but that he had buried
be the custom in England to be so tall; them in the orchard, and made answer
here no one was of any thing like such a that they were not in the chateau. The
height but the Duke of Guise. He, in contract of marriage, which Berenger
his position, with his air, could carry it could just remember signing, and seeing
off, but we must adapt ourselves as best signed by his father, the King, and the
we can."                             Count, was not forthcoming; and the
And his shrug and look of concern  Chevalier explained that it was in the
made Berenger for a moment almost hands of a notary at Paris. For this Berashamed of that superfluous height of  enger was not sorry.  His grandfather
which they were all so proud at home. had desired him to master the contents,
Then he recollected himself, and asked, and he thought he had thus escaped a
" And why should not I be tall as well very dry and useless study.
as M. de Guise?"                        He did not exactly dislike the old
"We shall see, fair cousin," he an- Chevalier de Ribaumont.  The system
swered, with an odd satirical bow; "we on which he had been brought up had




TITHONUS.                               23
not been indulgent, so that compliments'arms. Berenger felt it only courteous to
and admiration were an agreeable sur- dismount and exchange embraces with his
prise to him; and rebuffs and rebukes cousin, but with a certain sense of repulfiom his elders had been so common, that sion at the cloud of perfume that seemed
hints, in the delicate dressing of the old to surround the younger Chevalier de Riknight, came on him almost like gracious banmont; the ear-rings in his ears; the
civilities.  There was no love lost be- general air of delicate research about his
tween the Chevalier and the chaplain, riding-dress, and the elaborate attention
that was plain; but how could there be paid to a small, dark, sallow face and
between an ancient French courtier and figure, in which the only tolerable feature
a sober English divine?  However, to  was an intensely black and piercing pair
Mr. Adderley's great relief, no attempts of eyes.
were made on Berenger's faith, his kins-  "Cousin, I am enchanted to welcome
man even was disposed to promote his you."
attendance at such Calvinist places of   " Cousin, I thank you."
worship as they passed on the road, and  "Allow me to present you."    And
treated him in all things as a mere guest, Berenger bowed low in succession several
to be patronised indeed, but as much an  times in reply to salutations, as his cousin
alien as if he had been born in England. Narcisse named M. d'O, M. de la Valette,
And yet there was a certain deference M. de Pibrac, M. l'Abbe de Mlericour,
to him  as head of the family, and a who had done him the honor to accomfriendliness of manner that made the boy  pany him in coming out to meet his
feel him a real relation, and all through  father and M. le Baron. Then the two
the journey it came naturally that he cousins remounted, something was said
should be the entire manager, and Be- to the Chevalier of the devoirs of the
renger the   paymaster on a    liberal demoiselles, and they rode on together,
scale.                                bandying news and repartee so fast, that
Thus had the travellers reached the Berenger felt that his ears had become
neighborhood of Paris, when a jingling  too much accustomed to the more deof chains and a trampling of horses an- liberate English speech to enter at once
nounced the advance of riders, and several into what caused so much excitement,
gentlemen, with a troop of servants, came gesture, and wit. The royal marriage
in sight.                             seemed doubtful-the Pope refused his
All were gaily dressed, with feathered sanction; nay, but means would be found
hats, and short Spanish cloaks jauntily  -the King would not be impeded by the
disposed over one shoulder; and their Pope; Spanish influence-nay, the King
horses were trapped with bright silvered  had thrown himself at the head of the;
ornaments. As they advanced, the Cheva- Reformed-he was bewitched with the
tier exclaimed: " Ah! it is my son! I knew  grirm old Coligny-if order were not soon
he would come to meet me." And, simul- taken, the Louvre itself would become a
taneously, father and son leaped from  temple.
their horses, and rushed into each other's  Then one of the party turned suddenly




24                      THE CHAPLET OP PEARLS.
and said, " But I forget, Monsieur is a  been invented, and the party were not at
Huguenot?"                             all surprised to find that the apartment
"I am a Protestant of the English   prepared for them was to serve both day
Church," said Berenger, rather stiffly, in  and night for Berenger, the Chevalier,
the formula of his day.                and Mr. Adderley, besides having a
" Well, you have come at the right mo- truckle-bed on the floor for Osbert. Meals
inent.'Tis all for the sermon now. If  were taken in public, and it was now one
the little Abbe there wishes to sail with a o'clock-just dinner-time; so after a hasty
fair wind, he should throw away his brev- toilet the three gentlemen descended, the
iary and study his Calvin."           rest of the party having ridden off to
Berenger's attention was thus attracted  their quarters, either as attendants of
to the Abbe de Me6ricour, a young man of Monsieur or to their families. It was a
about twenty, whose dress was darker sumptuous meal, at which a great number
than that of the rest, and his hat of a of gentlemen were present, coming in
clerical cut, though in other respects he from rooms hired over shops, etc.-all, as
was equipped with the same point-device it seemed, assembled at Paris for the
elegance.                             marriage festivities; but Berenger began
"Calvin would never give him the rich  to gather that they were for the most
abbey of Selicy," said another; "the part adherents of the Guise party, and far
breviary is the safer speculation."   from friendly to the Huguenot interest.
" Ah, M. de Ribaumont can tell you Some of them appeared hardly to tolerate
that abbeys are no such securities in these Mr. Adderley's presence at the table, and
days. Let yonder Admiral get the upper Berenger, though his kinsman's patronhand, and we shall see M6ricour, the happy  age secured civil treatment, felt much out
cadet of eight brothers and sisters, turned  of his element, confused, unable to take
adrift from their convents. What a fatherly  part in the conversation, and sure that he
spectacle M. le Marquis will present! "  was where those at home did not wish to
Here the Chevalier beckoned to Ber- see him.
cnger, who, riding forward, learned that  No sooner was the dinner over than
Narcisse had engaged lodgings for him and  he rose and expressed his intention of dehis suite at one of the great inns, and Ber- livering his letters of introduction in perenger returned his thanks, and a pro- son to the English ambassador and to the
posal to the Chevalier to become his Admiral de Coligny, whom, as his father's
guest. They were by this time entering  old friend and the hero of his boyhood, he
the city, where the extreme narrowness was most anxious to see. The Chevalier
and dirt of the streets contrasted with  demurred to this. Were it not better to
the grandeur of the palatial courts that take measures at once for making himself
could be partly seen through their arch- presentable, and Narcisse had already supways. At the hostel they rode under plied him with directions to the fashionasuch an arch, and found themselves in a ble haircutter, etc. It would be taken
paved yard that would have been grand  amiss if he went to the Admiral before
had it been clean. Privacy had scarcely  going to present himself to the King.




TITHONUS.                               25
" And I cannot see my cousins till I go most brilliant shop, and the thoroughfares
to court? " asked Berenger.            were crowded with richly-dressed gal-' Most emphatically no. Have I not lants. Even the wider streets gave little
told you that the one is in the suite of the space for the career of the gay horsemen
young Queen, the other in that of the who rode along them, still less for the
Queen-mother?   I will myself present great, cumbrous, though gaily - decked
you, if only you will give me the honor of coaches, in which ladies appeared glitteryour guidance."                       ing with jewels and fan in hand, with
"With all thanks, Monsieur," said tiny white dogs on their knees.
Berenger; "my grandfather's desire was   The persons of whom Berenger inthat I should lose no time in going to his quired the way all uncapped most reold friend Sir Francis Walsingham, and I spectfully, and replied with much courhad best submit myself to his judgment tesy; but when the hotel of the English
as to my appearance at court."         Ambassador had been pointed out to him,
On this point Berenger was resolute, he hardly believed it, so foul and squalid
though the Chevalier recurred to the dan- was the street, where a large nail-studded
ge1 of any proceeding that might be un- door occupied a wide archway.  Here
acceptable at court. Berenger, harassed  was a heavy iron knocker, to which Osand impatient, repeated that lie did not bert applied himself. A little door was
care about the court, and wished merely  at once opened by a large, powerful John
to fulfil his purpose and return, at which  Bull of a porter, whose looks expanded
his kinsman shook his head and shrugged into friendly welcome when he heard the
his shoulders, and muttered to himself, English tongue of the visitor. Inside, the'"Ah, what does he know! He will scene was very unlike that without. The
regret it when too late; but I have done hotel was built round a paved court,
my best."                              adorned with statues and stone vases,
Berenger paid little attention, to this, with yews and cypresses in them, and a
but calling Landry Osbert, and a couple grand flight of steps led up to the grand
of his men, he bade them   take their centre of the house, around which were
swords and bucklers, and escort him in  collected a number of attendants wearing
his walk through Paris. lIe set off with the Walsingham colors.  Among these
a sense of escape, but before he had Berenger left his two Englishmen, well
made many steps, he was obliged to turn  content to have fallen into an English
and warn lHumfrey and Jack that they   colony.. Landry followed him to an antewere not to walk swaggering along the room, while the groom of the chambers
streets, with hand on sword, as if every went forward to announce the visitor,
Frenchman they saw was the natural foe Berenger waiting to know whether the
of their master.                       Ambassador would be at liberty to see
Very tall were the houses, very close him.
and extremely filthy the streets, very   Almost immediately the door was remiserable the beggars; and yet here and opened, and a grey-headed, keen-looking
there was to be seen the open front of a gentleman, rather short in stature, but




26                      THE CHAPLET OF PEAELS.
nevertheless very dignified-looking, came with him - the Chevalier de Ribauforward with outstretched hands-" Greet mont."
you well, my Lord de Ribaumont. We       " What, the young ruffler in Monexpected your coming. Welcome, mine sieur's suite?"
old friend's grandson."                  " No, my Lord; his father. He comes
And as Berenger bent low in reverent on my business. He is an old man, and
greeting, Sir Francis took his hand and can ill bear the cost, and I could scarce
kissed his brow, saying, " Come in, my throw him over."
young friend; we are but sitting over our  Berenger spoke with such  earnest,
wine and comfits after dinner. Have you bright, open simplicity, and look so boydined? "                             is and confiding, that Sir Francis's heart
Berenger explained that he had dined was won, and he smiled as he said,
at the inn where he iad taken lodgings.  "Right, lad, you are a considerate youth.
"Nay, but that must not be.    My It were not well to cast off your kinsman;
Lord Walwyn's grandson here, and not but when you have read your letters, you
my guest! You do me Wrong, sir, in not may well plead your grandfather's desires,
having ridden hither at once."        to say nothing of a hint from her Grace
"Truly, my Lord, I ventured not. to tave an eye to you. And for the rest,
They sent me forth with quite a company you can acquit yourself gracefully to the
-my tutor and six grooms."            gentleman, by asking him to occupy the
"Our chaplain will gladly welcome lodging that you had taken."
his reverend brother," said Sir Francis;  Berenger's face brightened up in a
"and as to the grooms, one of my fellows manner that spoke for his sincerity; and
shall go and bring them and their horses Sir Francis added, " And where be these
up. What! " rather gravely, as Berenger lodgings? "
still hesitated. "I have letters for you  "At the Croix de Lorraine."
here, which methinks will make your      "Iha! your kinsman has taken you
grandfather's wish clear to you."     into a nest of Guisards. But come, let
Berenger saw the Ambassador was dis- me present you to my wife and my other
pleased withl his reluctance, and answered  guests, then will I give you your letters,
quickly, "In sooth, my Lord, I would  and you shall return and make your exesteem myself only too happy to be thus cuses to Monsieur le Chevalier."
honored, but in sooth-  " he repeated    Berenger seemed to himself to be on
himself, and faltered.                familiar ground again as his host thus
" In sooth, you expected more freedom  assumed the direction of him and ushered
than in my grave house," said Walsing- him into a large dining-hall, where the
ham, displeased.                      table had been forsaken in favor of a'Not so, my Lord: it would be all lesser table placed in the ample window,
that I could desire; but I have done round which sat assembled some six or
hastily. A kinsman of mine has come up  eight persons, with fruit, wine, and conto Paris with me, and I have made him  serves before them, a few little dogs at
my guest. I know not how to break     their feet or on theirlaps, and a lute lying




TITHONUS.                               27
onthe knee of one of the young gentlemen. bassy. Thus armed with authority, he
Sir Francis presented the young Lord de returned to the Croix de Lorraine, where
Ribaumont, their expected guest, to Lady  Mr. Adderley could not contain his joy
Walsingham, from whom he received a at the change to quarters not only so
cordial welcome, and her two young much more congenial, but so much safer;
daughters, Frances and Elizabeth, and  and the Chevalier, after some polite delikewise to the gentleman with the lute, mur, consented to remain in possession
a youth about a year older than Berenger, of the rooms, being in fact well satisfied
and of very striking and prepossessing  with the arrangement.
countenance, who was named as Mr. Sid-   "Let him steep himself up to the lips
ney, the son of the Lord Deputy of Ire- among the English," said Tithonus to his
land. A couple of gentlemen who would son. " Thus will he peaceably relinquish
in these times have been termed attaches, to you all that should have been yours
a couple of lady attendants upon Lady  from the first, and at court will only be
Walsingham, and the chaplain made up  looked  on as an overgrown English
the party, which on this day chanced  page."
only to include, besides the household,  The change to the Ambassador's made
the young traveller Sidney.  Berenger Berenger happy at once.   He was not
was at once seated, and accepted a wel- French enough in breeding, or even concoming-cup of wine (i. e., a long slen- stitution, to feel the society of the Croix
der glass with a beautifully-twisted stem), de Lorraine congenial; and, kind as the
responded to friendly inquiries about his Chevalier showed himself, it was with a
relatives at home, and acknowledged the  wonderful sense of relief that Berenger
healths that were drunk in honor of their shook himself free from both his fawning
names; after which Lady Walsingham    and his patronising. There was a conbegged that Mr. Sidney would sing the mad- stant sense of not understanding the old
rigal he had before promised: afterward a gentleman's aims, whereas in Walsingglee was sung by Sidney, one of the gen- ham's house all was as clear, easy, and
tlemen, and the two sisters; and it was open as at home.
discovered that M:. de Ribaumont had a   And though Berenger had been edutrained ear, and the very voice that was cated in the country, it had been in the
wanting to the Italian song they were same tone as that of his new friends. He
practising. And so sped a happy hour, was greatly approved by Sir Francis as a
till a booted and spurred messenger came stripling of parts and modesty. Mr. Sidin with letters for his Excellency, who ney made him a companion, and the two
being thus roused from his dreamy en- young ladies treated him as neither lout
joyment of the music, carried young Ri- nor lubber. Yet he could not be at ease
baumont off with him to his cabinet, and in his state between curiosity and repulthere made over to him a packet with sion toward the wife who was to be disgood news from home, and orders that carded by mutual consent. The sight of
made it clear that he could do no other the scenes of his early childhood had
than accept the hospitality of the Em- stirred up warmer recollections of the




28                     TlE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
pretty little playful torment who through sat alone at his table, as a State spectathe vista of years assumed the air of a cle. HIe was a sallow, unhealthy-looking
tricksy elf rather than the little vixen he youth, with large prominent dark eyes
used to think her.  His curiosity had and a melancholy dreaminess of expresbeen further stimulated by the sight of sion, as if the whole ceremony, not to
his rival, Narcisse, whose effeminate or- say the world itself, were distasteful.
naments, small stature, and seat on horse- Now and then, as though endeavoring to
back filled Sir Marmaduke's pupil with  cast off the mood, he would call to some
inquisitive disdain as to the woman who gentleman and exchange a rough jest,
could prefer anything so unmanly.    generally fortified with a tremendous
Sidney was to be presented at the oath, that startled Berenger's innocent
after-dinner reception at the Louvre the ears. He scarcely tasted what was put
next day, and Sir Francis proposed to on his plate, but drank largely of sherbet,
take young Ribaumont with him. Ber- and seemed to be trying to linger through
enger colored, and spoke of his equip- the space allotted for the ceremony.
ment, and Sidney good-naturedly offered  Silence was observed, but not so abto come and inspect. That young gentle- solute that Walsingham could not point
man was one of the daintiest in apparel out to his young companions the notaof his day; but he was amazed that the bilities present.  The lofty figure of
suit in which Berenger had paid his de- Henri, Duke of Guise, towered high
voir to Queen Elizabeth should have been  above all around him, and his grand feaset aside-it was of pearl-gray velvet, tures, proud lip, and stern eye claimed
slashed with rose-colored satin, and in such natural superiority that Berenger
shape and fashion point-device-unless, for a moment felt a glow on his cheek as
as the Ambassador said good-humoredly, he remembered his challenge of his right
"my young Lord Ribaumont wished to to rival that splendid stature. And yet
be one of Monsieur's clique." Thus ar- Guise was very little older than himself;
rayed, then, and with the chaplet of but he walked, a prince of men, among a
pearls bound round the small cap, with a crowd of gentlemen, attendants on him
heron-plume that sat jauntily on one side rather than on the King. The elegant
of his fair curled head, Berenger took his but indolent-looking Duke de Montmoseat beside the hazel-eyed, brown-haired rency had a much more attractive air,
Sidney, in his white satin and crimson, and seemed to hold a kind of neutral
and with the Ambassador and his attend- ground between Guise on the one hand,
ants were rolled off in the great state- and the Reformed, who mustered at the
coach drawn by eight horses, which had other end of the apartment. Almost by
no sinecure in dragging the ponderous intuition, Berenger knew the fine calm
machine through the unsavory debris of features of the grey-haired Admiral de
the streets.                         Coligny before he heard him so addressed
Royalty fed in public. The sumptu- by the King's loud, rough voice. When
ous banqueting-room contained a barrier, the King rose from table the presentapartitioning off a space where Charles IX. tions took place, but as Charles heard the




TITHONUS.                               29
name of the Baron de Ribaumont, he ex- in France, in every lovely-colored tint
claimed, "What, Monsieur, are you pre- that dress could assume: their bosoms,
sented here by our good sister's repre- arms, and hair sparkling with jewels;
sentative?"                          their gossamer ruffs surrounding their
Walsingham answered for him, allud- necks like fairy wings; their light laugh
ing to the negotiations for Queen Eliza- mingling with the music as they sat,
beth's marriage with one of the French  stood, or walked in graceful attitudes
princes-" Sire, in the present happy con- conversing with,one another or with
juncture, it needs not be a less loyal the cavaliers, whose brilliant velvet and
Frenchman to have an inheritance in the  jewels fitly mixed with their bright arlands of my royal mistress."          ray. These were the sirens he had heard
" What say you, Monsieur?" sharply  of, the "squadron of the Queen-mother,"
demanded the King; "'are you come here the dangerous beings against whom he
to renounce your country, religion,-and  was to steel himself. And which of them
love, as I have been told?"           was the child he had played with, to
"Il hope, Sire, never to be unfaithful whom his vows had been plighted? It
where I owe faith," said Berenger, heat- was like some of the enchanting dreams
ed, startled, and driven to extremity.  of romance merely to look at these fair
"Not ill answered for the English   creatures; and he stood as if gazing into
giant," said Charles aside to an attend- a magic-glass till Sir Francis Walsingam,,
ant: then turning eagerly to Sidney, looking round for him, said,'" Come, then,
whose transcendent accomplishments had my young friend, you must do your dealready become renowned, Charles wel- voirs to the Queens. Sidney, I see, is as
comed him to court, and began to discuss usual in his element; the King has seized
Ronsard's last sonnet, showing no small upon him."
taste and knowledge of poetry. Greatly   Catharine de Medicis was seated on a
attracted by Sidney, the King detained  large velvet chair, conversing with the
the whole English party by an invitation  German Ambassador. Never beautiful,
to Walsingham  to hear music in the she appeared to more advantage in her
Queen-mother's apartments; and Beren- mature years than in her girlhood, and
ger, following in the wake of his friends, there was all the dignity of a lifetime of
found himself in a spacious hall, with a rule in her demeanor and gestures, the
raised gallery at one end for the musi- bearing of her head, and motion of her
cians, the walls decorated with the glori- exquisite hands. Her eyes were like her
ous paintings collected by Francois I., son's, prominent, and gave the sense of
Greek and Roman statues clustered at the seeing all round at once, and her smile
angles, and cabinets with gems and an- was to the highest degree engaging. She
tiques disposed at intervals.  Not that received the young Baron de Ribaumont
Berenger beheld much of this: he was far more graciously than Charles had
absolutely dazzled with the brilliant as- done, held out her hand to be kissed, and
sembly into which he was admitted. observed, "that the young gentleman was
There moved the most beautiful women like Madame sa mnre, whom she well re



30                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
membered as much admired. Was it true Marguerite, conversing  with  M. de
that she was married in England?      Guise."
Berenger bowed assent."               Berenger paid little heed to Mlargue"Ah! you English make good spouses," rite's showy but already rather coarse
she said, with a smile. "Ever satisfied beauty, and still asked where was the
with home! But, your Excellency," add- young Queen Elizabeth of Austria. She
ed she, turning to Walsingham, "what was unwell, and not in presence. "Ah!
stones would best please my good sister then," he said, "her ladies will not be
for the setting of the jewel my son would here."
send her with his portrait? tHe is all for " That is not certain. Are you wishemeralds for the hue of hope; but I call ing to see any one of them? "
it the color of jealousy."" I would like to see-"                  He could
Walsinghain made a sign that Beren- not help coloring till his cheeks rivalled
ger had better retreat from hearing the the color of his sword-knot. "I want
solemn coquetting carried on by the    just to know if she is here. I know not
maiden Queen through her gravest am- if she be called Madame or Mademoiselle
bassadors. He fell back, and remained  de Ribaumont."
watching the brilliant throng, trying in   The fair Ribaumont!   Assuredly;
vain to discover the bright merry eyes see, she is looking at you. Shall I preand velvet cheek he remembered of old. sent you?"
Presently a kindly salutation interrupted  A pair of exceedingly brilliant dark
him, and a gentleman who perceived him  eyes were fixed on Berenger with a sort
to be a stranger began to try to set him  of haughty curiosity and half recognition.
at ease, pointing out to him the hand- The face was handsome and brilliant, but
some foppishly-dressed Duke of Anjou, he felt indignant at not perceiving a parand his ugly, spiteful, little brother of tide of a blush at encountering him, inAlencon, then designated as Queen Eliza- deed rather a look of amusement at the
beth's future husband, who was saying  deep glow which his fair complexion rensomething to a lady that made her color dered so apparent. Ile would fain have
and bite her lips. "Is that the younger escaped from so public an interview, but
Queen?" asked Berenger, as his eye fell her eye was upon him, and there was no
on a sallow, dark-complexioned, sad- avoiding the meeting.    As he moved
looking little creature in deep mourning, nearer he saw what a beautiful person
and with three or four such stately-look- she was, her rich primrose-colored dress
ing, black-robed, Spanish-looking duen- setting off her brunette complexion and
nas round her as to prove her to be a her stately presence. She looked older
person of high consequence.           than he had expected; but this was a
" That?  Oh no; that is Madame hotbed where every one grew up early,'Catherine of Navarre, who has resided  and the expression and manner made him
here ever since her mother's death, feel that an old intimacy was here reawaiting her brother, our royal bride- newed, and that they were no strangers.
groon. See, here is the bride, Madame    " We need no introduction, cousin,"




TITHONUS.                               31
she said, giving a hand to be saluted. one has yet told you of your good mien?
"I knew you instantly. It is the old face Or do they not appreciate Greek noses
of Chateau Leurre, only gone up so high  and blue eyes in the land of fat Englishand become so handsome."              men?    How have you ever lived en
"Cousins!" thought he. "Well, it province? Our princes are ready to hang
makes things easier! But what audacity themselves at the thought of being in
to be so much at her ease, when Lucy  such banishment, even at court-indeed,
would have sunk into the earth with   Monsieur has contrived to transfer the
shame!"   His bow had saved him the ne- noose to Mi. d'Alengon. Have you been
cessity of answering in words, and the  at court, cousin?"
lady continued:                          "I have been presented to the Queen."
"And Madame votre mere. Is she        She then proceeded to ask questions
well? She was very good to me."       about the chief personages with a rapid
Berenger did not think kindness to intelligence that surprised him as well
Eustacie had been her chief perfection, as alarmed him, for he felt more and
but he answered that she was well and  more in the power of a very clever as
sent her commendations, which the young well as beautiful woman. and the attraclady acknowledged by a magnificent curt- tion she exercised made him long the
sey. "And as beautiful as ever?" she more to escape; but she smiled, and signed
asked.                                away several cavaliers who would have
"Quite as beautiful," he said, "only  gained her attention.  She spoke of
somewhat more embonpoint."            Queen Mary of Scotland, then in the
"Ah! " she said, smiling graciously, fifth year of her captivity, and asked if
and raising her splendid eyes to his face, he did not feel bound to her service by
" I understand better what that famous having been once her partner. Did not
beauty was now, and the fairness that he remember that dance?
caused her to be called the Swan."       " I have heard my mother speak of it
It was so personal that the color far too often to forget it," said Berenger,
rushed again into his cheek.  No one glowing again for her who could speak
had ever so presumed to admire him; of that occasion without a blush.
and with a degree gratified and sur-     "You wish to gloss over your first
prised, and sensible more and more of inconstancy, sir," she said, archly; but
the extreme beauty of the lady, there  he was spared from  further reply by
was a sort of alarm about him as if this Philip Sidney's coming to tell him that
were the very fascination he had been  the Ambassador was ready to return
warned against, and as if she were cast- home. He took leave with an alacrity
ing a net about him, which, wife as slle that redoubled his courtesy so much
was, it would be impossible to him to that he desired to be commended to his
break.                                cousin Diane, whom he had not seen.
"Nay, Monsieur," she laughed, "is a   "To Diane?" said the lady, inquirword from one so near too much for ingly.
your modesty? Is it possible that no     "To Mademoiselle Diane de Ribau



32                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
mont," he corrected himself, ashamed of cursed wedlock-lock, as it may well be
his English rusticity. " I beg pardon if I called?"
spoke too fanmiliarly of her."          "I know no remedy," said Sidney,
"She should be flattered by M. le gravely, "save the two enchanted founts
Baron's slightest recollection," said the of love and hate. They cannot be far
lady, with an ironical tone that there away, since it was at the siege of
was no time to analyse, and with a Paris that Rinaldo and Orlando drank
mutual gesture of courtesy he followed thereof."
Sidney to where Sir Francis awaited    Another question that Berenger would
them.                                fain have asked Sidn'ey, but could not
" Well, what think you of the French  for very shame and dread of mockery,
court?" asked Sidney, so soon as the  was, whether he himself were so danyoung men were in private.           gerously handsome as the lady had given
"I only know that you may bless him to understand.    With a sense of
your good fortune that you stand in no shame, he caught up the little mirror in
danger from a wife from thence."     his casket, and could not but allow to
"Ha! " cried Sidney, laughing, "you himself that the features he there saw
found your lawful owner. Why did you were symmetrical-the eyes azure, the
not present me?"                     complexion of a delicate fairness, such
" I was ashamed of her bold visage."  as he had not seen equalled, except in
" What! - was she the beauteous those splendid Lorraine princes; nor
demoiselle I found you gallanting," said could he judge of the further effect of
Philip Sidney, a good deal entertained, his open-faced frank  simplicity  and
" who was gazing at you with such    sweetness of expression-contemptible,
visible admiration in her languishing perhaps, to the astute, but most winning
black eyes?"                        to the world-weary. He shook his head
"The foul fiend seize their impu- at the fair reflection, smiled as he saw
dence!"                              the color rising atthis own sensation of
" Fie, for shame! thus to speak of being a fool, and then threw it aside,
your own wife," said the mischievous vexed with himself for being unable not
Sidney, "and the fairest -"          to feel attracted by the first woman who
"Go to! Sidney. Were she fairer had shown herself struck by his personal
than Venus, with a kingdom to her graces, and yet aware that this was the
dower, I would none of a woman with- very thing he had been warned against,
out a blush."                        and determined to make all the resist"What, in converse with her wedded  ance in his power to a creature whose
husband?" said Sidney. "Were not that very beauty and enchantment gave him
over shamefastness? "                a sense of discomfort.
"Nay, now, Sidney, in good sooth
give me your opinion. Should she set 
her fancy on me, even in this hour, am
I bound in honor to hold by this ac



THE CONVENT BIRD.                              33
her, he might see her again, carry home
CHAPTER V.                  a mental inventory   of the   splendid
beauties he had renounced. and decide
THE CONVENT BIRD.             what was the motive that actuated her
in rejecting his own handsome self.
"Young knight, whatever that dost armes in rejectin  his own handsome    self
professe,                          Meantime, he proceeded to enjoy the
And through long labours huntest after fame,  amusements and advantages of his soBeware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,
In choice and chaunge of thy beloved dame."  journ at Paris, of which by no means the
SPENSER,,'a'ry Queene.
SPEE, Far Queee. least was the society of Philip Sidney,
BERENGER'S mind was relieved, even   and the charm  his brilliant genius inwhile his vanity was mortified, when    parted to every pursuit they shared.
the Chevalier and his son came the next Books at the University, fencing and
day to bring him the formal letter re- dancing from the best professors, Italian
questing the Pope's annulment of his poetry, French sonnets, Latin epigrams;
marriage. After he had signed it, it was nothing came amiss to Sidney, the flower
to be taken to Eustacie, and, so soon as of English youth: and Berenger had taste,
he should attain his twenty-first year, intelligence, and cultivation enough to
he was to dispose of Chateau Leurre, as enter into all in which Sidney led the
well as of his claim to the ancestral way. The good tutor, after all his miscastle in Picardy, to his cousin Narcisse, eries on the journey, was delighted to
and thus become entirely free to transfer write to Lord Walwyn, that far from
his allegiance to the Queen of England.  being a risk and temptation, this visit
It was a very good thing-that he     was a school in all that was virtuous and
well knew; and he had a strong sense    comely.
of virtue and obedience, as he formed     If the good man had any cause of
with his pen the words in all their ful- dissatisfaction, it was with the Calvinness, Henri Beranger Eustache, Baron    istic tendencies of the  Ambassador's
de Ribaumont et Seigneur de Leurre. household. Walsingham was always on
He could not help wondering whether the Puritanical side of Elizabeth's court,
the lady who looked at him so admir- and such an atmosphere as that of Paris,
ingly really preferred such a mean-look- where the Roman Catholic system  was
ing little fop as Narcisse, whether she  at that time showing more corruption
were afraid of his English home and    than it has ever done before or since in
breeding, or whether all this open co- any other place, naturally threw him
quetry were really the court manners of into sympathy with the Reformed. The
ladies toward  gentlemen, and he had    reaction that half a century later filled
been an absolute simpleton to be fiat- the Gallican Church with saintliness had
tered. Any way she would have been      not set in; her ecclesiastics were the
a most undesirable wife, and he was well tools of a wicked and bloodthirsty court,
quit of her; but he did feel a certain  who hated virtue as much as schism in
lurking desire that, since the bonds were the men whom  they persecuted. The
cut and he was no longer in danger from  Huguenots were for the most part men
3




34                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
whose instincts for truth and virtue had neglect of all rights; and Berenger, in his
recoiled from the popular system, and country home, had been used to the
thus it was indeed as if piety and mo- first extreme. He could not believe that
rality were arrayed on one side, and  what he heard and saw among the Sacresuperstition and debauchery on the other. mentaires, as they were called, was what
Mr. Adderley thus found the tone of the his father had prized; and he greatly
Ambassador's chaplain that of far more scandalized Sidney, the pupil of Hubert
complete fellowship with the Reformed Languet, by openly expressing his dispastors than he himself was disposed to taste and dismay when he found their
admit.  There were a large number of worship viewed by both Walsingham
these gathered at Paris; for the lull in and Sidney as a model to which the
persecution that had followed the battle English Protestants ought to be brought.
of Moncontour had given hopes of a      However, Sidney excused all this as
final accommodation between the two mere boyish distaste to sermons and love
parties, and many had come up to con- of externals, and Berenger himself result with the numerous lay nobility who flected little on the subject.  The aspect
had congregated to witness the King of of the venerable Coligny, his father's
Navarre's wedding. Among them, Ber- friend, did far more to make him a
enger met his father's old friend, Isaac Huguenot than any discussion of doctrine.
Gardon, who had come to Paris for the The good old Admiral received him
purpose of giving his only surviving son affectionately, and talked to him warmly
in marriage to the daughter of a watch- of his father, and the grave, noble
maker to whom he had for many years countenance and kind manner won his
been betrothed. By him the youth, with heart.  Great projects were on foot,
his innocent face and gracious respectful and were much relished by the young
manners, was watched with delight, as King, for raising an army and striking a
fulfilling the fairest hopes of the poor blow at Spain by aiding the Reformed
Baron, but the old minister would have in the Netherlands; and Coligny was
been sorely disappointed had he known as ardent as a youth in the cause, hoping
how little Berenger felt inclined toward at once to aid his brethren, to free the
his party.                           young King from evil influences, and to
The royal one of course Berenger could strike one good stroke against the old
not love, but the rigid bareness, and as he national enemy. He talked eagerly to
thought, irreverence of the Calvinist, and Sidney of alliances with England, and
the want of all forms, jarred upon one then lamented over the loss of so promused to a ritual which retained much of ising a youth as young Ribaumont to
the ancient form. In the early years of the Reformed cause in France. If the
Elizabeth, every possible diversity pre- marriage with the heiress could have
vailed in parish churches, according to taken effect, he would have obtained
the predilections of rector and squire; estates near enough to some of the main
from forms scarcely altered from those of Huguenot strongholds to be very imold times, down to the baldest, rudest portant, and these would now remain




THE CONVENT BIRD.                           35
under the power of Narcisse de Ribau- power of the Guises, the truly unscrupumont, a determined ally of the Guise fac- lous partisans of Rome. They were furtion. It was a pity, but the Admiral could ther inflamed against the Huguenots by
not blame the youth for obeying the the assassination of the last Duke of
wish of his guardian grandfather; and he Guise, and by the violences that had been
owned, with a sigh, that England was committed by some of the Reformed
a more peaceful land than his own be- party, in especial a massacre of prisoners
loved country.  Berenger was a little at Nerac.
nettled at this implication, and began  Sidney exclaimed that the Huguenots
to talk of joining the French standard had suffered far worse cruelties.
in a campaign in the Netherlands: but   L That is true," replied Sir Francis,
when'the two young men returned to   "but, my young friend, you will find, in
their present home and described the con- all matters of reprisals, that a party has
versation, Walsingham said,-         no memory for what it may commit, only
" The Admiral's favorite project! He for what it may receive."
would do wisely not to brag of it so    The conversation was interrupted by
openly. The King of Spain has too many an invitation to the Ambassador's family
in his interest in this place not to be and guests to a tilting-match and subsewarned, and to be thus further egged on quent ball at the Louvre. In the first
to compass the ruin of Coligny."     Berenger did his part with credit; to the
"I should have thought," said Sidney, second he went feeling full of that strange
"that nothing could add to his hatred of attraction of repulsion. He knew gentlethe Reformed."                        men enough in Coligny's suite for it to be
"Scarcely," said Walsingham; "save likely that he might remain unperceived
that it is they who hinder the Duke of among them, and he knew this would be
Guise from being a good Frenchman and prudent, but he found himself unexpecta foe to Spain."                     edly near the ranks of ladies, and smile
Politics had not developed themselves and gesture absolutely drew him toward
in Berenger's mind, and he listened inat- his semi-spouse, so that he had no altertentively while Walsingham talked over native but to lead her out to dance.
with Sidney the state of parties in France,  The stately measure was trod in siwhere natural national enmity to Spain lence as usual, but he felt the dark eyes
was balanced by the need felt by the studying him all the time. Iowever, he
Queen-mother of the support of that could bear it better now that the deed
great Roman Catholic power against the was done, and she had voluntarily made
Huguenots; whom Walsingham believed  him less to her than any gallant parading
her to dread and hate less for their own or mincing about the room.
sake than from the fear of loss of influ-  " So you bear the pearls, Sir? " she
ence over her son. He believed Charles said, as the dance finished.
IX. himself to have much leaning toward  " The only heirloom I shall take with
the Reformed, but the late victories had me," he said.
thrown the whole court entirely into the  "Is a look at them too great a favor




36                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
to ask from their jealous guardian? " she it was Diane who inspired you to seize
asked.                                upon them."
He smiled, half ashamed of his own    "Ah! poor Diane! you sometimes reannoyance at being obliged to place them  member her then? If I remember right,
in her hands. He was sure she would you used to agree with her better than
try to cajole him out of them, and by  with your little spouse, cousin! "
way of asserting his property in them he  "If I quarrelled with her less, I liked
did not detach them from the band of his her less," answered Berenger-who, since
black velvet cap, but gave it with them  the act of separation, had not been so
into her hand. She looked at each one, guarded in his demeanor, and began to
and counted them wistfully.           give way to his natural frankness.
"Seventeen!" she said; "and how'"Indeed! Diane would be less gratibeautiful! I never saw them  so near fled than I ought to be. And why, may
before. They are so becoming to that I ask?"
fair cheek that I suppose no offer from  "Diane was more caressing, but she
my-my uncle, on our behalf, would in- had no truth.'
duce you to part with them?"'Truth!' that was what feu  M. le
An, impulse of open-handed gallantry Baron ever talked of; what Huguenots
would have made him answer,'No offer weary one with."
from your uncle, but a simple request    " And the only thing worth seeking,
from you;" but he thought in time of the real pearl," said Berenger, "without
the absurdity of returning without them, which all else is worthless."
and merely answered, " I have no right   "Ah!" she said, "who would have
to yield them, fair lady. They are the thought that soft, youthful face could be
witness to my forefather's fame and so severe! You would never forgive a
prowess."                             deceit?"
"Yes, Sir, and to those of mine also,"  "Never," he said, with the crystal
she replied. "And you would take them  hardness of youth; "or rather, I might
over to the enemy fiom   whom   that forgive; I could never esteem."
prowess extorted them?"                  " What a bare, rude world yours must
"The country which honored and re- be, she aid, shivering. "And no weak
warded that prowess! " replied Berenger. ones in it! Only the strong can dare to
She looked at him with an interroga- be true."
tive glance of surprise at the readiness of  "Truth is strength! " said Berenger.
his answer; then, with half a sigh, said, "For example: I see yonder a face with"There are your pearls, Sir; I cannot out bodily strength, perhaps, but with
establish our right, though I verily be- perfect candor."
lieve it was the cause of our last quar-' Ah! some Huguenot girl of Madame
rel;" and she smiled archly.          Catherine's, no doubt-from the depths
"I believe it was," he said gravely; of Languedoc, and dressed like a fright."
but added, in the moment of relief at re-  "No, no; the young girl behind the
covering the precious heirloom, " though  pale, yellow-haired lady,"




THE CONVENT BIRD.                         37
" Comment, Monsieur. Do you not of recognition had made his gaze more
yet know the young Queen? "         open than he knew, and he was really
But who is the young demoiselle!- and deeply ashamed of this as his worst
she with the superb black eyes, and the act of provincial ill-breeding.
ruby rose in her black hair?"           Poor little convent maid, with crim"Take care, Sir, do you not know I son cheeks, flashing eyes, panting bosom,
have still a right to be jealous?" she said, and a neck evidently aching with proud
blushing, bridling, and laughing.    dignity and passion, she received his low
But this pull on the cords made him  bow with a sweeping curtsey, as lofty as
the more resolved; he would not be turn- her little person would permit.
ed from his purpose. "Who is she?" he  His cheeks burned like fire, and he
repeated, "have I ever seen her before? would have found words to apologize, but
I am sure I remember that innocent look  she cut him short by saying, hastily and
of espieglerie."                     low, "Not a word, Monsieur! Let us go
" You may see it on any child's face through it at once. No one shall make
fresh out of the convent; it does not last game of us."
a month!" was the still displeased, rather  IHe hardly durst look at her again;
jealous answer.'" That little thing —I but as he went through his own elabobelieve they call her Nidemerle-she has rate paces he knew that the little creaonly just been brought from her nunnery ture opposite was swimming, bending,
to wait on the young Queen. Ah! your turning, bounding with the fluttering
gaze was perilous, it is bringing on you fierceness of an angry little bird, and
one of the jests of Madame Margue- that the superb eyes were casting flashes
rite."                               on him that seemed to carry him back to
With laughter and gaiety, a troop of days of early boyhood.
gentlemen descended on M. de Ribau-     Once he caught a mortified, pleading,
mont, and told him that Madame Mar- wistful glance that made him feel as if
guerite desired that he should be pre- he had inflicted a cruel injury by his
sented to her. The princess was stand- thoughtless gaze, and he resolved to plead
ing by her pale sister-in-law, Elizabeth the sense of recognition in excuse; but no
of Austria, who looked grave and an- sooner was the performance over than
noyed at the mischievous mirth flashing she prevented all conversation by saying,
in Marguerite's dark eyes.           "Lead me back at once to the Queen,
"iL de Ribaumont," said the latter, Sir; she is about to retire."  They were
her very neck heaving with suppressed already so near that there was not time
fun,'I see I cannot do you a greater to say any thing; he could only hold as
favor than by giving you Mademoiselle lightly as possible the tiny fingers that he
de Nidemerle for your partner."      felt burning and quivering in his hand,
Berenger was covered with confusion and then, after bringing her to the side
to find that he had been guilty of such a of the chair of state, he was forced to refixed stare as to bring all this upon the lease her with the mere whisper of " Parpoor girl. He feared that his vague sense don, Mademoiselle;" and the request




38                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
was not replied to save by the additional in comparison about the splendid beauty
stateliness of her curtsey.           and winning manners of his discarded
It was already late, and the party was spouse, though he quite believed that,
breaking up; but his head and heart now her captive was beyond her grasp,
were still in a whirl when he found him- she was disposed to catch at him again,
self seated in the ambassadorial coach, and try to retain him, or, as his titillated
hearing Lady Walsingham's well-pleased vanity might whisper, his personal graces
rehearsal of all the compliments she had might make her regret the family resolureceived on the distinguished appearance tion which she had obeyed.
of both her young guests. Sidney, as the
betrothed of her daughter, was property
of her own; but she also exulted in the
praises of the young Lord de Ribaumont,          CHAPTER VI.
as proving the excellence of the masters
FOULLY    COZENED.
whom she had recommended to remove
"I was the more deceived"-Hamlet.
the rustic clownishness of which he had
been accused.                            THE unhappy Charles IX. had a dis"Nay," said Sir Francis; "whoever position that in good hands might have
called him too clownish for court spake achieved great nobleness; and though
with design."                         cruelly bound and trained to evil, was no
The brief sentence added to Beren- sooner allowed to follow its natural bent
ger's confused sense of being in a mist than it reached out eagerly toward exof false play. Could his kinsman be bent cellence.  At this moment, it was his
on keeping him from court? Could Nar- mother's policy to appear to leave the
cisse be jealous of him? Mademoiselle ascendency to the Huguenot party, and
de Ribaumont was evidently inclined to he was therefore allowed to contract
seek him, and her cousin might easily friendships which deceived the intended
think her lands safer in his absence. He victims the more completely, because his
would have been willing to hold aloof as admiration and attachment were sponmuch as his uncle and cousin could wish, taneous and sincere.  Philip Sidney's vasave for an angry dislike of being duped ried accomplishments and pure lofty
and cajoled; and, moreover, a strong curi- character greatly attracted the young
osity to hear and see more of that lit- King, who had leaned on his arm contie passionate bird, fresh from the con- versing during great part of the ball, and
vent cage. Her gesture and her eyes the next morning sent a royal messenger
irresistibly carried him back to old times, to invite the two young gentlemen to a
though whether to an angry blackbird in  party at pall-mall in the Tuileries garthe yew-tree alleys at Leurre, or to the dens.
eager face that had warned him to save   Pall-mall was either croquet or its
his father, he could not remember with  nearest relative, and was so much the
any distinctness. At any rate, he was fashion that games were given in order to
surprised to find himself thinking so little I keep up political influence, perhaps, be



PL-ALWSETECRQEO         - N R EAIE p
\\                -
PALL-MALL WAS EITHER CROQUET OR ITS NEAREST RELATIVE.      p. 88.








FOULLY COZENED.                             39
cause the freedom of a garden pastime scrivener. It was a like case, he saw,
among groves and bowers afforded oppor- when breaking through the arch of
tunities for those seductive arts on which  clipped limes he beheld the little DemoiQueen Caterine placed so much de- selle de Nidemerle, driven into a corner
pendence. The formal gardens, with their and standing at bay, with glowing cheeks,
squares of level turf and clipped alleys, flashing eyes, and hands clasped over her
afforded excellent scope both for players breast, while a young man, dressed in the
and spectators, and numerous games had extreme of foppery, was assuring her that
been set on foot, fr~o all of which, how- she was the only lady who had not grantever, Berenger contrived to exclude him- ed him a token-that he could not allow
self, in his restless determination to find  such pensionnaire airs, and that now he
out the little Delnoiselle de Nidemerle, had caught her he would have his reor, at least, to discover whether any in- venge, and win her rose-colored breasttercourse in early youth accounted for his knot. Another gentleman stood by laughundefined sense of remembrance.       ing, and keeping guard in the walk that
He interrogated the first disengaged  led to the more frequented part of the
person he could find, but it was only the gardens.
young Abb6 de Mericour, who had been      " Hold! " thundered Berenger.
newly brought up from Dauphin6 by his     The assailant had just mastered the
elder brother to solicit a benefice, and  poor girl's hand, but she took advantage
who knew nobody. To him, ladies were of his surprise to wrench it away and
only bright phantoms such as his books gather herself up as for a spring, but
had taught him to regard like the tempta- the Abb6 in dismay, the attendant in antions of St. Anthony, but whom he act- ger, cried out, " Stay-it is Monsieur."
ually saw treated with as free admiration  "Monsieur; be he who he may," exby the ecclesiastic as by the layman.  claimed Berenger, "no honest man can
Suddenly a clamor of voices arose on  see a lady insulted."
the other side of the closely-clipped wall  "Are you mad? It is Monsieur the
of limes by which the two youths were Duke of An.jou," said M6ricour, pouncing
walking. There were the clear tones of on his arm.
a young maiden expostulating in indig-    "Shall we have him to the guardnant distress, and the bantering, indolent house?" added the attendant, coming upt
determination of a male annoyer.      on the other side; but Henri de Valois
" Hark! " exclaimed Berenger; " this waved them both back, and burst into a
must be seen to."                      derisive laugh.  "No, no; do you not
"'1Iave a care," returned Mericour; see who it is?  Monsieur the English
"I have heard that a man needs look   Baron still holds the erd of the halter.
twice ere meddling."                  His sale is not yet made. Come away,
Scarcely hearing, Berenger strode on D'O, he will soon have enough on his
as he had done at the last village wake, hands without us. Farewell, fair lady,
when he had rescued Cis of the Down   another time you will be free of your
from the impertinence of a Dorchester  jealous giant."




40                      THE CIIAPLET OF PEARLS.
So saying, the Duke of Anjou strolled  passionate tears.  "I meddled not. I
off, feigning indifference and contempt, heard that M. le Baron was gone to a
and scarcely heeding that he had been  strange land, and had written to break
traversed in one of the malicious adven- off old ties." Her face was in a flame,
tures which he delighted to recount in  and her efforts for composure absolute
public before the discomfited victim her- pain.
self, often  with shameful exaggera-    "I!    again  exclaimed  Berenger.
tion.                                "The first letter came from your uncle,
The girl clasped her hands over her declaring that it wagayour wish!"  And
brow with a gesture of dismay, and cried, as her face changed rapidly, "Then it
"Oh! if you have only not touched your was not true!  He has not had your
sword.'                              consent?"
"Let me have the honor of recon-     "What! would I hold to one who
ducting you, Mademoiselle," said Beren- despised me-who came here and never
ger, offering his hand; but after the first even asked to see this hated spouse! "
sigh of relief, a tempestuous access seized  " I did! I entreated to see you. I
her. She seemed about to dash away his would not sign the application till-Oh,
hand, her bosom swelled with resentment, there has been treachery!  And have
and with a voice striving for dignity, they made you too sign it? "
though choked with strangled tears, she  "When they showed me your name
exclaimed, "No, indeed! Had not M. le they were welcome to mine."
Baron forsaken me I had never been thus  Berenger struck his forehead with
treated! " and her eyes flashed through  wrath and perplexity, then cried, joytheir moisture.                      fully, "It will not stand for a moment.' Eustacie! You are Eustacie! "   So foul a cheat can be at once exposed.
"Whom would you have me to be Eustacie, you know-you understand that
otherwise? I have the honor to wish M. it was not you but Diane whom I saw and
le Baron a good-morning."             detested; and no wonder, when she was
"Eustacie! Stay! Hear me! It con- acting such a cruel treason! "
cerns my honor.  I see it is you-but    " Oh no, Diane would never so treat
whom have I seen? Who was she?"me," cried Eustacie. "I see howitwas!
he cried, half wild with dismay and con- You did not know that my father was
fusion. " Was it Diane?"            latterly called Marquis de Nid-de-Merle,
"You have seen and danced with Di- and when they brought me here, they
ane de Ribaumont," answered Eustacie, would call me after him; they said a maid
still coldly, "but what of that?  Let me of honor must be Demoiselle, and my
go, Monsieur; you have cast me off al- uncle said there was only one way in
ready."                              which I could remain Madame de Ribau"I! when all this has been of your own  mont! And the name must have deseeking?"                            ceived you. Thou wast always a great
"Mine? " cried Eustacie, panting with  dull boy," she added, with a sudden
the struggle between her dignity and her assumption of childish intimacy that




FOULLY COZENED.                             41
annihilated the nine years since their tentions of their cavaliers. lHesawher abparting.                              sorbed into the group, and then began to
"Had I seen thee, I had not mistaken  prowl round it, in the alleys, in a tumult
for an instant. This little face stirred  of amazement and indignation. He had
my heart; hers repelled me. And she been shamefully deceived and cleated,
deceived me wittingly, Eustacie, for I and justice he would have!   I-e had
asked after her by name."             been deprived of a thing of his own, and
"Ah, she wished to spare my embar- he would assert his right. H-e had been
rassment.  And then her brother must made to injure and disown the creature
have dealt with her."                 he was bound to protect, and he must' I see," exclaimed Berenger, "I am  console her and compensate to her, were
to be palmed off thus that thou mayst be it only to redeem his honor. He never
reserved for Narcisse. Tell me, Eustacie, even thought whether he loved her; he
wast thou willing?"                   merely felt furious at thQ wrong he had
"I hate Narcisse! " she cried. " But suffered and been made to commit, and
oh, I am lingering too long. Monsieur hotly bent on recovering what belonged
will make some hateful tale!  I never to him. He might even have plunged
fell into his way before, my Queen and down among the ladies and claimed her
Mine. la Cointesse are so careful. Only  as his wife, if the young Abbe de IMerito-day, as I was attending her alone, the  cour, who was two years older than he
King came and gave her his arm, and I and far less of a boy for his years, had
had to drop behind. I must find her; I not joined him in his agitated walk. He
shall be missed," she added, in sudden  then learned that all the Court knew that
alarm. " Oh, what will they say?"     the daughter of the late Marquis de Nid"No blame for being with thy bus- de-Merle, Comte de Ribaumont, was callband," he answered, clasping her hand. ed by his chief title, but that her mar"Thou   art mine henceforth. I will riage to himself had been forgotten by
soon cut our way out of the web thy   some and unknown to others, and thus
treacherous kindred have woven. Mean- that the first error between the cousins
time    "                             had not been wonderful in a stranger,
" Iush!  There are voices," cried  since the Chevalier's daughter had always
Eustacie in terror, and, guided by some- been Mdlle. de Ribaumont. The error
thing he could not discern, she fled with  once made, Berenger's distaste to Diane
the swiftness of a bird down the alley. had been so convenient that it had been
Following, with the utmost speed that carefully encouraged, and the desire to
might not bear the appearance of pur- keep him at a distance from Court and
suit, he found that on coming to the turn  throw him into the background was acshe had moderated her pace, and was counted for. The Abb6 was almost as
more tranquilly advancing to a bevy of indignant as Berenger, and assured him
ladies, who sat perched on the stone steps both of his sympathy and his discrelike great butterflies sunning themselves, tion.
watching the game, and receiving the at-  "I see no need for discretion," said




42                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Berenger. "I shall claim my wife in the would be well if even your English
face of the sun."                    friends could get you out alive."
"Take counsel first, I entreat," ex-  "Why, what a place is this! " began
claimed Mericour.  "The Ribaumonts Berenger; but again Mericour entreated
have much influence with the Guise him to curb himself; and his English
family, and now you have offended Mon- education had taught him to credit the
sieur."                              house of Guise with so much mysterious
"Ah! where are those traitorous power and wickedness, that he allowed
kinsmen?" cried Berenger.           himself to be silenced, and promised to
"Fortunately all are gone on an ex- take no open measures till he had conpedition with the Queen-mother. You suited the Ambassador.
will have time to think. I have heard   He could not obtain another glimpse
my brother say no one ever prospered  of Eustacie, and the hours passed tardily
who offended the meanest follower of the till the break-up of the party. Charles
house of Lorraine."                  could scarcely release Sidney from his
"I do not want prosperity, I only side, and only let him  go on condition
want my wife. I hope I shall never see that he should join the next day in an
Paris and its deceivers again."      expedition to the hunting chateau of
"Ah! but is it true that you have Montpipeau, to which the King seemed
applied to have the marriage annulled at to look forward as a great holiday and
Rome?"                              breathing-time.
"We were both shamefully deceived.   When at length the two youths lid
That can be nothing."                return, Sir Francis Walsingham was com" A decree of his Holiness: you a pletely surprised by the usually tractable,
Huguenot; she an heiress. All is against well-behaved stripling, whose praises he
you. My friend, be cautious," exclaimed had been writing to his old friend, burstthe young ecclesiastic, alarmed by his ing in on him with the outcry, "Sir, sir,
passionate gestures.  " To break forth  I entreat your counsel! I have been foully
now and be accused of brawling in the cozened."
palace precincts would be fatal-fatal-  "Of how much?" said Sir Francis, in
most fatal!"                        a tone of reprobation.
"I am as calm as possible," returned  "Of my wife. Of mine honor. Sir,
Berenger. "I mean to act most reason- your Excellency, I crave pardon if I
ably. I shall stand before the King and  spoke too hotly," said Berenger, collecttell him openly how I have been tam- ing himself, "but it is enough to drive a
pered with, demanding my wife before man to frenzy."
the whole Court."                       " Sit down, my Lord de Ribaumont.
"Long before you could get so far, Take breath, and let me know what is
the ushers would have dragged you away this coil.-What hath thus moved him,
for brawling, or for maligning an honor- Mr. Sidney?"
able gentleman. You would have to       " It is as he says, Sir," replied Sidney,
finish your speech in the Bastille, and it who had heard all as they returned; "he




FOULLY COZENED.                            43
has been greatly wronged. The Cheva- bassador despatched a page to request the
lier de Ribaumont not only writ to pro- attendance of Mr. Adderley, and recompose the separation without the lady's mended young Ribaumont in the meanknowledge, but imposed his own daughter time to compose himself.
on our friend as the wife he had not seen  Used to being under authority as Bersince infancy."                      enger was, the somewhat severe tone did
" There, Sir," broke forth Berenger; much to allay his excitement, and remind
"surely if I claim mine own in the face him that right and reason were so enof day, no man can withhold her from  tirely on his side, that he had only to be
me! "                                 cool and rational to make them prevail.
"Hold! " said Sir Francis. "What He was thus able to give a collected and
means this passion, young sir?   Me- coherent account of his discovery that the
thought you came hither convinced that part of his wife had been assumed by her
both the religion and the habits in which cousin Diane, and that the signature of
the young lady had been bred up ren- both the young pair to the application to
dered your infantine contract most unsuit- the Pope had been obtained on false preable. What hath fallen out to make this tences.  That he had, as Sidney said,
change in your mind V"               been foully cozened in both senses of the
"That I was cheated, Sir. The lady word, was as clear as daylight; but he
who palmed herself off on me as my wife was.much angered and disappointed to
was a mere impostor, the Chevalier's own find that neither the ambassador nor his
daughter!"                          tutor could see that Eustacie's worthiness
" That may be; but what know you was proved by the iniquity of her relaof this other lady? Has she been bred tions, or that any one of the weighty reaup in faith or manners such as your pa- sons for the expediency of dissolving the
rents would have your wife?"         marriage was removed. The whole affair
"She is my wife," reiterated Beren- had been in such good train a little beger. "My faith is plighted to her. That fore, that Mr. Adderley was much disis enough for me."                   tressed that it should thus have been
Sir Francis made a gesture of despair. crossed, and thought the new phase of
"He has seen her, I suppose," said he to  affairs would be far from acceptable at
Sidney.                              Combe Walwyn.
"Yes, truly, sir," answered Berenger;  " Whatever is just and honorable must
"and found that she had been as greatly be acceptable to my grandfather," said
deceived as myself."                 Berenger.
"Then mutual consent is wanting,"    "Even so," said Walsingham; "but
said the statesman, gravely musing.  it were well to consider whether justice
"That ismyen as I say," began Beren- and honor require you to overthrow
ger, but Walsingham held up his hand, the purpose wherewith he sent you
and desired that he would make his full hither."
statement in the presence of his tutor.  "Surely, sir, justice and honor reThen sounding a little whistle, the Am- quire me to fulfil a contract to which the




44                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
other party is constant," said Berenger,  " Married assuredly. More's the pity,"
feeling very wise and prudent for calling said Sir Francis.
that wistful, indignant creature the other  "And no law of God or man divides
party.                               us without our own consent."   There
"That is also true," said the Ambas- was no denying that the mutual consent
sador, "provided she be constant; but of the young pair at their present age
you own that she signed the requisition was all that was wanting to complete the
for the dissolution."                inviolability of their marriage contract.
"She did so, but under the same de-  Berenger was indeed only eighteen,
ception as myself, and further mortified  and Eustacie more than a year younger,
and aggrieved at my seeming faithless- but there was nothing in their present
ness."                               age to invalidate their marriage, for per"So it may easily be represented," sons of their rank were usually wedded
muttered Walsingham.                 quite as young or younger. Walsinghamn
" How, sir?" cried Berenger, irmpetu- was only concerned at his old friend's
ously; " do you doubt her truth?"   disappointment, and at the danger of the
"Heaven forefend," said Sir Francis, young man running headlong into a con"that I should discuss any fair lady's sin- nection probably no more suitable than
cerity! The question is how far you are that with Diane de Ribaumont would
bound. Have I understood you that you have been. But it was not convenient to
are veritably wedded, not by a mere con- argue against the expediency of a man's
tract of espousal?"                 loving his own wife; and when Berenger
Berenger could produce no documents, boldly declared he was not talking of
for they had been left at Chateau Leurre, love but of justice, it was only possible to
and on his father's death the Chevalier insist that he should pause and see where
had claimed the custody of them; but he true justice lay.
remembered enough of the ceremonial to  And thus the much perplexed Ambasprove that the wedding had been a verita- sador broke up the conference with his
ble one, and that only the papal interven- hot and angry young guest.
tion could annul it.                    "And Mistress Lucy —?" sighed
Indeed an Englishman, going by Eng- Mr. Adderley, in rather an inappropos
lish law, would own no power in the fashion it must be owned; but then he
Pope nor any one on earth, to sever the had been fretted beyond endurance by
sacred tie of wedlock; but French courts his pupil striding up and down his room,
of law would probably ignore the mode reviling Diane, and describing Eustacie,
of application, and would certainly en- while he was trying to write these undeavor to separate between a Catholic comfortable tidings to Lord Walwyn.
and a heretic.                          "Lucy! What makes you bring her
" I am English, sir, in heart and faith," up to me?" exclaimed Berenger. " Little
said Berenger, earnestly. "Look upon Dolly would be as much to the purme as such, and tell me, am I married or pose! "
single at this moment? "                "Only, sir, no resident at Hurst Wal



FOULLY COZENED.                           45
wyn could fail to know what has been    Mr. Adderley argued no more. When
planned and desired."                Berenger came to his duty in the matter
"Pshaw!" cried Berenger; "have he was invincible, and moreover all the
you not heard that it was a mere fig- more provoking, because he mentioned it
ment, and that I could scarce have wed- with a sort of fiery sound of relish, and
ded Lucy safely, even had this matter looked so very boyish all the time. Poor
gone as you wish? This is the luckiest Mr. Adderley! feeling as if his trust were
chance that could have befallen her."  betrayed, loathing the very idea of a
"That may be," said Mr. Adderley; French Court lady, saw that his pupil had
" I wish she may think so-sweet young been allured into a headlong passion to
lady!"                               his own misery, and that of all whose
" I tell you, Mr. Adderley, you should hopes were set on him, yet preached to
know better!  Lucy has more sense. by this stripling scholar about duties and
My aunt, whom she follows more than  sacred obligations!  Well might he rue
any other creature, ever silenced the very the day he ever set foot in Paris.
sport or semblance of love-passages be-  Then, to his further annoyance, came
tween us even as children, by calling a royal messenger to invite the Baron de
them unseemly in one wedded as I am. Ribaumont to join the expedition to MontBrother and sister we have ever been, pipeau. Of course, he must go, and his
and have loved as such-aye, and shall! tutor must be left behind, and who could
I know of late some schemes have crossed tell into what mischief he might not be
my mother's mind-"                   tempted I
" Yea, and that of others."          Here, however, Sidney gave the poor
"But they have not ruffled Lucy's chaplain some comfort. He believed that
quiet nature-trust me! And for the no ladies were to be of the party, and
rest?  What doth she need of me in that the gentlemen were chiefly of the
comparison of this poor child? She-  King's new friends among the Huguenots,
like a bit of her own gray lavender in such as Coligny, his son-in-law Teligny,
the shadiest nook of the walled garden, Rochefoucauld, and the like, among whom
tranquil there-sure not to be taken the young gentleman could not fall into
there, save to company with fine linen in any very serious harm, and might very
some trim scented coffer, while this fresh possibly be influenced against a Roman
glowing rosebud has grown up pure and Catholic wife. At any rate, he would be
precious in the very midst of the foulest out of the way, and unable to take any
corruption Christendom can show, and if dangerous steps.
I snatch her not from it, I, the only   This same consideration so annoyed
living man who can, look you, in the Berenger that he would have declined
very bloom of her innocence and sweet- the invitation, if royal invitations could
ness, what is to be her fate? The very have been declined. And in the morning,
pity of a Christian, the honor of a gentle- before setting out, he dressed himself,
man would urge me, even if it were not point device, and with Osbert behind
my most urgent duty I"               him marched down to the Croix de Lor



46                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
raine, to call upon the Chevalier de Ri- his favorite sport. Surrounded with his
baumont. He had a very fine speech at favored associates of the Huguenot party,
his tongue's end when he set out, but a he seemed to breathe a purer atmosphere,
good deal of it had evaporated when he and to yield himself up to enjoyment
reached the hotel, and perhaps he was greater than perhaps his sad life had ever
not very sorry not to find the old gentle- known.
man within.                             He rode among his gentlemen, and
On his return, he indited a note to the brilliant cavalcade passed through popthe Chevalier, explaining that he had now  lar-shaded roads, clattered through vilseen his wife, Madame la Baronne de Ri- lages, and threaded their way through
baumont, and had come to an under- bits of forest still left for the royal chase.
standing with her, by which he found The people thronged out of their houses,
that it was under a mistake that the ap- and shouted not only " Vive le Roy," but
plication to the Pope had been signed, "Vive l'Amiral," and more than once the
and that they should, therefore, follow it cry was added, " Spanish war, or civil
up with a protest, and act as if no such war! " The heart of France was, if not
letter had been sent.                 with the Reformed, at least against Spain
Berenger showed this letter to Wal- and the Lorrainers, and Sidney perceived,
singham, who, though much concerned, from the conversation of the gentlemen
could not forbid his sending it. "Poor round him, that the present expedition
lad," he said to the tutor; "'tis an ex- had been devised less for the sake of the
cellently writ billet for one so young. I sport, than to enable the King to take
would it were in a wiser cause. But he measures for emancipating himself from
has fairly the bit between his teeth, and the thraldom of his mother, and engaging
there is no checking him while he has the country in a war against Philip II.
this show of right on his side."      Sidney listened, but Berenger chafed,
And poor Mr. Adderley could only be- feeling only that he was being further
seech Mr. Sidney to take care of him.  carried out of reach of his explanation
with his kindred, and thus they arrived
at Montpipeau, a tower, tall and narrow,
like all French designs, but expanded on
CHAPTER VII.               the ground floor by wooden buildings
THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.         capable of containing the numerous train
of a royal hunter, and surrounded by an
"Either very gravely gay,
Or very gaily grave."       extent of waste land, without fine trees,
W. M. PRABD.  though with covert for deer, boars, and
MONTPIPEAIT, though in the present day  wolves sufficient for sport to royalty and
a suburb of Paris, was in the sixteenth  death to peasantry. Charles seemed to
century far enough from the city to form a sit more erect in his saddle, and to drink
sylvan retreat, where Charles IX. could in joy with every breath of the thymesnatch a short respite from the intrigues scented breeze, from the moment his
of his Court, under pretext of enjoying horse bounded on the hollow-sounding




THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.                          47
turf; and when he leaped to the ground, waiting, Madame de Sauve, the wife of the
with the elastic spring of youth, he held state secretary in attendance on Charles,
out his hands to Sidney and to Teligny, and a triumphant, coquettish beauty, then
crying, "Welcome, my friends. Here I a fat, good-humored Austrian dame, alam indeed a king!"                    ways called Madame la Comtesse, beIt was a lovely summer evening early  cause her German name was unproin August, and Charles bade the supper nounceable, and without whom the Queen
to be spread under the elms that shaded never stirred, and lastly a little figure,
a green lawn in front of the chateau. rounded yet slight, slender yet soft and
Etiquette was here so far relaxed as to plump, with a kitten-like alertness and
permit the sovereign to dine with his grace of motion, as she sprang out, colsuite, and tables, chairs, and benches lected the Queen's properties of fan, kerwere brought out, drapery festooned in  chief, pouncet-box, mantle, etc., and disthe trees to keep off sun and wind, the appeared into the chateau, without BerKing lay down in the fern and let his enger's being sure of any thing but that
happy dogs fondle him, and as a herd- her little black hat had a rose-colored
girl passed along a vista in the distance, feather in it.
driving her goats before her, Philip Sid-  The Queen was led to a chair placed
ney marvelled whether it was not even  under one of the largest trees, and there
thus in Arcadia.             I         Charles presented to her such of his genPresently there was a sound of horses tlemen as she was not yet acquainted
trampling, wheels moving, a party of with, the Baron de Ribaumont among
gaily-gilded archers of the guard jingled  the rest.
up, and in their midst was a coach. Ber-  " I have heard of M. de Ribaumont,"
enger's heart seemed to leap at once to she said, in a tone that made the color
his lips, as a glimpse of ruffs, hats, and mantle in his fair cheek, and with a sign
silks dawned on him through the win- of her hand she detained him at her side
dows.                                 till the King had strolled away with M aThe King rose from his lair among dame la Sauve, and no one remained near
the fern, the Admiral stood forward, all but her German countess. Then, changheads were bared, and from the coach- ing her tone to one of confidence, which
door alighted the young Queen; no longer the highbred homeliness of her Austrian
pale, subdued, and indifferent, but with a manner rendered inexpressibly engaging,
face shining with girlish delight, as she she said, " I must apologize, monsieur, for
held out her hand to the Admiral. " Ah! the giddiness of my sister-in-law, which I
this is well, this is beautiful," she ex- fear caused you some embarrassment."
claimed; "it is like our happy chases in  "Ah, madame," said Berenger, kneelthe Tyrol.  Ah, Sire!" to the King, ing on one knee as she addressed him,
"how I thank you for letting me be with  and his heart bounding with wild, undeyou."                                 fined hope; " I cannot be grateful enough.
After her Majesty, descended her gen- It was that which led to my being undetleman-usher.  Then came the lady-in- ceived."




48                     THIE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"It was true, then, that you were token of earnest thanks, before the repast
mistaken?" said the Queen.            was announced, and the King came to
"Treacherously deceived, madame, by lead her to the table spread beneath the
those whose interest it is to keep us trees. The whole party supped together,
apart," said Berenger, coloring with in- but Berenger could have only a distant
dignation; "they imposed my other cousin view of his little wife, looking very deon me as my wife, and caused her to think  mure and grave by the side of the Adme cruelly neglectful."              miral.
"I know," said the Queen.   "Yet     But when the meal was ended, there
Mlle. de Ribaumont is far more admired  was a loitering in the woodland paths,
than my little blackbird."           amid heathy openings or glades trimmed
"That may be, madame, but not by into discreet wildness fit for royal rusme."                                 ticity; the sun set in parting glory on
"Yet is it true that you came to break  one horizon, the moon rising in crimson
off the marriage?"                   majesty on the other. A musician at
"Yes, madame," said Berenger hon- intervals touched the guitar, and sang
estly, "but I had not seen her."     Spanish or Italian airs, whose soft or
"And now?" said the Queen, smil- quaint melody came dreamily through
ing.                                 the trees. Then it was that with beating
"I would rather die than give her heart Berenger stole up to the maiden as
up," said Berenger. " Oh, madame, help she stood behind the Queen, and ventured
us of your grace. Every one is trying to to whisper her name and clasp her hand.
part us; every one is arguing against us,  She turned, their eyes met, and she
but she is my own true wedded wife, and let him lead her apart into the wood. It
if you will but give her to me, all will be was not like a lover's tryst, it was more
well."                               like the continuation of their old childish
" I like you, M. de Ribaumont," said terms, only that he treated her as a thing
the Queen, looking him full in the face. of his own, that he was bound to secure
"You are like our own honest Germans and to guard, and she received him as her
at my home, and I think you mean all own lawful but tardy protector, to be
you say. I had much rather my dear treated with perfect reliance but with a
little Nid-de-Merle were with you than  certain playful resentment.
left here, to become like all the others.  "You will not run away from me
She is a good little Liebling,-how do now," he said, making full prize of her
you call it in French? She has told me hand and arm.
all, and truly I would help you with all  "Ah! is not she the dearest and best
my heart, but it is not as if I were the of queens?" and the large eyes were liftQueen-mother. You must have recourse ed up to him in such frank seeking of
to the King, who loves you well, and at sympathy that he could see into the
my request included you in the hunting- depths of their clear darkness.
party."                                  "It is her doing, then.  Though,
Berenger could only kiss her hand in Eustacie, when I knew the truth, not




THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.                        49
flood nor fire should keep me long from  to make me good? Ah, how kind he
you, my heart, my love, my wife."    was! "
"What! wife in spite of those vil-   "My father! Yes, Eustacie, lie loved
lanous letters? " she  said, trying to you to the last. He bade me, on his
pout.                                deathbed, give you his own Book of
"Wife for ever, inseparably. Only Psalhs, and tell you he had always loved
you must be able to swear that you and prayed for you."
knew nothing of the one that brought me " Ah! his Psalms! I shall love them!
here."                               Even at Bellaise, when first we came
"Poorme! No, indeed! There was there, we used to sing them, but the
C6line carried off at fourteen, Madame de Mother Abbess went out visiting, and
Blanchet a bride at fifteen; all marrying when she same back she said they were
hither and thither; and I-" she pulled heretical. And Sceur Monique would not
a face irresistibly droll-" I growing old let me say the texts he taught me, but I
enough to dress St. Catherine's hair, and would not forget them. I say them often
wondering where was M. le Baron."    in my heart."
"They thought me too young," said    "Then," he cried joyfully, "you will
Barenger, "to take on me the cares of  willingly embrace my religion?"
life."                                  "Be a Iuguenot!" she said distaste"So they were left to me?"       fully.
"Cares! what cares have you but      "I am not precisely a Huguenot; I
finding the Queen's fan?"            do not love them," he answered hastily,
" Little you know!" she said, half " but all shall be made clear to you at my
contemptuous, half mortified.        home in England."
"Nay, pardon me, ma mie. Who has     "England!" she said. "Must we live
troubled you?"                      in England? Away from every one?"
"Ah! you would call it nothing to be  "Ah, they will love you so much! I
beset by Narcisse; to be told one's bus- shall make you so happy there," he anband is faithless, till one half believes it; swered. "There you will see what it is
to be looked at by ugly eyes; to be liable to be true and trustworthy."
to be teased any day by Monsieur, or    "I had rather live at Chateau Leurre,
worse, by that mocking ape, M. d'Alenqon, or my own Nid-de-Merle," she replied.
and to have nobody who can or will hin- "There I should see Scour Monique, and
der it."                             my aunt, the Abbess, and we would have
She was sobbing by this time, and the peasants to dance in the castle-court.
he exclaimed, "Ah, would that I could  Oh! if you could but see the orchards at
revenge all! Never, never shall it be le Bocage, you would never want to go
again! What blessed grace has guarded  away. And we could come now and
you through all? "                   then to see my dear Queen."
"Did I not belong to you?" she said  "I am glad, at least you would not
exultingly. "And had not Sister Mo- live at Court."
nique, yes, and M. le Baron striven hard  "Oh, no, I have been more un4




50                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
happy here than ever I knew could be He fired the house; shot down those who
borne."                              escaped: if a prisoner were made, gave
And a very few words from him drew  him up to the Bishop's Court. B6noit,
out all that had happened to her since my poor good Benolt, who used to lead
they parted. Ier father had sent her to my palfrey, was first wounded, then tried,
Bellaise, a convent founded by the first and burnt-burnt in the place at Lugon!
of the Angevin branch, which was pre- I heard Narcisse laugh-laugh as he talked
sided over by his sister, and where Diane of the cries of the poor creatures in the
was also educated. The good sister Mo- conventicle. My own people, who loved
nique had been mistress of the pension- me! I was but twelve years old, but
naires, and had evidently taken much  even then the wretch would pay me a
pains to keep her charge innocent and half-mocking courtesy, as one destined to
devout. Diane had been taken to Court him; and the more I disdained him and
about two years before, but Eustacie had  said I belonged to you, the more both he
remained at the convent till some three and my aunt, the Abbess, smiled, as though
months since, when she had been ap- they had their bird in a cqge; but they
pointed Maid of Honor to the recently- left me in peace till my uncle brought me
married Queen; and her uncle had fetch- to Court, and then all began again: and
ed her from Anjou, and had informed when they said you gave me up, I had no
her at the same time that her young hus- hope, not even of a convent. But ah, it
band had turned Englishman and heretic, is all over now, and I am so happy! You
and that after a few formalities had been  are grown so gentle and so beautiful, Bercomplied with, she would become the enger, and so much taller than I ever
wife of her cousin, Narcisse. Now there figured you to myself, and you look as if
was no person whom she so much dreaded you could take me up in your arms, and
as Narcisse, and when Berenger spoke of let no harm ever happen to me."
him as a feeble fop, she shuddered as    "Never, never shall it,'"said Berenger,
though she knew him to have something feeling all manhood, strength, and love
of the tiger.                        stir within him, and growing many years
"Do you remember Benoit?" she in heart in that happy moment. "My
said, "poor Benolt who came to Nor- sweet little faithful wife, never fear again,
mandy as my laquais? When I went now you are mine."
back to Anjou he married a girl from    Ahas! poor children. They were a
Leurre, and went to aid his father at the good way from  the security they had
farm. The poor fellow had imbibed the begun to fancy for themselves. Early
Baron's doctrine-he spread it. It was the next morning, Berenger went in his
reported that there was a nest of Hugue- straightforward way to the King, thanked
nots on the estate. My cousin came to him, and requested his sanction for at
break it up with his gendarmes. O Ber- once producing themselves to the Court
enger, he would hear no entreaties, lie as Monsieur and Madame la Baronne de
had no mercy; he let them assemble on Ribaumont.
Sunday, that they might be all together.  At this Charles swore a great oath, as




THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.                         51
one in perplexity, and bade him not go so truth, I see no way out of the affair but
fast.                                an elopement."
"See here," said he, with the rude   "Sire!" exclaimed the astonished Berexpletives only too habitual with him; enger, whose strictly-disciplined educai' she is a pretty little girl, and she and tion had little prepared him for such
her lands are much better with an honest counsel.
man like you than with that pendard of a  "Look you! If I made you known
cousin; but you see he is bent on having as a wedded pair, the Chevalier and his
her, and he belongs to a cut-throat crew  son would not only assassinate you, but
that halt at nothing! I would not answer down on me would come my brother,
for your life, if you tempted him so strong- and my mother, and M. de Guise, and all
ly to rid himself of you."           their crew, veritably for giving the prize
"My own sword, sire, can guard my out of the mouth of their satellite, but
life."                               nominally for disregarding the Pope, fa"Plague upon your sword     What voring a heretical marriage, and I know
does the foolish youth think it would do not what, but, as things go here, that I
against half-a-dozen poniards and pistols should assuredly get the worst of it; but
in a lane black as hell's mouth?"   if you made safely off with your prize, no
The foolish youth was thinking how  one could gainsay you-I need know nothcould a king so full of fiery words and ing about it-and lady and lands would
strange oaths bear to make such an avowal be yours without dispute. You might
respecting his own capital and his own ride off from the skirts of the forest; I
courtiers. All he could do was to bow  would lead the hunt that way, and the
and reply, "Nevertheless, sire, at what- three days' riding would bring you to
ever risk, I cannot relinquish my wife; I Normandy, for you had best cross to Engwould take her at once to the Ambas- land immediately. When she is once there,
sador's."                            owned by your kindred, Monsieur le cousin
" How! sir! " interrupted Charles, may gnash his teeth as he will, he must
haughtily and angrily, " if you forget that make the best of it for the sake of the
you are a French nobleman still, I should honor of his house, and you can safely
remember it!   The Ambassador may come back and raise her people and yours
protect his  own countrymen - none to follow the Oriflamme when it takes
else."                               the field against Spain. What? you are
"I entreat your Majesty's pardon," still discontented! Speak out! Plain
said Berenger, anxious to retract his false speaking is a treat not often reserved for
step. " It was your goodness and the me."
gracious Queen's that made me hope for  "Sire, I am most grateful for your
your sanction."                      kindness, but I should greatly prefer going
"All the sanction Charles de Valois straightforward."
can give is yours, and welcome," said the  "Peste! Well is it said that a blunKing, hastily.' The sanction of the King dering Englishman goes always right beof France is another matter! To say the fore him! There, then! As your King




52                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
on the one hand, as the friend who has laughed at her, and said they just fitted
brought you and your wife together, sir, the French bride. It was very pretty to
it is my command that you do not cor- laugh at Eustacie; she made such a droll
promise me and embroil greater matters pretence at pouting with her rose-bud
than you can understand by publicly claim- lips, and her merry velvety eyes belied
ing this girl. Privately I will aid you to them so drolly.
the best of my ability; publicly, I com-  Such was to be the Queen's pastoral;
mand you, for my sake, if you heed not but when Elisabeth found the responsiyour own, to be silent!"             bility so entirely thrown on her, she began
Berenger sought out Sidney, who to look grave and frightened. It was no
smiled at his surprise.              doubt much more than she had intended
"Do you not see," he said, " that the when she brought about the meeting beKing is your friend, and would be very tween the young people, and the King,
glad to save the lady's lands from the who had planned the elopement, seemed
Guisards, but that he cannot say so; he still resolved to make all appear her affair.
can only befriend a Huguenot by stealth." She looked all day more like the grave,
"I would not be such a king for spiritless being she was at Court than
worlds!'                            like the bright young rural queen of the
However, Eustacie was enchanted. It evening before, and she was long in her
was like a prince and princess in Mere little oratory chapel in the evening. BerPerinne's fairy tales. Could they go like enger, who was waiting in the hall with
a shepherd and shepherdess? She had the other Huguenot gentlemen, thought
no fears-no scruples. Would she not be her devotions interminable since they dewith her husband?   It was the most layed all her ladies. At length, however,
charming frolic in the world. So the a page came up to him, and said in a low
King seemed to think it, though he was voice, "The Queen desires the presence
determined to call it all the Queen's doing of M. le Baron de Ribaumont."
-the first intrigue of her own, making  He followed the messenger, and found
her like all the rest of us-the Queen's himself in the little chapel, before a gailylittle comedy. IHe undertook to lead the adorned altar, and numerous little shrines
chase as far as possible in the direction of and niches round. Sidney would have
Normandy, when the young pair might dreaded a surreptitious attempt to make
ride on to an inn, meet fresh horses, and him conform, but Berenger had no notion
proceed to Chateau Leurre, and thence to of such perils, —le only saw that Eustacie
England. He would himself provide a was standing by the Queen's chair; the
safe-conduct, which, as Berenger suggest- King sat carelessly, perhaps a little suled, would represent them as a young Eng- lenly, in another chair, and a kindly-looklishman taking home his young wife. ing Austrian priest, the Queen's confessor,
Eustacie wanted at least to masquerade held a book in his hand.
as an English woman, and played off all  The Queen came to meet him. "For
the fragments of the language she had my sake," she said, with all her sweetcaught as a child, but Berenger only ness, "to ease my mind!. I should like to




THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.                          53
see my little Eustacie made entirely your their evasion could not be got up without
own ere you go. Father Meinhard tells some notice; and, moreover, it was neme it is safer that, when the parties were  cessary to procure money, for neither
under twelve years old, the troth should  Sidney nor Ribaumont had more than
be again exchanged. No other ceremony  enough with them for the needful liberis needed*"                            alities to the King's servants and hunts"I desire nothing but to have her men.    Indeed Berenger had spent all
made indissolubly my own," said Beren- that remained in his purse upon the wares
ger, bowing.                           of an Italian pedlar whom lie and Eusta"And the King permits," added Elisa- cie met in the woods, and whose gloves
betl.                                  "as sweet as fragrant posies," fans, scent"' The King growled out, "It is your boxes, pocket-mirrors, Genoa wire, Yencomedy, Madame, I meddle not."        ice chains, and other toys, afforded him
The Austrian priest had no common   the means of making up the gifts that he
language with Berenger but Latin. He wished to carry home to his sisters; and
asked a few questions, and on hearing the Eustacie's counsel was merrily given in
answers, declared that the sacrament of  the choice. And when the vendor began
marriage had been complete, but that, as with a meaning smile to recommend to
was often done in such cases-he would the young pair themselves a little silveronce more hear the troth-plight of the  netted heart as a love-token, and it turned
young pair. The brief formula was there- out that all Berenger's money was gone,
fore at once exchanged-the King, when  so that it could not be bought without
the Queen looked entreatingly at him, giving up the scented casket destined for
rousing himself to make the bride over Lucy, Eustacie turned with her sweetest,
to Berenger. As soon as the vows had   proudest smile, and said, " No, no, I will
been made, in the briefest manner the  not have it; what do we two want with
King broke in boisterously: "There, you love-tokens now? "
are twice married, to please Madame       Sidney had taken the youthful and rothere; but hold your tongues all of you  mantic view of the case, and considered
about this scene in the play."         himself to be taking the best possible care
Then almost pushing Eustacie over to  of his young friend, by enabling him to
Berenger, he added, "There she is; take  deal honorably with so charming a little
your wife, sir: but mind, she was as wife as Eustacie. Ambassador and tutor
much yours before as she is now."      would doubtless be very angry; but SidBut for all Berenger had said about ney could judge for himself of the lady,
"his wife," it was only now that he really  and he therefore threw himself into her
felt her his own, and became husband  interests, and sent his servant back to
rather than lover-man instead of boy. Paris to procure the necessary sum for
She was entirely his own now, and he  the journey of Master Henry Berenger
only desired to be away with her; but and Mistress Mary, his wife. Sidney was,
some days' delay was necessary. A chase on his return alone to Paris, to explain all
on the scale of the one that was to favor to the elders, and pacify them as best he




54                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
could; and his servant was already the toral for the special diversion of the holibearer of a letter from Berenger that was day of Montpipeau. The transparency of
to be sent at once to England with Wal- their indifference in company, their meetsingham's despatches, to prepare Lord ing eyes, their trysts with the secrecy of
Walwyn for the arrival of the runaways. an ostrich, were the subjects of constant
The poor boy labored to be impressively  amusement to the elders, more especially
calm and reasonable in his explanation of as the shyness, blushes, and caution were
the misrepresentation, and of his strong  much more on the side of the young husgrounds for assuming his rights, with his band than on that of the lady. Fresh
persuasion that his wife would readily from her convent, simple with childishjoin the English Church-a consideration  ness and innocence, it was to her only the
that he knew would greatly smoothe the natural completion of her life to be altoway for her. Indeed, his own position  gether Berenger's, and the brief concealwas impregnable: nobody could blame ment of their full union only added a
him for taking his own wife to himself, certain romantic enchantment, which addand he was so sure of her charms, that he ed to her exultation in her victory over
troubled himself very little about the im- her cruel kindred. She had been upon
pression she might make on his kindred. her own mind, poor child, for her few
If they loved her, it was all right; if not, weeks of Court life, but not long enough
he could take her back to her own castle, to make her grow older, though just so
and win fame and honor under the ban- long as to Inake the sense of having her
ner of France in the Low Countries. As own protector with her doubly precious.
to Lucy Thistlewood, she was far too dis- He, on the other hand, though full of
creet to feel any disappointment or dis- happiness, did also feel constantly deepenpleasure; or if she should, it was her own ing on him the sense of the charge and
fault and that of his mother, for all her responsibility he had assumed, hardly
life she had known him to be married. knowing how. The more dear Eustacie
So he finished his letter with a message became to him, the more she rested on
that the bells should be ready to ring, him and became entirely his, the more
and that when Philip heard three guns his boyhood and insouciance drifted away
fired on the coast, he might light the big behind him; and while he could hardly
beacon-pile above the Combe.          bear to have his darling a moment out of
Meantime " the Queen's Pastoral" his sight, the less he could endure any rewas much relished by all the spectators. mark or jest upon his affection for her.
The state of things was only avowed to  His home had been a refined one, where
Charles, Elisabeth, and Philip Sidney, Cecily's convent purity seemed to diffuse
and even the last did not know of the re- an atmosphere of modest reserve such as
newed troth which the King chose to   did not prevail in the Court of the Maiden
treat as such a secret; but no one had  Queen herself, and the lad of eighteen
any doubt of the mutual relations of M. had not seen enough of the outer world
de Ribaumont and Mlle. de Nid-de-Merle, to have rubbed off any of that grace. IHis
and their dream of bliss was like a pas- seniority to his little wife seemed to




THE QUEEN'S PASTORAL.                         55
show itself chiefly in his being put out lately invented by the Queen-mother,
of countenance for her, when she was too Berenger, as he watched the fearless horseinnocent and too proud of her secret manship and graceful hbearing of his newlymatronhood to understand or resent the won wife, had no speculations to spend
wit.                                 on the thoughtful face of the Admiral.
Little did he know that this was the And when at the outskirts of the wood
ballet-like interlude in a great and ter- the King's bewildering hunting-horn —
rible tragedy, whose first act was being sounding as it were now here, now there,
played out on the stage where they now low, now high-called every attendschemed and sported, like their own little ant to hasten to its summons, leaving the
drama, which was all the world to them, young squire and damsel errant with a
and nothingto the others. Berengerknew  long winding high-banked lane before
indeed that the Admiral was greatly re- them, they reckoned the dispersion to be
joiced that the Nid - de-Merle estates all for their sakes, and did not note, as
should go into Protestant hands, and that did Sidney's clear eye, that when the
the old gentleman lost no opportunity of entire company had come straggling home,
impressing on him that they were a heavy it was the King who came up with Mme.
trust, to be used for the benefit of" the de Sauve almost the last; and a short
Religion," and for the support of the space after, as if not to appear to have
King in his better mind. But it may be been with him, appeared the Admiral and
feared that he did not give a very at- his son-in-law.
tentive ear to all this. I-Ie did not like  Sidney also missed one of the Adto think of those estates; he would gladly  miral's most trusted attendants, and from
have left themt all to Narcisse, so that he this and other symptoms he formed his
might have their lady, and though quite conclusions that the King had scattered
willing to win his spurs under Charles his followers as much for the sake of an
and Coligny against the Spaniard, his unobserved conference with Coligny as
heart and head were far too full to take for the convenience of the lovers, and
in the web of politics. Sooth to say, the that letters had been despatched in conelopement in prospect seemed to him in- sequence of that meeting.
finitely more important than Pope or     Those letters were indeed of a kind to
Spaniard, Guise or Huguenot, and Coligny  change the face of affairs in France. Marobserved with a sigh to Teligny that he shal Strozzi, then commanding in the
was a good boy, but nothing but the south-west, was bidden to embark at La
merest boy, with eyes open only to him- Rochelle in the last week of August, to
self.                                 hasten to the succor of the Prince of
When Charles undertook to rehearse Orange against Spain, and letters were
their escape with them, and the Queen  despatched by Coligny to all the Huguenot
drove out in a little high-wheeled litter partisans bidding them assemble at MIelun
with Mme. la Comtesse, while Mme. de on the 3d of September, when they would
Sauve and Eustacie were mounted on gay  be in the immediate neighborhood of the
palfreys with the pommelled side-saddle, Court, which was bound for Fontaine



356                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
bleau. Was the star of the Guises indeed  the Admiral and her ladies round her, as
waning? Was Charles about to escape    judges of the prize.
from their hands, and commit himself to   "Here is le brouillon," he muttered.
an honest, high-minded policy, in which  "I thought we had been left in peace too
he might have been able to purify his long."
national Church, and win back to her      Elisabeth, who Brant6me says was
those whom her corruptions had driven  water, while her husband was fire, tried
to seek truth and morality beyond her to murmur some hopeful suggestion; and
pale?                                  poor little Eustacie, clasping her hands,
Alas! there was a bright pair of eyes could scarcely refrain from uttering the
that saw more than Philip Sidney's, a cry, "Oh, it is my uncle! Do not let him
pair of ears that heard more, a tongue and  take me!"
pen less faithful to guard a secret.      The next minute there appeared four
horses, greatly heated and jaded, drawing
+-'~ ~one of the Court coaches; and as it stopped at the castle gate, two ladies became
CHAPTER VIII.               visible within it-the portly form of Queen
" LE BROTUILLON."           Catherine, and on the back seat the graceful figure of Diane de Ribaumont.
"But never more the same two sister pearls 
Ran down the silken thread to kiss each other."  Charles swore a great oath under his
TENNYSON.   breath.  He made a step forward, but
BERENGER was obliged to crave per- then his glance falling on Eustacie's face,
mission from the King tospend some hours  which had flushed to the rosiest hue of
in riding with Osbert to the first hostel the carnation, he put his finger upon his
on their way, to make arrangements for lip with a menacing air, and then adthe relay of horses that was to meet them  vanced to greet his mother, followed by
there, and for the reception of Veronique, his gentlemen.
Eustacie's maid, who was to be sent off   "Fear not, my dear child," said the
very early in the morning on a pillion  young Queen, taking Eustacie's arm as
behind Osbert, taking with her the articles she rose for the same purpose. "Obey
of dress that would be wanted to change the King, and he will take care that all
her mistress from the huntress Maid of goes well."
Honor to the English dame.                The gentle Elisabeth was, however,
It was not long after he had been gone the least regarded member of the royal
that a sound of wheels and trampling   family. Her mother-in-law had not even
horses was heard in one of the forest waited to greet her, but had hurried the
drives. Charles, who was amusing him- King into his cabinet, with precipitation
self with shooting at a mark together with that made the young Queen's tender heart
Sidney and Teligny, handed his weapon  conclude that some dreadful disaster had
to an attendant, and came up with looks occurred, and before Mademoiselle de
of restless anxiety to his Queen, who was Ribaumont had had time to make her
placed in her chair under the tree, with  reverence, she exclaimed, breathlessly,




"LE BROUILLON."                             57' Oh, is it ill news?  Not fiom  Vi- Elisabeth, with tardy, hesitating, menenna?"                               tally-translated speech, inquired into every
"No, no, Madame; reassure yourself," circumstance of the death of the poor
replied Diane; "it is merely that her horses, and then into all the Court gosMajesty being on the way to MonQeaux  sip, which she was currently supposed
with Mesdames turned out of her road  neither to hear nor understand; and then
to make a flying visit to your graces, and bethought herself that this good Madeendeavor to persuade you to make her moiselle de Ribaumont could teach her
party complete."                      that embroidery stitch she had so long
Elisabeth looked as if questioning with  wished to learn. Taking her arm, she
herself if this would possibly be the whole entered the hall, and produced her work,
explanation. Monqeaux was a castle be- so as effectually to prevent any commulonging to the Queen Dowager at no great nication between the cousins; Eustacie,
distance from Montpipeau, but there had meanwhile her heart clinging to her
been no intention of leaving Paris before friend, felt her eyes filling with tears at
the wedding, which was fixed for the sev- the thoughts of how unkind her morrow's
enteenth of August, and the bridegroom flight would seem without one word of
was daily expected. She asked who were farewell or of confidence, and was already
the party at Mongeaux, and was told that devising tokens of tenderness to be left
Madame de Nemours had gone thither behind for Diane's consolation, when the
the evening before, with her son, M. de door of the cabinet opened, and Catherine
Guise, to make ready; and that Monsieur sailed down the stairs, with her peculiar
was escorting thither his two sisters, Ma- gliding step and sweep of dignity. The
dame de Lorraine and Madame Marguerite. King followed her with a face of irresoluThe Queen-mother had set out before them  tion and distress. He was evidently unvery early in the morning.            der her displeasure, but she advanced to
"You must have made great speed," the young Queen with much gracioussaid Elisabeth; "it is scarcely two ness, and an air of matronly solicitude.
o'clock."                                 "My daughter," she said, "I have
"Truly we did, Madame; two of our just assured the King that I cannot leave
horses even died upon the road, but the you in these damp forests. I could not
Queen was anxious to find the King ere be responsible for the results of the exhe should set off on one of his long posure any longer. It is for him to make
chases."                              his own arrangements, but I brought mj
Diane, at every spare moment, kept coach empty on purpose to transport you
her eyes interrogatively fixed on her and your ladies to Monceaux. The wocousin, and evidently expected that the men may follow with the mails.  You
taciturn Queen, to whom a long conver- can be ready as sooql as the horses are
sation, in any language but Spanish, was harnessed."
always a grievance, would soon dismiss   Elisabeth was used to passiveness.
them both; and Eustacie did not know  She turned one inquiring look to her huswhether to be thankful or impatient, as band, but he looked sullen, and, evidently




58                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
cowed by his mother, uttered not a word. herself; then, without giving time for an
She could only submit, and Catherine answer, lie flung away to his cabinet, and
herself added that there was room for might be heard pacing up and down there
Madame de Sauve and Mademoiselle de in a tempest of perplexity.  He came
Nid-de-Merle. Madame la Comtesse should forth only to order his horse, and desire
follow! It was self-evident that propriety M. de Sauve and a few grooms to be
would not admit of the only demoiselle ready instantly to ride with him. His
being left behind among the gentlemen. face was full of pitiable perplexity-the
Poor Eustacie, she looked mutely round  smallest obstacle was met with a savage
as if she hoped to escape! What was the oath; and he was evidently in all the
other unkindness to this? And ever un- misery of a weak yet passionate nature,
der the eyes of Diane too, who followed struggling with impotent violence against
her to their chamber, when she went to  a yoke that evidently mastered it.
prepare, so that she could not even leave  He flung a word to his guests that he
a token for him where he would have should return ere night, and they thus
been most certain to find it. Moments perceived that he did not intend their
were few; but at the very last, while the dismissal.
queens were being handed into the car-   "Poor youth," said Coligny, mildly,
riage, she caught the eye of Philip Sid- "he will be another being when we have
ney. IIe saw the appealing look, and him in our camp with the King of Nacame near. She tried to laugh. "Here varre for his companion."
is my gage, Monsieur Sidney," she said,  "And then the Admiral repaired to
and held out a rose-colored knot of rib- his chamber to write one of his many
bon; then, as he came near enough, she fond letters to the young wife of his old
whispered imploringly three of her few  age; while his son-in-law and Philip SidEnglish words-                       ney agreed to ride on, so as to meet poor
" Give to him."                   young Ribaumont, and prepare him for
"I take the gage as it is meant," said the blow that had befallen him personally,
Sidney, putting a knee to the ground, while they anxiously debated what this
and kissing the trembling fingers, ere he sudden descent of the Queen - mother
handed her into the carriage. He smiled might portend.  Teligny was ready to
and waved his hand as he met her earnest believe in any evil intention on her part,
eyes. One bow contained a scrap of pa- but he thought himself certain of the
per pricked with needle-holes. Sidney King's real sentiments, and in truth
would not have made out those pricks for Charles had never treated any man with
the whole world, even had he been able such confidence as this young Huguenot
to do more than hastily secure the token, noble, to whom he had told his opinion
before the unhappy King, with a par- of each of his counsellors, and his cornoxysm of violent interjections, demanded plete distrust of all. That pitying affecof him whether the Queen of England, tion which clings to those who cling to
woman though she were, ever were so it, as well as a true French loyalty of
beset, and never allowed a moment to  heart, made Teligny fully believe that




"LE BROUILLON."                           59
however Catherine might struggle to re- young Queen and her ladies, and then
gain her ascendency, and whatever appar- handed over the rose - colored token,
ent relapses might be caused by Charles's which Berenger took with vehement arhabitual subjection to her, yet the high  dor, then his features quivered as he read
aspirations and strong sense of justice in- the needle-pricked words-two that he
herent in the King were asserting them- had playfully insisted on her speaking and
selves as his youth was passing into man- spelling after him in his adopted tongue,
hood; and that the much-desired war then not vulgarized, but the tenderest in
would enable him to develop all his the language, "Sweet heart." That was
higher qualities. Sidney listened, partially  all, but to him they conveyed constancy
agreed, talked of caution, and mused to him and his, whatever might betide,
within himself whether violence might and an entreaty not to leave her to her
not sometimes be mistaken for vigor.  fate.
Ere long the merry cadence of an old  "My dearest! never! " he muttered;
English song fell with a homelike sound then turning hastily as he put the precious
upon Sidney's ear, and in another moment token into his bosom, he exclaimed, " Are
they were in sight of Berenger, trotting  their women yet gone?" and being asjoyously along, with a bouquet of crin- sured that they were not departed when
son and white heather blossoms in his the two fiiends had set out, he pushed his
hand, and his bright young face full of horse on at speed, so as to be able to send
exultation  in his arrangements.  He a reply by Veronique. He was barely in
shouted gaily as he saw them, calling out, time: the clumsy wagon-like conveyance
"I thought I should meet you! but I of the waiting-women stood at the door
wondered not to have heard the King's of the castle, in course of being packed
bugle-horn. Where are the rest of the with the Queen's wardrobe, amid the
hunters? "                            janglings of lackeys, and expostulating
"Unfortunately we have had another cries of femmes de chambre, all in the
sort of hunt to-day," said Sidney, who  worst possible humor at being crowded
Jiad ridden forward to meet him; "and up with their natural enemies, the houseone that I fear will disquiet you greatly." hold of the Queen-mother.
"How! Not her uncle?" exclaimed     Veronique, a round-faced Angevin
Berenger.                            girl, who like her lady had not parted
" No, cheer up, my friend, it was not with all her rustic simplicity and honesty,
she who was the object of the chase; it and who had been necessarily taken into
was this unlucky King," he added, speak- their confidence, was standing apart from
ing English, " who has been run to earth the whirl of confusion, holding the leashes
by his mother."                      of two or three little dogs that had been
"Nay, but what is that to me! " said confided to her care, that their keepers
Berenger, with impatient superiority to  might with more ease throw themselves
the affairs of the nation. " Iow does it into the melee. Her face lighted up as
touch us? "                         she saw the Baron de Ribaumont arrive.
Sidney related the abstraction of the  "Ah! Sir, Madame will be so happy




60                       THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
that I have seen Monsieur once more," challenged Coligny to a game at chess,
she exclaimed under her breath, as he and not a word passed during the proapproached her.                        tracted contest, either from the combatants
"Alas! there is not a moment to    or any other person in the hall. It was
write," he said, looking at the vehicle, as if the light had suddenly gone out to
already fast filling, "but give her these  others besides the disappointed and anxflowers; theywere gathered for her; give ious Berenger, and a dull shadow had
her ten thousand thanks for her token. fallen on the place only yesterday so lively,
Tell her to hold firm, and that neither joyous, and hopeful.
king nor queen, bolt nor bar, shall keep  Berenger, chained by the etiquette of
me from her. Tell her, our watchword   the royal presence, sat like a statue, his
is hope."                              back against the wall, his arms crossed on
The sharp eyes of the duenna of the his breast, his eyes fixed, chewing the cud
Queen's household, a rigid Spanish dame, of the memories of his dream of bliss, or
were already searching for stray members striving to frame the future to his will,
of her flock, and Veronique had to hurry  and to decide what was the next reasonto her place, while Berenger remained to  able step he could take, or whether his
hatch new plans, each wilder than the irrepressible longing to ride straight off
last, and torment himself with guesses to Monceaux, claim his wife, and take her
whether his project had been discovered. on horseback behind him, were a mere
Indeed. there were moments when he impracticable vision.
fancied the frustration of his purpose the  The King, having been checkmated
special object of Queen Catherine's jour- twice out of three times by the Admiral,
ney, but he had the wisdom to keep any  too honest a man not truly to accept his
such suggestion to himself.            declaration of not wanting courtly play,
The King came back by supper-time, pushed away the board, and was attended
looking no longer in a state of indecision, by them all to his coucher, which was
but pale and morose. He spoke to no usually made in public; and the Queen
one as he entered, and afterward took  being absent, the gentlemen were required
his place at the head of the supper-table to stand around him till he was ready to
in silence, which he did not break till the fall asleep. He did not seem disposed to
meal was nearly over.   Then he said talk, but begged Sidney to fetch his lute,
abruptly, " Gentlemen, our party has been  and sing to him some English airs that
broken up, and I imagine that after our had taken his fancy much when sung by
great hunt to-morrow, no one will have  Sidney and Berenger together.
any objection to return to Paris? We     Berenger felt as if they would choke
shall have merrier sport at Fontainebleau him in his present turbid state of resentful
when this most troublesome of weddings uncertainty; but even as the unhappy
is over."                             young King spoke, it was with a heavy,
There was nothing to be done but to  restless groan, as he added, " If you know
bow  acquiescence, and the King again  any lullaby that will give rest to a wretch,
became grimly silent. After supper he tormented beyond bearing, let us have it."




c   ~.-. \._N,
GIVE HER THESE FLOWERS."
i:;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'\''
"GIE H R   HES FOWES.








"LE BROUILLON."                           61
"Alas, Sire!" said the Admiral, seeing discovered. M. de Sauve, Charles's seethat no perilous ears remained in the retary, had disclosed his proceedings to
room; " there are better and more sooth- his wife; she, flattered by the attentions
ing words than any mundane melody."   of tlhe Duke of Anjou, betrayed them to
"Peste! My good father," said the him; and the Queen-mother, terrified at
King, petulantly, "has not old Phlipote, the change of policy, and the loss of the
my nurse, rocked me to the sound of your power she had enjoyed for so many years,
Marot's Psalms, and crooned her texts had hurried to the spot.
over me? I tell you I do not want to    Her influence over her son resembled
think. I want what will drive thought the fascination of a snake: once within
away-to dull-"                       her reach he was unable to resist her;
"Alas! what dulls slays," said the and when in their tete-d-tete she reproachAdmiral.                             ed him with ill faith toward her, prophe-' Let it. Nothing can be worse than  sied the overthrow of the Churchy the
the present," said the wretched Charles; desertion of his allies, the ruin of his
then, as if wishing to break away from  throne, and finally announced her intenColigny, he threw himself round toward tion of hiding her head in her own heredBerenger, and said, "Here! stoop down, itary estates in Auvergne, begging, as a
Ribaumont, a word with you. Your mat- last favor, that he would give his brother
ters have gone up the mountains, as the time to quit France instead of involving
Italians say, with mine. But never fear. him in his own ruin, the poor young man's
Keep silence and you shall have the bird  whole soul was in commotion. His mother
in your hand, only you mist be patient. knew her strength, left the poison to work,
Hold! I will make you and Monsieur and withdrew in displeasure to Monceaux,
Sidney gentlemen of my bedchamber, sure that, as in effect happened, he would
which will give you the entree of the not be long in following her, imploring
Louvre; and if you cannot get her out of her not to abandon him, and making an
it without an eclat, then you must be a unconditional surrender of himself, his
much duller fellow than half my Court. conscience, and his friends into her hands.
Only that it is not their own wives that Duplicity was so entirely the element of
they abstract."                      the Court, that,' even while thus yielding
With this Berenger must needs con- himself, it was as one checked, but content himself; and the certainty of the tinning the game; he still continued his
poor King's good will did enable him to connexion with the Huguenots, hoping to
do his part with Sidney in the songs that succeed in his aims by some future cournendeavored to soothe the torments of the ter-intrigue; and his real hatred of the
evil spirit which had on that day effected Court policy, and genuine desire to make
a fresh lodgment in that weak, unwilling common cause with them, served his
heart.                               mether's purpose completely, since his
It was not till the memoirs of the cajolery thus became sincere. Her pursecret actors in this tragedy were brought pose was, probably, not yet formed. It
to light that the key to these doings was was power that she loved, and hoped to




62                     THE. CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
secure by the intrigues she had played family, to be guarded and watched over
off all her life; but she herself was in the for her brother; and when she had first
hands of an infinitely more bloodthirsty  discovered the error that the young baron
and zealous faction, who could easily ac- was making between the two daughters
complish their ends by working on the of the house, it was partly in kindness to
womanly terrors of an unscrupulous mind. Eustacie, partly to carry out her father's
plans, and partly from her own pleasure
in conversing with any thing so candid
CHAPTER IZX. iand fresh as Berenger, that she had maintained the delusion. Her father believed
THE WEDDING WITH CRIMSON FAVORS.    himself to have placed Berenger so en"And trust me not at all or all in all."  tirely in the background, that he would
TENNYSON.  hardly be at Court long enough to disSo extensive was the Louvre, so widely cover the imposition; and Diane was not
separated the different suites of apart- devoid of a strong hope of winning his
ments, that Diane and Eustacie had not affection and bending his will so as to inmet after the pall-mall party till they sat duce him to become her husband, and
opposite to their several queens in the become a French courtier for her sakecoach driving through the woods, the el- a wild dream, but a better castle in the
der cousin curiously watching the eyes of air than she had ever yet indulged in.
the younger, so wistfully gazing at the  This arrangement was, however, diswindow, and now and then rapidly wink- concerted by the King's passion for Siding as though to force back a rebellious ney's society, Which brought young Ritear.                                baumont also to Court; and at the time
The cousins had been bred up to- of the mischievous introduction by Magether in the convent at Bellaise, and had dame Marguerite, Diane had perceived
only been separated by Diane's having that the mistake would soon be found
been brought to Court two years sooner out, and that she should no longer be
than Eustacie. They had always been on able to amuse herself with the freshvery kindly, affectionate terms: Diane colored, open-faced boy who was so untreating her little cousin with the patron- like all her former acquaintance; but the
age of an elder sister, and greatly con- magnetism that shows a woman when
tributing to shield her from the tempta- she produces an effect had been expetions of the Court. The elder cousin was rienced by her, and she had been sure
so much the more handsome, brilliant, that a few efforts more would warm and
and admired, that no notion of rivalry mould the wax in her fingers. That he
had crossed her mind; and Eustacie's in- should prefer a little browni thing, whose
heritance was regarded by her as reserved beauty was so inferior to her own, had
for her brother, and the means of ag- never crossed her mind; she did not even
grandizement and prosperity for herself know that he was invited to the pall-mall
and her father. She looked upon the party, and was greatly taken by surprise
child as a sort of piece of property of the  when her father sought an interview with




THE WEDDING WITH CRIMSON FAVORS.                      63
her, accused her of betraying their in- her father trusted to her to learn how far
terests, and told her that this foolish things had gone, and piqued at seeing the
young fellow declared that he had been transparent little creature, now glowing
mistaken, and having now discovered his and smiling with inward bliss, now pale,
veritable wife, protested against resigning  pensive, sighing, and anxious, and scornher.                                 ing her as too childish for the love that
By that time the whole party were she seemed to affect, was resolved on obgone to Montpipeau, but that the Baron  taining confidence from her.
was among them was not known at the     And when the whole female Court
Louvre until Queen Catherine, who had had sat down to the silk embroidery in
always treated Diane as rather a favored, which Catherine de Medicis excelled,
quick-witted protegee, commanded her at- Diane seated herself in the recess of a
tendance, and on her way let her know  window and beckoned her cousin to her
that Madame de Sauve had reported that, side, so that it was not possible to disobey.
among all the follies that were being per-  " Little one," she said, " why have
petrated at the hunting-seat, the young you cast off your poor cousin? There,
Queen was absolutely throwing the little sit down "-for Eustacie stood, with her
Nid-de-Merle into the arms of her Hugue- silk in her hand, as if meaning instantly
not husband, and that if measures were to return to her former place; and now,
not promptly taken all the great estates her cheeks in a flame, she answered in an
in the Bocage would be lost to the indignant whisper, "You know, Diane!
young Chevalier, and be carried over to How could you try to keep him from
the Huguenot interest.               me?"
Still Diane could not believe that it  "Because it was better for thee, my
was so much a matter of love as that the child, than to be pestered with an adyouth had begun to relish Court favor venturer," she said, smiling, though bitand to value the inheritance, and she terly.
could quite believe her little cousin had  "My husband! " returned Eustacie,
been flattered by a few attentions that proudly.
had no meaning in them. She was not      "Ball! You know better than that! "
prerared to find that Eustacie shrank  Then, as Eustacie was about to speak, but
from her, and tried to avoid a private in- checked herself, Diane added, " Yes, my
terview. In truth, the poor child had poor fiiend, he has a something engaging
received such injunctions from the Queen, about him, and we all know would have
and so stern a warning look from the hindered you from the pain and embarking, that she durst not utter a syllable rassment of a meeting with him."
of the evening that had sealed her lot,  Eustacie smiled a little saucy smile, as
and was so happy with her secret, so used though infinitely superior to them all.
to tell every thing to Diane, so longing to  " Pauvre petite," said Diane, nettled;
talk of her husband, that she was afraid  "she actually believes in his love."
of betraying herself if once they were   "I will not hear a word against my
alone together. Yet Diane, knowing that husband!" said Eustacie, stepping back,




64                      THE CIIAPLET OF PEARLS.
as if to return to her place, but Diane Diane must take the line of most cautious
rose and laid her hand on hers. "My    caresses, such as to throw her cousin off
dear," she said, "' we must not part thus. her guard; and this she was forced to
I only wish to know what touches my    confess to her father when he sought an
darling so nearly. I thought she loved  interview with her on the day of her reand clung to us; why should she have turn to Paris. He shook his head. "She
turned from me for the sake of one who must be on the watch," he said, and get
forgot her for half his life? What can  quickly into the silly girl's confidence.
he have done to master this silly little  What! had she not found out that the
heart?"                                young villain had been on the point of
" I cannot tell you, Diane," said Eus- eloping with her?  If such a thing as
tacie, simply; and though she looked   that should succeed, the whole family was
down, the color on her face was more of lost, and she was the only person who
a happy glow than a conscious blush. could prevent it. He trusted to her.
"I love him too much; only we under-     The Chevalier had evidently come to
stand each other now, and it is of no use regard his niece as his son's lawful propto try to separate us."               erty, and the Baron as the troublesome
"Ah, poor little thing, so she thinks,"  meddler; and Diane had much the same
said Diane, and as Eustacie again smiled  feeling, enhanced by sore jealousy at Eusas one incapable of being shaken in her tacie's triumph over her, and curiosity as
conviction, she added, "And how do you  to whether it could be indeed well foundknow that he loves you?"               ed. She had an opportunity of judging
Diane was startled by the bright eyes the same evening-mere habit always
that flashed on her and the bright color caused Eustacie to keep under her wing,
that made Eustacie perfectly beautiful, as if she could not be near the Queen, whenshe answered, "Because I am his wife! ever there was a reception, and to that
That is enough!"    Then, before her reception of course Berenger came, armed
cousin could speak again, "But, Diane, with his right as gentleman of the bedI promised not to speak of it. I know lie chamber. Eustacie was coloring and flutwould despise me if I broke my word, so tering, as if by the instinct of his presence,
I will not talk to you till I have leave to  even before the tall fair head became vistell you all, and I am going back to help ible, moving forward as well as the crowd
Gabrielle de Limeuil with her shep- would permit, and seeking about with
herdess."                             anxious eyes. Thle glances of the blue
Mademoiselle de Ribaumont felt her and the black eyes met at last, and a
attempt most unsatisfactory, but she knew  satisfied radiance illuminated each young
of old that Eustacie was very determined  face; then the young man steered his way
-all Bellaise knew that to oppose the  through the throng, but was caught midtiny Baronne was to make her headstrong  way by Coligny, and led up to be prein her resolution; and if she suspected  sented to a hook-nosed, dark-haired, livelythat she was coaxed, she only became looking young man, in a suit of black
more obstinate. To make any discoveries, richly laced with silver. It was the King




THE WEDDING WITH CRIMSON FAVORS.                       65
of Navarre, the royal bridegroom, who  remarks at each pause, while she listened
had entered Paris in state that afternoon. all the while to the murmurs behind the
Eustacie tried to be proud of the prefer- curtain. Yet it was not easy, with all
ment, but oh! she thought it mistimed, her Court-breeding, to appear indifferent,
and was gratified to mark certain wan- and solely absorbed in hearing of the bad
derings of the eye even while the gracious lodgings that had fallen to the share of
King was speaking. Then the Admiral the royal troops at Brescia, when such
said something that brought the girlish  sounds were reaching her. It was not so
rosy flush up to the very roots of the short much the actual words she heard, though
curls of flaxen hair, and made the young, these were the phrases-" mon ange, my
King's white teeth flash out in a mirthful, heart, my love;" those were common,
good-natured laugh, and thereupon the and Diane had lived in the Queen-mother's
way opened, and Berenger was beside squadron long enough to despise those
the two ladies, kissing Eustacie's hand, who uttered them  only less than those
but merely bowing to Diane.            who believed them. It was the full depth
She was ready to take the initiative.  of tenderness and earnestness, in the sub" My cousins deem me unpardonable,"  dued tones of the voice, that gave her a
she said; " yet I am going to purchase sense of quiet force and reality beyond all
their pardon. See this cabinet of porce- she had ever known. She had heard and
lain d la Reine, and Italian vases and overheard men pour out frantic ravings
gems, behind this curtain. There is all of passion, but never had listened to anythe siege of Troy, which M. le Baron will thing like the sweet protecting tenderness
no doubt explain to Mademoiselle, while of voice that seemed to embrace and shelI shall sit on this cushion, and endure the ter its object. Diane had no doubts now;
siege of St. Quentin from the bon Sieur de he had never so spoken to her; nay, perSelinville."                          haps he had had no such cadences in his
Monsieur de Selinville was the Court voice before. It was quite certain that
bore, who had been in every battle from  Eustacie was everything to him, she herPavia to Montcontour, and gave as full self nothing; she who might have had
memoirs of each as did Blaise de Monluc, any gallant in the Court at her feet, but
only viva voce instead of in writing. Diane had never seen one whom she could bewas rather a favorite of his; she knew  lieve in, whose sense of esteem had been
her way through all his adventures. So first awakened by this stranger lad who
soon as she had heard the description of despised her. Surely he was loving this
the King of Navarre's entry into Paris foolish child simply as his duty; his
that afternoon, and the old gentleman's belonging, as his right he might struggle
lamentation that his own two nephews hard for her, and if he gained her, be
were among the three hundred Huguenot greatly disappointed; for how could Eusgentlemen who had formed the escort, she tacie appreciate him, little empty-headed,
had only to observe whether his reminis- silly thing, who would be amused and
cences had gone to Italy or to Flanders in  satisfied by any Court flatterer?
order to be able to put in the appropriate  However, Diane held out and played
6D




66                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
her part, caught scraps of the conversa-  Strange was the pageant of that wedtion, and pieced them together, yet avoid- ding on Sunday, the 17th of August, 1572.
ed all appearance of inattention to M. de The outward seeming was magnificent,
Selinville, and finally dismissed him, and when all that was princely in France
manceuvred first Eustacie, and after a safe stood on the splendidly decked platform
interval Berenger, out of the cabinet. The in front of Notre Dame, around the bridelatter bowed as he bade her good-night, groom in the bright promise of his kingly
and said, with the most open and cordial endowments, and the bride in her peerless
of smiles, " Cousin, I thank you with all beauty. Brave, noble-hearted, and demy heart."                             voted were the gallant following of the
The bright look seemed to her another one, splendid and highly gifted the attendshaft. "What happiness!" said she to   antsof the other; and their union seemed
herself. "Can I overthrow it? Bah, it to promise peace to a long-distracted kingwill crumble of its own accord, even if I dom.
did nothing! And my father and brother!"  Yet what an abyss lay beneath those
Communication with her father and trappings! The bridegroom and his cornbrother was not always easy to Diane, for rades were as lions in the toils of the hunshe lived among the Queen-mother's la- ter, and the lure that had enticed them
dies. Her brother was quartered in a sort thither was the bride, herself so unwilling
of barrack among the gentlemen of Mon- a victim that her lips refused to utter the
sieur's suite, and the old Chevalier was espousal vows, and her head was forced
living in the room Berenger had taken for forward by her brother into a sign of conhim at the Croix de Lorraine, and it was sent, while the favored lover of her whole
only on the most public days that they  lifetime agreed to the sacrifice in order to
attended at the palace. Such a day how- purchase the vengeance for which he
ever there was on the ensuing Sunday, thirsted, and her mother, the corrupter
when Henry of Navarre and Marguerite   of her own children, looked complacently
of France were to be wedded. Their dis- on at her ready-dug pit of treachery and
pensation was come, but, to the great bloodshed.
relief of Eustacie, there was no answer   Among the many who played unconwith it to the application for the cassation  scious on the surface of that gulf of deof her marriage. In fact, this dispensation  struction, were the young creatures whose
had never emanated from the Pope at all. chief thought in the pageant was the
Rome would not sanction the union of a glance and smile from the gallery of the
daughter of France with a Huguenot Queen's ladies to the long procession of
prince, and Charles had forged the docu- the English Ambassador's train, as they
ment, probably with his mother's knowl- tried to remember their own marriage
edge, in the hope of spreading her toils there; Berenger with clear recollection
more completely round her prey, while  of his father's grave, anxious face, and
he trusted that the victims might prove too Eustacie chiefly remembering her own
strong for her, and destroy her web, and white satin and turquoise dress, which
in breaking forth might release himself.  indeed she had seen on every great fes



THE WEDDING WITH CRIMSON FAVORS.                     67
tival-day, as the best raiment of the image could not bear to join in the festivities of
of Notre Dame de Bellaise. She remained her wedding with another. The absence
in the choir during mass, but Berenger of so many distinguished persons caused
accompanied the rest of the Protestants the admission of many less constantly
with the bridegroom at their head into privileged, and thus it was that Diane
the nave, where Coligny beguiled the time there met both her father and brother,
with walking about, looking at the ban- who eagerly drew her into a window, and
ners that had been taken from himself demanded what she had to tell them,
and Cond6 at Montcontour and Jarnac, laughing too at the simplicity of the youth,
saying that he hoped soon to see them  who had left for the Chevalier a formal
taken down and replaced by Spanish ban- announcement that he had despatched his
ners. Berenger had followed, because he protest to Rome, and considered himself
felt the need of doing as Walsingham and as free to obtain his wife by any means
Sidney thought right, but he had not been in his power.
in London long enough to become hard-   "Where is la petite?" Narcisse deened to the desecration of churches by manded. "Behind her Queen, as usual?"
frequenting " Paul's Walk." He remained  "The young Queen keeps her room
bareheaded, and stood as near as he could to-night," returned Diane. "Nor do I
to the choir, listening to the notes that advise you, brother, to thrust yourself in
floated from the priests and acolytes at the way of la petite entetee just at presthe high altar, longing for the time when ent."
he and Eustacie should be one in their  "What, she is so besotted with the
prayers, and lost in a reverie, till a grave peach face? He shall pay for it! "
old nobleman passing near him reproved  "Brother, no duel. Father, remind
him for dallying with the worship of Rim- him that she would never forgive him."
mon. But his listening attitude had not  "Fear not, daughter," said the Chevapassed unobserved by others besides Hu- lier; " this folly can be ended by much
guenot observers.                    quieter modes, only you must first give
The wedding was followed by a ball us information."
at the Louvre, from which, however, all  "She tells me nothing," said Diane;
the stricter Huguenots absented thenm-  she is in one of her own humors-high
selves out of respect to Sunday, and among and mighty."
them the family and guests of the English  "Peste! Where is your vaunt of windAmbassador, who were in the meantime ing the little one round your finger?"
attending the divine service that had been  "With time, I said," replied Diane.
postponed on account of the morning's Curiously enough she had no compunction
ceremony. Neither was the Duke of Guise in worming secrets from Eustacie and
present at the entertainment, for though  betraying them, but she could not bear to
he had some months previously been think of the trap she had set for the unpiqued and entrapped into a marriage with suspecting youth, and how ingenuously he
Catherine of Cleves, yet his passion for had thanked her, little knowing how she
Marguerite was still so strong that he had listened to his inmost secrets.




68                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
" Time is everything," said her father; "Something I did overhear, but I know
" delay will be our ruin. Your inheritance not how to utter a treason."
will slip through your fingers, my son.  "There is no treason where there is
The youth will soon win favor by abjuring no trust, daughter," said the Chevalier, in
his heresy; he will play the same game the tone of a moral sage. "Speak! "
with the King as his father did with King  Diane never disobeyed her father, and
Henri. You will have nothing but your faltered, "Wednesday; it is for Wednessword, and for you, my poor girl, there is day. They mean to leave the palace in
nothing but to throw yourself on the kind- the midst of the masque: there is a marness of your aunt at Bellaise, if she can ket-boat from Leurre to meet them on
receive the vows of a dowerless maiden." the river; his servants will be in it."
"It will never be," said Narcisse.:On Wednesdayl" Father and son
"My rapier will soon dispose of a big looked at each other.
rustic like that, who knows just enough  "That shall be remedied," said Narof fencing to make him an easy prey. cisse.
What! I verily believe the great blond  "Child," added her father, turning
has caught her fancy!" as he saw Diane's kindly to Diane, "you have saved our
gesture of entreaty. "And yet the fine fortunes. There is but one thing more
fellow was willing enough to break the that you must do. Make her obtain the
marriage when he took   her for the pearls from him."
bride."                                 "Ah!" sighed Diane, half shocked;
"Nay, my son," argued the ChevaIier, half revengeful, as she thought how he
willing apparently to spare his daughter had withheld them from her.
from the sting of mortification, "as I said,'"It is necessary," said the Chevalier.
all can be done without danger of blood-" The heirloom of our house must not be
shed on either side, were we but aware risked. Secure the pearls, child, and you
of any renewed project of elopement. The will have done good service, and earned
pretty pair would be easily waylaid, the the marriage that shall reward you."
girl safe lodged at Bellaise, the boy sent  When he was gone, Diane pressed her
off to digest his pride in England."  hands together with a strange sense of
" Unhurt?" murmured Diane.       misery. He, who bad shrunk from the
Her father checked Narcisse's mockery memory of little Diane's untruthfulness,
at her solicitude, as he added, " Unhurt? what would hethink of the present Diane's
yes. He is a liberal-hearted, gracious, treachery? Yet it was to save his life and
fine young man, whom I should much that of her brother-and for the assertion
grieve to harm; but if you know of any of her victory over the little robber, Euplan of elopement and conceal it, my stacie.
daughter, then upon you will lie either
the ruin and disgrace of your family, or
the death of one or both of the youths."
Diane saw that her question had betrayed her knowledge. She spoke faintly.




MONSIEUR'S BALLET.                           69
~CHAPTER:X.        for letting herself, an Emperor's daughter,
CHAPTER X.
be trampled on where his brother FranMONSIEUR'S BALLET.           cis's queen, from her trumpery beggarly
realm, had held up her head, and put
"' The Styx had fast bound her
Nine times around her."       down la belle Mere; he had amused himPOPE, Ode on St. Cecilia's Day.  self with Elisabeth's pretty little patronEARLY on Monday morning came a age of the young Ribaunonts as a prommessage to Mademoiselle Nid-de-Merle ising commencement in intriguing like
that she was to prepare to act the part other people; but now he was absolutely
of a nymph of Paradise in the King's violent at any endeavor to make him withmasque on Wednesday night, and must stand his mother, and had driven his wife
dress at once to rehearse her part in the back into that cold, listless, indifferent
ballet specially designed by Monsieur.  shell of apathy from which affection and
Her first impulse was to hurry to her hope had begun to rouse her. She knew
own Queen, whom she entreated to find it would only make it the worse for her
some mode of exempting her. But Elis- little Nid-de-Merle for her to interpose
abeth, who was still in bed, looked dis- when Monsieur had made the choice.
tressed and frightened, made signs of cau-  And Eustacie was more afraid of
tion, and when the weeping girl was on  Monsieur than even of Narcisse, and her
the point of telling her of the project that Berenger could not be there to protect
would thus be ruined, silenced her by  her. However, there was protection in
saying, "Hush   my poor child, I have numbers.    With twelve nymphs, and
but meddled too much already. Our Lady  cavaliers to match, even the Duke of Angrant that I have not done you more harm  jou could not accomplish the being very
than good! Tell me no more."          insulting.  Eustacie- light, agile, and
Ah! Madame, I will be discreet, I fairy-like-gained considerable credit for
will tell you nothing; but if you would ready comprehension and graceful evoluonly interfere to spare me from this bal- tions. She had never been so much comlet! It is Monsieur's contrivance! Ah!plimented before, and was much cheered
Madame, could you but speak to the by praise. Diane showed herself highly
King!"                                 pleased with her little cousin's success,
"' Impossible, child," said the Queen  embraced her, and told her she was find-' Things are not here as they were at ing her true level at Court. She would
happy Montpipeau."                     be the prettiest of all the nymphs, who
And the poor young Queen turned her were all small, since fairies rather than
face in to her pillow, and wept.       Amazons were wanted in their position.
Every one who was not in a dream of  " And, Eustacie," she added, "you should
bliss like poor little Eustacie knew that wear the pearls."
the King had been in so savage a mood     "The pearls! " said Eustacie. "AhI
ever since his return that no one durst but he always wears them. I like to see
ask anything from  him. A little while them  on his bonnet-they are hardly
since, he had laughed at his gentle wife whiter than hlis forehead."




70                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"Foolish little thing! " said Diane, proud to like to be reminded that she was
" I shall think little of his love if he cares in any one's power.
to see himself in them    more than     " I thought," said Berenger, with the
you."                                gentleness that always made him manly
The shaft seemed carelessly shot, but in dealing with her, " I thought you liked
Diane knew that it would work, and so to own yourself mine."
it did.  Eustacie wanted to prove her   " Yes, sir, when you are good, and do
husband's love, not to herself but to her not try to hector me for what I cannot
cousin.                              avoid."
He made his way to her in the gar-   Berenger was candid enough to recoldens of the Louvre that evening, greatly lect that royal commands did not brook
dismayed at the report that had reached disobedience, and, being thoroughly enamhim that she was to figure as a nymph of oured besides of his little wife, he hastElysium. She would thus be in sight as ened to make his peace by saying, " True,
a prominent figure the whole evening, ma mie, this cannot be helped. I was a
even till an hour so late that the market- wretch to find fault. Think of it no
boat which Osbert had arranged for their more."
escape could not wait for them without   "You forgive me?" she said, softened
exciting suspicion, and besides his delicate instantly.
English feelings were revolted at the no-  "Forgive you? What for, pretty one?
tion of her forming a part of such a spec- For my forgetting that you are still a
tacle. She could not understand his dis- slave to a hateful court? "
pleasure. If they could not go on Wednes-  " Ah  then, if you forgive me, let me
day, they could go on Saturday; and wear the pearls."
as to her acting, half the noblest ladies in  " The poor pearls," said Berenger,
the Court would be in the piece, and if taken aback for a moment, " the meed of
English husbands did not like it, they  our forefather's valor, to form part of the
must be the tyrants she had always heard pageant and mummery? But never mind,
of.                                  sweetheart," for he could not bear to vex
"To be a gazing-stock —" began her again; "you shall have them toBerenger.                            night: only take care of them.   My
"Hush! monsieur, I will hear no mother would look black on me if she
more, or I shall take care how I put my- knew I had let them out of my care, but
self in your power."                 you and I are one, after all."
" That has been done for you, sweet-  Berenger could not bear to leave his
heart," he said, smiling with perhaps a wife near the Duke of Anjou and Narshade too much superiority; "you are cisse, and he offered himself to the King
mine entirely now."                  as an actor in the masque, much as he
"That is not kind," she pouted, al- detested all he heard of its subject. The
most crying —for between flattery, ex- King nodded comprehension, and told
citement, and disappointment, she was not him it was open to him either to be a delike herself that day, and she was too mon in a tight suit of black cloth, with




MONSIEUR'S BALLET.                           71
cloven-hoof shoes, a long tail, and a tri- twelve nymphs of Paradise, of whom
dent; or one of the Huguenots who were Eustacie was one.
to be repulsed from Paradise for the edifi-  On the other side of the stream was
cation of the spectators.  As these last another wheel, whose grisly emblems
were to wear suits of knightly armor, were reminders of Dante's infernal cirBerenger much preferred making one of cles, and were lighted by lurid flames,
them in spite of their doom.           while little bells were hung round so as
The masque was given at the hall of to make a harsh jangling sound, and all
the H6tel de Bourbon, where a noble of the Court who had any turn for bufgallery accommodated the audience, and  foonery were leaping and dancing about
left full space beneath for the spectators. as demons beneath it, and uttering wild
Down the centre of the stage flowed a shouts.
stream, broad enough to contain a boat,  King Charles and his two brothers
which was plied by the Abbe de Meri- stood on the margin of the Elysian lake.
cour-transformed by a gray beard and King Henry, the Prince of Cond6, and a
hair and dismal mask into Charon.     selection of the younger and gayer HuBut so unused to navigation was he, guenots, were the assailants,-storming
so crazy and ill-trimmed his craft, that Paradise to gain possession of the nymphs.
his first performance would have been his It was very illusive armor that they wore,
submersion in the Styx, had not Beren- thin scales of gold or silver as cuirasses
ger, better accustomed to boats than any  over their satin doublets, and the swords
of the dramatis personae, caught him by  and lances of festive combat in that Court
the arm as he was about to step in, point- had been of the bluntest foil ever since
ed out the perils, weighted the frail ves- the father of these princes had died besel, and given him a lesson in paddling it neath Montgomery's spear.  And when
to and fro, with such a masterly hand, the King and his brothers, one of them a
that, had there been time for a change of puny crooked boy, were the champions,
dress, the part of Charon would have the battle must needs be the merest
been unanimously transferred to him; show, though there were lookers-on who
but the delay could not be suffered, and  thought that, judging by appearances,
poor Mericour, in fear of a ducking, or the assailants ought to have the best
worse, of ridicule, balanced himself, pole chance of victory, both literal and allein hand, in the midst of the river. To  gorical.
the right of the river was Elysium-a cir-  However, these three guardian angels
cular island revolving on a wheel which  had choice allies in the shape of the inwas an absolute orrery, representing in fcrnal company, who, as fast as the Huconcentric circles the skies, with the sun, guenots crossed swords or shivered lances
moon, the seven planets, twelve signs, with their royal opponents, encircled
and the fixed stars, all illuminated with them with their long black arms, and
small lamps. The island itself was cov- dragged them struggling away to Tarered with verdure, in which, among tarus. Henry of Navarre yielded himself
bowers woven of gay flowers, reposed  with a good will to the horse-play with,




72                     TTHE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
which this was performed, resisting just malice, but of malignity.  It was too
enough to give his demoniacal captors a much for the boy's forbearance.  He
good deal of trouble, while yielding all struggled free, dashing his adversaries
the time, and taking them by surprise by  aside fiercely, and as they again gathered
agile efforts, that showed that if he were about him, with the leader shouting,
excluded froln Paradise it was only by  "Rage, too, rage! To the prey, imps-"
his own consent, and that he heartily en- he clenched his fist, and dealt the forejoyed the merriment. Most of his com- most foe such a blow on the chest as to
rades, in especial the young Count de level him at once with the ground.
Rochefoucauld, entered into the sport with  "Monsieur forgets," said a voice,
the same heartiness, but the Prince of friendly yet reproachful, "that this is but
Conde submitted to his fate with a gloomy  sport."
disgusted countenance, that added much   It was Henry of Navarre himself who
to the general mirth, and Berenger, with spoke, and bent to give a hand to the
Eustacie before his eyes, looking pale, fallen imp. A flush of shame rushed over
distressed, and ill at ease, was a great Berenger's face, already red with passion.
deal too much in earnest. He had so He felt that he had done wrong to use
veritable an impulse to leap forward and  his strength at such a moment, and that,
snatch her from  that giddy revolving  though there had been spite in his assailprison, that he struck against the sword  ant, he had not been therefore justified.
of Monsieur with a hearty good-will. His He was glad to see Narcisse rise lightly
silvered lath snapped in his hand, and at to his feet, evidently unhurt, and, with
that moment he was seized round the the frankness with which he had often
waist, and, when his furious struggle was made it up with Philip Thistlewood or
felt to be in earnest, he was pulled over his other English comrades after a sharp
on his back, while yells and shouts of tussle, he held out his hand, saying,
discordant laughter rang round him, as " Good demon, your pardon. You roused
demons pinioned him hand and foot.    my spirit, and I forgot myself."
He thought he heard a faint cry from   "Demons forget not," was the reply.
Eustacie, and, with a sudden, unexpected  "At him, imps." And a whole circle of
struggle, started into a sitting posture; hobgoblins closed upon him with their tribut a derisive voice, that well he knew, dents, forks, and other horrible implecried, "Ha, the deadly sin of pride! ments, to drive him back within two tall
Monsieur thinks his painted face pleases barred gates, which, illuminated by red
the ladies. To the depths with him-" flames, were to form the ghastly prison
and therewith one imp pulled him back- of the vanquished.  Perhaps fresh inward again, while others danced a war- dignities would have been attempted, had
dance round him, pointing their forks at not the King of Navarre thrown himself
him; and the prime tormenter, whom he on his side, shared with him the brunt of
perfectly recognized, not only leaped over all the grotesque weapons, and battled
him, but spurned at his face with a cloven  them off with infinite life and address,
foot, giving a blow, not of gay French  shielding him as it were from their rude




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MONSIEUR'S BALLET.                           73
insults by his own dexterity and inviola- to the three princely brothers, inciting
bility, though retreating all the time till them to claim the nymphs whom their
the infernal gates were closed on both.  valor had defended, and lead them through
Then Henry of Navarre, who never the mazes of a choric celestial dance.
forgot a face, held out his hand, saying,  This dance had been the special de-' Tartarus is no region of good omen for vice of Monsieur and the ballet-master,
fiiendships, M. de Ribaumont, but, for and during the last three days the houris
lack of yonder devil's claw, here is mine. had been almost danced off their legs
I like to meet-a comrade who can strike  with rehearsing it morning, noon, and
a hearty blow, and ask a hearty pardon." night, but one at least of them was scarce"I was too hot, Sire," confessed Ber- ly in a condition for its performance.
enger, with one of his ingenuous blushes, Eustacie, dizzied at the first minute by
"but he enraged me."                  the whirl of her Elysian merry-go-round,
"He means mischief," said Henry. had immediately after become conscious
" Remember, if you are molested respect- of that which she had been too childish
ing this matter, that you have here a to estimate merely in prospect, the exwitness that you did the part of a gentle- posure to universal gaze. Strange staring
man."                                 eyes, glaring lights, frightful imps seemed
Berenger bowed his thanks, and began  to wheel round her in an intolerable desomething about the honor, but his eye lirious succession. Her only refuge was
anxiously followed the circuit on which  in closing her eyes, but even this could
Eustacie was carried, and the glance was not long be persevered in, so necessary
quickly remarked.                     a part of the pageant was she; and be" How?  Your heart is spinning in sides, she had Berenger to look for, Berthat Mahometan paradise, and that is enger, whom she had foolishly laughed at
what put such force into your fists. for knowing how dreadful it would be.
Which of the houris is it? The little one But of course the endeavor to seek for
with the wistful eyes, who looked so one object with her eyes made the dizzideadly white and shrieked out when the ness even more dreadful; and when, at
devilry overturned you? Eh! Monsieur, length, she beheld him dragged down by
you are a happy man."                 the demoniacal creatures, whose horrors
"I should be, Sire;" and Berenger were magnified by her confused senses,
was on the point of confiding the situation  and the next moment she was twirled out
of his affairs to this most engaging of  of sight, her cry of distracted alarm was
princes, when a fresh supply of prisoners, irrepressible.  Carried round again and
chased with wild antics and fiendish yells again, on a wheel that to her was far
by the devils, came headlong in on them; more like Ixion's than that of the spheres,
and immediately, completing,. as Henry  she never cleared her perceptions as to
said, the galimatias of mythology, a paste- where he was, and only was half-madboard cloud was propelled on the stage, dened by the fantastic whirl of incongruand disclosed the deities Mercury and Cu- ous imagery, while she barely sat out
pid, who made a complimentary address Mercury's lengthy harangue; and when




74                      THIE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
her wheel stood still, and she was re-   "Nay, my fair one, I cannot leave you
leased, she could not stand, and was in- thus! Shall I send for my father to take
debted to Charon and one of her fellow- you home?"
nymphs for supporting her to a chair in  In fact be had already done this, and
the back of the scene. Kind Charon hur- the ladies added their counsel; for indeed
ried to bring her wine, the lady revived  the poor child could scarcely hold up her
her with essences, and the ballet-master head, but she said, "I should like to stay,
clamored for his performers.          if I could: a little, a little longer. Will
Ill or well, royal ballets must be they not open those dreadful bars?" she
danced. One long sob, one gaze round at added, presently.
the refreshing sight of a room no longer  "They are even now opening them,"
in motion, one wistful look at the gates said Mdlle. de Limeuil. "Hark! they
of Tartarus, and the misery of the throb- are going to fight en melee. Mdlle. de
bing, aching head must be disregarded. Nid-de-Merle is better now?"
The ballet-master touched the white      "Oh yes; let me not detain you."
cheeks with rouge, and she stepped for-  Eustacie would have risen, but the
ward just in time, for Monsieur himself two sisters had fluttered back, impatient
was coming angrily forward to learn the  to lose nothing of the sports; and her
cause of the delay.                   cousin in his grim  disguise stood full
Spectators said the windings of that before her. "No haste, cousin," he said;
dance were exquisitely graceful. It was "you are not fit to move."
well that Eustacie's drilling had been so  "Oh, then go," said Eustacie, suffering
complete, for she moved through it blind- too much not to be petulant. "You make
ly, senselessly, and when it was over was me worse."
led back between the two Demoiselles de  " And why? It was not always thus,"
Limeuil to the apartment that served as a began Narcisse, so eager to seize an opgreen-room, drooping and almost faint- portunity as to have little consideration
ing. They seated her in a chair, and con- for her condition; but she was unable to
sulted round her, and her cousin Narcisse bear any more, and broke out: " Yes, it
was among the first to approach; but no  was; I always detested you. I detest
sooner had she caught sight of his devilish  you more than ever, since you deceived
trim than with a little shriek she shut her me so cruelly. Oh, do but leave me! "
eyes, and flung herself to the other side  "You scorn me, then! You prefer to
of the chair.                         me-who have loved you so long-that
"My fair cousin," he said, opening  childish new-comer, who was ready enough
his black vizard, " do you not see me? to cast you off."
I am no demon, remember! I am your       "Prefer! He is my husband! It is
cousin."                              an insult for any one else to speak to me
"That makes it no better," said Eu- thus!" said Eustacie, drawing herself up,
stacie, too much disordered and confused  and rising to her feet; but she was forced
to be on her guard, and hiding her face to hold by the back of her chair, and
with her hands. " Go; go, I entreat."  Diane and her father appearing at that




THE KING'S TRAGEDY.                           75
moment, she tottered toward the former, beheld to-night betokens something at
and becoming quite passive under the once grisly and light-minded in the mood
influence of violent dizziness and head- of this country."
ache, made no objection to being half led,  Sidney thought so the more when on
half carried, through galleries that con- the second ensuing morning the Admiral
nected the Hotel de Bourbon with the de Coligny was shot through both hands
Louvre.                               by an assassin generally known to have
And thus it was that when Berenger been posted by the Duke of Guise, yet
had fought out his part in the menle of the often called by the sinister sobriquet of
prisoners released, and had maintained  Le Tueur du Roi.
the honors of the rose-colored token in
his helmet, he found that his lady-love
had been obliged by indisposition to return
CHtAPTER XI.
home; and while he stood, folding his             CHAPTER XI.
arms to restrain their strong inclination      TIlE KING'S TRAGEDY.
to take Narcisse by the throat and demand
" The night is come, no fears disturb
whether this were another of his decep-    The sleep of innocence.
tions, a trlain of fireworks suddenly ex-  They trust in kingly faith, and kingly oath.
They sleep, alas I they sleep.
ploded in the middle of the Styx-a last   Go to the palace, wouldst thou know
surprise, especially contrived by King     How hideous niht can be;
Eye is not closed in those accursed walls,
Charles, and so effectual that half the ladies  Nor heart is quiet there."
were shrieking, and imagining that they            SOUTHEY, Bartlomew's Eve.
and the whole hall had blown up together.  " YOVNG gentlemen," said Sir Francis
A long supper, full of revelry, suc- Walsingham, as he rose from dinner on
ceeded, and at length Sidney and Ribau- the Saturday, " are you bound for the
mont walked home together in the midst palace this evening?"
of their armed servants bearing torches.  "I am, so please your Excellency,"
All the way home Berenger was bitter in returned Berenger.
vituperation of the hateful pageant and   " I would have you both to understand
all its details.                      that you must have a care of yourselves,"
"Yea, truly," replied Sidney; "me- said the Ambassador. "The Admiral's
thought that it betokens disease in the  wound has justly caused much alarm, and
mind of a nation when their festive revelry I hear that the Protestants are going vais thus ghastly, rendering the most awful poring about in so noisy and incautious a
secrets made known by our God in order manner, crying out for justice, that it is
to warn man from sin into a mere antic but too likely that the party of the Queenlaughing-stock. Laughter should be moved mother and the Guises will be moved to
by what is fair and laughter-worthy-  strong measures."
even like such sports as our own' Mid-  "They will never dare lay a finger
summer Night's Dream.' I have read    upon us! " said Sidney.
that the bloody temper of Rome fed itself  " In a terror-stricken fray men are no
in gladiator shows, and verily, what we respecters of persons," replied Sir Francis.




76                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"This house is, of course, inviolable; ley's return to England. Osbert alone
and, whatever the madness of the people, was to go to the Louvre with him, after
we have stout hearts enough here to en- having seen the five English grooms on
force respect thereto; but I cannot an- board the little decked market-vessel on
swer even for an Englishman's life beyond the Seine, which was to await the fugiits precincts; and you, Ribaumont, whom  tives. Berenger was to present himself
I cannot even claim as my Queen's sub- in the palace as in his ordinary Court
ject-I greatly fear to trust you beyond attendance, and, contriving to elude notice
its bounds."                         among the throng who were there lodged,
" I cannot help it, Sir. Nay, with the was to take up his station at the foot of
most grateful thanks for all your goodness the stairs leading to the apartments of the
to ine, I must pray you not to take either ladies, whence Eustacie was to descend
alarm  or offence if I return not this at about eleven o'clock with her maid
night."                              Veronique. Landry Osbert was to join
" No more, my friend," said Walsing- them from the lackey's hall below, where
ham, quickly; "let me know nothing of he had a friend, and the connivance of
your purpose, but take care of yourself. the porter at the postern opening toward
I would you were safe at home again, the Seine had been secured.
though the desire may seem inhospitable.  Sidney wished much to accompany him
The sooner the better with whatever you to the palace, if his presence could be any
have to do."                         aid or protection, but on consideration it
"Is the danger so imminent?" asked was decided that his being at the Louvre
Sidney.                              was likely to attract notice to Ribaumont's
"I know nothing, Philip. All I can delaying there.  The two young men
tell is that, as I have read that dogs and therefore shook hands and parted, as
cattle scent an earthquake in the air, so youths who trusted that they had begun
men and women seem to breathe a sense a lifelong friendship, with mutual promof danger in this city. And to me the ises to write to one another-the one, the
graciousness with which the Huguenots adventures of his flight; the other, the
have been of late treated wears a strangely astonishment it would excite. And augususpicious air. Sudden and secret is the ries were exchanged of merry meetings in
blow like to be, and we cannot be too London, and of the admiration the lovely
much on our guard. Therefore remem- little wife would excite at Queen Elizaber, my young friends both, that your beth's court.
danger or death would fall heavily on   Then, with an embrace such as Engthose ye love and honor at home."    lish fiiends then gave, they separated at
So saying, he left the two youths, the gate; and Sidney stood watching, as
unwilling to seek further confidence, and Berenger walked free and bold down the
Berenger held his last consultation with street, his sword at his side, his cloak over
Sidney, to whom he gave directions for one shoulder, his feathered cap on one
making full explanation to Walsingham  side, showing his bright curling hair, a
in his absence, and expediting Mr. Adder- sunshiny picture of a victorious bride



THE KING'S TRAGEDY                            77
groom-such a picture as sent Philip Sid- thou wilt teach me, and I will strive to be
ney's wits back to Arcadia.           very good! And oh! let me but give one
It was not a day of special state, but farewell to Diane."
the palace was greatly crowded. The      "It is too hard to deny thee aught toHuguenots were in an excited mood, in- night, sweetheart, but judge for thyself.
dined to rally round Henry of Navarre, Think of the perils, and decide."
whose royal title made him be looked on  Before Eustacie could answer, a rough
as in a manner their monarch, though his voice came near, the King making noisy
kingdom had been swallowed by Spain, sport with the Count de Rochefoucauld
and he was no more than a French Duke and others. He was louder and ruder
distantly related to royalty in the male than Berenger had ever yet seen him,
line, and more nearly through his grand- almost giving the notion of intoxication;
mother and bride. The eight hundred   but neither he nor his brother Henry ever
gentlemen he had brought with him     tasted wine, though both had a strange
swarmed about his apartments, making  pleasure in being present at the orgies of
their lodging on staircases and in pas- their companions: the King, it was gensages; and to Berenger it seemed as if erally said, from love of the self-forgetfulthe King's guards and Monsieur's gentle- ness of excitement-the Duke of Anjou,
men must have come in in equal numbers because his cool brain there collected
to balance them. Narcisse was there, and men's secrets to serve afterwards for his
Berenger kept cautiously amid his Hugue- spiteful diversion.
not acquaintance, resolved not to have a  Berenger would willingly have esquarrel thrust on him which he could not caped notice, but his bright face and sunhonorably desert. It was late before he ny hair always made him conspicuous,
could work his way to the young Queen's and the King suddenly strode up to him.
reception-room, where he found Eustacie. "You here, sir! I thought you would
She looked almost as white as at the have managed your affairs so as to be
masque; but there was a graver, less gone long ago!" then before Berenger
childish expression in her face than he could reply, "However, since here you
had ever seen before, and her eyes glanced  are, come along with me to my bedchamconfidence when they met his.         ber!'We are to have a carouse there toBehind the Queen's chair a few words night that will ring through all Paris!
could be spoken.                      Yes, and shake Rochefoucauld out of his
"  a mie, art thou well again? Canst bed at midnight! You will be one of us,
bear this journey now? "             Ribaumont? I command it! "
"Quite well, now! quite ready. Oh     And without waiting for reply he
that we never may have masques in Eng- turned away with an arm round Rocheland! "                               foucauld's neck, and  boisterously adHe smiled-" Never such as this!"   dressed another of the company, almost
" Ah! thou knowest best. I am glad  as wildly as if he were in the mood that
I am thine already; I am so silly, thou the Scots call " fey."
wouldest never have chosen me!   But     "Royalty seems determined to frus



78                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
trate our plans," said Berenger, as soon as must go. There is the Queen going.
the King was out of hearing.          Diane, one loving word."
"But you will not go! His comrades    "Silly child, you shall have plenty
drink till-oh! two, three in the morn- another time," said Diane, breaking away.
ing. We should never get away."       "Follow thy Queen now! "
" No, I must risk his displeasure. We  Catherine, who  sat between   her
shall soon be beyond his reach. But at daughters Claude and Marguerite, looked
least I may make his invitation a reason  preoccupied, and summarily dismissed
for remaining in the Louvre. People are her daughter-in-law, Elisabeth, whom
departing! Soon wilt thou be my own." Eustacie was obliged to follow to her own
"As soon as the Queen's coucher is state-room. There all the forms of the
over! I have but to change to a travel- coucher were tediously gone through;
ling dress."                          every pin had its own ceremony, and
"At the foot of the winding stair. even when her Majesty was safely deposSweetest, be brave! "                 ited under her blue satin coverlet the
"I fear nothing with thee to guard ladies still stood round till she felt disme. See, the Queen is rising."        posed to fall asleep. Elisabeth was both
Elisabeth was in effect rising to make a sleepy and a considerate person, so that
her respectful progress to the rooms of this was not so protracted a vigil as was
the Queen-mother, to bid her good-night; sometimes exacted by the more wakeful
and Eustacie must follow. Would Diane princesses; but Eustacie could not csbe there?   Oh that the command to    cape from it till it was already almost
judge between her heart and her caution  midnight, the period for her tryst.
had not been given! Cruel kindness!      Her heart was very full. It was not
Diane was there, straight as a poplar, the usual flutter and terror of an eloping
cold as marble, with fixed eyes. Eustacie girl. Eustacie was a fearless little being,
stole up to her, and touched her.  She and her conscience had no alarms; her
turned with a start. "Cousin, you have affections were wholly with Berenger, and
been very good to me! " Diane started  her transient glimpses of him had been
again, as if stung. "You will love me as of something come out of a region
still, whatever you hear?"            higher,. tenderer, stronger, purer, more
"Is this meant for farewell?" said trustworthy, than that where she had
Diane, grasping her wrist.            dwelt. She was proud of belonging to
"Do not ask me, Diane. I may       him. She had felt upheld by the connot."                                 sciousness through years of waiting, and
"Where there is no trust there is now he more than realized her hopes,
no treason," said Diane, dreamily. "No, and she could have wept for exulting joy.
answer me not, little one, there will be Yet it was a strange, stealthy break with
time for that another day. Where is all she had to leave behind. The light to
he?"                                 which he belonged seemed strange, chill,
"In the ceil de boeuf, between the  dazzling light, and she shivered at the
King's and Queen's suites of rooms.  I thought of it, as if the new world, new




THE KING'S TRAGEDY.                           79
ideas, and new requirements could only of their cells; half-a-dozen voices asked
be endured with him to shield her and and answered the question, " What is it? "
help her on. And withal, there seemed  "They are bolting our door outside."
to her a shudder over the whole place on But only Eustacie sped like lightning
that night. The King's eyes looked wild along the passage, pulled at the door, and
and startled, the Queen-mother's calm  cried, "Open! Open, I say!"  No anwas strained, the Duchess of Lorraine was swer, but the other bolt creaked.
evidently in a state of strong nervous ex-  "You mistake, concierge!  We are
citement; there were strange sounds, never bolted in! My maid is shut out."
strange people moving about, a weight    No answer, but the step retreated.
on everything, as if they were under the Eustacie clasped her hands with a cry
shadow of a thunder-cloud. "Could it that she could hardly have repressed,
be only her own fancy? " she said to her- but which she regretted the next moself, because this was to be the great ment.
event of her life, for surely all these great  Gabrielle de Limeuil laughed. " What,
people could not know or heed that little Mademoiselle, are you afraid they will not
Eustacie de Ribaumont was to make her let us out to-morrow? "
escape that night!                        "My maid! " murmured Eustacie,
The trains of royalty were not sump- recollecting that she must give a color to
tuously lodged. France never has cared her distress.
so much for comfort as for display. The   "Ah! perhaps she will summon old
waiting-lady of the bedchamber slept in Pierre to open for us."
the anteroom of her mistress; the others,  This suggestion somewhat consoled
however high their rank, were closely Eustacie, and she stood intently listening
herded together up a winding stair lead- for Veronique's step, wishing that her
ing to a small passage, with tiny, cell-like companions would hold their peace; but
recesses, wherein the demoiselles slept, the adventure amused them, and they disoften with their maids, and then dressed  cussed whether it were a blunder of the
themselves in the space afforded by the concierge, or a piece of prudery of Mapassage.  Eustacie's cell was nearly at dame la Comtesse, or, after all, a precauthe end of the gallery, and, exchanging tion. The palace so full of strange peo" good-nights " with her companions, she ple, who could say what might happen?
proceeded to her recess, where she ex- and there was a talk of a conspiracy of
pected to find Veronique ready to adjust the Huguenots. At any rate, every one
her dress. Veronique, however, was miss- was too much frightened to go to sleep,
ing; but anxious to lose no time, she had  and, some sitting on the floor, some on a
taken off her delicate white satin farthin- chest, some on a bed, the girls huddled
gale to change it for an unobtrusive dark together in Gabrielle de Limeuil's recess,
woollen kirtle, when to her surprise and the nearest to the door, and one after
dismay, a loud creaking, growling sound another related horrible tales of blood,
made itself heard outside the door at the murder, and vengeance-then, alas! only
other end. Half-a-dozen heads came out too frequent occurrences in their unhappy




80                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
land-each bringing some frightful con- that one impulse to spring forward the
tribution from her own province, each first moment the bolt should be drawn.
enhancing upon the last-told story, and But still the door remained fast shut I
ever and anon pausing with bated breath
at some fancied sound, or supposed start
of one of the others; then clinging close        CAPTER XII
together, and renewing the ghastly anecTHE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.
dote, at first in a hushed voice that grew
louder with the interest of the story.  "A human shambles with blood-reeking floor."
Eustacie alone would not join the cluster.   sc. Agamemnn (Miss SWIsWICx).
Her cloak round her shoulders, she stood  THE door was opened at last, but not
with her back against the door, ready to till full daylight. It found Eustacie as
profit by the slightest indication outside ready to rush forth, past all resistance, as
of a step that might lead to her release, she had been the night before, and she
or at least enable her to communicate  was already in the doorway when her
with Veronique; longing ardently that maid Veronique, her face swollen with
her companions would go to bed, yet un- weeping, caught her by the hands and
able to avoid listening with the like implored her to turn back and listen.
dreadful fascination to each of the terrible  And words about a rising of the Huhistories, which added each moment to  guenots, a general destruction, corpses
the nervous horror of the whole party. lying in the court-were already passing
Only one, a dull and composed girl, felt between the other maidens and the conthe influence of weariness, and dozed cierge. Eustacie turned upon her servant:
with her head in her companion's lap; "Veronique, what means it? Where is
but she was awakened by one general he?"
shudder and suppressed cry when the      "Alas! alas! Ah! Mademoiselle, do
hoarse clang of a bell struck on the ears but lie down! Woe is me! I saw it all I
of the already terrified, excited maidens.  Lie down, and I will tell you."
"The tocsin! The bell of St. Ger-     "Tell! I will not move till you have
main! Fire!   No, a Huguenot rising! told me where my husband is," said EuFire! Oh, let us out I Let us out! The stacie, gazing with eyes that seemed to
window! Where is the fire! Nowhere! Veronique turned to stone.
See the lights! Hark, that was a shot!   "Ah! my lady-my dear lady! I
It was in the palace! A heretic rising! was on the turn of the stairs and saw all.
Ah! there was to be a slaughter of the The traitor-the Chevalier Narcisseheretics! I heard it whispered. Oh, letcame on him, cloaked like you-andus out! Open the door!"              shot him dead-with, oh, such cruel words
But nobody heard: nobody opened. of mockery!    Oh! woe the day! Stay,
There was one who stood without word  stay, dear lady, the place is all bloodor cry, close to the door-her eyes di- they are slaying them all-all the Huguelated, her cheek colorless, her whole per- nots! Will no one stop her-Mademoison, soul and body alike, concentrated in selle-ma'm'selle-"




THE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.                        81
For Eustacie no sooner gathered the springing down the steps into the court,
sense of Veronique's words than she when at that moment the young Abb6 de
darted suddenly forward, and was in a Mericour was seen advancing, pale, breathfew seconds more at the foot of the less, horror-struck, and to him  Diane
stairs. There, indeed, lay a pool of dark  shrieked to arrest the headlong course.
gore and almost in it Berenger's black He obeyed, seeing the wild distraction of
velvet cap, with the heron-plume. Eu- the white face and widely-glaring eyes,
stacie, with a low cry, snatched it up, con- took her by both hands, and held her in
tinned her headlong course along the cor- a firm grasp, saying, "Alas! lady, you
ridor, swiftly as a bird, Veronique fol- cannot go out. It is no sight for any
lowing, and vainly shrieking to her to one."
stop. Diane, appearing at the other end  "They are killing the Protestants,"
of the gallery, saw but for a moment the she said; "I am one! Let me find them
little figure, with the cloak gathered and die."
round her neck, and floating behind her,  A strong effort to free herself ensued,
understood Veronique's cry and joined in but it was so suddenly succeeded by a
the chase across hall and gallery, where swoon that the Abbe could scarcely save
more stains were to be seen, even down her from dropping on the steps. Diane
to the marble stairs, every step slippery begged him to carry her in, since they
with blood. Others there were who saw  were in full view of men-at-arms in the
and stood aghast, not understanding the court, and, frightful to say, of some of the
apparition that flitted on so swiftly, never ladies of the palace, who, in the frenzy
pausing till at the great door at the foot of that dreadful time, had actually come
of the stairs she encountered a gigantic down to examine the half-stripped corpses
Scottish archer, armed to the teeth. She of the men with whom they had jested
touched his arm, and standing with folded not twelve hours before.
arms looked up and said, "Good soldier,  "Ah! it is no wonder," said the
kill me! I am a Huguenot!"           youthful Abbe, as he tenderly lifted the
"Stop her! bring her back!" cried inanimate figure. "This has been a night
Diane from behind, " It is Mdlle. de Nid- of horrors. I was coming in haste to
de-Merle!"                           know whether the King knows of this
"No, no! My husband is a Hugue- frightful plot of M. de Guise and the
not! I am a Huguenot! Let them kill bloody work that is passing in Paris."
me, I say-!" struggling with Diane,     "The King!" exclaimed Diane, "M.
who had now come up with her, and was l'Abb6, do you know where he is now?
trying to draw her back.             In the balcony overlooking the river,
"Puir lassie," muttered  the stout taking aim at the fugitives! Take care.
Scotsman to himself, "this fearsome Even your soutane would not save you
night has driven her demented."      if M. d'O. and his crew heard you. But I
But like a true sentinel he moved must pray you to aid me with this poor
neither hand nor foot to interfere, as child! I dread that her wild cries should
shaking herself loose from Diane she was be heard."
6




82                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
The Abb6, struck dumb with horror,    " Ah! Mademoiselle, it will make you
silently obeyed Mdlle. de Ribaumont, and ill again."
brought the still insensible Eustacie to  "I will be ill-I will die! Heaven's
the chamber, now deserted by all the slaying is better than man's.  Tell her
young ladies. He laid her on her bed, how you saw Narcisse."
and finding he could do no more, left her  "False girl! " burst out Diane.
to her cousin and her maid.               "No, no," cried Veronique.  "Oh,
The poor child had been unwell and pardon me, Mademoiselle, I could not
feverish ever since the masque, and the help it."
suspense of these few days with the ten-  In spite of her reluctance, she was
sion of that horrible night had prostrated  forced to tell that she had found herself
her. She only awoke from her swoon to locked out of her mistress's room, and
turn her head from the light and refuse to  after losing much time in searching for
be spoken to.                         the concierge, learned that the ladies were
"But Eustacie, child, listen; this is locked up by order of the Queen-mother,
all in vain-hle lives," said Diane.   and was strongly advised not to be run"Weary me not with falsehoods," ning about the passages. After a time,
faintly said Eustacie.                however, while sitting with the con"No! no! no! They meant to hin- cierge's wife, she heard such frightful
der your flight, but-"                whispers from men with white badges,
"They knew of it?" cried Eustacie, who were admitted one by one by the
sitting up suddenly.  "Then you told porter, and all led silently to a small
them. Go-go; let me never see you lower room, that she resolved on seeking
more! You have been his death."       out the Baron's servant, and sending him
"Listen! I am sure he lives! What, to warn his master, while she would take
would they injure one whom my father up her station at her lady's door. She
loved. I heard my father say he would found Osbert, and with him was ascendnot have him hurt. Depend upon it he ing a narrow spiral leading from   the
is safe on his way to England."       offices-she, unfortunately, the foremost.
Eustacie gave a short but frightful As she came to the top, a scuffle was
hysterical laugh, and pointed to Vero- going on-four men had thrown themnique. "She saw it," she said; "ask her." selves upon one, and a torch distinctly
"Saw  what?" said Diane, turning  showed her the younger chevalier holding
fiercely on Veronique. "What vile de- a pistol to the cheek of the fallen man,
ceit have you half killed your lady and she heard the words, " Le baiser
with?"                               d'Eustacie! Je te barbouillerai ce chien
"Alas! Mademoiselle, I did but tell de visage," and at the same moment the
her what I had seen," sighed Veronique, pistol was discharged. She sprang back,
trembling.                            oversetting, as she believed, Osbert, and
" Tell me," said Diane, passionately.  fled shrieking to the room of the concierge,
"Yes, everything," said Eustacie, sit- who shut her in till morning.
ting up.                                 "And how-how," stammered Di



THE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.                            83
ane,  should you know     it was the was well pleased to see her blood flowing,
Baron?"                               and sank back on her pillow murmuring
Eustacie,with a death-like look, showed  that she had confessed her husband's faith,
for a moment what even in her swoon    and would soon be one with him, and
she had held clenched to her bosom, the Diane feared for a moment lest the swoon
velvet cap soaked with blood.          should indeed be death.
"Besides," added Veronique, resolved  The bleeding was so far effectual that
to defend her assertion, "whom else would it diminished the fever, and Eustacie
the words suit? Besides, are not all the became rational again when she had
heretic gentlemen dead? Why, as I sat dozed and wakened, but she was little
there in the porter's room, I heard M. d'O. able or willing to speak, and would not
call each one of them by name, one after so much as listen to Diane's asseverations
the other, into the court, and there the that Veronique had made a frightful error,
white-sleeves cut them down or pistolled  and that the Baron would prove to be
them like sheep for the slaughter. They  alive. Whether it were that the admislie all out there on the terrace like so sion that Diane had known of the project
many carcases at market ready for winter for preventing the elopement that invalisalting."                              dated her words, or whether the sufferer's
"All slain?" said Eustacie, dreamily. instinct made her believe Veronique's
"All, except those that the King called  testimony rather than her cousin's assurinto his own garde robe."              ances, it was all " cramming words into
" Then, I slew him! " Eustacie sank  her ear against the stomach of her sense,"
back.                                  and she turned away from them with a
"I tell you, child," said Diane, almost piteous, petulant hopelessness: " Could
angrily, "he lives. Not a hair of his head  they not even let her alone to die in
was to be hurt! The girl deceives you."  peace! "
But Eustacie had again become insen-  Diane was almost angered at this little
sible, and awoke delirious, entreating to silly child being in such an agony of sorhave the door opened, and fancying her- row-she, who could never have known
self still on the revolving elysium, " Oh, how to love him. And after all this perdemons! demons, have pity!" was her sistent grief was wilfully thrown away.
cry.                                   For Diane spoke in perfect sincerity when
Diane's soothings were like speaking  she taxed Veronique with an injurious,
to the winds; and at last she saw the barbarous mistake. She knew her father's
necessity of calling in farther aid; but strong aversion to violence, and the real
afraid of the scandal that the poor girl's predilection that Berenger's good mien,
raving accusations might create, she would respectful manners, and liberal usage had
not send for the Huguenot surgeon, Am- won from him, and she believed he had
broise Pare, whom the King had carefully  much rather the youth lived, provided he
secured in his own apartments, but em- were inoffensive. No doubt a little force
ployed one of the barber valets of the had been necessary to kidnap one so tall,
Queen-mother's household. Poor Eustacie  active, and determined, and Veronique




84                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
had made up her horrible tale after the Normans and blue-blooded Franks, lads
usual custom of waiting-maids.         scarce sixteen and stalwart warriors, lay
Nothing else should be true. Did she in one melancholy rank. She at least
think otherwise, she should be even more bore away the certainty that the English
frantic than Eustacie! Why, it would be Ribaunont was not there; and if not, he
her own doing! She had betrayed the must be safe! She could obtain no further
day of the escape-she had held aloof certainty, for she knew that she must not
from warning.  There was pleasure in   expect to see either her father or brother.
securing Nid-de-Merle for her brother, There was a panic throughout the city.
pleasure in baulking the foolish child who All Paris imagined that the Huguenots
had won the heart that disregarded her. were on the point of rising and slaying
Nay, there,might have been even pleasure all the Catholics, and, with the savagery
in the destruction of the scorner of her of alarmed cowardice, the citizens and the
charms-the foe of her house-there might mob were assisting the armed bands of
have been pride in receiving Queen Cath- the Dukes of Anjou and Guise to comerine's dexterous hint that she had been  plete the slaughter, dragging their lodgers
an apt pupil if the young Baron had only from their hiding-places, and denouncing
been something different-something less all whom they suspected of reluctance to
fair, gracious, bright, and pure.  One mass and confession. But on the Monday,
bright angel seemed to have flitted across Diane was able to send an urgent message
her path, and nothing should induce her to her father that he must come to speak
to believe she had destroyed him.      with her, for Mdlle. de Nid-de-Merle was
The stripped corpses of the murdered  extremely ill. She would meet him in
Huguenots of the palace had been laid in the garden after morning mass.
a line on the terrace, and the ladies who  There accordingly, when she stepped
had laughed with them the night before forth pale, rigid, but stately, with her
went to inspect them in death. A few  large fan in her hand to serve asa parasol,
remnants of Sceur Monique's influence she met both him and her brother. She
would have withheld Diane but that a was for a moment sorry, for she had much
frenzy of suspense was growing on her. power over her father, while she was
She must see for herself. If it were so, afraid of her brother's sarcastic tongue
she must secure a fragment of the shining  and eye; she knew he never scrupled to
flaxen hair, if only as a token that any- sting her wherever she was most sensithing so pure and bright had walked the tive, and she would have been able to
earth.                                 extract much more from her father in his
She went on the horrible quest, shrink- absence. France has never been without
ing where others stared. For it was a a tendency to produce the tiger-monkey,
pitiless time, and the squadron of the or ferocious fop; and the genus was in
Queen-mother were as lost to woman- its full ascendency under the sons of
hood as the fishwomen of two centuries Catherine de Medicis, when the dregs of
later. But Diane saw no corpse at once FranQois the First's Pseudo-chivalry were
so tall, so young, and so fair, though blond not extinct-when horrible, retaliating




THE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.                         85
civil wars of extermination had made life  "Then he lives, father?" exclaimed
cheap; nefarious persecutions had hard- Diane. " He lives, though she is not to
cued the heart and steeled the eye, and hear it-say- "
the licentiousness promoted by the shifty  "What know I?" said the old man
Queen as one of her instruments of gov- evasively.  "On a night of confusion
ernment had darkened the whole under- many mischances are sure to occur! Lurkstanding. The most hateful heights of ing in the palace at the very moment
perfidy, effeminacy, and hypocrisy were when there was a search for the conspirnot reached till poor Charles IX., who  ators, it would have been a miracle had
only committed crimes on compulsion, the poor young man escaped."
was in his grave, and Henry III. on the  Diane turned still whiter. " Then,"
throne; but Narcisse de Ribaumont was she said, " that was why you made Monone of the choice companions of the latter, sieur put Eustacie into the ballet, that
and after the night and day of murder they might not go on Wednesday! "
now stood before his sister with scented  " It was well hinted by you, daughter.
hair and handkerchief-the last, laced, We could not have effectually stopped
delicately held by a hand in an embroid- them  on Wednesday without making a
ered glove -emerald pendants in his ears, scandal."
a moustache twisted into sharp points    "Once more," said Diane, gasping,
and turned up like an eternal sardonic though still resolute; " is not the story
smile, and he led a little white poodle by told by Eustacie's woman false-that she
a rose-colored ribbon.                saw him-pistolled-by you, brother! "
"Well, sister," he said, as he went   "Peste!!" cried Narcisse. "Was the
through the motions of kissing her hand, prying wench there? I thought the little
and she embraced her father; "so you  one might be satisfied that he had neighdon't know how to deal with megrims bor's fare. No matter; what is done for
and transports?"                     one's beaux yeux is easily pardoned-and
"Father," said Diane, not vouchsafing if not, why, I have her all the same! "
any attention, "unless you can send her,  "Nevertheless, daughter," said the
some assurance of his life, I will not answer Chevalier gravely, " the woman must be
for the consequences."                silenced. Either she must be sent home,
Narcisse laughed. " Take her this dog, or taught so to swear to having been miswith my compliments. That is the way taken, that la petite may acquit your
to deal with such a child as that."   brother! But what now, my daughter! "
"You do not know what you say,        "She is livid!" exclaimed Narcisse,
brother," answered Diane with dignity. with his sneer. " What, sir, did not you
"It goes deeper than that."           know she was smitten with the peach on
" The deeper it goes, child," said the the top of a pole?"
elder chevalier, "the better it is that she  "Enough, brother," said Diane, reshould be undeceived as soon as possible. covering herself enough to speak hoarsely,
She will recover, and be amenable the but with hard dignity. " You have slain
sooner."                              -you need not insult, one whom you




86                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
have lost the power of understand- like one sick with misery and repugnance
ing!"                                 to the life and world that lay before her"Shallow  schoolboys certainly form  the hard world that had quenched that
no part of my study, save to kick them  one fair light and mocked her pity. It
down-stairs when they grow impudent,"  was a misery of solitude, and yet no
said Narcisse, coolly. "It is only women  thought crossed her of going to weep and
who think what is long must be grand."  syInpathise with the other sufferer. No;
" Come, children, no disputes," said rivalry and jealousy came in there! Euthe Chevalier. "i Of course we regret stacie viewed herself as his wife, and the
that so fine a youth mixed himself up with  very thought that she had been deliberthe enemies of the kingdom, like the stork  ately preferred and had enjoyed her
among the sparrows. Both Narcisse and  triumph hardened Diane's heart against
I are sorry for the necessity; but remem- her. Nay, the open violence and abanber, child, that when he was interfering  donment of her grief seemed to the more
between your brother and his just right restrained and concentrated nature of her
of inheritance and destined wife, he could  elder a sign of shallowness and want of
not but draw such a fate on himself. Now  durability; and in a certain contemptuous
all is smooth, the estates will be united  envy at her professing a right to mourn,
in their true head, and you-you too, my  Diane never even reconsidered her own
child, will be provided for as suits your resolution to play out her father's game,
name. All that is needed is to soothe the consign Eustacie to her husband's murlittle one, so as to hinder her from making  derer, and leave her to console herself
an outcry-and silence the maid; my    with bridal splendors and a choice of
child will do her best for her fatherss admirers from all the court.
sake, and that of her family."           However, for the present Diane would
Diane was less demonstrative than  rather stay away as much as possible from
most of her countrywomen. She had had the sick-bed of the poor girl, and when an
time to recollect the uselessness of giving approaching step forced her to rouse hervent to her indignant anguish, and her self and hurry away by the other door of
brother's derisive look held her back. The the chapel, she did indeed mount to the
familytactics, from force of habit, recurred  ladies' bedchamber, but only to beckon
to her; she made no further objection  Veronique out of hearing, and ask for her
to her father's commands; but when her mistress.
father and brother parted with her, she  Just the same still, only sleeping to
tottered into the now empty chapel, threw  have feverish dreams of the revolving
herself down, with her burning forehead  wheel or the demons grappling her huson the stone step, and so lay for hours. band, refusing all food but a little drink,
It was not in prayer. It was because it and lying silent except for a few moans,
was the only place where she could be heedless who spoke or looked at her.
alone. To lier, heaven above and earth   Diane explained that in that case it
below seemed alike full of despair, dark- was needless to come to her, but added,
ness, and cruel habitations, and she lay  witlh the vraisemblance of falsehood in




THE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.                          87
which she had graduated in Catherine's and jewels; and such relief as she was
school, "Veronique, as I told you, you  capable of experiencing she felt in the
were mistaken."                       quiet.
"Ah, Mademoiselle, if M. le Baron     Veronique hoped she would sleep, and
lives, she will be cured at once."    watched like a dragon to guard against
" Silly girl," said Diane, giving relief any disturbance, springing out with upto her pent-up feeling by asperity of man- raised finger when a soft gliding step and
ner, "hlow could he live when you and rustling of brocade was heard. "Does
your intrigues got him into the palace on  she sleep?" said a low voice; and Verosuch a night? Dead he is, of course; nique, in the pale thin face with tearbut it was your own treacherous, mis- swollen eyes and light yellow hair, recogchievous fancy that laid it on my brother. nised the young Queen. " My good girl,"
He was far away with M. de Guise at the said Elisabeth, with almost a beseeching
attack on the Admiral. It was some of gesture, " let me see her. I do not know
Monsieur's grooms you saw. You remem- when again I may be able."
her she had brought him into a scrape    Veronique stood aside, with the lowest
with Monsieur, and it was sure to be re- possible of curtseys, just as her mistress
membered. And look you, if you repeat with a feeble, weary voice murmured,
the other tale, and do not drive it out of  " Oh, make them let me alone! "
her head, you need not look to be long    "My poor, poor child," said the Queen,
with her-no, nor at home. My father bending over Eustacie, while her brimwill have no one there to cause a scandal ming eyes let the tears fall fast, " I will
by an evil tongue."                   not disturb you long, but I could not help
That threat convinced Veronique that it."
she had been right; but she, too, had     "Her Majesty!" exclaimed Eustacie,
learned lessons at the Louvre, and she was opening wide her eyes in amazement.
too diplomatic not to ask pardon for her  "My dear, suffer me here a little moblunder, promise to contradict it when  ment," said the meek Elisabeth, seating
her mistress could listen, and express her herself so as to bring her face near to
satisfaction that it was not the Chevalier Eustacie's; "I could not rest till I had
Narcisse-for such things were not pleas- seen how it was with you, and wept with
ant, as she justly observed, in families.  you."
About noon on the Tuesday, the Louvre  "Ah, Madame, you can weep," said
was unusually tranquil. All the world Eustacie, slowly, looking at the Queen's
had gone forth to a procession to Notre heavy tearful eyes almost with wonder;
Dame, headed by the King and all the   "but I do not weep, because I am dying,
royal family, to offer thanksgiving for the and that is better."
deliverance of the country from the atro- " My dear, my dear, do not so speak! "
cious conspiracy of the Huguenots. Eu- exclaimed the gentle but rather dull
stacie's chamber was freed from the bustle  Queen.
of all the maids of honor arraying them-  "Is it wrong? Nay, so much the,
selves, and adjusting curls, feathers, ruffs, better-then I shall be with him," said:




88                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Eustacie in the same feeble dreamy man- so, and the King will think the same
ner, as if she did not understand herself, when these cruel counsellors will leave
but a little roused by seeing she had him to himself; and I pray, I pray day
shocked her visitor.  "I would not be and night, that God will not lay this sin
wicked. He was all bright goodness and to his account, but open his eyes to retruth; but his does not seem to be good- pent.  Forgive him, Eustacie, and pray
ness that brings to heaven, and I do not for him too."
want to be in the heaven of these cruel   " The King would have saved my husfalse men-I think it would go round band. Madame," returned Eustacie. "He
and round." She shut her eyes as if to bade him to his room. It was I, unhapsteady herself, and that moment seemed py I, who detained him, lest our flight
to give her more self-recollection, for should have been hindered."
looking at the weeping, troubled visitor,  The Queen in her turn kissed Eushe exclaimed, with more energy, "Oh! stacie's forehead with eager gratitude.
Madame, it must be a dreadful fancy! " Oh, little one, you have brought a drop
Good men like him cannot be shut into  of comfort to a heavy heart. Alas! I
those fiery gates with the torturing could sometimes feel you to be a happier
devils."                              wife than I, with your perfect trust in
" Heaven  forbid! " exclaimed the the brave pure-spirited youth, unwarped
Queen. "My poor, poor child, grieve by these wicked, cruel advisers. I loved
not yourself thus.  At my home, my    to look at his open brow; it was so like
Austrian home, we do not speak in this our bravest German Junkers. And child,
dreadful way.   My father loves and we thought, both of us, to have brought
honors his loyal Protestants, and he about your happiness; but, ah! it has but
trusts that the good God accepts their caused all this misery."
holy lives in His unseen Church, even     "No, no, dearest Queen," said Euthough outwardly they are separate from  stacie, "this month with all its woe has
us. My German confessor ever said so. been joy-life! Oh! I had rather lie
Oh! child, it would be too frightful if we here and die for his loss than be as I was
deemed that all those souls as well as before he came.  And now-now, you
bodies perished in these frightful days. have given him to me for all eternity-if
Myself, I believe that they have their re- but I am fit to be with him! "
ward for their truth and constancy."     Eustacie had revived so much during
Eustacie caught the Queen's hand, the interview that the Queen could not
and fondled it with delight, as though believe her to be in a dying state; but
those words had veritably opened the she continued very ill, the low fever still
gates of heaven to her husband.  The hanging about her, and the faintness conQueen went on in her slow gentle man- tinual. The close room, the turmoil of its
ner, the very tone of which was inex- many inhabitants, and the impossibility
pressibly soothing and sympathetic: "Yes, of quiet, also harassed her greatly, and
and all will be clear there. No more Elisabeth had little or no power of makviolence. At home our good men think  ing any other arrangements for her in the




THE PALACE OF SLAUGHTER.                          89
palace.  Ladies when ill were taken vive with his joy. Meantime she was
home, and this poor child had no home. powerless, and she could only devise the
The other Maids of Honor were a gentler, sending the poor little sufferer to a consimpler set than Catherine's squadron, vent, where the nuns might tend her till
and were far from unkind; but between  she was restored to health and comthem and her, who had so lately been the posure. Diane acquiesced, but suggested
brightest child of them all, there now lay  sending for her father, and he was acthat great gulf-" Ich habe gelebt und  cordingly summoned.   Diane saw him
geliebet."  That the little blackbird, as first alone, and both agreed that he had
they used to call her, should have been  better take Eustacie to Bellaise, where
on the verge of running away with her her aunt would take good care of her,
own' husband was a half-understood, and in a few months she would no doubt
amusing mystery, discussed in exaggerat- be weary enough of the country to be in
ing prattle. This was hushed, indeed, in raptures to return to Paris on any terms.
the presence of that crushed, prostrate,  Yet even as Diane said this, a sort of
silent sorrow; but there was still an ut- longing for the solitude of the woods of
ter incapacity of true sympathy that Nid-de-Mcrle came over her, a recollecmade the very presence of so many op- tion of the good Sister Monique, at whose
pressive, even when they were not in   knee she had breathed somewhat of the
murmurs discussing the ghastly tidings of free pure air that her murdered cousin
massacres in other cities, and the fate of had brought with him; a sense that there
acquaintances.                        she could pour forth her sorrow. She
On that same day, the Queen sent for offered herself at once to go with EuDiane to consult her about the sufferer. stacie.
Elisabeth longed to place her in her own  "No, no, my daughter," said the
cabinet and attend on her herself; but Chevalier, "that is unnecessary.  There
she was afraid to do this, as the unhappy  is pleasanter employment for you. I told
King was in such a frenzied mood, and you that your position was secured. Hero
so constantly excited by his brother and is a brilliant offer-M. de Selinville."
Guise, that it was possible that some    "Le bonhomme de Selinville " exhalf-delirious complaint of poor Eustacie claimed Diane, feeling rather as if the
might lead to serious consequences. In- compensation were like the little dog ofdeed, Elisabeth, though in no state to fered to Eustacie.
bear agitation, was absorbed in her en-   "Know you not that his two heretic
deavor to prevent him from adding blood nephews perished the other night? He
to blood, and a few days later actually is now the head of his name, the Marquis,
saved the lives of the King of Navarre the only one left of his house."
and Prince of Conde, by throwing her-     "He begins early," said Diane.
self before. him half-dressed, and tearing  "An old soldier, my daughter, scarce
his weapon from his hand. Her only stays to count the fallen. He has no
hope was that if she should give him a time to lose. He is sixty, with a damaged
son, her influence for mercy would re- constitution. It will be but the affair of




90                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
a few years, and then will my beautiful  "Poor child! And you would like to
Marquise be free to choose for herself. I go. You could bear the journey? "
shall go fiom the young Queen to obtain  " It would be in the air! And then I
permission fiom the Queen-mother."   should not smell blood-blood!" And
No question was asked. Diane never her cheeks became whiter again, if poseven thought objection possible. It was sible.
a close to that present life which she  "Then, you would not rather be at
had begun to loathe: it gave comparative the Carmelites, or Maubuisson, near
liberty. It would dull and confuse her me?"
heart-sick pain, and give her a certain  "Ah! Madame, there would not be
superiority to her brother. Moreover, it Sceur Monique. If the journey would
would satisfy the old father, whom she only make me die, as soon as I came,
reallyloved. Marriage with a worn-out with Sceur Monique to hush me, and
old man was a simple step to full display keep off dreadful images! "
for young ladies without fortune.       "Dear child, you should put away
The Chevalier told Queen Elisabeth that thought of dying. Maybe you are
his purpose of placing his niece in the to live, that your prayers may win salvafamily convent, under the care of her tion for the soul of him you love."
aunt, the Abbess, in a foundation en-   " O then! I should like to go into a
dowed by her own family on the borders convent so strict-so strict," cried Euof her own estate. Elisabeth would have stacie, with renewed vigor. "Bellaise is
liked to keep her nearer, but could not nothing like strict enough. Does your
but own that the change to the scenes of Majesty indeed think that my prayers
her childhood might be more beneficial will aid him?"
than a residence in a nunnery at Paris,  "Alas! what hope could we have but
and the Chevalier spoke of his niece with in praying," said Elisabeth, with tears in
a tender solicitude that gained the Queen's her eyes.'; Little one, we will be joined
heart.  She consented, only stipulating at least in our prayers and intercessions:
that Eustacie's real wishes should be as- thou wilt not forget in thine one who yet
certained, and herself again made the lives, unhappier than all! "
exertion of visiting the patient for the  "And, oh, my good, my holy Queen,
purpose.                             will you indeed pray for him-my husEustacie had been partly dressed, and band? He was so good, his faith can
was lying as near as she could to the surely not long be reckoned against him.
narrow window. The Queen would not He did not believe in Purgatory! Perlet her move, but took her damp, languid haps-" Then frowning with a diffihand, and detailed her uncle's proposal. culty far beyond a fever-clouded brain,
It was plain that it was not utterly she concluded-"At least, orisons may
distasteful. "Sceur Monique," she said, aid him! It is doing something for him!
"Sceur Monique would sing hymns to   Oh, where are my beads!-I can begin at
me, and then I should not see the imps once."
at night."                              The Queen put her arm round her,




THE BRIDEGROOM'S ARRIVAL.                         91
and together they said the De profundis, husband, Eustacie rallied so much that
-the Queen understood every word far about ten days after the dreadful St. Barmore for the living than the dead. Again tholomew, in the early morning, she was
Elisabeth had given new life to Eustacie. half-led, half-carried down the stairs beThe intercession for her husband was tween her uncle and Veronique.     Her
something to live for, and the severest face was close muffled in her thick black
convent was coveted, until she was as- veil, but when she came to the foot of
sured that she would not be allowed to the first stairs, where she had found Berenter on any rule till she had time to re- enger's cap, a terrible shuddering came
cover her health, and show the constancy  on her; she again murmured something
of her purpose by a residence at Bellaise: about the smell of blood, and fell into a
Ere parting, however, the Queen bent swoon.
over her, and coloring, as if much        "Carry her on at once," said Diane,
ashamed of what she said, whispered-  who was following, —" there will be no
" Child, not a word of the ceremony   end to it if you do not remove her immeat Mlontpipeau!-you understand? The diately."
King was always averse; it would bring    And thus shielded from the sight of
him and me into dreadful trouble with  Narcisse's intended passionate gesture of
those others, and alas! it makes no differ- farewell at the palace-door, Eustacie was
ence now! You will be silent? "      laid at full length on the seat of the great
And Eustacie signed her acquiescence, ponderous family coach, where Veronique
as indeed no difficulty was made in her hardly wished to revive her till the eight
being regarded as the widow of the horses should have dragged her beyond
Baron de Ribaumont, when she further the streets of Paris, with their terrible
insisted on procuring a widow's dress be- associations, and the gibbets still hung
fore she quitted her room, and declared, with the limbs of the murdered.
with much dignity, that she should
esteem no person her friend who calledher Mademoiselle de Nid-de-Merle. To
this the Chevalier de Ribaumont wasCHAPTER XIII
willing to give way; he did not care
whether Narcisse married her as Ber-        THE BRDEGROOM'S ARIVAL.
enger's widow or as the separated maid-  "The starling flew to his mother's window-stane,
It whistled and it sang,
en-wife, and he thought her vehement    Andaye, the owerword of the tune
opposition and dislike would die away    Was' Johnnie tarries lang.'"
Johnnie of Bredislee.
the faster the fewer impediments were
placed in her way. Both he and Diane     THERE had been distrust and dissatisstrongly discouraged any attempt on Nar- faction at home for many a day past.
cisse's part at a farewell interview; and Berenger could hardly be censured for
thus unmolested, and under the constant loving his own wife, and yet his family
soothing influence of reciting her prayers, were by no means gratified by the prosin the trust that they were availing her pect of his bringing home a little French




92                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Papist, of whom Lady Thistlewood re-    Sir Marmaduke's asseveration was of
membered nothing good.               the strongest, that he did not believe a
Lucy was indignantly fetched home word of it. Nevertheless, he took his
by her stepmother, who insisted on treat- horse and rode down to interrogate Paul
ing her with extreme pity as a deserted Duval, and charge him not to spread the
maiden, and thus counteracting Aunt report lest he should alarm the ladies.
Cecily's wise representations, that there  But the report was in the air. He
never should, and, therefore, never could, went to the hall, and the butler met him
have been any thing, save fraternal affec- with a grave face, and took him to the
tion between the young people, and that study, where Lord Walwyn was sitting
pity was almost an insult to Lucy. The over letters newly received from London,
good girl herself was made very uncom- giving dark hints from the Low Countries
fortable by these demonstrations, and of bloody work in France. And when he
avoided them as much as possible, chiefly returned to his home, his wife burst out
striving in her own gentle way to prepare upon him in despair. Here had they
her little sisters to expect numerous been certainly killing her poor boy. Not
charms in brother Berenger's wife, and a doubt that he was dead. All from this
heartily agreeing with Philip that Ber- miserable going to France, that had been
enger knew his own mind best.        quite against her will.'"And at any rate," quoth Philip,    Stoutly did Sir Marmaduke persevere
"we'll have the best bonfire that ever in his disbelief; but every day some
was seen in the country! Lucy, you'll fresh wave of tidings floated in. Murder
coax my father to give us a tar-barrel! "  wholesale had surely been perpetrated.
The tar-barrel presided over a mon- Now  came stories of death-bells at
strous pile of faggots, and the fisher-boys Rouen from the fishermen on the coast;
were promised a tester to whoever should now markets and petty sessions discussed
first bring word to Master Philip that the the foul slaughter of the Ambassador and
young lord and lady were in the creek.  his household; truly related how the
Philip gave his pony no rest, between  Queen had put on mourning, and falsely
the look-out on the downs and the that she had hung the French Ambasborders of the creek; but day after day sador La Mothe F6nelon. And Burleigh
passed, and still the smacks from Jersey wrote to his old friend from London,
held no person worth mentioning; and that some horrible carnage had assuredly
still the sense of expectation kept Lucy taken place, and that no news had yet
starting at every sound, and hating her- been received of Sir Francis Walsingham
self for her own folly.              or of his suite.
At last Philip burst into Combe      All these days seemed so many years
Manor, fiery red with riding and con- taken from the vital power of Lord Walsternation. " Oh! father, father, Paul wyn. Not only had his hopes and affecDuval's boat is come in, and he says that tions wound themselves closely around
the villain Papists have butchered every his grandson, but he reproached himself
Protestant in France."               severely with having trusted him in his




THE BRIDEGROOM'S ARRIVAL.                       93
youth and inexperience among the seduc-  The certainty, such as it was, seemed
tive perils of Paris. The old man grieved like repose after the suspense.  They
over the promising young life cut off, and knew to what to resign themselves, and
charged on himself the loss and grief to even Lady Thistlewood's tempestuous
the women, whose stay he had trusted  grief had so spent itself that late in the
Berenger would have been. He said little, evening the family sat round the fire in
but his hand and head grew more trem- the hall, the old lord dozing as one worn
bling; he scarcely ate or slept, and seemed out with sorrow, the others talking in
to waste from a vigorous elder to a feeble hushed tones of that bright boyhood, that
being in the extremity of old age, till Lady joyous light quenched in the night of
Walwyn had almost ceased to think of her carnage.
grandson in her anxiety for her husband.  The butler slowly entered the hall,
Letters came at last. The messenger and approached Sir Marmaduke cautiously.
despatched by Sir Francis Walsingham  "Can I speak with you, sir?"
had not been able to proceed till the ways  "; What is it, Davy?" demanded the
had become safe, and he had then been lady, who first caught the words. " What
delayed; but on his arrival his tidings did you say?"
were sent down. There were letters both  " Madam, it is Humfrey Holt!"
from  Sir Francis Walsingham and from   Humfrey Holt was the head of the
heart-broken Mr. Adderley, both to the grooms who had gone with Berenger;
same effect, with all possible praises of and there was a general start and supthe young Baron de Ribaumont, all possi- pressed exclamation. " Humfrey Holt!'
ble reproach to themselves for having let said Lord Walwyn, feebly drawing himhim be betrayed into this most horrible self to sit upright, "hath he, then, essnare, in which he had perished, without caped?"
even a possibility of recovering his remains' Yea, my Lord," said Davy, " and he
for honorable burial. Poor Mr. Adderley brings news of my young lord."
further said that Mr. Sidney, who was    "Alack! Davy," said Lady Walwyn,
inconsolable for the loss of his friend, had  "such news had been precious a while
offered to escort him to the Low Coun- ago."
tries, whence he would make his way to  " Nay, so please your Ladyship, it is
England, and would present himself at better than you deem. Humfrey says my
Hurst Walwyn, if his Lordship could en- young Lord is yet living."
dure the sight of his creature who had so  "Living! " shrieked Lady Thistlemiserably failed in his trust.       wood, starting up. "Livingl  My son!
Lord Walwyn read both letters twice and where?"
through before he spoke. Then he took   " They are bearing him home, my
off his spectacles, laid them down, and Lady," said the butler; "but I fear me,
said calmly, " God's will be done. I thank  by what Humfrey says, that it is but in
God that my boy was blameless. Better woeful case."
they slew him than sent him home tainted  " Bringing him home! Which way? "
with their vices."                    Philip darted off like an arrow from the




94                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
bow. Sir Marmaduke hastily demanded did; and I went down and made as deif aid were wanted; and Lady Walwyn, cent a place as I could between decks.
interpreting the almost inaudible voice of My Lord and Master Landry were gone
her husband, bade that Humfrey should down to the Court meantime, and we
be called in to tell his own story.  were to lie off till we heard a whistle like
Hands were held out in greeting, and a mavis on the bank, then come and take
blessings murmured, as the groom en- them aboard. Well, we waited and waittered, looking battered and worn, and ed, and all the lights were out, and not a
bowing low in confusion at being thus sound did we hear till just an hour after
unusually conspicuous, and having to tell midnight. Then a big bell rang out, not
his story to the whole assembled family. like a decent Christianable bell, but a
To the first anxious question as to the great clash, then another, and a lot of
condition of the young Lord, lie replied, strokes enough to take away one's breath.
" Marry, my Lady, the life is yet in him, Then half the windows were lighted up,
and that is all. He hath been shot through  and we heard shots, and screeches, and
the head and body, and slashed about the splashes, till, as I said to Jack Smithers,
face so as it is a shame to see. Nor hath'twas as if one-half the place was mlurhe done aught these three weary weeks thering the other. The farmer got frightbut moan from time to time so as it is ened, and would have been off; but when
enough to break one's heart to hear him; I saw what he was at,'No,' says I,'not
and I fear me'tis but bringing him home an inch do we budge without news of my
to die."                             Lord.' So Jack stood by the rope, and
"Even so, God be thanked; and you, let them see that'twas as much as their
too, honest Humfrey," said Lord Wal- life was worth to try to unmoor. Mercy,
wyn. " Let us hear when and how this what a night it was! Shrieks and shouts,
deed was done."                      and shots and howls, here, there, and
"Why, that, my Lord, I can't so well everywhere, and splashes into the river;
say, being that I was not with him; and by and by we saw the poor murthered
more's the pity, or I'd have known the creatures come floating by. The farmer,
reason why, or ever they laid a finger he had some words with one of the boats
on him. But when Master Landry, his near, and I heard somewhat of Huguenot
French foster-brother, comes, he will re- and Hereteek, and I knew that was what
solve you in his own tongue. I can't they called good Protestants. Then up
parleyvoo with him, but he's an honest comes the farmer with his sons looking
rogue for a Frenchman, and'twas he mighty ugly at us, and signing that unbrought off my young Lord. You see we less we let them be off'twould be the
were all told to be aboard the little French  worse for us; and we began to think as
craft. Master Landry took me down and how we had best be set ashore, and go
settled it all with the master, a French  down the five of us to see if we could
farmer fellow that came a horse-dealing stand by my young Lord in some strait,
to Paris. I knew what my young Lord or give notice to my Lord Ambassawas after, but none of the other varlets dor."




THE BRIDEGROOM'S ARRIVAL.                       95
" God reward you! " exclaimed Lady faithfulness of IInufrey Holt and his comWalwyn.                              rades be never forgotten or unrewarded."
"'Twas only our duty, my Lady,"      Humfrey again muttered something
gruffly answered Humfrey; "but just as about no more than his duty; but by this
Hal had got on the quay, what should I time sounds were heard betokening the
see but Master Landry coming down the approach of the melancholy procession,
street with my young Lord on his back! who, having been relieved by a relay of
I can tell you he was well-nigh spent; servants sent at once from the house, were
and just then half a dozen butcherly vil- bearing home the wounded youth. Philip
lains came out on him, bawling,'Tu-y! first of all dashed in hurrying and stumtu-y!' which it seems means'kill, kill.' bling. He had been unprepared by hearHe turned about and showed them that ing Humfrey's account, and impetuous
he had got a white sleeve and white cross and affectionate as he was, was entirely
in his bonnet, like them, the rascals, giving unrestrained, and flinging himself on his
them  to understand that he was only knees with the half-audible words, " Oh!
going to throw the corpse into the river. Lucy! Lucy! he is as good as dead! "
I doubted him then myself; but he caught hid his face between his arms on his sissight of us, and in his fashion of talk with ter's lap, and sobbed with the abandonus, called out to us to help, for there was ment of a child, and with all his youthful
life still. So two of us took my Lord, and strength; so much adding to the consterthe other three gave the beggarly French  nation and confusion that, finding all
cut-throats as good as they meant for us; Lucy's gentle entreaties vain, his father at
while Landry shouted to the farmer to last roughly pulled up his face by main
wait, and we got aboard, and made right force, and said, "Philip, hold your tongue!
away down the river. But never a word  Are we to have you on our hands as well
has the poor young gentleman spoken, as my Lady? 1 shall send you home this
though Master Landry has done all a moment! Let your sister go."
barber or a sick-nurse could do; and he  This threat reduced the boy to silence.
got us past the cities by showing the Lucy, who was wanted to assist in prepapers in my Lord's pocket, so that we paring Berenger's room, disengaged hergot safe to the farmer's place. There we self; but he remained in the same poslay till we could get a boat to Jersey, and ture, his head buried on the seat of the
thence again home; and maybe my young chair, and the loud weeping only forcibly
Lord will mend now Mistress Cecily will stifled by forcing his handkerchief into his
have the handling of him."            mouth, as if he had been in violent bodily
"That is in the wisest Hands, good pain. Nor did he venture again to look
Humfrey," said Lord Walwyn, as the up as the cause of all his distress was
tears of feeble age flowed down his cheeks. slowly carried into the hall, corpse-like,
" May He who hath brought the lad safe- indeed. The bearers had changed severly so far spare him yet, and raise him up. al times, all but a tall, fair Norman youth,
But whether he live or die, you son and who through the whole transit had supdaughter Thistlewood, will look that the ported the head, endeavoring to guard it




96                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
from shocks. When the mother and the  deep curses on the cowardly ruffians;
rest came forward, he made a gesture to while his wife wept in grief as violent,
conceal the face, saying in French, "Ah! though more silent, than her step-son's,
mesdames; this is no sight for you."  and only Cecily gathered the faintest ray
Indeed the head and face were almost of hope.  The wounds had been well
entirely hidden by bandages, and it was cared for, the arm had been set, the
not till Berenger had been safely deposit- hair cut away, and lint and bandages aped on a large carved bed that the anxious plied with a skill that surprised her, till
relatives were permitted to perceive the she remembered that Landry Osbert had
number and extent of his hurts; and been bred up in preparation to be Berentruly it was only by the breath, the vital ger's valet, and thus to practise those
warmth, and the heavy moans when he minor arts of surgery then required in a
was disturbed, or the dressings of the superior body-servant.  For his part,
wounds were touched, that showed him  though his eyes looked red, and his whole
still to be a living man. There proved to person exhausted by unceasing watching,
be no less than four wounds-a shot he seemed unable to relinquish the care
through the right shoulder, the right arm  of his master for a moment, and her nunalso broken with a terrible blow with a nery French would not have persuaded
sword, a broad gash from the left temple him of her sufficiency as a nurse, had he
to the right ear, and worse than all, " le not perceived her tender touch and ready
baiser d'Eustacie," a bullet-wound where skill. These were what made him conthe muzzle of the pistol had absolutely sent to leave his post even for a short
been so close as to have burnt and black- meal, and so soon as he had eaten he was
ened the cheek; so that his life was, as called to Lord Walwyn to supply the furOsbert averred, chiefly owing to the ther account which Humfrey had been
assassin's jealousy of his personal beauty, unable to give. He had waited, he exwhich had directed his shot to the cheek plained, with a lackey, a friend of his, in
rather than the head; and thus, though  the palace, till he became alarmed at the
the bullet had terribly shattered the up- influx of armed men, wearing white crosses
per jaw and roof of the mouth, and had and shirt-sleeves on their left arms, but his
passed out through the back of the head, friend had assured him that his master
there was a hope that it had not penetrated  had been summoned to the royal bedthe seat of life or reason.  The other chamber, where he would be as safe as in
gash on the face was but a sword-wound, church; and, obtaining from Landry Osand though frightful to look at, was unim- bert himself a perfectly true assurance of
portant, compared with the first wound being a good Catholic, had supplied him
with the pistol-shot in the shoulder, with  with the badges that were needful for sethe arm broken and further injured by  curity. It was just then that Madame's
having served to suspend him round Os- maid crept down to his waiting-place with
bert's neck; but it was altogether so ap- the intelligence that her mistress had been
palling a sight, that it was no wonder bolted in, and after a short consultation
that Sir Marmaluke muttered low buti they agreed to go and see whether 3. le




SWEET HEART.                               97
Baron were indeed waiting, and if he were had provided Berenger for himself and his
to warn him of the suspicious state of the followers when his elopement was first
lower regions of the palace.          planned, enabled Osbert to carry his
They were just in time to see, but not whole crew safely past all the stations
to prevent the attack upon their young  where passports were demanded. He had
master, and while Veronique fled, scream- much wished to procure surgical aid at
ing, Landry Osbert, who had been thrown  Rouen, but learning from the boatmen on
back on the stairs in her sudden flight, re- the river that the like bloody scenes were
covered himself and hastened to his mas- there being enacted, he had decided on
ter. The murderers, after their blows had  going on to his master's English home as
been struck, had hurried. along the corri- soon as possible, merely trusting to his
dor to join the body of assassins, whose own skill by the way; and though it was
work they had in effect somewhat antici- the slightest possible hope, yet the healthy
pated. Landry, full of rage and despair, state of the wounds, and the mere fact of
was resolved at least to save his foster- life continuing, had given him some faint
brother's corpse from further insult, and trust that there might be a partial rebore it down-stairs in his arms. On the covery.
way, he perceived that life was not yet  Lord Walwyn repeated his agitated
extinct, and resolving to become doubly thanks and praises for such devotion to
cautious, he sought in the pocket fqr the his grandson.
purse that had been well filled for the   Osbert bowed, laid his hand on his
flight, and by the persuasive argument of heart, and replied - " Monseigneur is
gold crowns, obtained egress from the good, but what say I? Monsieur le Bardoor-keeper of the postern, where Beret- on is my foster-brother! Say that, and
ger hoped to have emerged in a far differ- all is said in one word."
ent manner. It was a favorable moment,    He was then dismissed, with orders to
for the main body of the murderers were take some rest, but he obstinately refused
at that time being posted in the court by  all commands in French or English to go
the captain of the guard, ready to massa- to bed, and was found sometime after fast
cre the gentlemen of the King of Navarre's asleep.
suite, and he was therefore unmolested
by any claimant of the plunder of the apparent corpse he bore on his shoulders.          CHAPTER XIV.
The citizens of Paris who had been enSWEET HEART.
gaged in their share of the murders forWEET HEART.
more than an hour before the tragedy be-  Ye hae marred a bonnier face than your ain."
gan in the Louvre, frequently beset him      Dying Words of the Bonny Earl of Moray.
on his way to the quay, and but for the  ONE room at Hurst Walwyn, though
timely aid of his English comrades, he large, wainscotted, and well-furnished,
would hardly have brought off his foster- bore as pertinaciously the air of a cell as
brother safely.                       the appearance of Sister Cecily St. John
The pass with which King Charles continued like that of a nun. There was
7




98                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
a large sunny oriel, in which a thrush  dance upon the deep mourning dress and
sang merrily in a wicker cage; and yet pale cheek. The eyelashes were heavy
the very central point and leading feature with tear-drops, and veiled eyes that had
of the room  was the altar-like table, not yet attained to the region of calm,
covered with rich needle-work, with a like the light quivering of the lips showed
carved ebony crucifix placed on it, and  that here was the beginning of the course
on the wall above, quaint and stiff, but of trial through which serenity might be
lovely-featured, delicately-tinted pictures won, and for ever.
of Our Lady in the centre, and of St.     By and by the latch was raised, and
Anne and St Cecilia on either side, with  Cecily came forward. Lucy rose quickly
skies behind of the most ethereal blue, to her feet, and while giving and returnand robes tenderly trimmed with gold. ing a fond embrace, asked with her eyes
A little shrine of purple spar, with a the question that Cecily answered, "Still
crystal front, contained a fiagment of sa- in the same lethargy. The only shade of
cred bone; a silver shell contained holy sense that I have seen is an unclosing of
water, perpetuated from some blessed by  the eyes, a wistful look whenever the
Bishop Ridley.                         door opened, and a shiver through all his
"With velvet bound and broidered o'er,  frame whenever the great bell rings, till
HIer breviary book"           my lord forbade it to be sounded."
lay open at "Sext," and there, too, lay   "That frightful bell that the men told
with its three marks at the Daily Les- us of," said Lucy, shuddering; "O! what
sons, the Bishop's Bible, and the Common  a heart that murderess must have had."
Prayer beside it.                         "Hold, Lucy! How should we judge
The elder Baron de Ribaumont had   her, who may at this moment be weeping
never pardoned Cecily his single glance at in desolation?"
that table, and had seriously remonstrated  Lucy looked up astonished. " Aunt,"
with his father-in-law for permitting its she said, "you have been so long shut up
existence, quoting Rachel, Achan, and  with him that you hardly can have heard
Maachah.   Yet he never knew of the all-how she played fast and loose, and
hair-cloth smock, the discipline, the cord  for the sake of a mere pageant put off the
and sack-cloth that lay stored in the flight from the time when it would have
large carved awmry, and were secretly in  beeni secure even until that dreadful
use on every fast or vigil, not with any  eve!"
notion of merit, but of simple obedience,  "I know it," said Cecily. "I fear me
and with even deeper comprehension and much that her sin has been great; yet,
enjoyment of their spiritual significance, Lucy, it were better to pray for her than
of which, in her cloister-life, she had  to talk wildly againsther."
comprehended little.                      "Alas!" murmured Lucy, "I could
It was not she, however, who knelt bear it and glory in it when it seemed
with bowed head and clasped hands be- death for the faith's sake, but," and the
fore the altar-table, the winter sunbeams tears burst out, " to find he was only
making the shadows of the ivy-sprays trapped and slain for the sake of a faith



SWEET HEART.                              99
less girl —nd that he should love her     "Then she will soon be comforted,"
still."                               said Lucy, still with some bitterness in'"She ishis wife," said Cecily. "Child, her voice; bitterness of which she herfrom my soul I grieve for you, but none self was perhaps conscious, for suddenly
the less must I, if no other will, keep be- dropping on her knees, she hid her face,
fore your eyes that our Berenger's faith  and cried, "O help me to pray for her,
belongs solely to her."               Aunt Cecily, and that I may do her
"You-you never would have let me wrong no more! "
forget it," said Lucy. "Indeed I am more  And Cecily in her low   conventual
maidenly when not alone with you! I chant, sang, almost under her breath, the
know verily that he is loyal, and that my noonday Latin hymn, the words of which,
hatred to her is more than is meet. I long familiar to Lucy, had never as yet
will-I will pray for her, but I would so come home to her:
that you were in your convent still, and  "Quench Thou the fires of heat and strife,
that I could hide me there."                The wasting fever of the heart;
"That were scarce enough," said         From perils guard our feeble life,
Cecily.  One sisr we hd wo hd    And to our souls Thy help impart."
Cecily. "One sister we had who had
fled to our house to hide her grief when  Cecily's judgment would have been
her betrothed had wedded another. She thought weakly charitable by all the rest
took her sorrows for her vocation, strove of the family. Mr. Adderley had been
to hurry on her vows, and when they   forwarded by Sir Francis Walsingham
were taken she chafed and fretted under like a bale of goods, and arriving in a
them.  It was she who wrote to the mood of such self-reproach as would be
commissioner the letter that led to the deemed abject, by persons used to the
visitation of our house, and moreover, she modern relations between noblemen and
was the only one of us who married."  their chaplains, was exhilarated by the
"To her own lover?"               unlooked-for comfort of finding his young
"No, to a brewer at Winchester! I charge at least living, and in his grandsay not that you could ever be like poor father's house. From his narrative, Walsister Bridget, but only that the cloister singham's letters, and Osbert's account,
has no charm to still the heart-Prayer Lord Walwyn saw no reason to doubt
and duty can do as much without as that the Black Ribaumonts had thought
within."                              the massacre a favorable moment for
"When we deemed her worthy, I sweeping the only survivor of the White
was glad of his happiness," said Lucy, or elder branch away, and that not only
thoughtfully.                         had royalty lent itself to the cruel project,
"You did, my dear, and I rejoiced-  but that as Diane de Ribaumont had
Think now how grievous it must be with failed as a bait, the young espoused wife
her, if she, as I fear she may, yielded her had herself been employed to draw him
heart to those, who told her that to en- into the snare, and secure his presence at
snare him was her duty, or, if indeed she the slaughter-house, away from his safe
were as much deceived as he."         asylum at the Ambassador's, or even in




100                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the King's garde-robe. It was an un- wyn for refusing to let such remedies be
speakably frightful view to take of the tried on her grandson. And he was so
case, yet scarcely worse than the reality much more her child than his mother's,
of many of the dealings of those with that Dame Annora durst do no more than
whom the poor-young girl had been as- maunder.
sociated: certainly not worse than the   In this perfect rest, it seemed as if
crimes, the suspicion of which was rest- after a time, " the powers of nature" did
ing on the last dowager Queen of France; begin to rally, there were appearances of
and all that could be felt by the sorrowing healing about the wounds, the difference
family, was comfort, that at least corrup- between sleeping and waking became
tion of mind had either not been part more evident, the eyes lost the painful,
of the game, or had been unsuccessful, half-closed, vacant look, but were either
and by all testimony, the victim was still shut, or opened with languid recognition.
the same innocent boy. This was all The injuries were such as to exclude him
their relief, while for days, for weeks, from almost every means of expression,
Berenger de Ribaumont lay in a trance the wound in his mouth made speech imor torpor between life and death. Some- possible, and his right arm was not availtimes, as Cecily had said, his eyes turned  able for signs. It was only the clearness
with a startled wistfulness toward the of his eyes, and their response to what
door, and the sound of a bell seemed to  was said, that showed that his mind was
thrill him with a start of agony; but for recovering tone, and then he seemed only
the most part he neither appeared to see alive to the present, and to perceive nothor hear, and a few moans were the only ing but what related to his suffering and
sounds that escaped him.  The Queen, its alleviations. The wistfulness that had
in her affection for her old friend, and shown itself at first was gone, and even
her strong feeling for the victims of the when he improved enough to establish a
massacre, sent down the court physician, language of signs with eye, lip, or left
who turned him about, and elicited sun- hand, Cecily became convinced that he
dry heavy groans, but could do no more had little or no memory of recent occurthan enjoin patient waiting on the benefi- rences, and that finding himself at home
cent powers of nature in early youth. among familiar faces, his still dormant
His visit produced one benefit, namely, perceptions demanded no further explathe strengthening of Cecily St. John's nations.
hands against the charms, elixirs, and nos-  This blank was the most favorable
trums with which Lady Thistlewood's state for his peace and for his recovery,
friends supplied her,-plasters from the and it was of long duration, lasting even
cunning women of Lyme Regis, made of till he had made so much progress that
powder of giants' bones, and snakes he could leave his bed, and even speak
prayed into stone by St. Aldheln, pills a few words, though his weakness was
of live woodlice, and forentations of much prolonged by the great difficulty
living earthworms and spiders.  Great with which he could take nourishment.
was the censure incurred by Lady Wal- About two winters before Cecily had suc



SWEET HEARY.                              101
cessfully nursed him through a severe at-  Berenger looked alarmed, and said
tack of small-pox, and she thought that with the indistinctness with which he
he confounded his present state with the  always spoke, "Have they caught it?
former illness, when he had had nearly  Are they marked?"
the same attendants and surroundings as' No, no, not like you, my boy," said
at present; and that his faculties were  Sir Marmaduke, sufficiently aware of Bernot yet roused enough to perceive the in- enger's belief to be glad to keep it up,
congruity.                             and yet obliged to walk to the window
Once or twice he showed surprise at to hide his diversion at the notion of
visits from  his mother or Philip, who  his little girls catching the contagion of
had then been entirely kept away from  sword-gashes and bullet-wounds. Dame
him, and about Christmas he brightened  Annora prattled on, "But they have sent
so much, and awoke to things about him  you their Christmas gifts by me, poor
so much more fully, that Cecily thought children, they have long been busied
the time of recollection could not be with them, and I fancy Lucy did half
much longer deferred. Any noise, how- herself. See this kerchief is hemmed by
ever, seemed so painful to him, that the  little Dolly, and here are a pair of bands
Christmas festivities were held at Combe and cuffs to match, that Nanny and Bessy
Manor instead of Hurst Walwyn; only    have been broidering with their choicest
after church, Sir Marmaduke and Lady   stitchery."
Thistlewood came in to make him a visit,  Berenger smiled, took, expressed adas he sat in a large easy-chair by his miration by gesture, and then said in a
bedroom-fire: resting after having gone dreamy, uncertain manner, "'Methought
through as much of the rites of the day  I had some gifts for them; " then looking
as he was able for, with Mr. Adderley. round the room, his eye fell on a small
The room looked very cheerful with the  brass-bound casket which had travelled
bright wood-fire on the open hearth, with him to hold his valuables; he pointshining on the gay tapestry hangings, ed to it with a pleased look, as Sir Marand the dark wood of the carved bed.    naduke lifted it and placed it on a chair
The evergreen-decked window shimmer- by his side. The key, a small ornamental
ed with sunshine, and even the patient, brass one, was in his purse, not far off,
leaning back among crimson cushions, and Lady Thistlewood was full of exceedthough his face and head were ghastly ing satisfaction at the unpacking not only
enough wherever they were not covered  of foreign gifts, but as she hoped, of the
with patches and bandages, still had a pearls; Cecily meantime stole quietly in,
pleasant smile with lip and eye to thank  to watch that her patient was not overhis step-father for his cheery wishes of  wearied.
" a merry Christmas, at least one better  He was resuming the use of his right
in health."                           arm, though it was still weak and stiff,
"I did not bring the little wenches, and he evidently had an instinct against
Berenger, lest they should weary you," letting any one deal with that box but
said his mother.                      himself; he tried himself to unlock it,




102                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
and though forced to leave this to Sir clasps, and brooches he had carried from
Marmaduke, still leaned over it when home. Dame Annora's impatience at last
opened, as if to prevent his mother's curi- found vent in the exclamation, " The
ous glances from penetrating its recesses, pearls, son; I do not see the chaplet of
and allowed no hands near it but his own. pearls."
He first brought out a pretty feather fan, " She had them," answered Berenger,
saying as he held it to his mother; "For in a matter-of-fact tone, "to wear at the
Nan, I promised it. It was bought at masque."
the Halles," he added, more dreamily.   "She —"
Then again he dived, and brought out  Sir Marmaduke's great hand choked,
a wax medallion of Our Lady guarded by as it were, the query on his wife's lips,
angels, and made the sign that always unseen by her son, who, as if the words
brought Cecily to him. He held it up to had touched some chord, was more eagerher with a puzzled smile, saying, " They ly seeking in the box, and presently drew
thought me a mere Papist for buying it-  out a bow of carnation ribbon with a
M. de Teligny, I think it was."      small piece of paper full of pin-holes atThey had heard how the good and be- tached to it. At once he carried it to his
loved Teligny had been shot down on the lips, kissed it fervently, and then, sinking
roof of his father-in-law's house, by rabid back in his chair, seemed to be trying to
assassins, strangers to his person, when gather up the memory that had promptall who knew him had spared him, from  ed the impulse, knitted his brows tolove to his gentle nature; and the name gether, and then suddenly exclaimed,
gave a strange thrill.               " Where is she? "
He muttered something about "Ped-    His mother tried the last antecedent.
lar,-Montpipeau,"-and still continued. "Lucy? she shall come and thank you
Then came a small silver casket, diffusing to-morrow."
an odor of attar of roses-he leaned back  He shook his head with a vehement
in his chair-and his mother would have negative, beckoned Cecily impatiently,
taken it from him, supposing him over- and said earnestly, " Is it the contagion?.
come by the scent, but he held it fast and Is she sick? I will go to her."
shook his head, saying, "For Lucy,-but  Cecily and Sir Marmaduke both replied
she must give it herself. She gave up with a "No, no!" and were thankful,
any gift for herself for it-she said we though in much suspense at the momentary
needed no love-tokens." And he closed pause, while again he leaned back on the
his eyes. Dame Annora plunged into the cushions, looked steadily at the pin-holes,
unpacking, and brought out a'pocket- that formed themselves into the word
mirror with enamelled cupids in the "Sweet heart," then suddenly began to
corners, addressed to herself; and then  draw up the loose sleeve of his wrappingcame upon Berenger's own.            gown, and unbutton the wristband of his
Again came a fringed pair of gloves right sleeve. His mother tried to help
among the personal jewellery such as him, asking if he had hurt or tired his
gentlemen were wont to wear, the rings, arm. They would have been almost glad




SWEET HEART.                             103
to hear that it was so, but he shook her said his mother, trying to rouse and cheer
off impatiently, and the next moment had him. "You should rather be thankful
a view of the freshly skinned over, but that when you had- been so foully enstill wide and gaping gash on his arm. snared by their wiles, good Osbert brought
He looked for a brief space, and said, "It you off with your life away from those
is a sword-cut."                      bloody doings.  Yes, you may thank
" Truly it is, lad," said Sir Marmaduke, IIeaven and Osbert, for you are the only
"and a very bad one, happily whole! Is one of them living now."'
this the first time you have seen it?"   "Of whom, mother? "
Ite did not answer, but covered his   " Of all the poor Protestants that like
eyes with his hand, and presently burst you were deluded by the pack of murout again, " Then it is no dream? Sir-  derers over there. What,"-fancying it
Have I been to France? "              would exhilarate him to hear of his own
" Yes, my son, you have," said Sir escape-" you knew not that the bloody
Marmaduke, gently and with more tender- Guise and the Paris cut-throats rose and
ness than could have been looked for; slew every Huguenot they could lay hands
"but what passed there is much better on? Why, did not the false wench put
viewed as a dream, and cast behind your off your foolish runaway project for the
back."                                very purpose of getting you into the trap
Berenger had, while he spoke, taken  on the night of the massacre?"
up the same little mirror where he had   He looked with a piteous, appealing
once admired himself; and as he beheld  glance from her to Cecily and Sir Marthe scar and plaster that disfigured his maduke, as if in hopes that they would
face, with a fresh start of recollection, contradict.
muttered over, "' Barbouiller ce chien de  " Too true, my lad," said Sir Marmavisage'-aye, so he said. I felt the pis- duke. "It is Heaven's good mercy that
tol's muzzle touch! Narcisse! Has God Obert carried you out alive. No other
had mercy on me? I prayed Him.  Ah! Protestant left the palace alive but the
le 6aiser d'Eustacie'-so he said. I was King of Navarre and his cousin, who,
waiting in the dark. Why did he come turned renegades."
instead of her?  Oh! father, where is    "And she is left there?" he repeated..
she?"                                   "Heed her not, my dear boy," began
It was a sore task, but Sir Marmaduke his mother; " you are safe, and must forwent bravely and bluntly, though far from  get her ill-faith and  "
unkindly, to the point: "She remains     Berenger seemed scarcely to hear this.
with her friends in France."          speech-he held out his hands as if stunThere the youth's look of utter horror ned and dizzied, and only said, or rather
and misery shocked and startled them all, indicated, " Let me lie down."
and he groaned rather than said, "Left   His step-father almost carried him
there! Left to them! What have I done across the room, and laid him on his bed,
to leave her there?"                 where he turned away from the light and
" Come, Berenger, this will not serve," shut his eyes; but the knot of ribbon andi




104                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the pin-pricked word was still in his hand, enger was altogether unequal to do more
and his mother longed to take away the than murmur, as he held out his hand in
token of this false love, as she believed it. response to the kindness, " You do not
The great clock struck the hour for her know her."
to go. "Leave him quiet," said Cecily,   "Ah! poor lad."   Sir Marmaduke
gently; "he can bear no more now. I shook his head and left him to Cecily.
will send over in the. evening to let you  After the first shock, Berenger never
know how he fares."                  rested till he had made Osbert, Mr. Ad" But that he should be so set on the derley, and Cecily tell him all they knew,
little bloodthirsty baggage," sighed Lady  and asked by name after those whom he
Thistlewood; and then going up to her had known best at Paris. Alas! of all
son, she poured out her explanation of those, save such as had been in the Ambeing unable to stay, as her parents were  bassador's house, there was but one acalready at the Manor, with no better count'to give. Venerable warrior, nobleentertainers than Lucy, Philip, and the hearted youth, devoted pastor, all alike
children. She thanked him for the gifts, had perished!
which she would take to them with his    This frightful part of the story was
love. All this passed by him as though  altogether new to him.  He had been
he heard it not, but when leaning down probably the earliest victim in the Louvre,
she kissed his forehead, and at the same as being the special object of private mraltime tried to withdraw the knot of ribbon, ice, which had contrived to involve him
his fingers closed on it with a grasp like in the general catastrophe; and his own
steel, so cold were they, yet so fast.  recollections carried him only to the flitSir Marmaduke lingered a few moments ting of lights and ringing of bells, that
behind her, and Berenger opening his eyes, had made him imagine that an alarm of
as if to see whether solitude had been fire would afford a good opportunity of
achieved, found the kind-hearted knight escape, if she would but come. A cloaked
gazing at him with eyes full of tears. figure had approached,-he had held out
"Berry, my lad," he said, "bear it like his arms-met that deadly stroke-heard
a man. I know how hard it is. There's the words hissed in his ear.
not a woman of them all that an honest,  He owned that for some time past
plain Englishman has a chance with, when  strange recollections had been flitting
a smooth-tongued Frenchman comes round through his mind-a perpetual unsatisfied
her! But a man may live a true and longing for, and expectation of his wife,
honest life however sore his heart may and confused impressions of scenes and
be, and God Almighty makes it up to him  people that harassed him perpetually,
if he faces it out manfully."        even when he could not discern between
Good Sir Marmaduke in his sympathy  dreams and reality; but knowing that he
had utterly forgotten both Berenger's had been very ill, he had endeavored to
French blood, and that he was the son of account for everything as delirious fanciest
the very smooth-tongued interloper who but had become increasingly distressed by
had robbed hislifeofitsfirst bloom. Ber- their vividness, confusion, and want of




SWEET HEART.                               105
outward confirmation. At last these solid intelligence home, as he could readily do
tokens and pledges from that time had through the Ambassador's household, and
brought certainty back, and with it the  Berenger trusted by that time to be able
harmony and clearness of his memory: to take measures for claiming her in perand the strong affection, that even his son.
oblivion had not extinguished, now re-    Osbert readily undertook everything,
curred in all its warmth to its object.  but supplies for his journey were needed,
Four months had passed, as he now   and there was an absolute commotion in
discovered, since that night when he had the house when it was known that Berhoped to have met Eustacie, and she must enger had been writing to his faithless
be believing him dead. His first measure spouse, and wishing to send for her.
on the following day when he had been  Lord Walwyn came up to visit his granddressed and seated in his chair was to son, and explain to him with much pity
send for his casket, and with his slow, and consideration that he considered such
stiff arm, write thus:-                a step as vain, and only likely to lead to
further insult. Berenger's respect forced
"'MON CCEUR, MY OWN SWEETHEART,-    him to listen without interruption, and
Hast thou thought me dead, and thyself though he panted to answer, it was a
deserted? Osbert will tell thee all, and  matter of much difficulty, for the old lord
why I can scarce write. Trust thyself to  was becoming deaf, and could not catch
him to bring to me. I shall be whole the indistinct, agitated wordsseeing thee. Or if thou canst not come    "My lord, she is innocent as day."
with him, write or send me the least token  "Ah! Amen, boy."
by him, and I will come and bear thee      I pledge my life on her love and inhome so soon as I can put foot in stirrup. nocence."
Would that I could write all that is in my  " Love! yes, my poor boy; but if she
heart!"                               be unworthy? Eh? Cecily, what says
TIIY HUSBAND."     he?"
" He is sure of her innocence, sir."
It was all that either head or hand    "That is of course. But, my dear lad,
would enable him to say, but he had the you will soon learn that even a gentle,
fullest confidence in Landry Osbert, who  good woman who has a conscience-keeper,
was one of the few who understood him  is too apt to think her very sense of right
at half a word. He desired Osbert to   ought to be sacrificed to what she calls her
seek the lady out wherever she might be, religion.-What is it, what is he telling
whether still at court or in a convent, you, Cecily?"
convey the letter to her if possible, and  " She was ready to be one of us," Berif she could by any means escape, obtain renger said, with a great effort to make it
from Chateau Leurre such an escort as clear.
she could come to England with. If, as    "Ah, a further snare. Poor child!
was too much to be feared, she was under The very softest of them become the
too close restraint, Osbert should send  worst deceivers, and the kindred who




106                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
have had the charge of her all their life  This revival of his memory had not at
could no doubt bend her will."         all conduced to bis progress in recovery.
"Sir," said Berenger, finding argu- His brain was in no state for excitement
ment impossible, "if you will but let me or agitation, and pain and confusion were
despatch Osbert, her answer will prove to the consequence, and were counteracted,
you what she is."                      after the practice of the time, by profuse
"There is something in that," said  bleedings, which prolonged his weakness.
Lord Walwyn, when he had heard it re- The splintered state of the jaw and roof
peated by Cecily. "It is, of course, needful of the mouth likewise produced effects
that both she and her relations should that made him suffer severely, and debe aware of Berenger's life, and I trow  prived him at times even of the small
nothing but the reply will convince him."  power of speech that he usually pos" Convince him! " muttered Berenger. sessed; and though he had set his heart
"   that I could make him understand! upon being able to start for Paris so soon
What a wretch I am to have no voice to  as Osbert's answer should arrive, each litdefend her! "                         tie imprudence he committed in order to
" What?" said the old lord again.  convince himself of his progress, threw
"Only that I could speak, sir; you him back so seriously, that he was barely
should know why it is sacrilege to doubt able to walk down-stairs to the hall, and
her."                                 sit watching-watching, so that it was
"Ah! well, we will not wound you, piteous to see him-the gates of the
my son, while talk is vain. You shall courtyard, by the time, that on a cold
have the means of sending your groom, March day, a booted and spurred courier
if thus you will set your mind at rest, (not Osbert) enter by them.
though I had rather have trusted to      He sprang up, and faster than he had
Walsingham's dealing. I will myself yet attempted to move, met the man in
give him a letter to Sir Francis, to for- the hall, and demanded the packet. It
ward him on his way; and should the   was a large one, done up in canvas, and
young lady prove willing to hold to her addressed to the Right Honorable and
contract and come to you here, I will Worshipful Sir William, Baron Walwyn
pray him to do everything to aid her of Hurst Walwyn, and he had further to
that may be consistent with his duty in endure the delay of carrying it to his
his post."                            grandfather's library, which he entered
This was a great and wonderful con- with far less delay and ceremony than
cession for Lord Walwyn, and Berenger was his wont. "Sit down, Berenger,"
was forced to be contented with it, though  said the old man, while addressing himit galled him terribly to have Eustacie self to the fastenings; and the permission
distrusted, and be unable to make his was needed, for he could hardly have
vindication even heard or understood, as stood another minute.  The covering
well as to be forced to leave her rescue, contained a letter to Lord Walwyn himand even his own explanation to her, to self, and a packet addressed to the Baron
a mere servant.                       de Ribaumont, which his trembling fingers




SWEET HEART.                            107
could scarcely succeed in cutting and tear- the Ambassador believed him to have
ing open.                             been privy to his son's designs; and
How shall it be told what the contents whether Mdlle. de Nid-de-Merle herself
of the packet were? Lord Walwyn read- had been a willing agent or not, she cering on with much concern, but little sur- tainly had remained in the hands of the
prise, was nevertheless startled by the family. The decree annulling the marfierce shout with which Berenger broke riage had been published, the Lady was
out:                                 in a convent in Anjou, and Narcisse de
"'A lie! a lie forged in hell." And Ribaumront had just been permitted to
then seizing the parchment, was about to  assume the title of Marquis de Nid-derend it with all the force of passion, when  Merle, and was gone into Anjou to
his grandfather, seizing his hand, said in  espouse her. Sir Francis added a meshis calm authoritative voice, "Patience, sage of commiseration for the young
my poor son."                        Baron, but could not help congratulating
"How, how should I have patience his old friend on having his grandson safe
when they send me such poisoned lies as and free from these inconvenient ties.
these of my wife, and she is in the power  Berenger's own packet contained, in
of the villains? Grandfather, I must go the first place, a copy of the cassation of
instantly —"                         the marriage, on the ground of its having
"Let me know what you have heard," been contracted when the parties were of
said Lord Walwyn, holding him feebly too tender age to give their legal consent,
indeed, but with all the impressive power and its having been unsatisfied since they
and gravity of his years.            had reached ecclesiastical years for law"Falsehoods," said Berenger, pushing ful contraction of wedlock.
the whole mass of papers over to him, and  The second was one of the old Chevathen hiding his head between his arms on lier's polite productions. He was perfectthe table.                           ly able to ignore Berenger's revocation
Lord Walwyn finished his own letter of his application for the separation, since
first. Walsingham wrote with much kind the first letter had remained unanswered,
compassion, but quite decisively. He had and the King's peremptory commands
no doubt that the Ribaumont family had had prevented Berenger from taking any
acted as one wheel in the great plot that open measures after his return from
had destroyed all the heads of Protestant Montpipeau. Thus the old gentleman,
families and swept away among others, after expressing due rejoicing at his dear
as they had hoped, the only scion of the young cousin's recovery, and regret at
rival house. The old Chevalier de Ribau- the unfortunate mischance that had led
mont had, he said, begun by expressing to his being confounded with the many
sorrow for the mischance that had ex- suspected Huguenots, proceeded as if
posed his brave young cousin to be lost matters stood exactly as they had been
in the general catastrophe, and he had before the pall-mall party, and as if the
professed proportionate satisfaction on  decree that he inclosed were obtained in
hearing of the young man's safety. But accordance with the young Baron's in



108                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
tentions. He had caused it to be duly had received on the St. Barthelerny midregistered, and both parties were at night; they might further his suit elseliberty to enter upon other contracts of where. These, Monsieur, were her words,
matrimony. The further arrangements and she laughed as she said them, so gaily
which Berenger had undertaken to sell that I thought her fairer than ever. I
his lands in Normandy, and his claim on have prevailed with her to take me into
the ancestral castle in Picardy, should be her service as intendant of the Chateau
carried out, and deeds sent for his signa- de Nid-de-Merle, knowing, as she does, my
ture so soon as he should be of age. In fidelity to the name of Ribaumont. And
the mean time, the Chevalier courteously so, trusting Monsieur will pardon me for
imparted to his fair cousin the marriage what I do solely for the good of my soul,
of his daughter, Mademoiselle Diane de I will ever pray for his welfare, and reRibaumont with M. le Comte de Selin- main,
ville, which had taken place on the last   "His faithful menial and valet,
St. Martin's day, and of his niece, Made-               "LANDRY OSBERT."
moiselle Eustacie de Ribaumont de Nidde-Merle with his son, who had received   The result was only what Lord Walpermission to take her father's title of  wyn had anticipated, but he was neverMarquis de Nid-de-Merle. The wedding theless shocked at the crushing weight
was to take place at Bellaise before the of the blow. His heart was full of cornend of the Carnival, and would be con- passion for the youth so cruelly treated
eluded before this letter came to hand.  in these his first years of life, and as much
Lastly, there was an ill-written and torn in his affections as mangled in person.
spelt letter, running somewhat thus:-  After a pause, while he gathered up the
sense of the letters, he laid his hand kindly
"MONSEIGNEIR, — Your faithful ser- on his grandson's arm and said, "This is
vant hopes that Monsieur le Baron will a woeful budget, my poor son; we will
forgive him for not returning, since I have do our best to help you bear it."
been assured by good priests that it is not " The only way to bear it," said Berpossible to save my soul in a country of enger, lifting up his face, "is for me to
heretics. I have done everything as Mon- take horse and make for Anjou instantly.
sieur commanded, I have gone down into  She will hold out bravely, and I may yet
Anjou, and have had the honor to see the save her."
young lady to whom Monsieur le Baron      "Madness," said his grandfather, "you
charged me with a commission, and I have then not read your fellow's letter."
delivered to her his letter, whereupon the  "I read no letter from fellow of mine.
lady replied that she thanked M. le Baron  Yonder is a vile forgery. Narcisse's own
for the honor he had done her, but that most likely. No one else would have so
being on the point of marriage to M. le profaned her as to put such words into
Marquis de Nid-de-Merle, she did not her mouth! My dear faithful fosterdeem it fitting to write to him, nor had  brother-have they murdered him? "
she any tokens to send him, save what he  " Can you point to any proof that it is




SWEET HEART.                            109
forged?" said Lord Walwyn, aware that disobedient for the first time.  "My
handwriting was too difficult an art, and Lord," he said, "you are but my grandfar too crabbed, among persons of Os- father. She is my wife. My duty is to
bert's class, for there to be any individu- her."
ality of penmanship.                    He had plucked his sleeve away and
"It is all forged," said Berenger. "It was gone, before Lord Walwyn had been
is as false that she could frame such a able to reason with him that there was
message as that poor Osbert would leave no wife in the case, a conclusion at which
me."                                 the old statesman would not have ar" These priests have much power over rived had he known of the ceremony at
the conscience," began Lord Walwyn; Montpipeau, and all that had there passed;
but Berenger, interrupting his grand- but not only did Berenger deem himself
father for the first time in his life, cried, bound to respect the King's secret, but
"No priest could change her whole conversation was so difficult to him that
nature.  Oh I my wife! my darling! he had told very little of his adventures,
what may they not be inflicting on her and less to Lord Walwyn than any one
now! Sir, I must go.    She may be else. In effect, his grandfather considsaved! The deadly sin may be pre- ered this resolution of going to France as
vented! "                            mere frenzy, and so it almost was, not
" This is mere raving, Berenger," said only on the score of health and danger,
Lord Walwyn; not catching half what he but because as a ward, he was still so
said, and understanding little more than  entirely under subjection, that his journey
his resolution to hasten in quest of the could have been hindered by absolutely
lady. " You, who have not mounted a forcible detention; and to this Lord
horse, nor walked across the pleasaunce Walwyn intended to resort, unless the
yet!"                               poor youth either came to a more ration"MIy limbs should serve me to rescue al mind, or became absolutely unable to
her, or they are worth nothing to me."  travel.
" Lord Walwyn would have argued      The last-as he had apprehendedthat he need not regret his incapacity to came to pass only too surely. The very
move, since it was no doubt already too attempt to argue, and to defend Eustacie
late, but Berenger burst forth-" She will was too much for the injured head; and
resist; she will resist to the utmost, even long before night, Berenger fully believed
if she deems me dead. Tortures will not himself on the journey, acted over its inshake her when she knows I live. I must cidents, and struggled wildly with diffiprepare." And he started to his feet.  culties all the time lying on his bed, with
" Grandson," said Lord Walwyn, lay- the old servants holding him down, and
ing a hand on his arm, "'listen to me. Cecily listening tearfully to his ravings.
You are in no state to judge for yourself.  For weeks longer he was to lie there
I therefore command you to desist from  in greater danger than ever. He only
this mad purpose."                   seemed soothed into quiet when Cecily
He spoke gravely, but Berenger was chanted those old Latin hymns of her




110                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Benedictine rule, and then-when he cused of not fulfilling the intentions of
could speak at all —le showed himself the Bienheureuse Barbe, the foundress, or
to be in imagination praying in Eustacie's of her patron St. Bernard.
convent chapel, sure to speak to her when  Madame de Bellaise was a fine-looking
the service should be over.            woman of forty, in a high state of preservation, owing to the healthy life she had
led. Her eyes were of brilliant, beautiful
CHAPTER XV.                black, her complexion had a glow, her
hair-for she wore it visibly-formed
NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAI8E.* 
NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAISE.*        crisp rolls of jetty ringlets on her tern"There came a man by middle day,     ples, almost hiding her close white cap.
He spied his sport and went away, 
And brought the king that very night,  The heavy thick veil was tucked back beAnd break my bower and slew my knight."  neath the furred purple silk hood that
The Border Widow's Lament.
fastened under her chin.   The white
THAT same Latin hymn which Cecily robes of her order were not of serge, but
St. John daily chanted in her own chain-est cloth, and were almost hidof the finest cloth, and were almost hidber was due from the choir of Cistercian  den by a short purple cloak with sleeves,
sisters in the chapel of the Convent of likewise lined and edged with fur, and
Our Lady at Bellaise, in the Bocage of fastened on the bosom with a gold brooch.
Anjou; but there was a convenient prac- Her fingers, bearing more rings than the
tice of lumping together the entire night signet of her house, were concealed in
and forenoon hours at nine o'clock in the embroidered gauntlets of Spanish leather.
morning, and all the evening ones at One of them held an ivory-handled ridingCompline, so that the sisters might have rod, the other the reins of the well-fed
undisturbed sleep at night and entertain- jennet, on which the lady, on a fine afterment by day. Bellaise was a very com- noon late in the Carnival, was cantering
fortable little nunnery, which only re- home through the lanes of the Bocage,
ceived richly dowered inmates, and wasafter a successful morning's hawking
therefore able to maintain them in much  among the wheat-ears. She was attendease, though without giving occasion to a ed by a pair of sisters, arrayed somewhat
breath of scandal. Founded by a daughter in the same style, and by a pair of mountof the first Angevin Ribaumont, it had  ed grooms, the falconer with his charge
become a sort of appanage for the super- having gone home by a footway.
fluous daughters of the house, and nothing  The sound of horses' feet approaching
would more have amazed its present made her look towards a long lane that
head, Eustacie Barbe de Ribaumont,-   came down at right angles to that along
conventionally known as La Mere Marie which she was riding, and slacken her
Seraphine de St.-Louis, and to the world  pace before coming to its opening. And
as Madame de Bellaise,-_than to be ac- as she arrived at the intersection, she be* Bellaise is not meant for a type of all nun- held advancing, mounted on a little rough
neries, but of the condition to which many of the poly, the spare figure of her brother the
lesser ones had come before the general reaction
and purification of the seventeeth century.  Chevalier, in his home suit, so greasy




NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAISE.                         111
and frayed, that only his plumed hat     "You will never obtain her consent.
(and a rusty plume it was) and the old  She is distractedly in love with his
sword at his side showed his high de- memory!    Let her guess at his life,
gree.                                 and-"
He waved his hand to her as a sign     "Precisely. Therefore must we be
to halt, and rode quickly up, scarcely speedy. All Paris knows it by this time,
giving time for a greeting ere he said, for the fellow went straight to the Eng"Sister, the little one is not out with lish Ambassador; and I trust my son has
you."                                  been wise enough to set off already; for
"No, truly, the little mad thing, she should we wait till after Lent, Monsieur
is stricter and more headstrong than ever le Baron himself might be upon us."
was her preceptress. Poor Monique! I      "Poor child!  You men little heed
had hoped that we should be at rest how you make a woman suffer."
when that casse-tete had carried off her  "How, Reverend Mother! you pleadscruples to Ste.-Claire, at Lucon, but here ing for a heretic marriage, that would
is this little droll far beyond her, without give our rights to a Huguenot-what say
being even a nun! "                    I?-an English renegade! "
" Assuredly not. The business must    "I plead not, brother. The injustice
be concluded at once. She must be mar- towards you must be repaired; but I
ried before Lent."                     have a certain love for my niece, and I
" That will scarce be-in her present fear she will be heartbroken when she
frame."                               learns the truth, the poor child."
"It must be. Listen, sister. Here is   "Bah! The Abbess should rejoice in
this miserable alive! "                thus saving her soul! How if her here"Her spouse!"                      tic treated Bellaise like the convents of
"Folly about her spouse!  The de- England?"
cree from Rome has annulled the foolish   "No threats, brother. As a daughter
mummery of her infancy. It came a of Ribaumont and a mother of the
week after the Protestant conspiracy, Church will I stand by you," said the
and was registered when the Norman    Abbess with dignity.
peasants at Chateau Leurre showed con-    "And now tell me how it has been
tumacy. It was well; for, behold, our with the child. I have not seen her since
gallant is among his English friends, re- we agreed that the request did but agcovering, and  even writing  a billet. gravate her.  You said her health was
Anon he will be upon our hands in per- better since her nurse had been so often
son. By the best fortune, Gillot fell in  with her, and that she had ceased from
with his messenger this morning, prowl- her austerities."
ing about on his way to the convent, and  "Not entirely; for when first she
brought him to me to be examined. I came, in her transports of despair and
laid him fast in ward, and sent Gillot off  grief on finding Sceur Monique removed,
to ride day and night to bring my son  she extorted from Father Bonami a sort
down to secure the girl at once."     of hope that she might yet save her hus



112                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
bands's, I mean the Baron's, soul. Then,  "It is true," said the Abbess, thoughttruly, it was a frenzy of fasts and prayers. fully, "that she has walked and ridden
Father Bonami has made his profit, and  out lately. She has asked questions about
so have the fathers of Chollet-all her her chateau, and their garrisons. I have
money has gone in masses, and in alms to  heard nothing of the stricter convent for
purchase the prayers of the poor, and she many weeks; but still, brother, you must
herself fasting on bread and water, kneel- go warily to work."
ing bare-footed in the chapel till she was  "And you, sister, must show no retransfixed with cold.  No chaufferette, lenting. Let her not fancy she can work
not she! Obstinate to the last degree! upon you."
Tell her she would die-it was the best   By this time the brother and sister
news one could bring; all her desire, to  were at the gateway of the convent; a
be in a more rigid house with Sceurlay-sister presided there, but there was
Monique at Lugon.    At length, M3re no clture, as the strict seclusion of a
Perrine and Veronique found her actually  nunnery was called, and the Chevalier
fainting and powerless with cold on the rode into the cloistered quadrangle as
chapel-floor; and since that time she has naturally as if he had been entering a
been more reasonable. There are prayers secular chateau, dismounted at the porch
as much as ever; but the fancy to kill of the hall, and followed Madame de Belherself with fasting has passed. She be- laise to the parlor, while she despatched a
gins to recover her looks, nay, sometimes request that her niece would attend her
I have thought she had an air of hope in there.
her eyes and lips? But what know I? I    The parlor had no grating to divide it,
have much to occupy me, and she persists but was merely a large room, furnished
in shutting herself up with her woman."  with tapestry, carved chests, chairs, and
"You have not allowed her anycom- cushions, much like other receptionmunication from without?"            rooms. A large, cheerful wood-fire blazed
"Mlire Perrine has come and gone upon the hearth, and there was a certain
freely; but she is nothing. No, the child  air of preparation, as indeed an ecclecould have no correspondence. She did, siastical dignitary from Saumur was exindeed, write a letter to the Queen, as pected to sup with the ladies that evenyou know, brother, six weeks ago; but ing.
that has never been answered, nor could  After some interval, spent by the
any letters have harmed you, since it is Chevalier in warming himself, a low voice
only now that this young man is known  at the door was heard, saying " Deus voto be living."                        biscun."   The Abbess answered, "Et
" You are right, sister. No harm can  cum spiritu tuo;" and on this monastic
have been done. All will go well. The substitute for a knock and "come in,"
child must be wearied with her frenzy there appeared a figure draped and veiled
of grief and devotion! * She will catch  from head to foot in heavy black, so as to
gladly at an excuse for change. A scene look almost like a sable moving cone.
or two, and she will readily yield! "  She made an obeisance as she entered,




NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAISE.                        113
saying, "You commanded my presence, must go as Marquis de Nid-de-Merle, in
madame! "                             full possession of your estates."
"Your uncle would speak to you,       "Let him take them," began Eustacie,
daughter, on affairs of moment."      but broke off half-way through, with a
"At his service. I, too, would speak  muttered "Oh-no."
to him."                                 "That is childish, as I see you per" First, then, my dear friend," said ceive," said her uncle, "inconsistent with
the Chevalier, "let me see you. That his honor."
face must not be muffled any longer from  "Does he speak of honor," said Euthose who love you."                  stacie, "who first commits a cowardly
She made no movement of obedience, murder, and then forces himself on the
until her aunt peremptorily bade her turn  widow he has made?"
back her veil. She did so, and disclosed  " Folly, child, folly," said the Chevathe little face so well known to her uncle, lier, who supposed her ignorant of the
but less childish in its form, and the dark  circumstances of her husband's assassinaeyes less sparkling, though at once softer tion; and the Abbess, who was really igand more resolute.                    norant, exclaimed-" Fi done, niece; you
" Ah! my fair niece," said the Cheva- know not what you say."
tier, "this is no visage to be hidden! I  "I know, madame-I know from an
am glad to see it re-embellished, and it eye-witness," said Eustacie, firmly. "I
will be lovelier than ever when you have know the brutal words that embittered
cast off this disguise."              my husband's death; and were there no
"That will never be," said Eusta- other cause, they would render wedlock
cie.                                  with him  who spoke them   sacrilege."
"Ah! we know better! My daughter Resolutely and steadily did the young
is sending down a counterpart of her own  wife speak, looking at them with the dry,
wedding-dress for our bride of the Mardi- fixed eye to which tears had been denied
Gras."                                ever since that eventful night.
"And who may that bride be?" said     "Poor child," said the Chevalier to
Eustacie, endeavoring to speak as though  his sister. "She is under the delusion
it were nothing to her.               still.  Husband! There is none in the
" Nay, ma petite! it is too long to case." Then, waving his hand as Eustaplay the ignorant when the bridegroom  cie's face grew crimson, and her eyes
is on his way from Paris."           flashed indignation, while her lips parted,
"Madame," said Eustacie, turning to  "It was her own folly that rendered it
her aunt, " you cannot suffer this scandal. needful to put an end to the boy's preThe meanest peasant may weep her first sumption. Had she been less wilful and
year of widowhood in peace."          more obedient, instead of turning the
"Listen, child. There are weighty poor lad's head by playing at madame, we
reasons. The Duke of Anjou is a candi- could have let him return to his island
date for the throne of Poland, and my fogs; but when she encouraged him in
son is to accompany him thither.  He contemplating the carrying her away, and
8




114                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
alienating her and her lands from the true of mourning, you shall taste of that disfaith, there was but one remedy-to let cipline you used to sigh for. We have
him perish with the rest. My son is will- borne with your fancy long enoughing to forgive her childish pleasure in a you, who are no more a widow than Iboy's passing homage, and has obtained nor wife."
the King's sanction to an immediate mar- " Wife and widow am I in the sight of
riage."                              Him who will protect me," said Eustacie,
"'Which, to spare you, my dear," add- standing her ground.
ed the aunt, "shall take place in our   "Insolent! Why, did I not excuse
chapel."                             this as a childish delusion, should I not
"It shall never take place anywhere," spurn one who durst love-what say Isaid Eustacie, quietly, though with a not a heretic merely, but the foe of her
quiver in her voice; "no priest will wed father's house? "
me when he has heard me."                "He! " cried Eustacie; " what had he
" The dispensation will overcome all ever done? "
scruples," said the Abbess. "Hear me,   " He inherited the blood of the traitor
niece. I am sorry for you, but it is best Baron," returned her aunt. "Ever have
that you should know at once that there that recreant line injured us! My nephis nothing in heaven or earth to aid you ew's sword avenged the wrongs of many
in resisting your duty."             generations."
Eustacie made no answer, but there   "Then," said Eustacie, looking at her
was a strange half-smile on her lip, and a with a steady, fixed look of inquiry, " you,
light in her eye which gave her an air not Madame l'Abbesse, would have neither
so much of entreaty as of defiance. She mercy nor pity for the most innocent offglanced from one to the other as if con- spring of the elder line? "
sidering, but then slightly shook her head.  " Girl, what folly is this to talk to me
" What does she mean?" asked the Chev- of innocence! That is not the question.
alier and the Abbess one of another, as, The question is-obey willingly as my
with a dignified gesture, she moved to dear daughter, or compulsion must be
leave the room.                      used?"
"Follow her. Convince her that she   " My question is answered," said Euhas no hope," said the uncle; and the stacie, on her side. "I see that there is
Abbess, moving faster than her wont, neither pity nor hope from you."
came up with her at the archway whence  And with another obeisance, she turned
one corridor led to the chapel, another to to ascend the stairs. Madame paced back
her own apartments. Her veil was down to her brother.
again, but her aunt roughly withdrew it,  " What," he said; " you have not yet
saying, " Look at me, Eustacie. I come dealt with her?"
to warn you that you need not look to   "No, brother, I never saw a like
tamper with the sisters. Not one will mood. She seems neither to fear nor to
aid you in your headstrong folly. If you struggle. I knew she was too true a Ricast not off ere supper-time this mockery baumont for weak tears and entreaties;




NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAISE.                         115
but, fiery little being as once she was, I great joy, and had always treated her with
looked to see her force spend itself in pas- much indulgence, and when the drooping,
sion, and that then the victory would have broken-hearted girl came back once more
been easy; but no, she ever looks as if to the shelter of her convent, the goodshe had some inward resource-some se- humored Abbess only wished to make her
curity-and therefore could be calm. I happy again.
should deem it some Huguenot fanaticism,  But Eustacie's misery was far beyond
but she is a very saint as to the prayers the ken of her aunt, and the jovial turn
of the Church, the very torment of our of these consolations did but deepen her
lives."                               agony. To be congratulated on her re"Could she escape?" exclaimed the lease from the heretic, assured of future
Chevalier, who had been considering happiness with her cousin, and, above all,
while his sister was speaking.        to hear Berenger abused with all the bit"Impossible!  Besides, where could terness of rival family and rival religion,
she go? But the gates shall be closed. I tore up the lacerated spirit. Ill, dejected,
will warn the portress to let none pass out and broken down, too subdued to fire up
without my permission."               in defence, and only longing for the powThe Chevalier took a turn up and down  er of indulging in silent grief, Eustacie
the room; then exclaimed, " It was very  had shrunk from her, and wrapped herself
ill-advised to let her women have access up in the ceaseless round of masses and
to her!  Let us have Veronique sum- prayers, in which she was allowed to permoned instantly."                     ceive a glimmering of hope for her husAt that moment, however, the pon- band's soul. The Abbess, ever busy with
derous carriage of Monseigneur, with out- affairs of her convent or matters of pleasriders, both lay and clerical, came tram- ure, soon relinquished the vain attempt to
pling up to the archway, and the Abbess console where she could not sympathise,
hurried off to her own apartment to di- trusted that the fever of devotion would
vest herself of her hunting-gear ere she wear itself out, and left her niece to herreceived her guest; and the orders to one self. Of the seven nuns, two were decof the nuns to keep a watch on her niece orously gay, like their Mother Abbess;
were oddly mixed with those to the cook, one was a prodigious worker of tapestry,
confectioner, and butterer.           two were unrivalled save by one another
La Mere Marie Seraphine was not a as confectioners. Eustacie had been their
cruel or an unkind woman. She had been  pet in her younger days; now she was
very fond of her pretty little niece in her out of their reach, they tried in turn to
childhood, but had deeply resented the comfort her; and when she would not be
arrangement which had removed her from  comforted, they, too, felt aggrieved by the
her own superintendence to that of the presence of one whose austerity reproachEnglishwoman, besides the uniting to the ed their own laxity; they resented her
young Baron one whom she deemed the   disappointment at Sceur Monique's having
absolute right of Narcisse. She had re- been transferred to Lu9on, and they, too,
ceived Eustacie on her first return with  left her to the only persons whose pres



116                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ence she had ever seemed to relish-   guiltless-the mostguiltless-do you hear 
namely, her maid Veronique, and Vero- -of the Norman house. Never, never,
nique's mother, her old nurse Perrine, wife shall she have the chance! Come, thy
of a farmer about two miles off.  The striped petticoat!"
woman had been Eustacie's foster-moth-   "But, oh! what will madame do?
er, and continued to exert over her much  Where would she go? Oh I it is imposof the caressing care of a nurse.     sible! "
After parting with her aunt, Eustacie   First to thy fathers. Yes, I know.
for a moment looked toward the chapel, He has once called it a madness to think
then, clasping her hands, murmured to  of rallying my vassals to protect their
herself, " No! no! speed is my best lady. That was when he heard of it from
hope;" and at once mounted the stairs, thee-thou faint of heart-and thy mothand entered a room, where the large stone er. I shall speak to him in person now.
crucifix, a waxen Madonna, and the holy- Make haste, I tell thee, girl. I must be
water font, gave a cell-like aspect to the out of this place before I am watched or
room; and a straw pallet covered with  guarded," she added, breathlessly.  "I
sackcloth was on the floor, a richly-cur- feel as if each moment I lost might have
tained couch driven into the rear, as un- death upon it;" and she looked about her
used.                                 like a startled deer.
She knelt for a moment before the     "To my father's. Ah! there, it is not
Madonna, "Ave Maria, be with me and so ill! But the twilight, the length of
mine. Oh! blessed Lady, thou hadst to way," sobbed Veronique, in grievous disfly with thy Holy One from cruel men. tress and perplexity. "Oh! madame, I
Have thou pity on the fatherless! "   cannot see you go. The Mother Abbess
Then going to the door, she clapped is good. She must have pity. Oh, trust
her hands; and, as Veronique entered, to her! "
she bade her shut and bolt the door, and  "Trust! Did I not trust to my Cousat the same moment began in nervous in Diane? Never I Nothing will kill me
haste to throw off hei veil and unfasten  but remaining in their hands.'
her dress.                               Veronique argued and implored in. " Make haste, Verouique. A dress of vain. Ever since, in the height of those
thine-"                               vehement austerities by which the be" All is known, then! " cried Veroni- reaved and shattered sufferer strove to
que, throwing up her arms.            appease her wretchedness by the utmost
"No, but he is coming-Narcisse-to  endeavor to save her husband's soul, the
marry me at once —Mardi-Gras —  "     old foster-mother had made known to her
" t quoi? Madame has but to speak  that she might thus sacrifice another than
the word, and it is impossible."      herself, Eustacie's elastic heart had begun
"And after what my aunt has said, I to revive, with all its dauntless strength
would die a thousand deaths ere speak- of will. What to her women seemed
ing that word. I asked her, Veronique! only a fear, was to her only a hope.
She would have vengeance on the most     Frank and confiding as was her na



NOTRE-DAME DE BELLAISE.                         117
ture, however, the cruel deceptions al- Queen's interference, together with the
ready practised on her by her own kin- exceeding difficulty of acting, had hitherdred, together with the harsh words with to prevented her fiom taking any steps,
which the Abbess spoke of Berenger, had  since no suspicion had arisen in the minds
made her aware that no comfort must be of those about her. Veronique, caring
looked for in that quarter. It was, after infinitely more for her mistress's health
all, perhaps her own instinct, and the  and well-being than for the object of Euaunt's want of sympathy, that withheld stacie's anxieties, had always secretly
her from seeking counsel of any save Per- trusted that delay would last till action
rine and her daughter, at any rate till she was impossible, and that the discovery
could communicate with the kind young  would be made, only without her being
Queen. To her, then, Eustacie had writ- accused of treason. In the present stress
ten, entreating that a royal mandate   of danger, she could but lament and enwould recall her in time to bestow her- treat, for Eustacie's resolution bore her
self in some trustworthy hands, or even  down; and besides, as she said to herself,
in her husband's own Norman castle, her Lady was after all going to her fosterwhere his heir would be both safe and  father and mother, who would make her
welcome.   But time had passed-the     hear reason, and bring her back at once,
whole space that she had reckoned as and then there would be no anger nor
needful for the going and coming of her disgrace incurred. The dark muddy length
messenger-allowing for all the obstruc- of walk would be the worst of it-and,
tions of winter-roads-nay, he had come bah! most likely Madame would be conback; she knew her letter was delivered, vinced by it, and return of her own acbut answer there was none. It might yet cord.
come-perhaps a royal carriage and escort  So Veronique, though not intermitting
-and day after day had she waited and her protests, adjusted her own dress upon
hoped, only tardily admitting the convic- her mistress,-short striped petticoat,
tion that Elisabeth of Austria was as pow- black bodice, winged turban-like white
erless as Eustacie de Ribaumont, and mean- cap, and a great muffling gray cloth cloak
time revolving and proposing many a and hood over the head and shouldersscheme that could only have entered the the costume in which Veronique was
brain of a brave-spirited child as she was. wont to run to her home in the twilight
To appeal to her vassals, garrison with  on various errands, chiefly to carry her
them a ruinous old tower in the woods, and mistress's linen; for, starching Eustacie's
thence send for aid to the Montmorencys; plain bands and cuffs, was Mere Perrine's
to ride to Saumur, and claim the protection  special pride. The wonted bundle, thereof the governor of the province; to make fore, now contained a few garments, and
her way to the coast and sail for Englaand; the money and jewels, especially the chapto start for Paris, and throw herself in let of pearls, which Eustacie regarded as
person on the Queen's protection, all had  a trust.
occurred to her, and been discussed with  Sobbing and still protesting, Veroniher two confidantes; but the hope of the que, however, engaged that if her Lady




118                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
succeeded in safely crossing the kitchen  appendage to a nunnery, but one much
in the twilight, and in leaving the con- used among the domestic establishment
vent, she would keep the secret of her of Bellaise.
escape as long as possible, reporting her  A gleam of red light spread across the
refusal to appear at supper, and making passage from the half-open kitchen door,
such excuses as might very probably pre- whence issued the savory steam  of the
vent the discovery of her flight till next supper preparing for Monseigneur. Euday.                                   stacie had just cautiously traversed it,
"And then," said Eustacie, "I will when the voice of the presiding lay-sister
send for thee, either to Saumur or to the called out, "Veronique, is that you? "
old tower! Adieu, dear Veronique, do      "Sister!" returned Eustacie, with as
not be frightened. Thou dost not know  much of the Angevin twang as she could
how glad I am that the time for doing  assume.
something is come! To-morrow! "           Where are you going? "
" To-morrow! " thought Veronique, as  "To the Orchard Farm    with this
she shut the door; " before that you will linen."
be back here again, my poor little Lady,  "Ahi! it must be. But there are
trembling, weeping, in dire need of being  strict orders come from Madame about
comforted. But I will make up a good  nobody going out unreported, and you
fire, and shake out the bed. I'll let her may chance to find the door locked if you
have no more of that villanous palliasse. do not comeback in good time. Oh! and
No, no, let her try her own way, and re- I had well-nigh forgot; tell your mother
pent of it; then, when this matter is to be here early to-morrow, Madame
over, she will turn her mind to Chevalier would speak with her."
Narcisse, and there will be no more lan-  Eustacie assented, half stifled by the
guishing in this miserable hole."     great throb of her fluttering heart at the
sense that she had indeed seized the last
a-t- ^~moment. Forth then she stepped. How
dark, waste, and lonely the open field
CHAPTER:XVI.        looked! But her heart did not fail her;
she could only feel that a captivity
THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE     was over, and the most vague and terriBOCAGE.                 ble of her anxieties soothed, as she made
" I winna spare for his tender age,  her way into one of the long shady lanes
Nor yet for his hie kin;        of the Bocage. It was nearly dark, and
But soon as ever he born is,
He shall mount the gallows' pin."  very muddy, but she had all the familiarFAUSE FOODRAGE.  ity of a native with the way, and the
DusK was closing in, but lamps had farm, where she had trotted about in her
not yet been lighted, when with a trem- infancy like a peasant's child, always
bling, yet almost a bounding heart, Eu- seemed like home to her. It had been a
stacie stole down the stone staircase, lead- prime treat to visit it during her time of
ing to a back-door-an utterly uncanonical education at the convent, and there was




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EUSTACIE STOLE DOWN THE STAIRCASE.')?:! ii
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EUSTACIE STOLE DOWN THE STA~~~~~~~~~IIRCAE








THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE BOCAGE.                   119
an association of pleasure in treading the  seated in the ample wooden chair of the
path that seemed to bear her up, and give head of the family, the farmer and his
her enjoyment in the mere adventure and  two stout sons standing before her as their
feeling of escape and liberty. She had liege Lady, and Mare Perrine hanging
no fear of the dark, nor of the distant over her, in great anxiety, not wholly disbarking of dogs, but the mire was deep, pelled by her low girlish laugh, partly of
and it was plodding work in those heavy  exultation at her successful evasion, partly
sabots, up the lane that led from the con- of amusement at their wonder, and partvent; and the poor child was sorely weary ly, too, because it was so natural to her to
long before she came to the top of the low  enjoy herself at that hearth that she could
hill that she used scarcely to know to be not help it. A savory mess from the
rising ground at all. The stars had come great caldron that was for ever stewing
out; and, as she sat for a few moments to  over the fire was at once fished out for
rest on a large stone, she saw the lights her, before she was allowed to explain
of the cottage fires in the village below, herself; and as she ate with the carved
and looking round could also see the   spoon and from the earthenware crock
many gleams in the convent windows, the  that had been called Mademoiselle's ever
red fire-light in her own room among since her baby-days, Perrine chafed and
them. She shivered a little as she thought warmed her feet, fondled her, and asof its glowing comfort, but turned her sured her, as if she were still their spoiled
back resolutely, tightened her cloak over child, that they would do all she wished.
her head, looked up to a glimmer in the  Pierre and Tiennot, the two sons,
watch-tower of her own castle, far above were sent out to fodder the cattle, and
her on the hill, and closed against her; keep careful watch for any sounds of purand then smiled to herself witl hope at suers from the convent; and Blaise, in
the sparkle of a window in a lonely farm- the plenitude of his respect and deferhouse among the fields.               ence, would have followed them, but EuWith fresh vigor she rose, and found  stacie desired him to remain to give her
her way through lane and field-path to  counsel.
the paddock where she had so often       Her first inquiry was after the watchplayed.  Here a couple of huge dogs tower. She did not care for any discomdashed forward with an explosion of   fort if her vassals would be faithful, and
barks, dying away into low growls as she hold it out for her, till she could send:
spoke to them by their names, and called  for help to the allies of her husband's,
aloud on "Blaise!" and "Mere Perrine!" house, and her eyes glanced as she.
The cottage-door was opened, the light spoke.
streamed forth, and a man's head in a    But Blaise shook his head. IIe had'
broad hat appeared. "Veronique, girl, looked at the tower as ~Madame bade, but
is this an hour to be gadding abroad? "  it was all in ruins, crumbling away, and,.
" Blaise, do you not know me? "   moreover, M. le Chevalier had put a for" It is our Lady. Ah! "            ester there-a grim, bad subject, who had
The next moment the wanderer was been in the Italian wars, and cared neither




120                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
for saint nor devil, except Chevalier Nar- Do not hasten. There is nothing amiss
cisse. Indeed, even if he had not been  as yet."
there, the place was untenable, it would'Oh, nurse," cried Eustacie, as she
only be getting into a trap.          quickly arranged the dress in which she
" Count Hebert held it out for twelve had lain down, " the dear old farm always
days against the English! " said Eustacie, makes me sleep well. This is the first
proudly.                               time I have had no dream of the whirling
"Ah! ah! but there were none of  wheel and fiery gates!  Oh, is it a token
your falconets, or what call you those  that he is indeed at rest? I am so well,
cannons then. No; if Madame would so strong! I can ride anywhere now.
present herself as a choice morsel for Let them come in and tell me."
Monsieur le Chevalier to snap up, that is  Martin was a younger, brisker, cleverthe place."                            er man than Blaise, and besides, being a
Then came the other plan of getting  vassal of the young Lady, was a sort of
an escort of the peasants together, and  agent to whom  the Abbess entrusted
riding with them toward the Huguenot many of the matters of husbandry reterritories around La Rochelle, where, for garding the convent lands. He stood, like
her husband's sake, Eustacie could hardly  Blaise, bareheaded as he talked to the litfail to obtain friends. It was the more tle Lady, and heard her somewhat perpracticable expedient, but Blaise groaned  emptorily demand why they had not
over it, wondered how many of the brought the horses and men for her
farmers could be trusted, or brought to- escort.
gether, and finally expressed his intention  It was impossible that night, exof going to consult Martin, his stanch  plained Martin.  Time was needed to
fiiend, at the next farm. Meantime, Ma- bring in the farm-horses, and summon the
dame had better lie down and sleep. And  other peasants, without whom the roads
Madame did sleep, in Perrine's huge box- were unsafe in these times of disorder.
bedstead, with a sweet, calm, childlike He and Blaise must go round and warn
slumber, whilst her nurse sat watching  them to be ready. A man could not be
her with eyes full of tears of pity and dis- ready in a wink of the eye, as Madame
tress; the poor young thing's buoyant seemed to think, and the two peasants
hopefulness and absence of all fear seemed  looked impenetrable in stolidity.
to the old woman especially sad, and like  "Laggards that you are!" cried Eua sort of want of comprehension of the stacie, petulantly clasping her hands;
full peril in which she stood.         "and meantime all will be lost. They
Not till near dawn was Eustacie will be upon me!"
startled from her rest by approaching     "Not so, Madame.   It is therefore
steps. "Nurse, is all ready?" she cried. that I came here," said Martin, deferen"Can we    set off?   Are the horses tially, to the little fuming, impatient
there?"                               creature; " Madame will be far safer close
" No, my child; it is but my good man  at hand while the pursuit and search are
and Martin who would speak with you. going on. But she must not stay here




THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE BOCAGE.                   121
This farm is the first place they will come  I-e halted under the lee of a barn, and
to, while they will never suspect mine, gave a low whistle. At the sound, Luand my good woman Lucette will be cette, a brown, sturdy young woman with
proud to keep watch for her. Madame a red handkerchief over her head, and
knows that the place is full of shrubs and  another over her shoulders, came running
thickets, where one-half of an army   round the corner of the barn, and whismight spend a fine day in looking for the  pered eagerly under her breath, "Ah!
other."                               Madame, Madame, what an honor! " kiss"And at night you will get together ing Eustacie's hand with all her might as
the men and convey me?" asked Eusta- she spoke; "but, alas! I fear Madame
cie, eagerly.                          cannot come into the house. The quest"All in good time, Madame.   Now   ing  Brother Franqois - plague upon
she must be off, ere the holy mothers be him-has taken it into his head to drop
astir. I have brought an ass for her to in to breakfast. I longed to give him the
ride."                                cold shoulder, but it might have brought
Eustacie had no choice but compliance. suspicion down."
None of the Orchard family could go with  "Right, good woman," said Martin;
her, as it was needful that they should  "butwhat shallMadamedo? It is broad
stay at home and appear as unconcerned  day, and no longer safe to run the lanes! "
as possible; but they promised to meet    "Give me a distaff," said Eustacie, risher at the hour and place to be appointed, ing to the occasion, "I will go to that
and if possible to bring Veronique.    bushy field and herd the cows."
Eating a piece of rye-bread as she     Madame was right, the husband and
went, Eustacie, in her gray cloak, rode wife unwillingly agreed. There, in her
under Martin's guardianship along the peasant dress, in the remote field sloping
deep lanes, just budding with spring, in  up into a thick wood, she was unlikely to
the chill dewiness before sunrise.  She attract attention; and though the field
was silent, and just a little sullen, for she was bordered on one side by the lane
had found stout, shrewd Martin less easy leading to the road to Paris, it was sepato talk over than the admiring Blaise, rated from it by a steep bank, crowned by
and her spirit was excessively chafed by  one of the thick hedgerows characteristic
the tardiness of her retainers. But the of the Bocage.
sun rose and cleared away all clouds of  Here, then, they were forced to leave
temper, the cocks crew, the sheep bleated, her, seated on a stone beneath a thornand fresh morning sounds met her ear, bush, distaff in hand, with bread, cheese,
and seemed to cheer and fill her with  and a pitcher of milk for her provisions,
hope; and in some compunction for her and three or four cows grazing before
want of graciousness, she thanked Martin, her. From the higher ground below the
and praised his ass with a pretty cordial- wood of ash and hazel, she could see the
ity that would have fully compensated for undulating fields and orchards, a few
her displeasure, even if the honest man  houses, and that inhospitable castle of her
had been sensible of it.              own.




122                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
She had spent many a drearier day in  but Narcisse, muddy with riding, though
the convent than this, in the free sun and in his court braveries.  Suddenly they
air, with the feeling of liberty, and un- came to a halt close beneath her! Was
bounded hopes founded on this first suc- she detected? Ah! just below was the
cess. She told her beads diligently, trust- spot where the road to the convent parted
ing that the tale of devotions for her hus- from the road to the farm; and, as Marband's spirit would be equally made up in tin had apprehended, they were stopping
the field as in the church, and intently all for him. The Chevalier ordered one of
day were her ears and eyes on the alert. the armed men behind him to ride up to
Once Lucette visited her, to bring her a the farm and summon Martin to speak
basin of porridge, and to tell her that all with him; and then he and his son, while
the world at the convent was in confusion, waiting under the holly-bush, continued
that messengers had been sent out in all their conversation.
directions, and that M. le Chevalier had  "So that is the state of things! A
ridden out himself in pursuit; but they fine overthrow! " quoth Narcisse.
should soon hear all about it, for Martin  "Bal! not at all. She will soon be in
was pretending to be among the busiest, our hands again. I have spoken with, or
and he would know how to turn them    written to, every governor of the cities she
away.   Again, much later in the day, must pass through, and not one will abet
Martin came striding across the field, and the little runaway. At the first barrier
had just reached her, as she sat in the she is ours."
hedgerow, when the great dog who fol-      Et puis "
lowed him pricked his ears, and a tramp-  " Oh, we shall have her mild as a
ing and jingling was audible in the dis- sheep." (Eustacie set her teeth.) "Every
tance in the lane. Eustacie held up her one will be in the same story, that her
finger, her eyes dilating.            marriage was a nullity; she cannot chooso
"It must be M. le Chevalier returning. but believe, and can only be thankful that
Madame must wait a little longer. I must we overlook the escapade and rehabilitate
be at home, or they may send out to seek  her."
me here, and that would be ruin. I will  " Thank you, my good uncle," almost
return as soon as it is safe, if Madame will uttered his unseen auditor.
hide herself in the hedgerow."           "Well! There is too much land down
Into the hedgerow accordingly crept here to throw away; but the affair has
Eustacie, cowering close to a holly-tree at become horribly complicated and distastethe very summit of the bank, and led by a ful."
strange fascination to choose a spot where,  "No such thing. All the easier. She
unseen herself, she could gaze down on the can no longer play the spotless saintparty who came clanking along the hollow  get weak-minded priests on her side-be
road beneath. Nearer, nearer they came; all for strict convents. No, no; her time
and she shuddered, with more of passion for that is past! Shut her up, with trustthan of fear, as she beheld not only her worthy persons from whom she will hear
uncle in his best well-preserved green suit, nothing from without, and she will under



THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE BOCAGE.                   123
stand her case. The child? It will scarce brought down a set of fellows here, who
be born alive, or at any rate she need not are trained to ferret out heretics. Not a
know whether it is. Then, with no re- runaway weasel could escape them! We
source, no hope, what can she do but be will set them on as soon as ever they have
too thankful for pardon, and as glad to taken a bit of supper up there at the chaconceal the past as we could wish? "  teau; and do you come up with us just to
Eustacie clenched her fist. Had a pis- show them the way across to Leonard's.
tol been within her reach, the speaker's That's no unlikely place for her to lurk
tenure of life had been short! She was in, as you said this morning, good fellow."
no chastened, self-restrained, forgiving  It was the most remote farm fiom
saint, the poor little thing, only a hot- that of Martin, and Eustacie felt how
tempered, generous, keenly-sensitive be- great were his services, even while she
ing, well-nigh a child in years and in im- flushed with anger to hear him speaking
pulses, though with the instincts of a of her as Mademoiselle. He was prommother awakening within her, and of a ising to follow immediately to the castle,
mother who heard the life of her unborn to meet ces AMessieurs there almost as soon
babe plotted against. She was absolutely  as they could arrive, but excusing himself
forced to hold her lips together, to repress from accompanying them, by the need of
the sobbing scream of fury that came to driving home the big bull, whom no one
her throat; and the struggles with her else could manage.
gasping breath, the surging of the blood  They consented, and rode on. Martin
in her ears, hindered her from hearing or watched them out of sight, then sprang
seeing anything for some seconds, though  up by some stepping-stones in the bank,
she kept her station. By the time her a little below where Eustacie sat, and
perceptions had cleared themselves, Mar- came crackling through the boughs to
tin, cap in hand, was in the lane below, where she was crouching down, with
listening deferentially to the two gentle- fierce glittering eyes and panting breath,
men, who were assuring him that inquiry like a wild animal ready to spring.
had been made and a guard carefully set   " Madame has heard," said Martin
at the barriers of all the cities round, and under his breath.
that it was impossible that the fugitive  "If I have heard! Oh that I were
could have passed those, or be able to do a man, to slay them where they stood!
so. She must certainly be hidden some- Martin, Martin! you will not betray me.
where near home, and Martin had better Some day we will reward you."
warn all his friends against hiding her,  " Madame need not have said that to
unless they wished to be hung up on the me," said Martin, rather hurt. "I am
thresholds of their burning farmsteads. only thinking what she can do. Alas!
Martin bowed, and thought the fellows I fear that she must remain in this covert
would know their own interest and Made- till it is dark, for these men's eyes are all
moiselle's better.                    on the alert. At dark, I or Lucette will
"Well," said the Chevalier, " we must come and find a shelter for her for the
begin without loss of time. My son has night."




124                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Long, long, then, did Eustacie sit the directions where she might hope to
muffled in her gray cloak, shrinking to- have reached friends. Alone she could
gether to shelter herself from the sunset not go, and any escort sufficient to prochill of early spring, but shuddering more tect her would assuredly be stopped at
with horror than with cold, as the cruel the first town; besides which, collecting
cold-blooded words she had heard recurred  it in secret was impossible under present
to her, and feeling as if she were fast circumstances, and it would be sure to be
within a net, every outlet guarded against at once overtaken and demolished -by the
her, and search everywhere; yet still Chevalier Narcisse's well-armed followers.
with the indomitable determination to  Martin, therefore, saw no alternative but
dare and suffer to the utmost ere that for her to lurk about in such hidingwhich was dearer than her own life places as her faithful vassals could afford
should come into peril from her enemies. her, until the search should blow over,
The twilight closed in, the stars came and the vigilance of her uncle and cousin
out, sounds of life died away, and still she relax. Hope, the high-spirited hope of
sat on, becoming almost torpid in the early youth, looked beyond to indefinite
cold darkness, until at length she heard  but infinite possibility.  Anything was
the low call of Lucette, " Madame! Ah! better than the shame and horror of
la pauvre Madame."   She started up, so yielding, and Eustacie trusted herself
stiff that she could hardly move, and only  with all her heart for the present, fancyguided by the voice to feel her way    ing, she knew not what, the future.
through the hedgerow in the right direc-  Indeed, the Vendean fidelity has often
tion.  Another moment, and Lucette's been tested, and she made full proof of
warm arms had received her; and she was it among the lanes, copses, and homeguided, scarce knowing how or where, in steads of her own broad lands.   The
cautious silence to the farm-yard, and into  whole country was a network of deep
the house, where a most welcome sight, lanes, sunk between impenetrable hedgea huge fire, blazed cheerfully on the rows, inclosing small fields, orchards, and
hearth, and Martin himself held open the  thickets, and gently undulating in low
door for her. The other occupants of the hills and shallow  valleys, interspersed
kitchen were the sleeping child in its with tall wasp-waisted windmills airily
wooden cradle, some cocks and hens upon  waving their arms on the top of lofty
the rafters, and a big sheep-dog before masts. It was partitioned into small farms,
the fire.                              inhabited by a simple-hearted peasantry,
The warmth, and the chicken that religious and diligent, with a fair amount
Lucette had killed and dressed, brought of rural wealth and comfort. Their love
the color back to the exhausted wan- for their lords was loyally warm, and
derer's cheek; and enabled her again to  Eustacie monopolised it, from their dehold council for her safety. It was plain, testation of her uncle's exactions; they
as Martin had found in conversation with  would risk any of the. savage punishments
the men-at-arms, that precautions had  with which they were threatened for
been taken against her escaping in any of concealing her; and as one by one it was




THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE BOCAGE.                 125
needful to take them into the secret, so  It was seldom possible to see Mere
as to disarm suspicion, and she was passed Perrine, who was carefully watched, unfrom one farm to another, each proved  der the conviction that she must know
his faithful attachment, and thought him- where her nursling was; but one evening
self repaid by her thankful smile and con- Veronique ventured up to Martin's farm,
fiding manner.                       trusting to tidings that the gentlemen
The Chevalier and his son searched had ridden to Saumur. It had been a
vigorously.  On the slightest suspicion, wet day, but the woods had been Euthey came down to the farm, closed up stacie's only secure harbor; and when, in
the outlets, threatened the owners, turned  a bright evening gleam of the setting sun
out the house, and the very place they from beneath the clouds, Veronique came
had last searched would become her quar- in sight of her Lady, the Queen's favorite,
ters on the next night! Messages always it was to see her leading by a string a
had warned her in time. Intelligence little shaggy cow, with a bell round its
was obtained by Martin, who contrived neck, her gray cloak huddled round her,
to remain a confidential agent, and warn- though dank with wet, a long lock of
ings were despatched to her by many a black hair streaming over her brow, her
strange messenger-by little children, by garments clinging with damp, her bare
old women, or even by the village inno- ankles scratched with thorns, her heavy
cent.                                sabots covered with mire, her cheeks
The most alarming days were those pale with cold and wet.
when she was not the avowed object of   The contrast overwhelmed poor Vethe chase, but when the pursuit of game ronique. She dropped on her knees, sobrendered the coverts in the woods and bing as if her heart would break, and defields unsafe, and the hounds might lead daring that this was what the Abbess
to her discovery. On one of these occa- had feared; her lady was fast killing hersions Martin locked her up in the great self.
hay-loft of the convent, where she could  "HushI Veronique," said Eustacie;
actually hear the chants in the chapel, "that is all folly. I am wet and weary
and distinguish the chatter of the lay- now, but oh! if you knew how much
sisters in the yard. Another time, in sweeter to me life is now than it was,
conjunction with the sacristan, he be- shut up down there, with my fears.
stowed her in the great seigneurial tri- See," and she held up a bunch of purple
bune (or squire's pew) in the village pasque-flowers and wood-sorrel, "this is
church, a tall carved box, where she was what I found in the wood, growing out
completely hidden; and the only time of a rugged old dead root; and just by,
when she had failed to obtain warning sheltered by the threefold leaves of the
beforehand, she stood kneading bread at alleluia-flower, was a bird's nest, the
a tub in Martin's cottage, while the hunt mother-bird on her eggs, watching me
passed by, and a man-at-arms looked in  with the wise black eye that saw I would
and questioned the master on the last not hurt her. And it brought back the
traces of the runaway.               words I had heard long ago, of the good




126                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
God caring for the sparrows; and I knew    "And could they make me believe
He would care the more for me and       them, so that the doubt and dread would
mine, because I have not where to lay   not kill me in themselves?" said Eustacie.
my head."                                  "But it is death-certain death, as it
"Alas!" sobbed Veronique, "now      is. Oh, if Madame would hear reason! —
she is getting to be a saint outright. She  but she is so headstrong! She will grieve
will be sure to die! Ah, Madame-dear when it is too late!"
Madame! do but listen to me. If you        "Listen, Veronique.  I have a far
did but know how Madame de Bellaise is better plan. The sacristan has a sister
afflicting herself on your account! She sent who weaves red handkerchiefs at Chollet.
for me-ah! do not be angry, dear Lady! "  She will receive me, and keep me as long
" I wish to hear nothing about her,"  as there is need. Martin is to take me in
said Eustacie.                          his cart when he carries the hay to the
"Nay, listen, de grace-one moment, garrison.   I shall be well hidden, and
Madame! She has wept, she has feared    within reach of your mother. And then,
for you, all the lay-sisters say so. She  when my son is once come-then all will
takes no pleasure in hawking, nor in    be well! The peasants will rise in behalf
visiting; and she did not eat more than  of their young Lord, though not for a
six of Sceur Bernardine's best conserves, poor helpless woman. No one will dare
She does nothing but watch for tidings to dispute his claim, when I have appealed
of Madame. And she sent for me, as I totheKing; and then,Veronique, youshall
told you, and conjured me, if I knew    come back to me, and all will be well! "
where you were, or had any means of        Veronique only began to wail aloud
finding out, to implore you to trust to  at her mistress's obstinacy. Martin came
her. She will swear on all the relics in  up, and rudely silenced her, and said
the chapel never to give a hint to Mes- afterward to his wife, "Have a care!
sieurs les Chevaliers if only you would  That girl has-I verily believe-betrayed
trust her, and not slay yourself with all her Lady once; and if she do not do so
this dreadful wandering."               again, from  pure pity and faintness of
"Never!" said Eustacie; "she said   heart, I shall be much surprised."
too much!"
"Ah! but she declares that, had she
known the truth, she never would have             CHAPTER XVII.
said that. Ah, yes, Madame, the Abbess      THE GHOSTS OF THE TEMPLARS.
is good! " And Veronique, holding her    s'Tis said, as through the aisles they passed,
mistress's cloak to secure a hearing, de-  They heard strange voices on the blast,
And through the cloister galleries small,
tailed the Abbess's plan for lodging her   And through the cloister galleries small,
tailed the A esss pan for lodgng her  hich at mid-height thread the chancel wall,
niece in secret apartments within the      Loud sobs and laughter louder ran,
And voices unlike the voice of man,
thickness of the convent walls, where      As if the fiends kept holiday."
Mere Perrine could be with her, and every             SCOTT, Lay of the Last Minstrel.
sacred pledge should be given that could   "ILL news, Martin, I see by your
remove her fears.                      look!" cried Eustacie, starting to her




THE GHOSTS OF THE TEMPLARS.                       127
feet from the heap of straw on which she that hung over the banks, while he used
was sitting in his cowhouse, one early his long strides to enable him to double
April day, about seven weeks since her back and enter into conversation with
evasion from the convent.             passers-by, quite off the track of the' Not so, I hope, Madame, but I do Grange du Temple, but always telling her
not feel at ease. Monsieur has not sent where he should join her again, and leaving
for me, nor told me his plans for the  with her the great dog, whom she had
morrow, and I much doubt me whether come to regard as a friend and protector.
that bode not a search here. Now I see Leaving the brook, he conducted her bea plan, provided Madame would trust neath hedges and by lonely woodland
herself to a Huguenot."               paths beyond the confines of her own
" They would guard me for my hus- property, to a secluded valley, so shut in
band's sake."                         by wooded hills that she had not been
"And could Madame walk half a aware of its existence. Through an exleague, as far as the Grange du Temple? tensive orchard, she at length, when nearly
There live Mathieu Rotrou and his wife, spent with the walk, beheld the cluster
who have, they say, baffled a hundred  of stone buildings, substantial as the erectimes the gendarmes who sought their tions of religious orders were wont to be.
ministers. No one ever found a pastor,   Martin found a seat for her, where
they say, when Rotrou had been of the she might wait while he went on alone
congregation; and if they can do so much to the house, and presently returned with
for an old preacher with a long tongue, both the good people of the farm. They
surely they can for a sweet young lady; were more offhand and less deferential
and if they could shelter her just for to- than were her own people, but were full
morrow, till the suspicion is over, then  of kindliness.  They were middle-aged
would I come for Madame with my cart, folk, most neatly clad, and with a grave,
and carry lier into Chollet among the thoughtful look about them, as if life were
trusses of hay, as we had fixed."     a much heavier charge to them than to
Eustacie was already tying her cloak, their light-hearted neighbors.
and asking for Lucette; but she was      "A fair day to you, Madane," said
grieved at hearing that Martin had sent the farmer, doffing his wide-flapped hat.
her to vespers to disarm suspicion, and  "I am glad to serve a sufferer for the
moreover that he meant not to tell her truth's sake."
of his new device.  "The creature is    "'My husband was," faltered Eustacie.
honest enough," he said, "but the way    "Ah! Ila pauvre," cried the good
to be safe with women is not to let them  woman, pressing forward as she saw how
know."                                faint, heated, and exhausted was the wanHe cut short all messages and expres- derer. " Come in, ma pauvrette. Only
sions of gratitude, and leading Eustacie a brideattheBartholomew! Alas! There,
to a small stream, he made her creep lean on me, my dear."
along its course, with her feet in the   To be tutoye by the Fermiere Rotrou
water, so as to be sheltered by the boughs was a shock; yet the kind manner was




128                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
comfortable, and Eustacie suffered her-   "Ah! must I go any farther?" sighed
self to be led into the farmhouse, where, Eustacie.
as the dame observed, she need not fear   "It is but a few fields beyond the
chance-comers, for they lived much to  yard, ma petite," said the good woman
themselves, and no one would be about consolingly; " and it will be safer to take
till their boy Robinet came in with the you there ere we need a light."
cows. She might rest and eat there in     The sun had just set on a beautiful
security, and after that they would find a evening of a spring that happily for Euhiding-place for her-safe as the horns of stacie had been unusually warm and mild,
the altar-for a night or two; only for when they set forth, the dame having
two nights at most.                   loaded her husband with a roll of bedding,
" Nor do I ask more," said Eustacie. and herself taking a pitcher of milk and
"Then Martin will come for me."       a loaf of bread, whilst Eustacie, as usual,
" Ay, I or Blaise, or whichever of us carried her own small parcel of clothes
can do it with least suspicion."      and jewels. The way was certainly not
" She shall meet you here," added long to any one less exhausted than she;
Rotrou.                               it was along a couple of fields, and then
" All right, good man; I understand; through a piece of thicket, where Rotrou
it is best I should not know where you held back the boughs, and his wife almost
hide her. Those rogues have tricks that dragged her on with kind encouraging
make it as well to know nothing. Fare- words, till they came up to a stone ivywell, Madame, I commend you to all the covered wall, and coasting along it to a
saints till I come for you on Monday  tower, evidently a staircase turret. Here
morning."                             Rotrou, holding aside an enormous bush
Eustacie gave him her hand to kiss, of ivy, showed the foot of a winding
and tried to thank him, but somehow   staircase, and his wife assured her that
her heart sank, and she felt more lonely she would not have far to climb.
than ever, when entirely cast loose among  She knew where she was now. She
these absolute strangers than amongst her had heard of the old Refectory of the
own vassals.  Even the farm-kitchen, Knights Templars.    Partly demolished
large, stone-built, and scrupulously clean, by the hatred of the people upon the
seemed strange and dreary after the little, abolition of the Order, it had ever since
smoky, earth-built living-rooms in which  lain waste, and had become the centre of
her peasantry were content to live, and all the ghostly traditions of the country;
she never had seemed to herself so com- the locality of all the most horrid tales of
pletely desolate; but all the time she was r evenants told under the breath at Dame
so wearied out with her long and painful Perrine's hearth or at recreation hour at
walk, that she had no sooner taken some Bellaise.  Her courage was not proof
food than she began to doze in her chair. against spiritual terrors. She panted and
"Father," said the good wife, "we leaned against the wall, as she faintly
had better take la pauvrette to her rest exclaimed, " The Temple —there-and
at once."                             alone!''




THE GHOSTS OF THE TEMPLARS.                       129
"Nay, Lady, methought as Monsieur babe into the abyss. Were such specvotre mari knew the true light, you would tacles awaiting her? Must she bear them:
fear no vain terror nor power of dark- and could her endurance hold out? Our
ness."                                 Lady be her aid, and spare her in her
Should these peasants-these villeins —  need!
be bold, and see the descendant of the    At the top of the stairs she found Ro" bravest of knights," the daughter of the trou's hand, ready to help her out on a
house of Ribaumont, afraid? She rallied  stone floor, quite dark, but thickly covherself, and replied manfully, " Ifear not, ered, as she felt and smelled, with trusses
no!" but then, womanfully, "But it is of hay, between which a glimmering
the Temple! It is haunted! Tell me light showed a narrow passage. A few
what I must expect."                   steps, guided by Rotrou's hand, brought
"I tell you truly, Madame," said Ro- her out into light again, and she found
trou; " none whom I have sheltered here herself in a large chamber, with the stone
have seen aught. On the faith of a Chris- floor broken away in some places, and
tian, no evil spirit-no ghost-has ever with a circular window, thickly veiled
alarmed them; but they were fortified by with ivy, but still admitting a good deal
prayer and psalm."                     of evening light.
"I do pray! I have a psalm-book,"      It was in fact a chamber over the
said Eustacie, and she added to herself, vaulted refectory of the knights. The
"No, they shall never see that I fear. walls and vaults still standing in their
After all, revenants can do nothing worse massive solidity, must have tempted some
than scare one; they cannot touch one; peasant, or mayhap some adventurer,
the saints and angels will not let them-  rudely to cover in the roof (which had of
and my uncle would do much worse."     course been stripped of its leading), and
But to climb those winding-stairs, and  thus in the unsuspected space to secure a
resign herself to be left alone with the hiding-place, often for less innocent comTemplars for the night, was by far the se- modities than the salt, which the iniquiverest trial that had yet befallen the poor tons and oppressive gabelle had always led
young fugitive. As her tired feet drag- the French peasant to smuggle, ever since
ged up the crumbling steps, her memory the days of the first Valois. The room
reverted to the many tales of the sounds had a certain appearance of comfort; there
heard by night within those walls-church  was a partition across it, a hearth with
chants turning into diabolical songs, and  some remains of wood-ashes, a shelf,
ending in terrific shrieks-or of the sights holding a plate, cup, lamp, and a few
that had chased bewildered travellers into  other necessaries; and altogether the
thickets and morasses, where they had  aspect of the place was so unlike what
been found in the morning, shuddering as Eustacie had expected, that she almost
they told of a huge white monk, with clank- forgot the Templar as she saw the dame
ing weapons, and a burning cross of fire begin to arrange a comfortable-looking
printed on his shoulder and breast, who  couch for her wearied limbs.  Yet she
stood on the walls and hurled a shrieking  felt very unwilling to let them depart, and&
9




130                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
even ventured on faltering out the in- shapes on the floor, all quivering with the
quiry whether the good woman could not shadows of the ivy sprays.  It looked
stay with her-she would reward her strange and eerie enough at the moment,
largely.                               but she understood it the next, and would
" It is for the love of Heaven, Ma- have been reassured if she had not bedame, not for gain," said Nanon Rotrou, come aware that there was a low sound,
rather stiffly. "If you were ill, or need- a tramp, tramp, below her. "Gracious
ed me, all must then give way; but for saints! The Templar! Have mercy on
me to be absent this evening would soon  me!  Oh! I was too sleepy to pray!
be reported around the village down there, Guard me from being driven wild by
for there are many who would find occa- fright! "  She sat upright, with widesion against us."  But, by way of conso- spread eyes, and, finding that she herself
lation, they gave her a whistle, and showed  was in the moonlight, through some openher that the window of their cottage was ing in the roof, she took refuge in the
much nearer to a loophole-slit looking darkest corner, though aware as she
toward the east than she had fancied. crouched there, that if this were indeed
The whistle perpetrated a most unearthly the Templar, concealment would be vain,
screech, a good deal like that of an owl, and remembering suddenly that she was
but more discordant, and Nanon assured  out of reach of the loophole-window.
her that the sound would assuredly break  And therewith there was a tired sound
her slumbers, and bring her in a few min- in the tread, as if the Templar found his
utes at any moment of need. In fact, the weird a very lengthy one; then a long
noise was so like the best-authenticated  heavy breath, with something so essenaccounts of the shrieks indulged in by the tially human in its sound, that the flutspirits of the Temple, that Eustacie had tering heart beat more steadily. If reawit enough to suspect that it might be the son told her that the living t'ere more
foundation of some of the stories; and perilous to her than the dead, yet feeling
with that solace to her alarms, she en- infinitely preferred them! It might be
dured the departure of her hosts, Nanon  Nanon Rotrou after all; then how foolish
promising a visit in the early morning.  to be crouching there in a fright! It was
The poor child was too weary to in- rustling through the hay. No-no Nadulge in many terrors, the beneficent tor- non; it is a male figure, it has a long cloak
por of excessive fatigue was upon her, on. Ah! it is in the moonlight-silver
happily bringing slumberous oblivion in- hair-silver beard. The Templar! Fasstead of feverish restlessness. She strove cinated with dismay, yet calling to mind
to repeat her accustomed orisons; but that no ghost has power unless addressed,
sleep was too strong for her, and she was she sat still, crossing herself in silence.
soon lying dreamlessly upon the clean, but unable to call to mind any prayer or
homely couch prepared for her.         invocation save a continuous "Ave Mary,"
When she awoke it was with a start. and trying to restrain her gasping breath,
The moon was shining in through the cir- lest, if he were not the Templar after all,
cular window, making strange white he might discover her presence.




THE GHOSTS OF THE TEMPLARS.                        131
He moved about, took off his cloak, raising her voice, the new-comer delaid it down near the hay, then his cap, manded:
not a helmet after all, and there was no' Is there then another wanderer
fiery cross. He was in the gloom again, and here? "
she heard him moving much as though he    " Ah, sir, pardon me! " she exclaimed.
were pulling down the hay to form a bed. "I will not long importune you, but
Did ghosts ever do any thing so sensible? only till morning light-only till the FerIf he were an embodied spirit, would it miere Rotrou comes."
be possible to creep past him and escape  " If Matthieu and Anne Rotrou placed
while he lay asleep? She was almost be- you here, then all is well," replied the
coming familiarised with the presence, stranger. "Fear not, daughter, but tell
and the supernatural terror was passing me. Are you one of my scattered flock,
off into a consideration of resources, when, or one whose parents are known to me?"
behold, he was beginning to sing. To   Then, as she hesitated, "I am Isaac Garsing was the very way the ghosts began  don —escaped, alas! alone, from  the
ere they came to their devilish outcries. slaughter of the Barth6lemy."
"' Our Lady keep it from bringing frenzy.  "Master Gardon!" cried Eustacie.
But harkl hark! "  It was not one of   "Oh, I know! 0 sir, my husband loved
the chants, it was a tune and words heard  and honored you."
in older times of her life; it was the    "Your husband?"
evening hymn, that the little husband and  "Yes, sir, le Baron de Ribaumont."
wife had been wont to sing to the Baron   "That fair and godly youth!    My
in the Chateau de Leurre-Marot's ver- dear old patron's son!    You - you!
sion of the 4th Psalm:                 But-" with a shade of doubt, almost of
dismay, "the boy was wedded-wedded
" Plus de joie m'est donnee
Par ce moyen, O Dieu Tres-Haut,  to the heiress — "
Que n'ont ceux qui out grand ann6e   "Yes ves I am that unhappy one!
De froment et bonne vin6e,
D'huile et tout ce qu'il leur fault."  We were to have fled together on that
dreadful night. He came to meet me to
If it had indeed been the ghostly
the Louvre-to his doom!" she gasped
chant, perhaps Eustacie would not have
out, nearer to tears than she had ever
been able to help joining it. As it was,
been since that time, such a novelty was
the familiar home words irresistibly im- 
it to her to hear Berenger spoken of in
pelled her to mingle her voice, scarce.
kind or tender terms; and in her warmth
knowing vwhat shle did, in the verse —
of feeling, she came out of her corner,
" Si qu'en paix et surete bonne    and held out her hand to him.
Coucherai et reposerai;
Car Seigneur, ta bont6 tout ordonne'Alas! poor thing " sali the minisEt elle seule espoir me donne    ter, compassionately, "Heaven has tried
Que sur et seul r6gnant serai."
you sorely. Had I known of your presThe hymn died away in its low ca- ence here, I would not have entered; but
dence, and then, ere Eustacie had had  I have been absent long, and stole into
time to think of the consequences of thus my lair here without disturbing the good




132                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS,
people below.  Forgive the intrusion, in the northern part of France, who, beMadame."                             ing left pastorless, welcomed visits from
"No, sir, it is I who have to ask par- the minister of their religion, and passed
don.  Were I not a desolate fugitive, him on from one place to another, as his
with nowhere to hide myself, I would stay in each began to be suspected by the
not incommode you."                   anthorities. He was now on his way
The minister replied warmly that along the west side of France, with no
surely persecution was a brotherhood, fixed purpose, except so far as, since
even had she not been the widow of one Heaven had spared his life when all
he had loved and lamented.            that made it dear had been taken from
"Ah! sir, it does me good to hear him, he resigned himself to believe that
you say so."                         there was yet some duty left for him to
And therewith Eustacie remembered fulfil.
the hospitalities of her loft. She per-  Meantime the old man was wearied
ceived by the tones of the old man's voice out; and after due courtesies had passed
that he was tired, and probably fasting, between him and the Lady in the dark,
and she felt about for the milk and bread he prayed long and fervently, as Eustacie
with which she had been supplied. It could judge from the intensity of the low
was a most welcome refreshment, though murmurs she heard; and then she heard
he only partook sparingly; and while he him, with a heavy, irrepressible sigh, lie
ate, the two, so strangely met, came to a down on the couch of hay he had already
fuller knowledge of one another's circum- prepared for himself, and soon his regular
stances.                              breathings announced his sound slumbers.
Master Isaac Gardon had, it appeared,  She was already on the bed she had
been residing at Paris, in the house of so precipitately quitted, and not a thought
the watchmaker whose daughter had more did she give to the Templars, living
been newly married to his son; but on or dead, even though she heard an exthe fatal eve of St. Bartholomew, he had traordinary snapping and hissing, and in
been sent for to pray with a sick person the dawn of the morning saw a white
in another quarter of the city.  The weird thing, like a huge moth, flit in
Cathlolic friends of the invalid were hu- through the circular window, take up its
mane, and when the horrors began, not station on a beam above the hay, and
only concealed their kinsman, but almost look down with the brightest, roundest
forcibly shut up the minister in the same eyes she had ever beheld. Let owls and
cellar with him.  And thus, most re- bats come where they would, she was
luctantly, had he been spared from the happier than she had been for months.
fate that overtook his son and daughter- Compassion for herself was plentiful
in-law. A lone and well-nigh broken- enough, but to have heard Berenger
hearted man, he had been smuggled out spoken of with love and admiration
of the city, and had since that time been seemed to quiet the worst ache of her
wandering from one to another of the lonely heart.
many scattered settlements of Huguenots



THE MOONBEAM.                             133
and ere the bandage was removed heard
CHAPTER XVIII.               Eustacie's voice, with a certain cheeriTHE MOONBEAM.              ness, say, "Oh! nurse; my son will soon
She wandered east, she wandered west, com
She wandered out and in;            The full moon gave her light, and the
And at last into the very swine's stythe  woman durst not have any other, save
The queen brought forth a son."  from the  ood-fire that  anon had cauFAUSE FOODlAO.               n GE.
FAsE FODAGE  tiously lighted and screened. The moonTHE morrow was Sunday, and in the shine was still supreme, when some time
old refectory, in the late afternoon, a few  later a certain ominous silence and halfHuguenots, warned by messages from the  whisper between the two women at the
farm, met to profit by one of their scanty  hearth made Eustacie, with a low cry of
secret opportunities for public worship. terror, exclaim, "Nurse, nurse, what
The hum of the prayer, and discourse of  means this? Oh! He lives! I know
the pastor rose up through the broken  he lives!  Perrine, I command you tell
vaulting to Eustacie, still lying on her me!"
bed; for she had been much shaken by      "Living!   Oh, yes, my love, my
the fatigues of the day and alarm of the  Lady," answered Perrine, returning townight, and bitterly grieved, too, by a ards her; "fair and'perfect as the day.
message which Nanon conveyed to her, Be not disquieted for a moment."
that poor Martin was in no state to come  "I will-I will disquiet myself," pantfor her the next day; both he and his ed Eustacie, " unless you tell me what is
wife having been seized upon by Narcisse amiss."
and his men, and so savagely beaten in: Nothing amiss," said Nanon, gruffly.
order to force from them a confession of  " Madame will give thanks for this fair
her hiding - place, that both were lying gift of a daughter."
helpless on their bed; and could only     It must be owned the words felt chill.
send an entreaty by the trustworthy fool  She had never thought of this! It was
that Rotrou would find means of convey- as if the being for whom she had dared
ing Madame into Chollet in some cart of and suffered so much, in the trust that he
hay or corn, in which she could be taken  would be Berenger's representative and
past the barriers,                     avenger, had failed her and disappointed
But this was not to be. Good Nanon her. No defender, no paladin, no son to
had sacrificed the sermon to creep up to  be proud of!  Her heart and courage
Eustacie, and when the congregation    sank down in her weakness as they had
were dispersing in the dusk, she stole never done before; and, without speakdown the stairs to her husband; and a ing, she turned her head away toward
few seconds after he was hurrying as fast the darkness, feeling as if all had been for
as detours would allow him to Blaise's nothing, and she might as well sink away
farm. An hour and a half later, Dame in her exhaustion.    Mere Perrine was
Perrine, closely blindfolded for the last more angry with Nanon than conscious
mile, was dragged up the spiral staircase, of her Lady's weakness. "Woman, you




134                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
speak as if you knew not the blow to this cry at once was, " Himself; himself-his
family, and to all who hoped for better very face! Let me have her, my own
days. What, that mnyLady, the heiress, who moonbeam-his child-my joy! "
ought to be in a bed of state, with velvet  The tears, so long denied, rushed
curtains, lace pillows, gold candle-cups, down like summer rain as she clasped the
should be here in a vile ruin, among owls child in her arms. Dame Perrine wanand bats, like any beggar, and all for the dered to and fro like one beside herself,
sake, not of a young Lord to raise up the not only at her Lady's wretched accomfamily, but of a miserable little girl! Had modations, but at the ill omens of the
I known how it would turn out, I had moonlight illumination, of the owls who
never meddled in this mad scheme."     snapped and hissed incessantly over the
Before Nanon could express her indig- hay, and above all of the tears over the
nation, Eustacie had turned her head, babe's face.  She tried to remonstrate
opened her eyes, and called out, " Miser- with Eustacie, but was answered only,
able! Oh! what do you mean? Oh, is "Let me weep! Oh, let me weep! It
it true, Nanon? is it well with her?"  eases my heart! It cannot hurt my little
"As well as heart could wish," an- one! She cannot weep for her father
swered Nanon, cheerily. " Small, but a herself, so I must weep for her."
perfect little piece of sugar. There, Lady,  The weeping was gentle, not violent;
she shall speak for herself."          and Dame Rotrou thought it did good
And as Nanon laid the babe on the rather than harm. She was chiefly anxious
young mother's bosom, the thrilling touch  to be quit of Perrine, who, however faithat once put an end to all the refinings of ful to the Lady of Ribaumont, must not
the heiress, and awoke far other instincts. be trusted to learn the way to this Hu"My child! my little one, my poor guenot asylum, and must be escorted back
little orphan-all cruel to her! Oh, no by Rotrou ere peep of dawn. The old
welcome even from thy mother! Babe, woman knew that her own absence from
babe, pardon me, I will make it up to home would be suspicious, and with many
thee; indeed I will! Oh! let me see grumblings submitted; but first she took
her! Do not take her away, dear good the child from Eustacie's reluctant arms,
woman, onlyhold her in the moonlight!" promising to restore her in a few moThe full rays of the moon, shining ments, after finishing dressing her in the
through the gable window, streamed     lace-edged swaddling bands so carefully
down very near where Eustacie lay, and preserved ever since Eustacie's own babyby a slight movement Dame Rotrou was hood. In these moments she had taken
able to render the little face as distinctly them all by surprise by, without asking
visible to her as if it had been daylight, any questions, sprinkling the babe with
save that the blanching light was some- water, and baptizing her by the hereditary
what embellishing to the new-born coin- name of Berangere, the feminine of the
plexion, and increased that curious resemi- only name Eustacie had always declared
blance so often borne for the few first her son should bear. Such baptisms were
hours of life to the future self. Eustacie's not unfrequently performed by French




THE MOONBEAM.                             135
nurses, but Eustacie exclaimed with a large family; and perhaps he was drawn
sound half dismay, half indignation.  the more strongly toward the mother and
" Eh quoi " said Perrine, " it is only  child, because he almost felt as if, in fulondoyee.  You can have all the cere- filling the part of a father toward the
monies if ever time shall fit; but do you  widow of Berenger de Ribaumont, he was
think I could leave my Lady's child-   taking her in the stead of the widow of
mere girl though it be-alone with owls, his own Theodore.
and follets, and revenants, and heretics,  Had the little Baronne de Ribaumont
and she unbaptized.  She would be a been lodged in a tapestried chamber, bechangeling long ere morning, I trow."  tween curtains of velvet and gold, with a
" Come, good woman,' said Rotrou, beauffet by her side glistening with gold
from between the trusses of hay at the and silver plate, as would have befitted
entrance; "you and I must begin our her station, instead of lying on a bed of
Colin-Maillard again, or it may be the straw, with no hangings to the walls save
worse for us both."                    cobwebs and hay, no curtains to her
And with the promise of being con- unglazed windows but dancing ivy-sprays
ducted to Eustacie'again in three nights' and wall-flowers, no beauffet but the old
time, if she would meet her guide at the rickety table, no attendants but Nanon
cross-roads after dark, Perrine was forced  and M. Gardon, no visitors but the two
to take her leave. She had never sus- white owls, no provisions save the homely
pected that all this time Maitre Gardon  fare that rustic mothers lived uponhad been hidden in the refectory below, neither she nor her babe could have thriven
and still less did she guess that soon after better, and probably not half so well. She
her departure the old man was installed  had been used to a hardy, out-of-door
as her Lady's chief attendant. It was life, like the peasant women; and she
impossible that Nanon should stay with  was young and strong, so that she recovEustacie; she had her day's work to    ered as they did. If the April shower
attend to, and her absence would have beat in at the window, or the hole in the
excited suspicion. He, therefore, came roof, they made a screen of canvas, covpartly up the stairs, and calling to Nanon, ered her with cloaks, and heaped them
proffered himself to sit with "cettepauvre,"  with hay, and she took no harm; and the
and make a signal in case Nanon should  pure open air that blew in was soft with
be wanted. The good woman was thus all the southern sweetness of early springrelieved of a great care. She would not tide, and the little one throve in it like
have dared to ask it of him, but with a the puff-ball owlets in the hayloft, or the
low reverence, she owned that it was an  little ring-doves in the ivy, whose parent's
act of great charity toward the poor Lady, cooing voice was Eustacie's favorite music.
who, she hoped, was falling into a tranquil Almost as good as these her fellow-nestsleep, but whom she would hardly have lings was the little Moonbeam, la petite,
dared to leave. The pastor, though hard- Rayonette, as Eustacie fondly called this
ships, battles, and persecutions had left light that had come back to her fiom the.
him childless, had been the father of a sunshine she had lost. Had she cried, or




136                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
been heard, the sounds would probably the practice, under the most favorable
have passed for the wailings of the ghostly circumstances, for French mothers to send
victims of the Templars, but she exercised their infants to be nursed in cottages, that
an exemplary forbearance in that respect, Perrine was amazed by the cry of angry
for which Eustacie thought she could not refusal that burst from Eustacie. "Part
be sufficiently admired,              with my child! Leave her to her eneLike the child she was, Eustacie mies!-never! never! Hold your tongue,
seemed to have put care from her, and Perrine! Iwill not hear of such athing!"
to be solely taken up with the baby,     "But, Madame, hear reason.   She
and the amusement of watching the owl will pass for one of Simonette's! "
family.                                  "She shall pass for none but mine!There was a lull in the search at this I part with thee, indeed! All that is left
moment, for the Chevalier had been me of thy father!-the poor little orphaned
recalled to Paris by the fatal illness of his innocent, that no one loves but her
son-in-law, M. de Selinville. The old sol- mother! "
dier, after living half his life on bread  "Madame-Mademoiselle, this is not
and salad, that he might keep up a grand common sense! Why, how can you hide
appearance at Paris, had, on coming into  yourself? how travel with a baby on your
the wealth of the family, and marrying a neck, whose crying may betray you! "
beautiful young wife, returned to the lux-  "She never cries-never, never! And
uries he had been wont only to enjoy for better I were betrayed than she."
a few weeks at a time, when in military  "If it were a boy-" began Perrine.
occupation of some Italian town. Three   "If it were a boy, there would be
months of festivities had been enough to plenty to care for it. I should not care
cause his death; and the Chevalier was for it half so much. As for my poor
summoned to assist his daughter in pro- little lonely girl, whom every one wishes
viding for his obsequies, and in taking  away but her mother-ah! yes, baby, thy
possession of the huge endowments which, mother will go through fire and water for
as the last of his race, he had been able to thee yet. Never fear, thou shalt not leave
bequeath her. Such was the news brought her! "
by the old nurse Perrine, who took ad-   "No nurse can go with Madame.
vantage of the slackening vigilance of the Simonette could not leave her home."
enemy to come to see Eustacie. The old   "What needs a nurse when she has
woman was highly satisfied; for one of me?"
the peasant's wives had-as if on purpose " But, Madame," proceeded the old
to oblige her Lady-given birth to twins, woman, out of patience, "you are beside
one of whom had died almost immediately; yourself! What noble Lady ever nursed
and the parents had consented to conceal her babe?"
their loss, and at once take the little De-  "I don't care for noble ladies-I care
moiselle de Ribaumont as their own-   for my child," said the vehement, petuguarding the secret till her mother should lant little thing.
be able to claim her. It was so entirely  "And how-what good will Madame's




THE MOONBEAM.                             137
caring for it do! What knows she of agitates herself, when it is but spoken
infants? How can she take care of it?"  of. And surely she had better make up
" Our Lady will teach me," said Eu- her mind, for there is no other choice."
stacie, still pressing the child passionately  " Nay, Nanon," said  M. Gardon,
to her heart; "and see-the owl-the     "wherefore should she part with the
ring-dove-can take care of their little charge that God has laid on her?"
ones; the good God shows them how-       Eustacie gave a little cry of grateful
He will tell me how! "                joy. " Oh, sir, come nearer! Do you,
Perrine regarded her Lady much as if indeed, say that they have no right to
she were in a naughty fit, refusing un- tear her from me?"
reasonably to part with a new toy, and    " Surely not, Lady. It is you whose
Nanon Rotrou was much of the same duty it is to shield and guard her."
mind; but it was evident that if at the   " Oh, sir, tell me again! Yours is the
moment they attempted to carry off the right religion. Oh, you are the minister
babe, the mother would put herself into for me! If you will tell me I ought to
an agony of passion, that they durst not keep my child, then I will believe everycall forth; and they found it needful to thing else. I will do just as you tell inc."
do their best to soothe her out of the del- And she stretched out both hands to him,
uge of agitated tears that fell from her with vehement eagerness.
eyes, as she grasped the child so convul-  "Poor thing! This is no matter of
sively that she might almost have stifled  one religion or another," said the minit at once. They assured her that they  ister; "it is rather the duty that the Alwould not take it away now-not now, mighty hath imposed, and that He hath
at any rate; and when the latent meaning  made an eternal joy."
made her fiercely insist that it was to   "Truly," said Nanon, ashamed at
leave her neither now nor ever, Perrine having taken the other side; "the good
made pacifying declarations that it should  pasteur says what is according to nature.
be just as she pleased-promises that she It would have gone hard with me if any
knew well, when in that coaxing voice, one had wished to part me from Robin or
meant nothing at all. Xothing calmed   Sara; but these fine ladies, and, for that
her till Perrine had been conducted away; matter, bourgeois too, always do put out
and even then Nanon could not hush her their babes; and it seemed to me that
into anything like repose, and at last called Madame would find it hard to contrive
in the minister, in despair.           for herself —let alone the little one."
"Ah! sir, you are a wise man; can      "Ah! but what would be the use of
you find how to quiet the poor little thing? contriving for myself, without her?"
Her nurse has nearly driven her distracted  said Eustacie.
with talking of the foster-parents she has  If all had gone well and prosperously
found for the child."                 with Madame de Ribaumont, probably
" Not found!" cried Eustacie. "No, she would have surrendered an infant
for she shall never go! "              born in purple and in pall to the ordinary
"There! " lamented Nanon-" so she lot of its contemporaries; but the exer



138                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
tions and suffering she had undergone on  cause service worthy of Nid-de-Merle and
behalf of her child, its orphanhood, her Ribaumont! " And as she sat up on her
own loneliness, and even the general dis- bed, she held up her little proud head,
appointment in its sex, had given it a hold  and waved her right hand with the grace
on her vehement, determined heart, that and dignity of a queen offering an alliance
intensified to the utmost the instincts of of her realm.
motherhood; and she listened as if to an  Maitre Gardon, who had hitherto seen
angel's voice as Maitre Gardon replied to  her as a childish though cheerful and
Nanon-                                patient sufferer, was greatly amazed, but
"I say not that it is not the custom; he could not regard her project as pracnay, that my blessed wife and myself have ticable, or in his conscience approve it;
not followed it; but we have so oft had  and after a moment's consideration he
cause to repent the necessity, that far be answered, "I am a man of peace, Lady,
it from me ever to bid a woman forsake  and seldom  side with armed men, nor
her sucking child."                    would I lightly make one of those who
"Is that Scripture?" asked Eustacie. enrol themselves against the King."
"Ah! sir, sir, tell me more! You are     "Not after all the Queen-mother has
giving me all-all —my child! I will be-  done! " cried Eustacie.
I am-a Huguenot, like her father! and,    "Martyrdom is better than rebellion,"
when my vassals come, I will make them  quietly answered the old man, folding his
ride with you to La Rochelle, and fight in  hands. Then he added, "Far be it from
your cause!"                           me to blame those who have drawn the
" Nay," said Maitre Gardon, taken by  sword for the faith; yet, Lady, it would
surprise; "but, Lady, your vassals are not be even thus with your peasants:
Catholic."                            they might not follow you."
"What matters it? In my cause         "Then," said Enstacie, with flashing
they shall fight! " said the feudal Lady, eyes, "they would be traitors."
"for me and my daughter!"                "INot to the King," said the pastor,
And as the pastor uttered a sound  gently. "Also, Lady, how will it be with
of interrogative astonishment, she con- their homes and families-the hearths
tinned-                               that have given you such faithful shelter? "
"As soon as I am well enough, Blaise  "The women would take to the
will send out messages, and they will' woods," readily answered she; " it is
meet me at midnight at the cross-roads, summer time, and they should be willing
Martin and all, for dear good Martin is to bear something for my sake. I should
quite well now, and we shall ride across grieve indeed," she added, "if my uncle
country, avoiding towns, wherever I misused them.     They have been very
choose to lead them. I had thought of  good to me, but then they belong to me."
Chantilly, for I know M. de Montmorency  "Ah! Lady, put from you that hardwould stand my friend against a Guisard; ening belief of seigneurs. Think what
but now, now I know you, sir, let me their fidelity deserves from their Lady."
escort you to La Rochelle, and do your    "I will be good to them! I do love




THE MOONBEAM.                            139
them! I will be their very good mis-     He then held himself aloof, knowing
tress," said Eustacie, her eyes filling.  that it was not well for her healtl, men" The question is rather of forbearing tal or bodily, to talk any more, and a good
than of doing," said the minister.    deal perplexed himself by the moods of
"But what would you have me do?"   his strange little impetuous convert, if
asked Eustacie, petulantly.           convert she could be termed. He himself
"This, Lady. I gather that you would  was a deeply learned scholar, who had
not return to your relations."        studied all the bearings of the controver" Never! never! They would rend    sy; and, though bound to the French
my babe from me; they would kill her, Huguenots by long service and persecuor at least hide her for ever in a convent tion in their cause, lie belonged to that
-they would force me into this abhorrent class of French RPeformers who would
marriage. No-no-no-my child and I gladly have come to terms with the Cathwould die a hundred deaths together olics at the Conference of Plassy, and rerather than fall into the hands of Nar- gretted the more decided Calvinism that
cisse."                               his party had since professed, and in
"Calm  yourself, Lady; there is no  which the day of St. Bartholomew conpresent fear, but I deem that the safest firmed them. He had a strong sense of
course for the little one would be to the grievous losses they suffered by their
place her in England. She must be heir- disunion from  the Church.  The Reess to lands and estates there; is she not? " formed were less and less what his ardent
"Yes; and in Normandy."            youthful hopes had trusted to see them;
" And your husband's mother lives? and in his old age he was a sorrow-strickWherefore then should you not take me en man, as much for the cause of religion
for your guide, and make your way- as for personal bereavements.   He had
more secretly than would be possible with little desire to win proselytes, but rather
a peasant escort-to one of our Huguenot laid his hand to build up true religion
towns on the coast, whence you could  where he found it suffering shocks in
escape with the child to England."    these unsettled, neglected times; and his
"My belle-mnere has re-married? She present wish was rather to form  and
has children! I would not bring the guide this little wilful, warm - hearted
daughter of Ribaumont as a suppliant mother-whom he could not help regardto be scorned! " said Eustacie, pouting. ing with as much affection as pity-to find
"She has lands enough of her own."    a home in the Church that had been her
" There is no need to discuss the ques- husband's, than to gain her to his own
tion now," said M. Gardon, gravely; for aparty.  And most assuredly he would
most kind offer, involving much peril and  never let her involve herself, as she was
inconvenience to himself, was thus petu- ready to do, in the civil war, without even
lantly flouted. "Madame will think at knowing the doctrine which grave and
her leisure of what would have been the earnest men had preferred to their loywishes of Monsieur le Baron for his alty.
child."                                  He could hear her murmuring to her




140                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
baby, "No, no, little one, we are not be tenfold increased, and the little one
fallen so low as to beg our bread among would become a means of tracing her.
strangers."  To live upon her own vassals There was no choice but to leave it with
had seemed to her only claiming her just Simonette.
rights, but it galled her to think of being  Angrily and haughtily did Eustacie
beholden to stranger Huguenots; and    always reject this alternative, and send
England and her mother-in-law, without fresh commands back by her messenger,
Berenger, were utterly foreign and dis- to meet the same reply in another form.
tasteful to her.                       The strong will and maternal instinct of
Her mood was variable.    Messages the Lady was set against the shrewd,
from Blaise and Martin came and went, practical resolution of the stout farmers,
and it became known that her intended  who were about to make a terrible venshelter at Chollet, together with all the ture for her, and might reasonably think
adjacent houses, had been closely searched  they had a right to prescribe the terms
by the younger Ribaumont in conjunction  that they thought best. All this time
with the governor; so that it was plain  Maitre Garden felt it impossible to leave
that some treachery must exist, and that her, still weak and convalescent, alone in
she only owed her present freedom to her the desolate ruin with her young child;
detention in the ruined temple; and it though still her pride would not bend
would be necessary to leave that as soon  again to seek the counsel that she had so
it was possible for her to attempt the much detested, nor to ask for the instrucjourney.                              tion that was to make her "believe like
The plan that seemed most feasible to her husband." If she might not fight for
the vassals was, that Rotrou should convey  the Reformed, it seemed as if she would
her in a cart of fagots as far as possible on none of their doctrine!
the road to Paris; that there his men should  But, true lady that she was, she sunk
meet her by different roads, riding their the differences in her intercourse with
farm-horses-and Martin even hoped to   him. She was always prettily and affecbe able to convey her own palfey to her tionately grateful for every service that he
from the monastery stables; and thence, rendered her, and as graciously polite as
taking a long stretch across country, they  though she had been keeping house in the
trusted to be able to reach the lands of a halls of Ribaumont.  Then her intense
dependant of the house of Montmorency, love for her child was so beautiful, and
who would not readily yield her up to a there was so much sweetness in the cheerGuise's man. But, whether instigated by ful patience with which she endured the
Perrine, or by their own judgment, the many hardships of her situation, that he
vassals declared that, though Madame could not help being strongly interested
should be conducted wherever she de- in the wilful, spirited little being.
sired, it was impossible to encumber      And thus time passed, until one night,
themselves with the infant. Concealment when Martin ventured over to the farm
would be impossible; rough, hasty rides with a report so serious that Rotrou, at
would be retarded, her difficulties would all risks, brought him up to communicate




THE MOONBEAM.                            141
his own tidings. Some one had given in- her way with an escort too large not to
formation; Veronique he suspected, and attract notice, yet not warlike enough for
the two Chevaliers were certainly coming efficient defence. He offered no further
the next day to search with fire the old opposition, but augured that after all she
buildings of the temple. It was already  would come back a fine lady, and right
dawning toward morning, and it would them all.
be impossible to do more at present than  Eustacie, recovering from her anger,
to let Rotrou build up the Lady in a vault, and recollecting his services, gave him
some little way off, whence, after the her hand to kiss, and bade him farewell
search was over, she could be released, with a sudden effusion of gratitude and
and join her vassals the next night accord- affection that warmed the honest fellow's
ing to the original design.           heart. Rewards could not be given, lest
As to the child, her presence in the they should become a clue for her uncle;
vault was impossible, and Martin had  and perhaps they would have wounded
actually brought her intended  nurse, both him and their kind hosts, who did
Simonette: to Rotrou's cottage to receive their best to assist her in their departure.
her.                                  A hasty meal was provided by Nanon,
" Never! " was all Eustacie answered. and a basket so stored as to obviate the
"Save both of us, or neither."       need of entering a village, on that day at
" Lady," said M. Gardon as she looked least, to purchase provisions; Eustacie's
toward him, "I go my way with my money and jewels again formed the nustaff."                               cleus of the bundle of clothes and spare
"And you-you more faithful than    swaddling-bands of her babe; her peasher vassals-will let me take her?"   ant dress was carefully arranged-a stout
" Assuredly."                     striped cloth skirt and black bodice, the
"Then, sir, even to the world's end latter covered by a scarlet Chollet kerwill I go with you."                 chief. The winged white cap entirely hid
Martin would have argued, have asked, her hair; a gray cloak with a hood could
but she would not listen to him. It was either fold round her and her child or be
Maitre Gardon who made him understand  strapped on her shoulders. Her sabots
the project.  There was what in later were hung on her shoulder, for she had
times has been termed an underground learned to go barefoot, and walked much
railway amid the persecuted Calvinists, more lightly thus; and her little bundle
and M. Gardon knew his ground well was slung on a staff on the back of Maitre
enough to have little doubt of being able Gardon, who in his great peasant's hat
to conduct the lady safely to some town  and coat looked so like a picture of St.
on the coast, whence she might reach her Joseph, that Eustacie, as the light of the
friends in England. The plan highly sat- rising sun fell on his white beard and hair,
isfied Martin. It relieved him and his was reminded of the Flight into Egypt,
neighbors from the necessity of provoking and came close to him, saying shyly,
perilous wrath, and it was far safer for "Our Lady will bless and feel for my
her herself than endeavoring to force baby. She knows what this journey is."




142                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
" The Son of the Blessed Mary assur- Switzerland, and with an aching heart
edly knows and blesses," he answered.  that longed to be at rest from the toil
that she looked on as a steep ladder on
-4 —---               her way to a better hore. She occupied
two tiny rooms on the ground-floor of a
CHAPTER XIX.                tall house; and she had just arranged her
few articles of furniture with the utmost
LA. RUE DES TROIS FEES.
neatness, when there was a low knock at
"And round the baby fast and close  her door, a knock that the persecuted
Her trembling grasp she folds,
And with a strong convulsive grasp  well understood, and, as she lifted the
The little infant holds."      latch, a voice she had known of old spoke
SO EY.  the scriptural salutation, "Peace be with
A WILD storm had raged all the after- this house."
noon, hail and rain had careered on the   "1Eh quoi, Master Isaac, is it thou?
wings of the wind'along the narrow street Come in-in a good hour-ah! "
of the Three Fairies, at the little Hugue-  As, dripping all round his broad hat
not bourg of La Sablerie; torrents of rain  and from every thread of his gray mantle,
had poached the unpaved soil into a the aged traveller drew into the house a
depth of mud, and thunder had reverbe- female figure, whom lie had been suprated over the chimney-tops, and growled porting on his other arm, muffled head
far away over the Atlantic, whose angry and shoulders in a soaked cloak, with a
waves were tossing on the low sandy petticoat streaming with wet, and feet
coast about two miles from the town.  and ankles covered with mire. " Here
The evening had closed in with a chill, we are, my child," he said tenderly, as he
misty drizzle, and, almost May though it almost carried her to Noemi's chair.
were, the Widow No6mi Laurent gladly No6mi, with kind exclamations of " La
closed the shutters of her unglazed win- pauvre! la pautrette!" helped the tremdow, where small cakes and other deli- bling, cold hand to open the wet cloak,
cate confections were displayed, and felt and then cried out with fresh surprise
the genial warmth of the little fire with  and pity at the sight of the fresh little inwhich she heated her tiny oven. She fant face, nestled warm and snug under
was the widow of a pastor who had suf- all the wrappings in those weary arms.
fered for his faith in the last open perse- " See," said the poor wanderer, lookcution, and being the daughter of a baker, ing up to the old man, with a faint smile;
the authorities of the town had permitted  "she is well-she is warm-it hurts her
her to support herself and her son by  not."
carrying on a trade in the niore delicate  " Can you take us in? "added M. Gar"subtilties" of the art, which were don, hastily; " have you room?"
greatly relished at the civic feasts. Noe-  "Oh yes; if you can sleep on the floor
mi was a grave, sad woman, very lonely here, I will take this poor dear to my own
ever since she had saved enough to send bed directly," said No6mi.  " Tenez,"
her son to study for the ministry in  opening a chest; "you will find dry clothes




LA RUE DES TROIS FEES.                       143
there, of my husband's.  And thou," was the son of the pious Baron de Ribauhelping Eustacie up with her strong arm, mont, the patron of your husband, and of
and trying to take the little one, " let me myself in earlier days."
warm and dry thee within."              "Ah! " exclaimed Noemi, startled.
Too much worn out to make resist- "Then the poor young mother-is sheance, almost past speaking, knowing  can she be the lost Demoiselle de Nid-demerely that she had reached the goal that Merle?"
had been promised her throughout these   "Is the thing known here? The will
weary days, feeling warmth, and hearing of Heaven be done; but I had trusted
kind tones, Eustacie submitted to be led that here the poor child might rest a
into the inner room; and when the good while, ere she can send to her husband's
widow returned again it was in haste to kindred in England."
fetch some of the warm potage she had   "She might rest, safely enough, if
already been cooking over the fire, and others beside myself believed in her behastily bade MI. Gardon help himself to ing your son's widow," said Noemi.
the rest. She came back again with the  " Wherefore should she not be thought
babe, to wash and dress it in the warmth so? "
of her oven fire. Maitre Gardon, in the  "Poor Esperance! She would willblack suit of a Calvinist pastor, had eaten ingly have lent her name to guard
his potage, and was anxiously awaiting another," said Mlaster Gardon thoughther report. " Ah! la pauvre, with His fully; " and, for the sake of the child, my
blessing she will sleep; she will do well. little Lady may endure it. Ah! there is
But how far did you come to-day?"   the making of a faithful and noble woman
"From Sainte Lucie. From the Grange in that poor young thing. Bravely, padu Temple since Monday."             tiently, cheerfully, hath she plodded this
"Ah! is it possible? The poor child! weary way; and, verily, she hath grown
And this little one-sure, it is scarce four like my own daughter to me-as I never
weeks old?"                          thought to love earthly thing again; and
" Four weeks this coming Sunday."  had this been indeed my Theodore's child,
" Ah! the poor thing. The blessing I could hardly care for it more."
of Heaven must have been with you to    And as he related how he had fallen
bear her through. And what a lovely in with the poor lorn Lady of Ribaumont,
infant-how white-what beauteous little and all that she had dared, done, and left
limbs! Truly, she has sped well. Little undone for the sake of her little daughter,
did I think, good friend, that you had good Noemi Laurent wept, and agreed
this comfort left, or that our poor Theo- with him that a special Providence must
dore's young wife had escaped."      have directed them to his care, and that
"Alas! no, Noemi; this is no child of some good work must await one who had
Theodore's. His wife shared his martyr- been carried through so much. Iis prodom. It is I who am escaped alone to ject was to remain' here for a short time,
tell thee. But, nevertheless, this babe is to visit the flock who had lost their pasan orphan of that same day. Her father tor on the day of the massacre, and to




144                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
recruit his own strength; for lie, too, had  chasers lingered to ask, if it were true
suffered severely from the long travelling, that Maitre Gardon had brought his
and the exposure during many nights, es- daughter -in - law  and grandchild, her
pecially since all that was warm  and  stern-faced, almost grim answer, that "la
sheltered had been devoted to Eustacie. pauvre was ill at ease," silenced them,
And after this he proposed to go to La and forced them to carry off their curiRochelle, and make inquiries for a trusty  osity unsatisfied; but it became less easy
messenger who could be sent to England to arrange when Eustacie herself was on
to seek out the family of the Baron de foot again-refreshed, active, and with an
Ribaumont, or, mayhap, a sufficient es- irrepressible spring of energy and eagercort with whom the Lady could travel; ness that could hardly be caged down in
though he had nearly made up his mind  the Widow Laurent's tiny rooms. Poor
that he would not relinquish the care of  child, had she not been ill and prostrate
her until he had safely delivered her to  at first, and fastened herself on the tender
her husband's mother.                  side of the good woman's heart by the
Health and life were very vigorous in sweetness of an unselfish and buoyant naEustacie; and though at first she had ture in illness, No6mi could hardly have
been completely worn out, a few days of  endured such an inmate, not even half a
comfort, entire rest, and good nursing re- Huguenot, full of little Catholic observstored her.  No6mi dressed her much    ances like second nature to her; listening
like herself, in a black gown, prim little indeed to the Bible for a short time, but
white starched ruff, and white cap-a always, when it was expounded, either
thorough Calvinist dress, and befitting a asleep, or finding some amusement indisminister's widow. Eustacie winced a lit- pensable for her baby; eager for the least
tle at hearing of the character that had  variety, and above all spoilt by Maitre
been fastened upon her; she disliked for Gardon to a degree absolutely perplexing
her child, still more than for herself, to to the grave woman.
take this bourgeois name of Gardon: but   He would not bid her lay aside'the
there was no help for it, since, though  observances that, to No6mi, seemed althe chief personages of the town were most worship of the beast. He rather
Huguenot, there could be no safety for reverted to the piety which originated
her if the report were once allowed to them; and argued with his old friend
arise that the Baronne de Ribaumont had that it was better to build than to destroy,
taken refuge there.                    and that, before the fabric of truth, suIt was best that she should be as perstition would crumble away of itself.
little noticed as possible; nor, indeed, The little he taught her sounded to No6had good Noemi many visitors. The sad mi's puzzled ears mere Christianity instead
and sorrowful woman had always shut of controversial Calvinism. And, moreherselfup with her Bible and her medi- over, he never blamed her for wicked
tations, and sought no sympathy from   worldliness when she yawned; but even
her neighbors, nor encouraged gossip in  devised opportunities for taking her out
her shop. In the first days, when pur- for a walk, to see as much life as might




LA RUE DES TROIS FEES.                         145
be on a market-day. He could certainly that my daughter and I be not a burthen
not forget-as much as would have been  to her?"
prudent-that she was a high-born Lady;    "Well spoken,'my Lady," said the
and even seemed taken aback when he pastor; "there is real nobility in that
found her with her sleeves turned up   way of thinking. Yet, remember, No6over her shapely-delicate arms, and a mi is not without means; she feels not
thick apron before her, with her hands the burthen. And the flock contribute
in Veuve Laurent's flour, showing her enough for the shepherd's support, and
some of those special mysterious arts of yours likewise."
confectionery in which she had been ini-  "Then let her give it to the poor
tiated by Soeut Bernardine, when, not creatures who so often come in begging,
three years ago, she had been the pet of and saying they have been burned out of
the Convent of Bellaise. At first it was house and home by one party or the
half sport and the desire of occupation, other," said Eustacie. L Let me have my
but the produce of her manipulations was way, dear sir; Sceur Bernardine always
so excellent as to excite quite a sensation  said I should be a prime mennagere. I
in La Sablerie, and the 6chevins and like it so much."
baillis sent in  quite considerable or-   And Madame de Ribaumont mixed
ders for the cakes and patties of Mat- sugar and dough, and twisted quaint
tre Gardon's Paris - bred daughter-in- shapes, and felt important and almost
law.                                   light-hearted, and sang over her work
Maitre  Gardon  hesitated.  Noemi and over her child songs that were not
Laurent told him she cared little for the always Marot's psalms; and that gave the
gain-Heaven knew it was nothing to more umbrage to Noemi, because she
her-but that she thought it wrong and feared that Maitre Gardon actually liked
inconsistent in him to wish to spare the to hear them, though, should their echo
poor child's pride, which was unchristian  reach the street, why it would be a peril,
enough already. " Nay," he said, sadly, and still worse, a horrible scandal that
"mortifications from without do little to  out of that sober, afflicted household
tame pride; nor did I mean to bring her should proceed profane tunes such as
here that she should turn cook and con- court ladies sung.
fectioner to pamper the appetite of Bailli
La Grasse."
But Eustacie's first view was a bright
pleasure in the triumph of her skill; and
when her considerate guardian endeavored to impress on her that there was no
necessity for vexing herself with the task,
she turned round on him with the exclamation, "Nay, dear father, do you not
see it is my great satisfaction to be able
to do something for our good hostess, so
10




146                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ing out, "Ah! M. l'Abbe, as you are a
CHAPTER XX.                gentleman, betray me not. Oh! have
they sent you to find me? Have pity on
THE ABBE.                us! You loved my husband! "
"By day and night her sorrows fall     You have nothing to fear from me,
Where miscreant hands and rude  Lady," said the young man, still kneeling;
Have stained her pure, ethereal pall
With many a martyr's blood.     "if you are indeed a distressed fugitiveAnd yearns not her maternal heart  SO am I. If you have shelter and friendsTo hear their secret sighs,
Upon whose doubting way apart    I have none."
Bewildering shadows rise?"         Is it indeed so " said Eustacie, wistKEBLE.
fully, yet scarce reassured.  "You are
IT was in the summer twilight that truly not come from my uncle. Indeed,
Eustacie, sitting on the doorstep between Monsieur, I would not doubt you, but you
the two rooms, with her baby on her see I have so much at stake. 1 have my
knees, was dreamily humming to her a little one here, and they mean so cruelly
tune, without even words, but one that by her."
she loved, because she had first learned  " Madame, I swear by the honor of a
to sing it with Berenger and his friend  nobleman-nay, by all that is sacredSidney to the lute of the latter; and its that I know nothing of your uncle. I
notes always brought before her eyes the have been a wanderer for many weeks
woods of Montpipeau. Then it was that, past; proscribed and hunted down because
low and soft as was the voice that befell I wished to seek into the truth."
which Noemi had feared: a worn, ragged-   " Ah! " said Eustacie, with a sound
looking young man, who had been bar- of relief, and of apology, "pardon me, sir;
gaining at the door for a morsel of bread  indeed, I know you were good. You
in exchange for a handkerchief, started at loved my husband; " and she reached out
the sound, and moved so as to look into  her hand to raise him, when he kissed it
the house.                            reverently. Little bourgeoise and worn
No6mi was at the moment not attend- mendicant as they were in dress, the air
ing, being absorbed in the study of the of the Louvre breathed round them; and
handkerchief, which was of such fine there was all its grace and dignity as the
delicate texture that an idea of its having Lady turned round to her astonished hosts,
been stolen possessed her; and she sought saying, " Good sir, kind mother, this genthe corner where, as she expected, a coat- tleman is, indeed, what you took me for,
of-arms was embroidered. Just as she a fugitive for the truth. Permit me to
was looking up to demand explanation, present to you, Monsieur l'Abbe de M6rithe stranger, with a sudden cry of " Good cour-at least, so he was, when last I had
heavens, it is she! " pushed past her into the honor to see him."
the house, and falling on his knees before  The last time he had seen her, poor
Eustacie, exclaimed, "Oh Lady, Lady, is Eustacie had been incapable of seeing anyit thus that I see you!"               thing save that bloody pool at the foot of
Eustacie had started up in dismay, cry- the stairs.




1~~~~~~
U  A'll  
EUSACE.. 46








THE ABBE.                             147
Mericour now turned and explained.    "It was that day which brought me
Good friends," he said, courteously, but here," he said.
with thefierte of the noble not quite out  And he told how, bred up in his own
of his tone, "I beg your grace. I would distant province, by a pious and excellent
not have used so little ceremony, if I had tutor, he had devoutly believed in the exnot been out of myself at recognizing a treme wickedness of the Reformers; but
voice and a tune that could belong to in his seclusion lie had been trained to
none but Madame    "                  such purity of faith and morals, fhat,
"Sit down, sr," said Noemi, a little when his brother summoned him to court
coldly and stiffly-for Mericour was a ter- to solicit a benefice, he had been appalled
rible name to Huguenot ears; "a true at the aspect of vice, and had, at the same
friend to this Lady must needs be wel- time, been struck by the pure lives of the
come, above all if he comes in Heaven's Huguenots; for truly, as things then were
name."                                at the French court, crime seemed to have
" Sit down, and eat, sir," added Gar- arrayed itself on the side of the orthodox
don, much more heartily; "and forgive party, all virtue on that of the schismatics.
us for not having been more hospitable-  De Mericour consulted spiritual adbut the times have taught us to be cau- visers, who told him that none but Cathotious, and in that Lady we have a precious lies could be truly holy, and that what
charge. Rest; for you look both weary  he admired were merely heathen virtues,
and hungry."                          that the devil permitted the Iuguenots
Eustacie added an invitation, under- to display in order to delude the unwary.
standing that he would not sit without With this explanation, he had striven to
her permission, and then, as he dropped  be satisfied, though eyes unblinded by
into a chair, she exclaimed,'Ah! sir, guilt and a pure heart continued to be reyou are faint, but you are famished."  volted at the practices which his Church,
" It will pass," he said; " I have not scared at the evil times, and forgetful of
eaten to-day."                        her own true strength, left undenounced
Instantly a meal was set before him, in her partisans. And the more that the
and ere long he revived; and as the shut- Huguenot gentlemen thronged the court,
ters were closed, and shelter for the night and the young Abbe was thrown into
promised to him by a Huguenot family intercourse with them, the more he perlodging in the same house, he began to plexed himself how the truth, the faith,
answer Eustacie's anxious questions, as the uprightness, the forbearance, the puwell as to learn from her in return, what rity that they evinced could indeed be
had brought her into her present situation. wanting in the seal that made them acThen it was that she recollected that ceptable. Then came the frightful mornit had been he, who at her cousin Diane's ing when carnage reigned in every street,
call, had seized her when she was rushing and the men who had been treated as
out of the palace in her first frenzy of favorite boon companions, were hunted
grief, and had carried her back to the down like wild beasts in every street.
women's apartments.                  He had endeavored to save life, but would




148                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
have been speedily slaughtered himself of a newly-awakened mind in search of
except for his soutane; and in all good true light. The very fact of study and
faith he had hurried to the Louvre, to in- inquiry, in one of such a family as that
form royalty of the horrors that, as he of his brother the Duke de Mericour, was
thought, a fanatic passion was causing the enough to excite suspicion of Huguenot
populace to commit.                  inclinations. The elder brother tried to
He found the palace become shambles quash the folly of the younger, by insist-the King himself, wrought up to frenzy, ing on his sharing the debaucheries
firing on the fugitives. And the next day, which, whether as priest or monk, or
while his brain still seemed frozen with simply as Christian man, it would be his
horror, he was called on to join in the duty to abjure; and, at length, by way of
procession of thanksgiving for the King's bringing things to a test, insisted on his
deliverance from a dangerous plot. Sure- making one of a party who were about
ly, if the plot were genuine, he thought, to break up and destroy a Huguenot asthe procession should have savored of sembly. Unable, in his present mood, to
penance and humiliation rather than of endure the thought of further cruelty, the
barbarous exultation! Yet these might young Abbe fled, gave secret warning to
be only the individual crimes of the the endangered congregation, and hastenQueen-mother, and of the Guises seeking ed to the old castle in Brittany where he
to mask themselves under the semblance had been brought up, to pour out his perof zeal; and the infallible head of the plexities, and seek the counsel of the good
visible Church would disown the slaugh- old priest-chaplain who had brought him
ter, and cast it from the Church with up. Whether the kind, learned, simpleloathing as a blood-stained garment. Be- hearted tutor could have settled his mind,
hold, Rome was full of rejoicing, and sent he had no time to discover, for he had
sanction and commendation of the pious scarcely unfolded his troubles before warnzeal of the King. Had the voice of Holy ings came down that he had better seChurch become indeed as the voice of a cure himself-his brother, as head of the
bloodhound? Was this indeed her call?  family, had obtained the royal assent to
The young man, whose life from in- the imprisonment of the rebellious Junior,
fancy had been marked out for the service so as to bring him to a better mind, and
of the Church —so destined by his parents cure him of the Huguenot inclinations,
as securing a wealthy provision for a which in the poor lad were simply undeyounger son; but educated by his good veloped. But in all Catholic eyes he was
tutor with more real sense of his obliga- a tainted man,. and his almost inevitable
tions, felt the question in its full import. course was to take refuge with some HuHe was under no vows; he had, indeed, guenot relations. There he was eagerly
received the tonsure, but was otherwise welcomed; instruction was poured in on
unpledged, and he was bent on proving  him; but as he showed a disposition to
all things. The gaieties in which he had inquire and examine, and needed time to
at first mingled had become abhorrent to look into what they taught him, as one
him, and he studied with the earnestness who feared to break his link with the




THE ABBI.                             149
Church, and still longed to find her blame- turning to Maitre Gardon, " Ah! sir, is
less and glorious, the righteous nation that not this just what we sought?  If this
keepeth the truth, they turned on him  gentleman would but convey a letter to
and regarded him as a traitor and a spy, my mother-in-law -"
who had come among them on false pre-    M. Gardon smiled.  "Scotland and
tences.                               England are by no means the same place,
All the poor lad wanted was time to Lady," he said.
think, time to examine, time to consult  "Whatever this lady would command,
authorities, living and dead. The Catho- wherever she would send me, I am at her
lics called this treason to the Church, the service," cried the Abbe fervently.
Huguenots called it halting between two  And, after a little further debate, it
opinions; and between them he was a was decided that it might really be the
proscribed, distrusted vagabond, branded best course for him, as well as for Maon one side as a recreant, and on the dame de Ribaumont, for him to become
other as a traitor. He had asked for a few  the bearer of a letter and token from her,
months of quiet, and where could they be entreating her mother-in-law to notify her
had?   His grandmother had been the pleasure whether she should bring her
daughter of a Scottish nobleman in the child to England. She had means enough
French service, and lhe had once seen a to advance a sufficient sum to pay Merinephew of hers who had come to Paris cour's passage, and he accepted it most
during the time of Queen Mary's resi- punctiliously as a loan, intending, so soon
dence there. He imagined that if he were as her despatches were ready, to go on
once out of this distracted land of France, to La Rochelle, and make inquiry for a
he might find respite for study, for which  ship.
he longed; and utterly ignorant of the   Chance, however, seemed unusually
real state of Scotland, he had determined propitious, for the next day there was an
to make his way to his kindred there; apparition in the streets of La Sablerie
and he had struggled on the way to La of four or five weather-beaten rollicking
Rochelle, cheated out of the small remains men, their dress profusely adorned with
of his money, selling his last jewels and ribbons, and their language full of strange
all the clothing that was not indispensa- oaths.  They were well known at La
ble, and becoming so utterly unable to Sablerie as sailors belonging to a ship of
pay his passage to England, that he could the fleet of the Count de Montgomery,
only trust to Providence to find him some the unfortunate knight whose lance had
means of reaching his present goal.  caused the death of King Henry II, and
He had been listened to with kindness, who, proscribed by the mortal hatred of
and a sympathy, such as M. Gardon's Catherine de Medici, had become the adlarge mind enabled him to bestow, where miral of a piratical fleet in the Calvinist
his brethren had been incapable of com- interest, so far winked at by Queen Elizaprehending that a man could sincerely beth, that it had its headquarters in the
doubt between them and Rome. When the Channel islands, and thence was a most
history was finished, Eustacie exclaimed, formidable foe to merchant vessels on the




150                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
northern and eastern coasts of France; dation fit for a woman and child, even
and often indulged in descents on the had the aspect of captain or crew been
coast, when the sailors-being in general more satisfactory-and the ruffianly apthe scum of the nation-were apt to corn- pearance and language of the former fully
port themselves more like American buc- rivalled that of his sailors. It would have
caneers than like champions of any form  been mere madness to think of trusting
of religion.                          the Lady in such hands; and without a
La Sablerie was a Huguenot town, so  word to each other, Gardon and M6ricour
they used no violence, but only swaggered  resolved to give no hint even that she and
about, demanding from Bailli La Grasse, her jewels were inl La Sablerie.  M6riin the name of their gallant Captain La- cour, however, made his bargain with the
touche, contributions and provisions, and  captain, who undertook to transport him
giving him to understand that if he did  as far as Guernsey, whence he might
not comply to the uttermost it should be easily make his way to Dorsetshire, where
the worse for him.   Their ship, it ap- M. Gardon knew that Berenger's English
peared, had been forced to put into the home had been.
harbor, about two miles off, and Maitre   So Eustacie, with no small trouble and
Gardon apd the young Abbe decided on   consideration, indited her letter-telling
walking thither to see it, and to have an  of her escape, the birth of her daughter,
interview with the captain, so as to secure the dangers that threatened her childa passage for M6ricour at least. Indeed, and begging that its grandmother would
Maitre Gardon had, in consultation with  give it a safe home in England, and love
Eustacie, resolved, if he found things suit- it for the sake of its father. An answer
able, to arrange for their all going together. would find her at the Widow Noemi LauShe would be far safer out of France; and, rent's, rue des Trois Fees, La Sablerie.
although the Abbe alone could not have  She could not bring herself to speak of
escorted her, yet Maitre Gardon would the name of Esperance Gardon which had
gladly have secured for her the additional been saddled upon her; and even M. de
protection of a young, strong, and spirit- Mericour remained in ignorance of her
ed man; and Eustacie, who was no scribe, bearing this disguise. She recommended
was absolutely relieved to have the voy- him to the kindness of her mother-in-law;
age set before her as an alternative to the and M. Garden added another letter to
dreadful operation of composing a letter the Lady, on behalf of the charge to whom
to the belle-mere, whom she had not seen  he promised to devote himself until he
since she had been seven years old, and of  should see them safe in friendly hands.
whose present English name she had the Both letters were addressed, as best they
most indistinct ideas.                 might be, between Eustacie's dim compreHowever, the first sight of the ship  hension of the word Thistlewood, and M.
overthrew all such ideas. It was a wretch- Gardon's notion of spelling. " Jadis, Baed single-decked vessel, carrying far more  ronne de Ribaumont," was the securest
sail than experienced nautical eyes would  part of the direction.
have deemed safe, and with no accommo-    And for a token, Eustacie looked over




UNDER THE WALNUT-TREE.                          151
her jewels to find one that would serve Berenger would make her his consolation
for a token; but the only ones she knew  for all he had suffered from his French
would be recognised, were the brooch   spouse, rendered it impossible for her to
that had fastened the plume in Berenger's meet him with sisterly unconsciousness;
bloody cap, and the chaplet of pearls. To  and she therefore kept out of the way,
part with the first, or to risk the second  and made herself so useful at home, that
in the pirate-ship, was impossible, and Eu- Dame Annora only wondered how it had
stacie at last decided upon detaching the been possible to spare her so long, and
pear-shaped pearl which was nearest the always wound up her praises by saying,
clasp, and which was so remarkable in that Berenger would learn in time how
form and tint that there was no doubt of  lucky he had been to lose the French
its being well known.                  puppet, and win the good English housewife.
If only tidings would have come that
the puppet was safe married. That was
CHAPTER LXXI.        the crisis which all the family desired yet
feared for Berenger, since nothing else
UNDER THE WALNUT-TREE.          they saw would so detach his thoughts
fromn the past as to leave him free to
Mistress Jean was maling the elder-flower wine- 
"And what brings the Laird at sic a like time?"  begin life again. The relapse brought on
LADY NAIRN (The Laird of Cockpen). 
N (e L   o    by the cruel reply to Osbert's message
SUMMER was nearly ended, and Lucy   had been very formidable; he was long
Thistlewood was presiding in the great insensible or delirious, and then came a
kitchen of the Manor-house, standing   state of annihilated thought, then of
under the latticed window near the large frightfully sensitive organs, when light,
oak-table, a white apron over her dress, sound, movement, or scent were alike
presiding over the collecting of elder- agony; and when he slowly revived, it
berries for the brew of household-wine  was with such sunken spirits, that his
for the winter. The maids stood round silence was as much from depression as
her with an array of beechen bowls or from difficulty of speech.' His brain was
red and yellow crocks, while barefooted, weak, his limbs feeble, the wound in his
bareheaded children came thronging in mouth never painless; and all this neceswith rush or wicker baskets of the crim- sarily added to his listless indifference and
son fruit, which the maids poured in   weariness, as though all youthful hope and
sanguine cascades into their earthenware; pleasure were extinct in him. He had
and Lucy requited with substantial slices ceased to refer to the past. Perhaps he
of bread and cheese, and stout homely  had thought it over, and seen that the degarments mostly of her own sewing.    ferred escape, the request for the pearls,
Lucy was altogether an inmate of her the tryst at the palace, and the detention!
father's house. She had not even been  from the king's chamber, made an uglier.
at Hurst Walwyn for many months; for case against Eustacie than -he could enher stepmother's reiterated hopes that dure to own even to himself. If his heart.




152                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
trusted, his mind could not argue out her loved each other from the moment they
defence, and his tongue would not serve had met as children, but never so apparhim for discussion with his grandfather, ently as now, when all the rude horsethe only person who could act for him. play of healthy youths was over-and
Perhaps the stunned condition of his one was dependent, the other considerate.
mind made the suspense just within the And if Berenger had made no one else
bounds of endurance, while trust in his believe in Eustacie, he had taught Philip
wife's innocence rendered his inability to to view her as the " Queen's men" viewed
come to her aid well-nigh intolerable; and Mary of Scotland. Philip had told Lucy
doubt of her seemed both profanity and the rough but wholesome truth, that
misery unspeakable. He could do noth- "Mother talks mere folly. Eustacie is no
ing. He had shot his only shaft by send- more to be spoken of with you than a
ing Landry Osbert, and had found that to pheasant with old brown Partlet; and
endeavor to induce his grandfather to use Berry waits but to be well to bring her
further measures was worse than useless, off from all her foes. And I'll go with
and was treated as mere infatuation. He him."
knew that all he had to do was to en-   It was on Philip's arm that Berenger
deavor for what patience he could win first crept round the bowling green, and
from Cecily's sweet influence and guidance, with Philip at his rein that he first enand to wait till either certainty should  dured to ride along the avenue on Lord
come-that dreadful, miserable certainty Walwyn's smooth-paced palfrey; and it
that all looked for, and his very helpless- was Philip who interrupted Lucy's houseness might be bringing about-or till he hold cares by rushing in and shouting,
should regain strength to be again ef- "Sister, here! I have wiled him to ride
fective.                              over the down, and he is sitting under the
And miserably slow work was this re- walnut-tree quite spent, and the three litcovery. No one had surgical skill to deal tie wenches are standing in a row, weepwith so severe a wound as that which ing like so many little mermaids. Come,
Narcisse had inflicted; and the daily pain I say! "
and inconvenience it caused led to innu-  Lucy at once followed him through
merable drawbacks that often-even after the house, through the deep porch to the
he had come as far as the garden-brought court, which was shaded by a noble walhim back to his bed in a dark room, to nut-tree, where Sir Marmaduke loved to
blood-letting, and to speechlessness. No sit among his dogs. There now sat Berone knew much of his mind-Cecily per- enger, resting against the trunk, overcome
haps the most, and next to her, Philip, by the heat and exertion of his ride. His
who, from the time he had been admitted  cloak and hat lay on the ground; the
to his step-brother's presence, had been  dogs smelt round him, eager for his wontmost assiduous in tending him, seemed to  ed caress, and his three little sisters stood
understand his least sign, and to lay aside a little aloof, clinging to one another, and
all his boisterous roughness in his eager crying piteously.
desire to do him service. The lads had  It was their first sight of him; and it




UNDER THE WALNUT-TREE.                         153
seemed to them as if he were behind a timber and glass lattice, and asked, so abfrightful mask.  Even Lucy was not ruptly that Lucy doubted whether she
without a sensation of the kind, of this heard him  aright,-" How many wineffect in the change from the girlish, rosy  dows are there in this front?"
complexion to extreme paleness, on which  "I never counted," said Philip.
was visible, in ghastly red and purple, the  "I have," said Annora; "there are
great scar left by Narcisse, from the temple seven-and-thirty, besides the two little
on the one side to the ear on the other. ones in the porch."
The far more serious wound on the     "None shall make them afraid," he
cheek was covered with a black patch, muttered. " Who would dare build such
and the hair had almost entirely disap- a defenceless house over yonder "-pointpeared from the head, only a few light ing south.
brown locks still hanging round the neck  "Our hearts are guards enow," said
and temples, so that the bald brow gave a Philip, proudly.  Berenger half smiled,
strange look of age; and the disfigure- as he was wont to do when he meant
ment was terrible, enhanced as it was by more than he could conveniently utter,
the wasting effect of nearly a year of sick- and presently he asked, in the same
ness. Lucy was so much shocked, that languid, musing tone, "Lucy, were you
she could hardly steady her voice to chide ever really affrighted? "
the children for not giving a better wel-  Lucy questioned whether he could be
come to their brother. They would have really in his right mind, as if the bewilclung round her, but she shook them off, derment of his brain was again returning;
and sent Annora in haste for her mother's and while she paused, Annora exclaimed,
fan; while Philip arriving with a slice of  "Yes, when we were gathering cowslips,
diet-bread and a cup of sack, the one and the brindled cow ran at us, and Lucy
fanned him, and the other fed him with  could not run because she had Dolly in
the morsels of the cake soaked in the wine, her arms. Oh! we were frightened then,
till he revived, looked up with eyes that till you came, brother."
were unchanged, and thanked them with    "Yes," added Bessie; "and last wina few faltering words, scarcely intelligible ter too, when the owl shrieked at the
to Lucy. The little girls came nearer, and  window-"
curiously regarded him; but when he      "And," added Berenger, "sister, what
held out his hand to his favorite Dolly, was your greatest time of revelry? "
she shrank back in reluctance.           Annora again put in her word. " I
"Do not chide her," said he wearily. know, brother; you remember the fair"May she never become used to such   day, when my Lady Grandame was anmarks!"                               gered because you and Lucy went on
"What, would you have her live dancing when we and all the gentry had
among cowards?" exclaimed Philip; but ceased. And when Lucy said she had not
Berenger, instead of answering, looked seen that you were left alone, Aunt Cecily,up at the front of the house, one of those said it was because the eyes of discretion
fine Tudor facades that seem all carved were lacking."




154                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"'Oh, the Christmas feast was far French, the poor rogue-yes, French, I
grander," said Bessie. "Then Lucy had tell you! He shrieked out piteously to
her first satin farthingale, and three gal- me something about a letter, and wanting
lants, besides my brother, wanted to dance to ask his way.  Ah! I thought that
with her."                           would touch you, and it will cost you litBlushing deeply, Lucy tried to hush tle pains," added Philip, as Berenger
the little ones, much perplexed by the snatched up his broad Spanish hat, and
questions, and confused by the answers. slouching it over his face, rose, and, leanCould he be contrasting the life where a ing upon Annora's shoulder, stepped forvicious cow had been the most alarming ward, just as the big burly blacksmith
object, a greensward dance with a step- constable, and small shrivelled cobbler
brother the greatest gaiety, the dye of advanced, dragging along by a cord round
the elder-juice the deepest stain, with the the wrists, a slight figure with a red
temptations and perils that had beset one woollen sailor's shirt, ragged black hosen,
equally young? Resting his head on his bare head, and almost bare feet.
hand, his elbow on his knee, he seemed  Doffing their caps, the men began an
to be musing in a reverie that he could awkward salutation to the young-Lord on
hardly brook, as his young brow was his recovery, but he only touched his
knitted by care and despondency.      beaver in return, and demanded, " How
Suddenly, the sounds in the village now; what have you bound him for?"
rose from the quiet sleepy summer hum    "You see, my Lord," began the coninto a fierce yell of derisive vituperation, stable, "there have been a sort of vacausing Philip at once to leap up, and run grants of late, and I'll be bound'twas no
across the court to the entrance- gate, four-legged fox as took Gaffer Shepherd's
while Lucy called after him some vain lamb."
sisterly warning against mingling in a fray.  The peroration was broken off, for,
It seemed asif his interposition had a with a start as if he had been shot,
good effect, for the uproar lulled almost Berenger cried aloud, " Mericour! the
as soon as he had hurried to the scene of Abbe! "
action; and presently he re-appeared, ea-  "Ah, Monsieur, if you know me,"
ger and breathless. "I told them to bring  cried the young man, raising his head,
him up here," lie said; " they would have " free me from this shame-aid me in my
flogged him at the cart's-tail, the rogues, mission! "
just because my father is out of the way.  "Loose him, fellows," shouted BerenI could not make out his jargon, but you ger; "Philip; a knife-Lucy, those sciscan, brother; and make that rascal Spinks sors."
let him go."                             "'Tis my duty, my Lord," said Spinks,
" What should I have to do with it?" gruffly.  " All vagabonds to be appresaid Berenger, shrinking from the sudden hended and flogged at the cart's-tail, by
exposure of his scarred face and maimed her Grace's special commands. How is
speech. "I am no magistrate.         it to be answered to his Ionor, Sir Mar"But you can understand him; he is maduke?"




UNDER THE WALNUT-TREE.                         155
"Oafl " cried Philip, "you durst not you, Mericour.  You have seen her!
have used such violence had my father Where-how? 
been at home! Don't you see my brother  Mericour still spoke with frigid politeknows him?"                          ness. "I had the honor to part with
With hands trembling with haste, Madame la Baronne de Ribaumont in the
Berenger had seized on the scissors that, town of La Sablerie, among humble HEuhousewife-like, hung at Lucy's waste, and guenot guardians, to whom she had fled,
was cutting  the rope, exclaiming in to save her infant's life-when no aid
French, "Pardon, pardon, friend, for so  came."
shameful a reception."                  He was obliged to break off, for Ber"Sir," was the reply, without a sign  enger, stunned by the sudden rush of
of recognition, "if, indeed, you know my  emotion, reeled as he stood, and would
name, I entreat you to direct me to the have fallen but for the prompt support of
chateau of le Sieur Tistefote, whose Lucy, who was near enough to guide him
Lady was once    Baronne   de Ribau- back to rest upon the bench, saying remontu"                                sentfully in French as she did so, "My
"My mother! Ah, my friend! my brother is still very ill. I pray you, sir,
friend! what would you," he cried, in a have a care."
tone of tremulous hope and fear, laying  She had not half understood the rapid
one hand on Mericour's shoulder, and words of the two young men, Philip far
about to embrace him.                less, and the constable and his crew of
Mericour retreated from the embrace course not at all; and Spinks pushed forwith surprise and almost horror. "Is it ward among the group as he saw Berenindeed you, M. le Baron? But no, my ger sink back on the bench; and once
message is to no such person."       more collaring his prisoner, exclaimed,
"A  message - from her - speak! " almost angrily to Philip, "There now,
gasped Berenger, starting forward as sir, you've had enough of the vagabond.
though to rend it from him; but the high- We'll keep him tight ere he bewitches
spirited young man crossed his arms on any more of you."
his breast, and gazing at the group with  This rude interference proved an inindignant scorn, made answer, " My mes- stant restorative. Berenger sprang up at
sage is from her who deems herself a once, and seizing Spinks's arm, exclaimed,
widow, to the mother of the husband   "Hands off, fellow! This is my friendwhom she little imagines to be not only a gentleman. He brings me tidings of
alive but consoled."                 infinite gladness. Who insults him, in" Faithful! faithful! " burst out Ber- sults me."
enger, with a wild, exultant, strangely-  Spinks scarcely withdrew his hand
ringing shout. "Woe, woe, to those who from Mericour's neck; and scowling, said,
would have had me doubt her! Philip-  "Very odd gentleman-very queer tidLucy-hear!   Her truth is clear to all ings, Master Berenger, to fell you like an
the world! " Then changing back again ox. I must be answerable for the fellow
to French, "Ten thousand blessings on till his Honor comes."




156                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"Ah! Eh quoi, wherefore not show  word will these demented rascals let me
the canaille your sword?" said Mdricour, hear with their senseless clamor."
impatiently.                             "Berenger!  You here, my boy?"
"It may not be, here, in England," exclaimed Sir Marmaduke, more amazed
said Berenger (who fortunately was not by this than all the rest.
wearing his weapon). "And in good time   "He touches him- he holds him!
here comes my step-father," as the gate Ah! will no one take him  away?"
swung back, and Sir Marmaduke and     screamed Lady Thistlewood. Nor would
Lady Thistlewood rode through it, the Spinks have been slow in obeying her if
former sending his voice far before him  Sir Marmaduke had not swung his subto demand the meaning of the hurly- stantial form to the ground, and stepburly that filled his court.          ping up to the prisoner, rudely clawed on
Philip was the first to spring to his one side by Spinks, and affectionately
rein, exclaiming, " Father, it is a French- grasped on the other side by Berenger.
man whom Spinks would have flogged at    "Let go, both," shouted the knight.
the cart's-tail; but it seems he is a friend  "Does he speak English? Peace, dame.
of Berenger's, and has brought him tid- If the lad be bewitched it is the right
ings. I know not what-about his wife, way. He looks like another man. Eh,
I believe-anyway he is beside himself lad, what does your friend say for himwith joy."                           self?"
" Sir, your honor," shouted Spinks,   "Sir," said Berenger, interpreting
again seizing iMiricour, and striving to MWricour's words as they were spoken,
drag him   forward, " I would know    "he has been robbed and misused at sea
whether the law is to be hindered from  by Montgomery's pirate crews. I-e fled
taking its course because my young Lord from court for the religion's sake; he
there is a Frenchman and bewitch- met her, my wife" (the voice was scarceed."                                 ly intelligible, so tremulously was it spo" Ah," shrieked Lady Thistlewood, " I ken), " in hiding among the Huguenotsknew it.  They will have sent secret he brings a letter and a token from her to
poison to finish him. Keep the fellow  my mother."
safe. He will cast it in the air."       " Ha! and you know   him?    You
"Aye, aye, my Lady," said Spinks, avouch him to be what he represents
" there are plenty of us to testify that he himself? "
made my young Lord fall back as in a     "I knew him at court. I know him
swoon, and reel like one distraught. Pray  well. Father, make these fellows cease
Heaven it have not gone further."    their insults! I have heard nothing yet.
"Sir," exclaimed Berenger, who on See here!" holding out what M6ricour
the other side held his friend's hand had put into his hand; "this you cannot
tight, "this is a noble gentleman-the doubt, mother."
brother of the Duke de Mericour. He     "Parted the pearls!  Ah, the little
has come at great risk to bring me tidings minx! " cried the Lady, as she recognised
of my dear and true wife. And not one the jewels.




UNDER THE WALNUT-TREE.                        157
"I thought he had been robbed?" rIent, and calling by turns on his wife
added Sir Marmaduke.                 and daughter to read and explain it to him.
" The gentleman doubts?" said Meri-  And as Lucy read the letter, which her
cour, catching some of the words. "He mother could not yet prevail on herself
should know that what is confided to a to touch, she felt at each word more grateFrench gentleman is only taken from him  ful to the good Aunt Cecily, whose inwith his life. Much did I lose; but the fluence had taught her always to view
pearl I kept hidden in my mouth."     Berenger as a brother, and not to conTherewith he produced the letter. demn unheard the poor young wife. If
Lady Thistlewood pronounced that no she had not been thus guarded, what dispower on earth should induce her to open tress might not this day of joy to Berenit, and drew off herself and her little ger have brought to Lucy! Indeed, Lady
girls to a safe distance from the secret Thistlewood was vexed enough as it was,
poison she fancied it contained; while and ready to carry her incredulity to the
Sir Marnmaduke was rating the constables most inconsistent lengths. "It was all a
for taking advantage of his absence to in- trick for getting the poor boy back, that
terpret the Queen's Vagrant Act in their they might make an end of him altoown violent fashion; ending, however, gether."  Tell her they thought him
by sending'them round to the buttery- dead.-" Tilly-vally! it was a mere athatch to drink the young Lord's health. tempt on her own good-nature, to get a
For the messenger, the good knight little French impostor on her hands. Let
heartily grasped his hand, welcoming him  Sir Duke look well to it, and take care
and thanking him for having "brought that her poor boy was not decoyed among
comfort to yon poor lad's heart."    them. The Frenchman might be cutting
But there Sir Marmaduke paused, his throat at that moment! Where was
doubting whether the letter had indeed he? Had Sir Duke been so lost as to let
brought comfort; for Berenger, who had them out of sight together? No one had
seized on it, when it was refused by his either pity or prudence now that her poor
mother, was sitting under the tree-turn- father was gone;" and she began to
ing away indeed, but not able to conceal weep.
that his tears were gushing down like    "No great fear on that score, dame,"
rain.  The anxious exclamation of his laughed the knight. "Did you not hear
step-father roused him at length, but he, the lad shouting for'Phil, Phil!' almost
scarce found power or voice to utter, as in a voice like old times? It does one
he thrust the letter into the knight's hand, good to hear it."
"Ah! see what has she not suffered for  Just at twilight, Berenger came down
me? me, whom you would have had be- the steps, conducting a graceful gentlelieve her faithless?"               man in black, to whom Lady ThistleHe then grasped his friend's arm, and wood's instinct impelled her to make a
with him disappeared into the house, low courtesy, before Berenger had said,
leaving Sir Marmaduke holding the let- " Madame, allow me to present to you my
ter in a state of the utmost bewilder- friend, the Abbe de Mericour."




158                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
" Is it the same? "whispered Bessie to
Annora. "Surely he is translated!"             CHAPTER XXII.
" Only into Philip's old mourning suit.
DEPARTURE.
I know it by the stain on the knee."
"Then it is translated, too. Never             It is my mistress 
Since she is living, let the time run on,
did it look so well on Philip! See, our  To good or bad."
Cymbeline.
mother is quite gracious to him; she
speaks to him as though he were some    MERIcouR found the welcome at Hurst
noble visitor to my Lord."           Walwyn as kindly and more polished
Therewith Sir Marmaduke came for- than that at Combe Manor.    He was
ward, shook Mericour with all his might more readily understood, and found himby the hand, shouted to him his hearty self in his natural element. Lord Walthanks for the good he had done his poor wyn, in especial, took much notice of
lad, and assured him of a welcome from  him, and conversed with him long and
the very bottom of his heart. The good earnestly; while Berenger, too happy
knight would fain have kept both Beren- and too weary to exert himself to say
ger and his friend at the Manor, but Ber- many words, sat as near Cecily as he
enger was far too impatient to carry home could, treating her as though she, who had
his joy, and only begged the loan of a never contradicted in his trust in Eustahorse for Mericour. For himself, he felt cie, were the only person who could
as if fatigue or dejection would never worthily share his infinite relief, peace,
touch him again, and he kissed his mother and thankfulness.
and his sisters, including Lucy, all round,  Lord Walwyn said scarcely any thing
with an effusion of delight.         to his grandson that night, only when
"Is that indeed your step-father?" Berenger, as usual, bent his knee to ask
said Mericour, as they rode away togeth- his blessing on parting for the night, he
er.  " And the young man, is he your said, gravely, "Son, I am glad of your
half-brother?"                        joy; I fear me you have somewhat to
"Brother wholly in dear love," said pardon your grandsire.  Come to my
Berenger; "no blood relation. The lit- library so soon as morning prayers be
tie girls are my mother's children."  over; we will speak then. Not now, my
"Ah! so large a family all one? All dear lad," he added, as Berenger, with
at home? None in convents?"          tears in his eyes, kissed his hand, and
"We have no convents."             would have begun; "you are too much
"Ah, no. But all at home! All at worn and spent to make my deaf ears
peace!  This is a strange place, your hear. Sleep, and take my blessing with
England."                             you."
It was a delight to see the young face
freed from the haggard, dejected expres-. —.
sion that had been sadder than the outward wounds; and yet it was so questionable how far the French connection




DEPARTURE.                             159
was acceptable to the family, that when the marriage by English law, at least, in
Berenger requested Mr. Adderley to make spite of the decree from Rome, which, as
mention of the mercy vouchsafed to him  he pointed out to his grandson, was
in the morning devotions, the chaplain  wholly contingent on the absence of conbowed, indeed, but took care to ascertain sent, since the parties had come to an age
that his so doing would be agreeable to for free will. Had he known of this, the
my Lord and my Lady.                  remarriage, he said, he should certainly
He found that if Lady Walwyn was have been less supine. Why had Berenstill inclined to regret that the French- ger been silent?
woman was so entirely a wife, and        " I was commanded, sir. I fear I have
thought Berenger had been very hasty transgressed the command by mentioning
and imprudent, yet that the old Lord was it now. I must pray you to be secret."
chiefly distressed at the cruel injustice he  "Secret, foolish lad? Know you not
had so long been doing this poor young that the rights of your wife and your child
thing. A strong sense of justice, and long rest upon it?" and as the change in Berhabit of dignified self-restraint, alone pre- enger's looks showed that he had not
vented Lord Walwyn from severely cen- comprehended the full importance of the
suring Mr. Adderley for misrepresenta- second ceremony as nullifying the papal
tions; but the old nobleman recollected  sentence, which could only quash the first
that Walsingham had been in the same  on the ground of want of mutual consent,
story, and was too upright to visit his he proceeded, "Command, quotha? Who
own vexation on the honestly-mistaken  there had any right to command you,
tutor.                                boy?"
However, when Berenger made his ap-   "Only one, sir."
pearance in the study, looking as if not  " Come, this is no moment for lovers'
one night, but weeks, had been spent in folly. It was not the girl, then? Then
recovering health and spirit, the old man's it could be no other than the miserable
first word was a gentle rebuke for his King-was it so?"
having been left unaware of how far mat- " Yes, sir," said Berenger. " He bade
ters had gone; but he cut short the at- me as King, and requested me as the
tempted reply, by saying he knew it was friend who gave her to me. I could do
chiefly owing to his own overhasty con- no otherwise, and I thought it would be
elusion, and fear of letting his grandson but a matter of a few days, and that our
injure himself by vainly discussing the original marriage was the only important
subject.  Now, however, he examined one."
Berenger closely on all the proceedings  "Have you any parchment to prove
at Paris and at Montpipeau, and soon un- it?"
derstood that the ceremony had been re- " No, sir. It passed but as a ceremony
newed, ratifying the vows taken in in- to satisfy the Queen's scruples ere she
fancy. The old statesman's face cleared gave my wife to me to take home. I
up at once: for as he explained that he even think the King was displeased at
had now no anxieties as to the validity of her requiring it."




160                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"Was Mr. Sidney a witness?"       and altered phrases, when he could not
"No, sir. None was present, save the  pronounce distinctly enough to be underKing and Queen, her German countess, stood, and the effort brought lines of pain
and the German priest."               upon his brow. He could take little solid
"The day?"                       food, had hardly any strength for walking
"Lammas-day."                     or riding; and, though all his wounds
"The first of August of the year of were whole, except that one unmanageable
grace, 1572. I will write to Walsingham  shot in the mouth, he looked entirely unfit
to obtain the testimony, if possible, of to venture on a long journey in the very
King or of priest; but belike they will country that had sent him home a year
deny it all. It was part of the trick. before scarcely alive. Lord Walwyn had
Shame upon it that a king should dig pits already devised what he thought a far
for so small game as you, my poor lad."  more practicable arrangement, namely,
"Verily, my Lord," said Berenger;' to send Mr. Adderley and some of my
"I think the King meant us kindly, and Lady's women by sea, under the charge
would gladly have sped us well away. of Master Hobbs, a shipmaster at WeyMethought he felt his bondage bitterly, mouth, who traded with Bordeaux for
and would fain have dared to be a true wine, and could easily put in near La
King. Even at the last, he bade me to Sablerie, and bring off the Lady and child,
his garde-robe, and all there were unhurt." and, if she wished it, the pastor to whom
"And wherefore obeyed you not?"  such a debt of gratitude was owing.
"The carouse would have kept me      Berenger was delighted with the notion
too late for our flight."             of the sea rather than the land journey;
"Kings' behests may not lightly be but he pointed out at once that this would
disregarded," said the old courtier, with remove all objection to his going in person.
a smile. " However, since he showed He had often been out whole nights with
such seeming favor to you, surely you the fishermen, and knew that a sea-voyage
might send a petition to him privately, would be better for his health than anythrough Sir Francis Walsingham, to let thing,-certainly better than pining and
the priest testify to your renewal of con- languishing at home, as he had done for
tract, engaging not to use it to his detri- months. He could not bear to think of
ment in France."                     separation from Eustacie an hour longer
"I will do so, sir. Meanwhile," he than needful; nay, she had been cruelly
added, as one who felt he had earned a entreated enough already; and as long as
right to be heard in his turn, "I have he could keep his feet, it was absolutely
your permission to hasten to bring home due to her that he should not let others,
my wife?"                            instead of himself, go in search of her.
Lord Walwyn was startled at this It would be almost death to him to stay
demand from one still so far from recov- at home.
ered as Berenger. Even this talk, eager  Lord Walwyn looked at the pallid,
as the youth was, had not been carried wasted face, with all its marks of suffering
on without much difficulty, repetitions, and intense eagerness of expression, in



DEPARTURE.                             161
creased by the difficulty of utterance and insistance on going with his brother. He
need of subduing agitation. He felt that was sure no one else would see to Berry
the long misunderstood patience and en- half as well; and as to letting Berry go
durance had earned something; and he to be murdered again without him, he
knew, too, that for all his grandson's sub- would not hear of it; he must go, he
mission and respect, the boy, as a husband would not stay at home; he should not
and father, had rights and duties that study; no, no, he should be ready to hang
would assert themselves manfully if op- himself for vexation, and thinking what
posed. It was true that the sea-voyage they were doing to his brother. And
obviated many difficulties, and it was bet- thus he extorted from his kind-hearted
ter to consent with a good grace than  father an avowal that he should be easier
drive one hitherto so dutiful to rebellion. about the lad if Phil were there, and that
He did then consent, and was rewarded he might go, provided Berry would have
by the lightning flash of joy and gratitude him, and my Lord saw no objection. The
in the bright blue eyes, and the fervent first point was soon settled; and as to the
pressure and kiss of his hand, as Berenger second, there was no reason at all that
exclaimed, "Ah! sir, Eustacie will be Philip should not go where his brother
such a daughter to you. You should did. In fact, excepting for Berenger's
have seen how the Admiral liked her! " state of health, there was hardly any risk
The news of Lord Walwyn's consent about the matter. Master Hobbs, to whom
raised much commotion in the family. Philip rode down ecstatically to request
Damle Annora was sure her poor son him to come and speak to my Lord, was
would be murdered outright this time, a stout, honest, experienced seaman, who
and that nobody cared because he was was perfectly at home in the Bay of Bisonly her son; and she strove hard to stir cay, and had so strong a feudal feeling for
up Sir Marmaduke to remonstrate with the house of Walwyn, that he placed himher father; but the good knight had self and his best ship, the Throstle, ennever disputed a judgment of "my tirely at his disposal. The Throstle was
Lord's" in his whole life, and had even  a capital sailer, and carried arms quite
received his first wife from his hands, sufficient in English hands to protect her
when forsaken by the gay Annora. So against Algerine corsairs or Spanish pishe could only ride over to Combe, be rates. He only asked for a week to make
silenced by her father, as effectually as if her cabin ready for the reception of a Lady,
Jupiter had nodded, and bewail and mur- and this time was spent in sending a post
mur to her mother till she lashed Lady to London, to obtain for Berenger the
Walwyn up into finding every possible permit from the Queen, and the passport
reason why Berenger should and must sail. from the French Ambassador, without
Then she went home, was very sharp which he could not safely have gone;
with Lucy, and was reckoned by saucy lit- and, as a further precaution, letters were
tle Nan to have nineteen times exclaimed requested from some of the secret agents
"Tilly-vally" in the course of one day.  of the Huguenots to facilitate his admission.
The effect upon Philip was a vehement into La Sablerie.
11




162                      THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
In the mean time, poor Mr. Adderley    Sidney returned a most affectionate
had submitted meekly to the decree that answer, saying that he had never been
sentenced him to weeks of misery on    able to believe the little shepherdess a
board the Throstle, but, to his infinite re- traitor, and was charmed that she had
lief, an inspection of the cabins proved  proved herself a heroine; he should enthe space so small, that Berenger repre- deavor to greet her with all his best
sented to his grandfather that the excel- powers as a poet, when she should brightlent tutor would be only an incumbrance en the English Court; but his friend,
to himself and every one else, and that Master Spenser, alone was fit to celebrate
with Philip he should need no one. In- such constancy.  As to M. l'Abbe de
deed, he had made such a start into vigor MIricour's fiiends, Sir Robert Melville
and alertness during the last few days had recognized their name at once, and
that there was far less anxiety about him, had pronounced them to be fierce Cathothough with several sighs for poor Os- lics and Queensmen, so sorely pressed by
bert. Cecily, almost as if it were a jest, the Douglasses, that it was believed they
initiated Philip into her simple rules for would soon fly the country altogether;
her patient's treatment in case of the re- and Sidney added, what Lord Walwyn
turn of his more painful symptoms. The had already said, that to seek Scotland
notion of sending female attendants for rather than France as a resting-place in
Eustacie, was also abandoned, her bus- which to weigh between Calvinism and
band's presence rendered them unneces- Catholicism, was only the fire instead of
sary, or they might be procured at La the frying-pan; since there the parties
Sablerie; and thus it happened that the were trebly hot and fanatical. His counonly servants whom Berenger was to take  sel was that M. de Mericour should so far
with him were Humfrey Holt and John   conform himself to the English Church
Smithers, the same honest fellows whose as to obtain admission to one of the universteadiness had so much conduced to his sities, and through his uncle of Leicester
rescue at Paris.                       he could obtain for him an opening at OxClaude de M6ricour had in the mean  ford,wherehe might fully study the subject.
time been treated as an honored guest at  There was much to incline M6ricour
Combe Walwyn, and was in good esteem  to accept this counsel. He had had much
with its master. He would have set forth  conversation with Mr. Adderley, and had
at once on his journey to Scotland, but attended his ministrations in the chapel,
that Lord Walwyn advised him to wait and both satisfied him far better than
and ascertain the condition of his relatives what he had seen among the French Calthere before throwing himself on them. vinists; and the peace and family affecBerenger had, accordingly, when writing  tion of the two houses were like a new
to Sidney by the messenger above-men- world to him. But he had not yet made
tioned, begged him to find out from Sir up his mind to that absolute disavowal of
Robert Melville, the Scottish Envoy, all his own branch of the Church, which
he could about the family whose designa- alone could have rendered him eligible
tion he wrote down from Mericour's lips. for any foundation at Oxford, should his




THE EMPTY CRADLE.                            163
attainments in classics, Mr. Adderley
thought, reach such a standard as to gain       CHAPTER XXIII.
one of the very few scholarships open to
THE EMPTP YORADLE.
foreigners; and his noble blood revolted        E EM    Y    RA
at becoming a pensioner of Leicester's, or              " Eager to know
of any other nobleman.                   The worst, and with that fatal certainty
To terminate intolerable dread,
Lord Walwyn, upon this, made an       He spurred his courser forward-all his fears
earnest offer of his hospitality, and en-  Too surely are fulfilled."
SOUTHEY.
treated the young man to remain at Hurst
Walwyn till the return of Berenger and    CONTRARY winds made the voyage of
Philip, during which time he might study  the Throstle much more tardy than had
under the directions of Mr. Adderley, and been reckoned on by Berenger's impacome to a decision whether to seek recon- tience; but hope was before him, and lie
ciliation with his native Church and his often remembered his days in the little
brother, or to remain in England. In vessel as much happier than he had known
this latter case, he might perhaps accom- them to be at the time.
pany both the youths to Oxford, for, in   It was in the calm days of bright Ocspite of Berenger's marriage, his educa- tober that Captain Hobbs at length was
tion was still not supposed to be com- putting into the little harbor nearest to La
plete.  And when Mericour still de- Sablerie. Berenger, on that morning, had
murred with reluctance to become a for the first time been seized by a fit of
burthen on the bounty of the noble house, anxiety as to the impression his face
he was reminded gracefully of the debt would make, with its terrible purple scar,
of gratitude that the family owed to him  great patch, and bald forehead, and had
for the relief he had brought to Berenger; brought out a little black velvet mask,
and, moreover, Dame Annora giggled out called a tour de nez, often used in riding
that, " if he would teach Nan and Bess to to protect the complexion, intending to
speak and read French and Italian, it prepare Eustacie for his disfigurement.
would be worth something to them." He had fastened on a carnation-colored
The others of the family would have sword-knot, wound a scarf of the same
hushed up this uncalled-for proposal; but color across his shoulder, clasped a long
M6ricour caught at it as the most con- ostrich-plume into his broad Spanish hat,
genial mode of returning the obligation. and looked out his deeply-fringed Spanish
Every morning he undertook to walk or gloves; and Philip was laughing merrily,
ride over to the Manor, and there gave not to say rudely, at him, for trying to
his lessons to the young ladies, with  deck himself out so bravely.
whom he was extremely popular.    He      "See, Master Hobbs," cried the boy
was a far more brilliant teacher than  in his high spirits, as he followed his
Lucy, and ten thousand times preferable brother on deck, " you did not know you
to Mr. Adderley, who had once begun to had so fine a gallant on board. Here be
teach Annora her accidence with lament- braveries for my Lady."
able want of success.                     "Hush, Phil," broke in Berenger, who




164                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
had hitherto taken all the raillery in per-  "I thought so," said the captain
feet good part. " What is amissy Master' Well, then, sir, your fellows ready?
Hobbs?"                             Armed? All right."
"I cannot justly say, sir," returned  So Berenger descended to the boat,
Master Hobbs, without taking his gaze followed by Philip; next came the capoff the coast, " but by yonder banks and tain, and then the two serving-men. Six
creeks this should be Sables d'Olonne; of the crew were ready to row them to
and I do not see the steeple of La Sab- the shore, and were bidden by their caplerie, which has always been the land- tain to return at once to the vessel, and
mark for the harbor of St. Julien."   only return on a signal from him. The
" What do you understand by that?" surging rush of intense anxiety, sure to
asked Berenger, more struck by his man- precede the destined moment of the conner than his words.                  summation of hope long deferred, kept
"Well, sir, if I am right, a steeple Berenger silent, choked by something bethat has stood three or four hundred tween fear and prayer; but Philip, less
years does not vanish out of sight like a engrossed, asked Master Hobbs if it were
cloud of smoke for nothing. It may be not strange that none of the inhabitants
lightning, to be sure; or the Protestants of the squalid little huts on the shore had
may have had it down for Popery; but not put out to greet them in some of
methinks they would have too much the boats that were drawn up on the
Christian regard for poor mariners than beach.
to knock down the only landmark on this  " Poor wretches," said Hobbs; " they
coast till you come to Nissard spire." scarce know friend from foe, and are slow
Then he hailed the man at the mast-head, to run their heads into the lion's mouth.
demanding if he saw the steeple of La Strange fellows have the impudence to
Sablerie. "No, no, sir." But as other sail under our flag at times,"
portions of the land became clearer, there  However, as they neared the low, flat,
was no doubt that the Throstle was right sandy shore, a few red caps peeped out at
in her bearings; so the skipper gave or- the cottage doors, and then, apparently
ders to cast anchor and lower a boat. gaining confidence from the survey, some
The passengers would have pressed him  wiry, active figures appeared, and were
with inquiries as to what he thought the hailed by Hobbs. His Bordeaux trade
absence of his landmark could portend; had rendered him master of the coastbut he hurried about, and shouted orders, language; and a few incomprehensible
with the deaf despotism  of a nautical shouts between him and the natives recommander; and only when all was sulted in a line being thrown to them,
made ready, turned round and said, and the boat dragged as near as possible
"Now, sir, maybe you had best let me go to the landing-place, when half-a-dozen
ashore first, and find out how the land ran up, splashing with their bare legs, to
lies."                               offer their shoulders for the transport of
"Never! " said Berenger, in an agony  the passengers, both of whom were seized
of impatience.                       upon before they were aware, Philip




THE EMPTY CRADLE,                           165
struggling with all his might, till a call there had been some such bloody work
from Captain Hobbs warned him to re- when I missed the steeple. But take
sign himself; and then he became almost heart yet, your Lady is very like to have
helpless with laughter at the figure cut by been out of the way. We might make
the long-legged Berenger upon a small for La Rochelle, and there learn! " Then,
fisherman's back.                     again to the fisherman. " None escaped,
They were landed. Could it be that fellow? "
Berenger was only two miles-only half    "Not one," replied the man. " They
an hour's walk from   Eustacie?  The say that one of the great folks was in a
bound his heart gave as he touched the special rage with them for sheltering the
shore seemed to stifle him. He could not Lady he should have wedded, but who
believe it. Yet he knew how fully he had broken convent and turned heretic;
had believed it, the next moment, when and they had victualled Montgomery's
he listened to what the fishermen were pirates, too."
saying to Captain Hobbs.                 " And the Lady?" continued Hobbs,
" Did Monsieur wish to go to La Sa- ever trying to get a more supporting hold
blerie? Ah! then he did not know what of his young charge, in case the rigid
had happened.   The soldiers had been  tension of his limbs should suddenly
there; there had been a great burning. relax.
They had been out in their boats at sea,  " I cannot tell, sir. I am a poor fisher;
but they had seen the sky red-red as a but I could guide you to the place where
furnace all night; and the steeple was old Gillot is always poking about. He
down. Surely, Monsieur had missed the listened to their preachings, and knows
steeple that was a guide to all poor sea- more than we do."
farers; and now they had to go all the   "Let us go," said Berenger, at once
way to Brancour to sell their fish."  beginning to stride along in his heavy
"And   the townspeople?"   Hobbs boots through the deep sand.    Philip,
asked.                                who had hardly understood a word of the
" Ah! poor things;'twas pity of   patois, caught hold of him, and begged to
them, for they were honest folk to deal be told what had happened; but Master
with, even if they were heretics. They  Hobbs drew the boy off, and explained
loved fish at other seasons if not in Lent; to him, and the two men what were the
and it seemed but a fair return to go up dreadful tidings that had wrought such a
and bury as many of them as were not change in Berenger's demeanor. Theway
burned to nothing in their church; and over the shifting sands was toilsome
Dom Colombeau, the good priest of Nis- enough to all the rest of the party; but
sard, has said it was a pious work; and Berenger scarcely seemed to feel the deep
he was a saint, if any one was."      plunge at every step as they almost
" Alack, sir," said Hobbs, laying his ploughed their way along for the weary
hand on the arm of Berenger, who seemed two miles, before a few green bushes and
neither to have breathed nor moved while half-choked trees showed that they were
the man was speaking; " I feared that reaching the confines of the sandy waste.




166                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Berenger had not uttered a word the who always sent for him if she suspected
whole time, and his silence hushed the danger here on the mainland, and he had
others. The ground began to rise, grass only returned to his poor farm a day or
was seen still struggling to grow, and two after Michaelmas."  So saying, he
presently a large straggling mass of black led them to the threshold of a ruinous
and gray ruins revealed themselves, with  building, in the very centre, as it were,
the remains of a once well-trodden road  of the desolation, and said, " That, genleading to them. But the road led to a tlemen, is where the poor honest widow'
gateway choked by a fallen jamb and kept her little shop."
barred door, and the guide led them round  Black, burnt, dreary, lay the hospitathe ruins of the wall to the opening where ble abode. The building had fallen, but
the breach had been. The sand was al- the beams of the upper floor had fallen
ready blowing in, and no doubt veiled aslant, so as to shelter a portion of the
much; for the streets were scarcely trace- lower room, where the red-tile pavement,
able through remnants of houses more or the hearth with the gray ashes of the
less dilapidated, with shreds of broken or harmless home-fire, some unbroken crocks,
burned household furniture within them.  a chain, and a sabot, were still visible,
"Ask him for la rue des Trois Fees," making the contrast of dreariness doubly
hoarsely whispered Berenger.         mournful.
The fisherman nodded, but soon seemed  Berenger had stepped over the threshat fault; and an old man, followed by a old, with his hat in his hand, as if the
few children, soon appearing, laden with ruin were a sacred place to him, and stood
pieces of fuel, he appealed to him as Fa- gazing in a transfixed, deadened way.
ther Gillot, and asked whether he could The captain asked where the remains
find the street. The old man seemed at were.
home in the ruins, and led the way       "Our people," said the old man and
readily. "Did he know the Widow Lau- the fisher, "laid them by night in the
rent's house?"                      earth near the church."
" Mademoiselle Laurent!  Full well   Just then Berenger's gaze fell on
he knew her; a good pious soul was she, something half-hidden under the fallen
always ready to die for the truth," he timbers.  He instantly sprang forward,
added, as he read sympathy in the faces and used all his strength to drag it out in
round; " and no doubt she had witnessed  so headlong a manner, that all the rest
a good confession."                  hurried to prevent his reckless proceed" Knew he aught of the Lady she had ings from bringing the heavy beams down
lodged?"                             on his head. When brought to light, the
"He knew nothing of ladies. Some- object proved to be one of the dark,
thing he had heard of the good widow  heavy, wooden cradles used by the French
having sheltered that shining light, Isaac peasantry, shining with age, but unGardon, quenched, no doubt, in the same touched by fire.
destruction; but for his part, he had a  "Look in," Berenger signed to Philip,
daughter in one of the isles out there, his own eyes averted, his mouth set.




THE EMPTY CRADLE.                            167
The cradle was empty, totally empty, came down and carried off the little ones
save for a woollen covering, a little mat- to be bred up in convents."
tress, and a string of small yellow shells  "Who?-where?" asked Berenger,
threaded.                             raising his head as if catching at a straw
Berenger held out his hand, grasped  in this drowning of all his hopes.
the baby-plaything  convulsively, then    "'Tis true," added the fisherman. "It
dropped upon his knees clasping his was the holy priest of Nissard, for he
hands over his ashy face, the string of  sent down to St. Julien for a woman to
shells still wound among his fingers. nurse the babes."
Perhaps he had hitherto hardly realized   "To Nissard, then," said Berenger,
the existence of his child, and was solely rising.
wrapped up in the thought of his wife;    "It is but a chance," said the old
but the wooden cradle, the homely toy, Huguenot;' many of the innocents were
stirred up fresh depths of feeling; he saw  with their mothers in yonder church.
Eustacie with her tender sweetness as a Better for them to perish like the babes
mother, he beheld the little likeness of at Bethlehem than to be bred up in the
her in the cradle; and oh! that this house of Baal; but perhaps Monsieur is
should have been the end!   Unable to English, and if so he might yet obtain the
repress a moan of anguish from a burst- child. Yet he must not hope too much."
ing heart, he laid his face against the   "No, for there was many a little
senseless wood, and kissed it again and  corpse among those we buried," said the
again, then lay motionless against it save fisher.  "Will the gentleman see the
for the long-drawn gasps and sobs that place?"
shook his frame. Philip, torn to the      "Oh, no," exclaimed Philip, underheart, would have almost forcibly drawnstanding the actions, and indeed many of
him away; but Master Hobbs, with tears the words; "this place will kill him."
running down his honest cheeks, with-     " To the grave," said Berenger, as if
held the boy. " Don't ye, Master Thistle- he heard nothing.
wood,'twill do him good. Poor young      " See," added Philip, " there are better
gentleman. I know how it was when I things than graves," and he pointed to a
came home and found our first little lad, young green sucker of a vine, which,
that we had thought so much on, had stimulated by the burnt soil, had shot up
been taken. But when he was safe laid between the tiles of the floor. "Look,
in his own churchyard, and his mother there is hope to meet you even here."
was there to meet me; while your poor    Berenger merely answered by gatherbrother —  Ah! God comfort him!"      ing a leaf from the vine and putting it.
"Le pauvre Monsieur!" exclaimed    into his bosom; and Philip, whom only
the old peasant, struck at the sight of his extreme need could have thus inspired,.
grief, "was it then his child? And he, perceived that he accepted it as the augury
no doubt, lying wounded elsewhere while of hope.
God's hand was heavy on this place. Yet  Berenger turned to bid the two men
he might hear more. They said the priest bear the cradle with them, and then fol



168                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
lowed the old man out into the place, broad wings and wild wailing cry, comonce a pleasant open paved square, now  pleted the weird dismay that had seized
grass-grown and forlorn. On one side on Philip, and clutching at his brother's
lay the remains of the church. The Hu- cloak; he exclaimed, " Berry, Berry, let
guenots had been so predominant at La us begone, or we shall both be distraught!"
Sablerie as to have engrossed the build-  Berenger yielded passively, but when
ing, and it had therefore shared the gen- the ruins of the town had been again
eral destruction, and lay in utter, desolate crossed, and the sad little party, after
ruin, a mere shell, and the once noble amply rewarding the old man, were about
spire, the mariner's guiding star, blown to return to St. Julien, he stood still, sayup with gunpowder in the lawless rage ing, "Which is the way to Nissard?"
of Anjou's army, one of the most cruel and, as the men pointed to the south, he
that ever desolated the country. Beyond  added, "Show me the way thither."
lay the burial-ground, in unspeakable drear-  Captain Hobbs now interfered. He
iness. The crosses of the Catholic dead knew the position of Nissard, among
had been levelled by the fanaticism of dangerous sandbanks, between which a
the Huguenots, and though a great domi- boat could only venture at the higher
nant stone cross raised on steps had been tides, and by daylight. To go the six
re-erected, it stood uneven, tottering and miles thither at present would make it
desolate among nettles, weeds, and briars. almost impossible to return to the Throstle
There seemed to have been a few deep that night, and it was absolutely necestrenches dug to receive the bodies of the sary that he at least should do this. He
many victims of the siege, and only rudely therefore wished the young gentleman to
and slightly filled in with loose earth, on return with him on board, sleep there, and
which Philip treading had nearly sunk in, be put ashore at Nissard as soon as it
so much to his horror, that he could hardly should be possible in the morning. But
endure the long contemplation in which  Berenger shook his head. He could not
his brother stood gazing on the dismal rest for a moment till he had ascertained
scene, as if to bear it away with him. the fate of Eustacie's child. Action alone
Did the fair being he had left in a king's could quench the horror of what he had
palace sleep her last sleep amid the tangled recognized as her own lot, and the very
grass, the thistles and briars that grew so pursuit of this one thread of hope seemed
close that it was hardly possible to keep needful to him to make it substantial.
from  stumbling over them, where all He would hear of nothing but walking at
memorials of friend or foe were alike once to Nissard; and Captain Hobbs,
obliterated? Was a resting-place among finding it impossible to debate the point
these nameless graves the best he could with one so dazed and crushed with grief,
hope for the wife whose eyes he had and learning from the fishermen that not
hoped by this time to be answering his only was the priest one of the kindest
own-was this her shelter from foe, from  and most hospitable men living, but that
sword, famine, and fire?             there was a tolerable cabaret not far from
A great sea-bird, swooping along with the house, selected from the loiterers who




THE GOOD PRIEST OF NISSARD.                       169
had accompanied them from St. Julien a changed by every wind, and solitary betrustworthy-looking, active lad as a guide, yond expression-a few rabbits scudding
agreed with Philip to come to Nissard hither and thither, or a sea-gull floating
in his boat with the high tide on the  with white, ghostly wings in the air, bemorrow, either to concert measures for ing the only living thing visible. On the
obtaining possession of the lost infant, or, one hand a dim, purple horizon showed
if all were in vain, to fetch them off. Then  that the inhabited country lay miles inhe, with the mass of stragglers from St. land; on the other lay the pale gray,
Julien, went off direct for the coast, while misty expanse of sea, on which Philip's
the two young brothers, their two attend- eyes could lovingly discern the Throstle's
ants, and the fisherman, turned south- masts.
ward along the summit of the dreary       That view was Philip's chief comfort.
sandbanks.                             The boy was feeling more eerie and uncomfortable than ever he had been before,
as he plodded along, sinking deep with
every step almost up to his ankles in the
CHAPTER XXIV.                sand, on which the barefooted guide ran
lightly, and Berenger, though sinking no
THE GOOD PRIEST OF NISSARD.
less deeply, seemed insensible to all in" Till at the set of sun all tracks and ways  conveniences. This desolateness was well
In darkness lay enshrouded. And e'en thus
The utmost limit of the great profound  nigh unbearable; no one dared to speak
At length we reach'd, where in dark gloom and while Berengcr thus moved on in the unmist
Cimmeria's people and their city lie,  approachableness of his great grief, and
Enveloped ever."              v     Philip presently began to feel a dreamy
Odyssey (MIUSGROVE).
sense that they had all thus been moving
TEE October afternoon had set in be- on for years, that this was the world's
fore the brothers were on their way to  end, the land of shadows, and that his
Nissard, and in spite of Berenger's excited brother was a ghost already.  Besides
mood, the walk through the soft, sinking  vague alarms like these, there was the
sand could not be speedily performed. It dismal English and Protestant prejudice
was that peculiar sand-drift which is the in full force in Philip's mind, which recurse of so many coasts, slowly, silently, garded the present ground as necessarily
irresistibly flowing, blowing, creeping in, hostile, and all Frenchmen, above all
and gradually choking all vegetation and French priests, as in league to cut off
habitation. Soft and almost impalpable, every Englishman and Protestant.  He
it lay heaped in banks yielding as air, believed himself in a country full of
and yet far more than deep enough to  murderers, and was walking on with
swallow up man and horse. Nay, tops the one determination that his brother
of trees, summits of chimneys, told what should not rush on danger without him,
it had already swallowed. The whole and that the Popish rogues should be
scene far and wide presented nothing but kept in mind that there was an English
the lone, tame undulations, liable to be ship in sight.  Alas! that consolation




170                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
was soon lost, for a dense gray mist was follow her wherever she called me, the
slowly creeping in from the sea, and soon innocent, and glad-the sooner the betblotted out the vessel, then gathered in ter."
closer, and obliterated all landmarks.  And he shook his brother off with a
Gradually it turned to a heavy rain, and sadness and impatience so utterly unapabout the same time the ground on which  proachable, that Philip, poor boy, could
they walked became no longer loose only watch his tall figure in the wide
sand-hills, but smooth and level. It was cloak and slouched hat, stalking on ever
harder likewise from the wet, and this more indistinct in the gloom, while his
afforded better walking, but there lay much confused mind tried to settle the
upon it fragments of weed and shell, as theological point whether the old nurse's
though it were liable to be covered by baptism were valid enough to prevent
the sea, and there was a low, languid poor little Berangere from becoming one
plash of the tide, which could not be seen. of these mischievous deluders; and all
Twilight began to deepen the mist. The this was varied by the notion of Captain
guide was evidently uneasy; he sidled Hobbs picking up their corpses on the
up to Philip, and began to ask what he-  beach, and of Sir Marmaduke bewailing
hitherto obstinately deaf and contemptu- his only son.
ous to French-was very slow to com-     At last a strange muffled sound made
prehend. At last he found it was a ques- him start in the dead silence, but the
tion how near it was to All Soul's day? guide hailed the sound with a joyful cry
and then came an equally amazing query -" Hola!  Blessings on Notre -Dame,
whether the gentleman's babe had been  and holy Father Colombeau, now are we
baptized? for it appeared that on All saved!" And on Philip's hasty interSouls' day the spirits of unchristened in- rogation, he explained that it was from
fants had the power of rising from the the bells of Nissard, which the good
sands in a bewildering mist, and leading priest always caused to be rung, during
wayfarers into the sea. And the poor these sea-fogs, to disperse all evil beings
guide, white and drenched, vowed he and guide the wanderers.
never would have undertaken this walk   The guide strode on manfully, as the
if he had only thought of this. These sound became clearer and nearer, and
slaughters of heretics must so much have Philip was infinitely relieved, to be free
augmented the number of the poor little from all supernatural anxieties, and to
spirits; and no doubt Monsiuur would be have merely to guard against the wiles
especially bewildered by one so nearly  of a Popish priest, a being almost as fabconcerned with him. Philip, half fright- ulously endowed in his imagination as
ened, could not help stepping forward poor little Berangere's soul could be in
and pulling Berenger by the cloak to that of the fisherman.
make him aware of this strange peril; but  The drenching Atlantic mist had wethe did not get much comfort. " Baptized? ted them all to the skin, and closed round
Yes; you know she was, by the old them so like a solid wall, that they had
nurse. Let me alone, I say. I would almost lost sight of each other, and had




THE GOOD PRIEST OF NISSARD.                      171
nothing but the bells' voices to comfort can tell me of my child.  Let me
them, till quite suddenly there was a hear."
light upon the mist, a hazy reddish gleam,  "Monsieur's child!" exclaimed the
-a window seemed close to them. The bewildered curate, looking from him to
guide, heartily thanking Our Lady and Philip, and then to the guide, who poured
St. Julien, knocked at a door, which  out a whole stream of explanation before
opened at once into a warm, bright, su- Philip had arranged three words of French.
perior sort of kitchen, where a neatly-  "You hear, sir," said Berenger, as the
dressed elderly peasant-woman exclaim- man finished, " I came hither to seek my
ed, " Welcome, poor souls! Enter then. wife, the Lady of Ribaumont."
Here, good Father, are some bewildered: Eh!" exclaimed the cure, "do I
creatures. Eh! wrecked are you, good then see M. le Marquis de Nid-de-Merle?"
folks, or lost in the fog? "            "No!" cried Berenger; " no, I am
At the same moment there came from  not that sceleract! I am her true husband,
behind the screen that shut off the fire the Baron de Ribaumont."
from the door, a benignant-looking, hale  " The Baron de Ribaumont perished
old man in a cassock, with long white at the St. Bartholomew," said the cure,
hair on his shoulders, and a cheerful face, fixing his eyes on him, as though to conruddy from sea-wind.                  fute an impostor.
Welcome, my friends," he said.       "Ah, would that I had!" said Ber" Thanks to the saints who have guided enger. "I was barely saved with the
you safely. You are drenched. Come life that is but misery now. I came to
to the fire at once."                 seek her-I found what you know. They
And as they moved on into the full told me that you saved the children. Ah,
light of the fire and the rude iron lamp by tell me where mine is?-all that is left
which he had been reading, and he saw  me."
the daggled plumes and other appurte-    "A few poor babes I was permitted
nances that marked the two youths as to rescue, but very few. But let me
gentlemen, he added, "Are you wrecked, understand to whom I speak," he added,
Messieurs? We will do our poor best for much perplexed. " You, sir-"
your accommodation," and while both      "I am her husband, married at five
mechanically murmured a word of thanks, years old-contract renewed last year.
and removed their soaked hats, the good It was he whom you call Nid-de-Merle
man exclaimed, as he beheld Berenger's who fell on me, and left me for dead. A
ashy face, with the sunken eyes and deep faithful servant saved my life, but I have
scars, "Monsieur should come to bed at lain sick in England till now, when her
once. He is apparently recovering from  letter to my mother brought me to La
a severe wound. This way, sir; Jolitte Sablerie, to find —to find this. Oh, sir,
shall make you some hot tisane."      have pity on me! Till me if you know
"Wait, sir," said Berenger, very anything of her, or if you can give me her
slowly, and his voice sounding hollow  child?"
from  exhaustion; " they say that you    "The orphans I was able to save are



172                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the boys at nurse here, the girls with the sible groan.  " Was there no mercygood nuns at Lucon," said the priest, with  none?"
infinite pity in his look. "Should you    "Ask not, sir," said the compassionate
know it, sir?"                        priest; " the flesh shrinks, though there
"I would-I should," said Berenger. may be righteous justice.  A  pillaged
"But it is a girl. Ah, would that it town, when men are enraged, is like a
were here!    But you —you, sir-you    place of devils unchained. I reached it
know more than these fellows. Is there  only after it had been taken by assault,
no-no hope of herself?"                when all was flame and blood. Ask me
"Alas! I fear I can give you none," no more; it would be worse for you to
said the priest; " but I will tell all I hear, than me to tell," he concluded,
know; only I would fain see you eat, shuddering; but laying his hand kindly
rest, and be dried."                   on Berenger's arm. "At least it is ended
" How can I?" gasped lie, allowing  now, and God is more merciful than men.
himself, however, to sink into a chair; Many died by the bombs cast into the
and the priest spoke:                  city, and she for whom you ask certainly
" Perhaps you know, sir, that the poor fell not alive into the hands of those who
Lady fled from her friends, and threw  sought her. Take comfort, sir; there is
herself upon the Huguenots. All trace  One who watches and takes count of our
had been lost, when, at a banquet given  griefs.-Sir," turning to Philip, "this
by the mayor of Lucon, there appeared  gentleman is too much spent with sorrow
some patisseries, which some ecclesiastics, to bear this cold and damp. Aid me, I
who had enjoyed the hospitality of Bel- entreat, to persuade him to lie down."
laise, recognised as peculiar to the con-  Philip understood the priest's French
vent there, where she had been brought far better than that of the peasants, and
up. They were presented to the mayor added persuasions, that Berenger was far
by his friend, Bailli la Grasse, who had too much exhausted and stunned to resist.
boasted of the excellent confitures of the To spend a night in a Popish priest's
heretic pastor's daughter that lodged in  house would once have seemed to Philip
the town of La Sablerie. The place was a shocking alternative, yet here he was,
in disgrace for having afforded shelter heartily assisting in removing the wet
and supplies to Montgomery's pirate crews, garments in which his brother had sat
and there were narrations of outrages only too long, and was heartily relieved
committed on Catholics. The army were to lay him down in the priest's own bed,
enraged by their failure before La Ro- even though there was an image over the
chelle; in effect, it was resolved to make head, which, indeed, the boy never saw.
an example, when, on M. de Nid-de- He only saw his brother turn away from
Merle's summons, all knowledge of the the light with a low, heavy moan, as if he
Lady was denied. Js it possible that she  would fain be left alone with his sorrow
was indeed not there?"               and his crushed hopes.
Berenger shook his head. " She was    Nothing could be kinder than Dom
indeed there," he said, with an irrepres- Colombeau, the priest of Nissard. He




THE GOOD PRIEST OF NISSARD.                       173
saw to the whole of his guests being put bed, and was gone. Suspicions of foul
into some sort of dry habiliments before play coming over him in full force as he
they sat round his table to eat of the  gazed round on much that he considered
savory mess in the great pot-au-feu, as "Popish furniture," he threw on his
which had, since their arrival, received  clothes, and hastened to open the door,
additional ingredients, and moreover sun- when, to his great relief, he saw Berenger
dry villagers had crept into the house. hastily writing at a table under the winWhenever the good Father supped at dow, and Smithers standing by waiting
home, any of his flock were welcome to for the billet.
drop in to enjoy his hospitality. After a  "I am sending Smithers on board, to
cup of hot cider round, they carried off  ask Hobbs to bring our cloak-bags," said
the fisherman to lodge in one of their cot- Berenger, as his brother entered. "We
tages. Shake-downs were found for the must go on to Lucon."
others, and Philip, wondering what was    He spoke briefly and decidedly, and
to become of the good host himself, gath- Philip was satisfied to see him quite calm
ered that he meant to spend such part of and collected-white, indeed, and with
the night on the kitchen floor as he did the old haggard look, and the great scar
not pass in prayer in the church for the very purple, instead of red, which was
poor young gentleman, who was in such  always a bad sign with him. He was not
affliction. Philip was not certain whether disposed to answer questions; he shortly
to resent this as an impertinence or an  said, " He had slept not less than usual,"
attack on their Protestant principles; but which Philip knew meant very little; and
he was not sure, either that the priest he had evidently made up his mind, and
was aware what was their religion, and  was resolved not to let himself give way.
was still less certain of his own compre- If his beacon of hope had been so sudhension of these pious intentions: he  denly, frightfully quenched, he still was
decided that, any way, it was better not kept from utter darkness by straining his
to make a fool of himself.   Still, the  eyes and forcing his steps to follow
notion of the mischievousness of priests the  tiny, flickering  spark  that rewas so rooted in his head, that he con- mained.
suited Humfrey on the expedience of       The priest was at his morning mass,
keeping watch all night, but was saga- and so soon as Berenger had given his
ciously answered that " these French   note to Smithers, and sent him off with a
rogues don't do any hurt unless they be fisherman to the Throstle, he took up his
wrought up to it, and the place was as hat, and went out upon the beach, that
safe as old Hurst."                   lay glistening in the morning sun, then
In fact, Philip's vigilance would have turned straight toward the tall spire of
been strongly against nature. He never the church, which had been their last
awoke till full daylight and morning sun  night's guide. Philip caught his cloak.
were streaming through the vine-leaves    "You are never going there, Berenround the window, and then, to his dis- ger?"
may, he saw that Berenger had left his    "Vex me not now," was all the reply




174                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
he got.  "There the dead and living      "That goes for nothing according
meet together."                      to the rules of the Church," said the
" But, brother, they will take you for priest. "The Church cannot yield her
one of their own sort."               children to heresy."
"Let them."                           " But we in England are not CalvinPhilip was right that it was neither a ists," cried Berenger. " We are not like
prudent nor consistent proceeding, but your Huguenots."
Berenger had little power of reflection,  "The Church would make no differand his impulse at present bore him into  ence," said the priest. " Stay, sir," as Berthe church belonging to his native faith  enger struck his own forehead, and was
and land, without any defined feeling, about to utter a fierce invective. " Resave that it was peace to kneel there member that if your child lives it is owing
among the scattered worshippers, who to the pity of the good nuns. You seem
came and went with their fish-baskets in not far from the bosom of the Church.
their hands, and to hear the low chant of Did you but return-"
the priest and his assistant from within  "It is vain to speak of that," said
the screen.                           Berenger, quickly. " Say, sir, would an
Philip meantime marched up and order from the king avail to open these
down outside in much annoyance, until doors?"
the priest and his brother came out, when " Of course it would, if you have the
the first thing he heard the good Colom- influence to obtain one."
beau say was, "I would have called upon  "I have, I have," cried Berenger
you before, my son, but that I feared you eagerly.' The King has been my good
were a Huguenot."                     friend already.  Moreover, my English
"I am an English Protestant," said grandfather will deal with the Queen.
Berenger; "but, ah! sir, I needed com- The heiress of our house cannot be left in
fort too much to stay away from prayer." a foreign nunnery. Say, sir," he added,
Pere Colombeau looked at him   in turning to the priest, "if I went to LuQon
perplexity, thinking perhaps that here at once, would they answer me, and let
might be a promising convert, if there me see my child?"
were only time to work on him; but       The priest considered a moment,
Berenger quitted the subject at once, and answered, "No, sir, I think not. The
asking the distance to Luqon.         Prioress is a holy woman, very strict. and'" A full day's journey," answered Pere with a horror of heretics.  She came
Colombeau, and added, "I am sorry you from the convent of Bellaise, and would
are indeed a Huguenot. It was what I therefore at once know your name, and
feared last night, but I feared to add to refuse all dealings with you."
your grief. The nuns are not permitted   "She could not do so, if I brought an
to deliver up children to Huguenot rela- order from the King."
tions."" Certainly not."
" I am her father! " exclaimed Beren-  "Then to Paris!"  And laying his
ger, indignantly.                     hand on Philip's shoulder, he asked the




THE GOOD PRIEST OF NISSARD.                      175
boy whether he had understood, and ex- and this could be done at La Motteplained that he must go at once to Paris-  Achard, where the party could easily be
riding post-and obtain the order from  guided on foot, or conveyed in a boat if
the King.                             the fog should not set in again, but all the
"To Paris-to be murdered again! " coast-line of Nissard was dangerous in
said Philip, in dismay.               autumn and winter; nay, even this very
" They do not spend their time there August an old man, with his daughter,
in murder," said Berenger. " And now  her infant, and a donkey, had been found
is the time, while the savage villain, Nar- bewildered between the creeks on a sandcisse, is with his master in Poland.  I bank, where they stood still and patient,
cannot but go, Philip; we both waste like a picture of the Flight into Egypt,
words. You shall take home a letter to  when an old fisherman found them, and
my Lord."                             brought them to the beneficent shelter of
" I-I go not home without you," said the Presbytere.
Philip, doggedly.                        Stories of this kind were told at the
" I cannot take you. Phil, I have no meal that was something partaking of the
warrant."                            nature of both breakfast and early dinner,
"I have warrant for going, though. but where Berenger ate little and spoke
My father said he was easier about you less. Philip watched him anxiously; the
with me at your side. Where you go, I boy thought the journey a perilous exgo."                                 periment every way, but, boyishly, was
The brothers understood each other's resolved neither to own his fears of it nor
ways so well, that Berenger knew the to leave his brother. External perils he
intonation in Philip's voice that meant was quite ready to face, and he fancied
that nothing should make him give way. that his English birth would give him
He persuaded no more, only took meas- some power of protecting Berenger, but
ures for the journey, in which the kind he was more reasonably in dread of the
priest gave him friendly advice. There present shock bringing on such an illness
was no doubt that the good man pitied as the last relapse; and if Berenger lost
him sincerely, and wished him success his senses again what should they do?
more than perhaps he strictly ought to He even ventured to hint at this danger,
have done, unless as a possible convert. but Berenger answered, "That will scarce
Of money for the journey there was io happen again. My head is stronger now.
lack, for Berenger had brought a con- Besides, it was doing nothing, and hearsiderable sum, intending to reward all ing her truth profaned, that crazed me.
who had befriended Eustacie, as well as No one at least will do that again. But
to fit her out for the voyage; and this, if you wish to drive me frantic again, the
perhaps, with his papers, he had brought way would be to let Hobbs carry me
ashore to facilitate his entrance into La home without seeking her child."
Sablerie,-that entrance which, alas! he  Philip bore this in mind when, with
had found only too easy. He had there- flood-tide, Master Hobbs landed, and
fore only to obtain horses and a guide, showed himself utterly dismayed at the




176                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
turn affairs had taken. He saw the needCHAPTER     XXV.
lessness of going to Lugon without royal
authority; indeed, he thought it possible   THE VELVET COACH.
that the very application there might
"No, my good Lord, Diana-"
give the alarm, and cause all tokens of        A,         Well that Enor  Well.
the child's identity to be destroyed, in
order to save her from her heretic rela-  A LATE autumn journey from the west
tions. But he did not at all approve of coast to Paris was a more serious underthe young gentlemen going off to Paris taking in the sixteenth century than the
at once. It was against his orders. He good seaman Master Hobbs was aware
felt bound to take them home as he had of, or he would have used stronger disbrought them, and they might then make suasive measures against such an undera fresh start if it so pleased them; but taking by the two youths, when the elder
how could he return to my Lord and Sir was in so frail a state of health; but there
Duke without them? Mr. Ribaumont had been a certain deceptive strength and
might be right-it was not for him to say  vigor about young Ribaumont while under
a father ought not to look after his child strong excitement and determination, and
-yet he was but a stripling himself, and the whole party fancied him far fitter to
my Lord had said, "Mlaster Hobbs, I meet the hardships than was really the
trust him to you."  He would clearly  case. Philip Thistlewood always recolhave liked to call in a boat's crew, mas- lected that journey as the most distressing
tered the young gentlemen, and carried period of his life.
them on board as captives; but as this  They were out of the ordinary highwas out of his power, be was obliged to  ways, and therefore found the hiring of
yield the point. He disconsolately ac- horses often extremely difficult. They
cepted the letters in which Berenger had had intended to purchase, but found no
explained all, and in which he promised  animals that, as Philip said, they would
to go at once to Sir Francis Walsingham's have accepted as a gift, though at every
at Paris, to run into no needless danger, wretched inn where they had to wait
and to watch carefully over Philip; and while the country was scoured for the
craved pardon, in a respectful, but yet miserable jades, their proposed requiremanly and determined tone, for placing ments fell lower and lower. Dens of
his duty to his lost, deserted child above smoke, dirt, and boorishness were the
his submission to his grandfather. Then great proportion of those inns, where they
engaging to look out for a signal on the were compelled to take refuge by the
coast if he should sail to Bordeaux in  breaking down of one or other of their
January, to touch and take the passengers beasts, or by stress of weather. Snow,
off, Captain Hobbs took leave, and the rain, thaw and frost alternated, each vabrothers were left to their own resources. riety rendering the roads impassable; and
at the best, the beasts could seldom be,-~-          ~ urged beyond a walk, fetlock deep in
mire or water. Worse than all, Berenger,




THE VELVET COACH.                            177
far from recovered, and under the heavy  in spite of the most attentive and assiduous
oppression of a heart-rending grief, could watching on his brother's part.
hardly fail to lose the ground that he had  Nearly six weeks had been spent in
gained under the influence of hope. The struggling along the cross-roads, or rathei
cold seemed to fix itself on the wound in in endless delays; and when at last they
his cheek, terrible pain and swelling set came on more frequented ways, with
in, depriving him entirely of sleep, per- better inns, well paved chaussees, and
mitting him to take no nourishment but horses more fit for use, Berenger was
fragments of soft crumbs soaked in wine almost beyond feeling the improvement.
or broth-when the inns afforded any    At their last halt, even Philip was for
such fare-and rendering speech exces- waiting and sending on to Paris to inform
sively painful, and at last unintelligi- Sir Francis Walsingham of their situable.                                   tion; but Berenger only shook his head,
Happily, this was not until Philip and  dressed himself, and imperatively signed
Humfrey both had picked up all the most to go on. It was a bright morning, with
indispensable words to serve their needs, a clear frost, and the towers and steeples
and storming could be done in any lan- of Paris presently began to appear above
guage. Besides, they had fallen in at La the poplars that bordered the way; but
Motte-Achard with a sharp fellow named by this time Berenger was reeling in his
Guibert, who had been at sea, and knew  saddle, and he presently became so faint
a little English, was a Norman by birth, and dizzy, that Philip and Humfrey were
knew who the Baron de Ribaumont was, obliged to lift him from his horse, and lay
and was able to make himself generally  him under an elm-tree that stood a little
useful, though ill supplying the place of back from the road.
poor Osbert, who would have been inval-' Look up, sir, it is but a league furuable in the present predicament. Noth- ther," quoth Humfrey, "I can see the
ing was so much dreaded by any of the roof of the big Church they call Notreparty as that their chief should become Dame."
utterly unable to proceed. Once let him   "He does not open his eyes, he is
be laid up at one of these little auberges, swooning," said Philip. " He must have
and Philip felt as if allwould be over with  some cordial, ere he can sit his horse.
him; and he himself was always the most Can you think of no place where we
restlessly eager to push on, and seemed  could get a drop of wine or strong
to suffer less even in the biting wind and  waters? "
sleet than on the dirty pallets or in the  " Not I, Master Philip. We passed a
smoky, noisy kitchens of the inns. That convent wall but now, but'twas a nunthere was no wavering of consciousness nery, as good as a grave against poor
was the only comfort, and Philip trusted  travellers. I would ride on, and get some
to prevent this by bleeding him whenever of Sir Francis's folk to bring a litter or
his head seemed aching or heated; and  coach, but I doubt me if I could get past
under this well-meant surgery it was no  the barrier without my young Lord's safewonder that he grew weaker every day, conduct."
12




178                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Berenger, hearing all, here made an   " It is his wound, madame," said Philip,
effort to raise himself, but sank back in his best French, "it has broken out
against Philip's shoulder. Just then, a again, and he has almost dropped from
trampling and lumbering became audible, his horse from defaillance."
and on the road behind appeared first    "Ah, bring him here-lay him on the
three horsemen riding abreast, streaming cushions, we will have the honor of transwith black and white ribbons; then eight porting him," cried the Lady; and, repair of black horses, a man walking at the gardless of the wet road, she sprang out
crested heads of each couple, and behind of the coach, with her essences in her
these a coach, shaped like an urn reversed, hand, followed by at least three women,
and with a coronet on the top, silvered, two pages, and two little white dogs
while the vehicle itself was, melon-like, which ran barking toward the prostrate
fluted, alternately black, with silver fig- figure, but were caught up by their pages.
ures, and white with black landscapes, "Ah, cousin, how dreadful," she cried, as
and with white draperies, embroidered she knelt down beside him, and held her
with black and silver, floating from the essences toward him. Voice and scent
windows.  Four laqueys, in the same revived him, and with a bewildered look
magpie-coloring, stood behind, and out- and gesture half of thanks, half of refusal,
riders followed; but as the cavalcade he gazed round him, then rose to his feet
approached the group by the roadside, without assistance, bent his head, and
one of the horsemen paused, saying lightly, making a sign that he was unable to speak,
"Over near the walls for an affair of turned toward his horse.
honor? Has he caught it badly? Who       "Cousin, cousin," exclaimed the Lady
was the other?"                     in whose fine black eyes tears were standEre Guibert could answer, the curtains ing, you will let me take you into the
were thrust aside, the coach stopped, a city-you cannot refuse."
lady's head and hand appeared, and a      Berry, indeed you cannot ride," enfemale voice exclaimed, in much alarm, treated Philip; " you must take her offer.
"Halt! Ho, you there, in our colors, Are you getting crazed at last? "
come here. What is it? My brother      Berenger had hesitated for a moment,
here? Is he wounded?"              but he felt himself again dizzy; the ex" It is no wound, madame," said Gui- ertion of springing into his saddle was
bert, shoved forward by his English com- quite beyond him, and bending his head,
rades, "it is M. le Baron de Ribaumont he submitted passively to be helped into
who is taken ill, and-ah! here is Mon- the black and white coach. Humfrey,
sieur Philippe."                     however, clutched Philip's arm, and said
For Philip, seeing a thick black veil impressively, " Have a care, sir, this is no
put back from the face of the most beau- other than the fine Lady, sister to the
tiful lady who had ever appeared to him, murderous villain that set upon him. If
stepped forward, hat in hand, as she ex- you would save his life, don't quit him,
claimed, "Le Baron deRibaumont. Canit nor let her take him elsewhere than to
betrue? What means this? Whatailshim?" our Ambassador's.  I'll not leave the




THE VELVET COACH.                          179
coach-door, and as soon as we are past "but we will do our best to make up.
the barriers, I'll send Jack Smithers to You, sir, must be his trucheman."
make known we are coming."              Philip, not catching the last word,
Philip, without further ceremony, and wondering what kind of man that
followed the Lady into the coach, where might be, made answer, "I am his brothhe found her insisting that Berenger, er, madame."
who had sunk back in a corner, should   " Eh!  Monsieur son frlre.  Has
lay his length of limb, muddy boots and Madame sa mere a son so old? a
all, upon the white velvet cushions, richly  "I am Philip Thistlewood, her husworked in black and silver, with devices band's son, at your service, madame,"
and mottoes, in which the crescent moon, said Philip, coloring up to the ears; " I
and eclipsed or setting suns, made a great came with him, for he is too weak to be
figure. The original inmates seemed to alone."
have disposed of themselves in various  " Great confidence must be reposed in
nooks of the ample conveyance, and you, sir," she said, with a not unflatterPhilip, rather at a loss to explain his in- ing surprise.  "But whence are you
trusion, perched himself awkwardly on come? I little looked to see Monsieur
the edge of the cushions in front of his here."
brother, thinking that Humfrey was an   "We came from Anjou, madame. We
officious, suspicious fellow, to distrust went to La Sablerie," and he broke off.
this lovely Lady, who seemed so exceed-  "I understand. Ah! let us say no
ingly shocked and grieved at Berenger's more! It rends the heart," and again
condition. " Ah! I never guessed it had she wiped away a tear. " And now -"
been so frightful as this. I should not have' We are coming to the Ambassador's
known him. Ah! had I imagined-    " to obtain"-he stopped, for Berenger
She leaned back, covered her face, and gave him a touch of peremptory warning,
wept as one overpowered; then, after a but the Lady saved his embarrassment by
few seconds, she bent forward, and would exclaiming that she could not let her
have taken the hand that hung list- dear cousin go to the Ambassador's when
lessly down, but it was at once with- he was among his own kindred. Perhaps
drawn, and folded with the other on Monsieur did not know her; she must
his-breast.                          present herself as Madame de Selinville,
" Can you be more at ease? Do you nee de Ribaumont, " a poor cousin of ce
suffer much," she asked, with sympathy cher Baron, and even a little to you, Xf.
and tenderness that went to Philip's le frere, if you will own me," and she
heart, and he explained. "He cannot held out a hand, which he ought to have
speak, madame, the shot in his cheek kissed, but not knowing how, he only
(the lady shuddered, and put her hand- shook it. She further explained that her
kerchief to her eyes) from time to time brother was at Cracow with Monsieur,
causes this horrible swelling and torture. now King of Poland, but that her father
After that he will be better."       lived with her at her hotel, and would be
" Frightful, frightful," she sighed, enchanted to see his dear cousin, only




180                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
that he, like herself, would be desolated  versation easier, that she inquired after
at the effects of that most miserable of Berenger, and mourned over his injuries
errors. She had been returning from her as if he were unconscious, while Philip
Advent retreat at a convent, where she knew, nay, was reminded every instant,
had been praying for the soul of the late that he was aware of all that was passing,
M. de Selinville, when a true Providence most anxious that as little as possible
had made her remark the colors of her should be said, and determined against
family. And now, nothing would serve being taken to her hotel. So unreasonher, but that this dear Baron should be able a prejudice did this seem to Philip,
carried at once to their hotel, which was that had it not been for Humfrey's words,
much nearer than that of the Ambassador, he would have doubted whether, in spite
and where every comfort should await of all his bleeding, his brother's brain
him. She clasped her hands in earnest were not wandering.
entreaty, and Philip, greatly touched by  However, what with Humfrey withher kindness, and perceiving that every  out, and Berenger within, the turn to the
jolt of the splendid but springless vehicle Ambassador's hotel was duly taken, and
caused Berenger's head a shoot of anguish, in process of time a hearty greeting
was almost acceding to her offer, when  passed between Humfrey and the porter;
he was checked by one of the most im- and by the time the carriage drew up,
perative of those silent negatives. Hith- half the household were assembled on the
erto, Master Thistlewood had been rather steps, including Sir Francis himself, who
proud of his bad French, and as long as had already heard more than a fortnight
he could be understood, considered tram- back from Lord Walwyn, and had bepling on genders, tenses, and moods, as a come uneasy at the non-arrival of his two
manful assertion of Englishry, but he young guests. On Smithers's appearance
would just now have given a great deal all had been made ready, and as Berenfor the command of any language but a ger, with feeble, tardy movements, made
horseboy's to use to this beautiful gra- courteous gestures of thanks to the Lady,
cious personage.'" Merlci, madame, nous and alighted from the coach, he was abne fallons pas, nous avons passe notre pa- solutely received into the dignified arms
role d'aller droit a l'Ambassadeur's et of the Ambassador. "Welcome, my poor
pas ou else," did not sound very right to lad, I am glad to see you here again.
his ears; he colored up to the roots of Your chamber is ready for you, and I
his hair, and knew that if Berry had had have sent my secretary to see if Maitre
a smile left in him, poor fellow, he would Pare be at home, so we will, with God's
have smiled now. But this most charm- help, have you better at ease anon."
ing and polite of ladies never betrayed it,  Even Philip's fascination by Madame
if it were ever such bad French, she only de Selinville could not hold out against
bowed her head, and said something very the comfort of hearing English voices all
pretty-if only he could make it out-  around him, and of seeing his brother's
of being the slave of one's word, and went anxious brow expand, and his hand and
on persuading. Nor did it make the con- eyes return no constrained thanks. Civil



THE VELVET COACH.                          181
ities were exchanged on both sides; the and you, Veronique, may see him fiightful
Ambassador thanked the Lady for the and welcome. There are other eyesassistance she had rendered to his young make haste, girl. There-another handfriend and guest; she answered with kerchief. Follow me not."
a shade of stiffness, that she left her  And Madame de Selinville moved out
kinsman in good hands, and said she of the room, past the great state-bedroom
should send to inquire that evening, and and the salle beyond, to another chamber
her father would call on the morrow; then where more servants waited and rose at
as Lady Walsinghamr did not ask her in, her entrance.
the black and white coach drove away.   "Is any one with my father?"
The Lady threw herself back in one   " No, madame;" and a page knocking,
corner, covered her face, and spoke no opened the door and announced, "Maword. Her coach pursued its way through dame la Comtesse."
the streets, and turned at length into an-  The Chevalier, in easy deshabille, with
other great court-yard, surrounded with a flask of good wine, iced-water and delbuildings, where she alighted, and stepped icate cakes and confitures before him, a
across a wide but dirty hall, where ranks witty and licentious epigrammatic poem
of servants stood up and bowed as she close under his hand, sat lazily enjoying
passed; then she ascended a wide carved the luxuries that it had been his daughstaircase, opened a small private door, and ter's satisfaction to procure for him ever
entered a tiny wainscoted room, hardly since her marriage.  He sprang up to
large enough for her farthingale to turn  meet her with a grace and deference that
round in. "You, Veronique, come in-  showed how different a person was the
only you," she said, at the door; and a Comtesse de Selinville from Diane de Riwaiting-woman, who had been in the car- baumont.
riage, obeyed, no longer clad in the An-  "Ah! ma belle, my sweet," as there
gevin costume, but in the richer and less was a mutual kissing of hands, "thou
characteristic dress of the ordinary Pari- art returned. Had I known thine hour
sian femme de chambre.               I had gone down for thy first embrace.
"Undo my mantle in haste!" gasped But thou lookest fair, my child, the
Madame de Selinville. " O Veronique-  convent has made thee lovelier than
you saw-what destruction! "         ever."
" Ah! if my sweet young Lady had     " Father, who think you is here? It
only known how frightful he had become, is he-the Baron."
she had never sacrificed herself," sighed  "The Baron; who, what Baron?"
Veronique.                              "What Baron?    Eh, father!" she
" Frightful!  What with the grave cried, impetuously. " Who could it be
blue eyes that seem like the steady aveng- but one?"
ing judgment of St. Michael in his tri-  "My child, you are mistaken! That
umph in the picture at the Louvre," mur- young hot-head can never be thrusting
nlured Madame de Selinville; then she himself here again."
added quickly, " Yes, yes, it is well. She  " But he is, father; I brought him into




182                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Paris in my coach! I left him at the  widower, which, should he ever discover
Ambassador's."                       the original contract, will lead to endless
"Thou shouldest have brought him   warfare."
here. There will be ten thousand fresh   " His marriage with Eustacie was animbroglios."                          nulled. Yet-yet there might be doubts.
"I could not; he is as immovable as There was the protest; and who knows
ever, though unable to speak! Oh, father, whether they formally renewed their
he is very ill, he suffers terribly.  Oh, vows when so much went wrong at MontNarcisse!  Ah! may I never see him    pipeau? Child, it is a horrible perplexagain!"                              ity. I often could wish we had had no
"But what brings him blundering here warning, and the poor things had made
again?" exclaimed the Chevalier. " Speak  off together. We could have cried shame
intelligibly, child!  I thought we had till we forced out a provision for thy
guarded against that! He knows nothing  brother; and my poor pretty little Euof the survivance."                  stacie-" He had tears in his eyes as
"I cannot tell much. He could not he broke off.
open his mouth, and his half-brother, a  Diane made an impatient gesture.
big dull English boy, stammered out a "She would have died of tedium in Engfew words of shocking French against land, or broken forth so as to have a true
his will. But I believe they had heard scandal. That is all over, father, now;
of la pauvre petite at La Sablerie, came weigh my proposal! Nothing else will
over for her, and finding the ruin my save my brother from all that his cruel
brother makes wherever he goes, are re- hand merits! You will win infinite credit
turning seeking intelligence and succor for at Court. The King loved him more than
him."                                 you thought safe."
"That may be," said the Chevalier,    "The King has not a year to live,
thoughtfully. " It is well thy brother is child, and he has personally offended the
in Poland. I would not see him suffer King of Poland. Besides, this youth is a
any more; and we may get him back heretic."
to England ere my son learns that he is  "Only by education.  Have I not
here."                               heard you say that he had so little of the
" Father, there is a better way! Give Huguenot that you feared his throwing
him my hand."                        you over by an abjuration? And as to
" Eh quoi, child; if thou art tired of Monsieur's enmity, if it be not forgotten,
devotion, there are a thousand better mar- the glory of bringing about a conversion
riages."                             would end that at once."
"No, father, none so good for this   "Then, daughter, thou shouldest not
family. See, I bring him all-all that I have let him bury himself among the Engwas sold for. As the price of that, he re- lish."
signs forever all his claims to the ances-  "It was unavoidable, father, and pertral castle-to La Leurre, and above all, haps if he were here he would live in
that claim to Nid-de-Merle as Eustacie's an untamable state of distrust, whereas




THE' VELVET COACH.                       183
we may now win him gradually. You though himself uninjured, had refused to
will go and see him to-morrow, my dear speak to her all that day-how she had
father?"                             hated him then-how she had thought
" I must have time to think of this thy  she had hated him throughout their brief
sudden device."                      intercourse in the previous year; how
"Nay, he is in no condition to hear she had played into her brother's hands;
of it at present. I did but speak now, and when she thought to triumph over
that you might not regard it as sudden the man who had scorned her, found her
when the fit moment comes. It is the soul all blank desolation, and light gone
fixed purpose of my mind. I am no girl out from the earth! Reckless and weary,
now, and I could act for myself if I she had let herself be united to M. de
would; but as it is for your interest and Selinville, and in her bridal honors and
that of my brother thus to dispose of  amusements had tried to crowd out the
me, it is better that you should act for sense of dreariness and lose herself in
me."                                 excitement. Then came the illness and
"Child, headstrong child, thou wilt death of her husband, and almost at the
make no scandal," said the Chevalier, same time the knowledge of Berenger's
looking up at his daughter's handsome existence. She sought excitement again
head drawn up proudly with determina- in.that feverish form of devotion then in
tion.                                vogue at Paris, and which resulted in the
" Certainly not, sir, if you will act for League. She had hitherto stunned herme."   And Diane sailed away in her self as it were with penances, processions,
sweeping folds of black brocade.     and sermons, for which the host of reliIn a few moments more she was kneel- gious orders then at Paris had given
ing with hands locked together before a ample scope; and she was constantly demuch-gilded little waxen figure of St. Eu- vising new extravagances. Even at this
stache with his cross-bearing stag by his moment she wore sackcloth beneath her
side, which stood in a curtained recess in brocade, and her rosary was of death's
the alcove where her stately bed was heads. She was living on the outward
placed.                              husk of the Roman Church, not penetrat" Monseigneur St. Eustache, ten wax- ing into its living power, and the phase
candles every day to your shrine at Bel- of religion, which fostered Henry III. and
laise, so he recovers; ten more if he lis- the League, offered her no more.
tens favorably and loves me. Nay, all-  All, all had melted away beneath the
all the Selinville jewels to make you a sad but steadfast glance of those two eyes,
shrine. All-all, so he will only let me the only feature still unchanged in the
love him; " and then, while taking up the marred, wrecked  countenance.  That
beads, and pronouncing the repeated de- honest, quiet refusal, that look which
votions attached to each, her mind darted came from a higher atmosphere, had filled
back to the day when, as young children, her heart with passionate beatings and
she had played unfairly, defrauded Lan- aspirations once more, and more condry Osbert, and denied it; how Berenger, sciously than ever. Womanly feeling for




184                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
suffering, and a deep longing to compen- from Walsingham's secretary who the sufsate to him, and earn his love-nay, ferer was, and when injured, he came at
wrest it from him by the benefits she once to afford his aid.
would heap upon him, were all at work;    He found, however, that there was
but the primary sense was the longing little scope for present treatment; he
to rest ot.:fionlyperfect truth she had  could only set his chief-assistant to
ever known in man, and thus with pas- watch the patient and to inform   him
sionate ardor she poured forth her en- when the crisis should be nearer; but
treaties to St. Eustache, a married saint, remarking the uneasy, anxious expreswho had known love, and could feel for sion in Berenger's eyes, he desired to
her, and could surely not object to the know whether any care on his mind
affection to which she completely gave might be interfering with his recovery.
way for one whose hand was now as free A Huguenot, and perfectly trustworthy,
as her own.                           he was one who Walsingham       knew
But St. Eustache was not Diane's only  might safely hear the whole, and after
hope. That evening she sent Veronique hearing all, he at once returned to his
to Ren6 of Milan, the court-perfumer, patient, and  leaning over him, said,
but also called by the malicious l'empoi- "Vex not yourself, sir; your illness is
sonneur de la Reine, to obtain from him  probably serving you better than health
the most infallible charm and love-potion  could do."
in his whole repertory.                   Sir Francis thought this quite probable, since Charles was so unwell and so
+- — c —beset with his mother's creatures that
no open audience could be obtained from
CHAPTER XXVI.                him, and Pare, who always had access to
him, might act when no one else could
THE CHEVALIER S EXPIATION.
reach him. Meantime the Ambassador
"Next, Sirs, did he marry?  rejoiced to hear of the instinctive caution
And whom, Sirs, did he marry? One like himself, that had made Berenger silence Philip on
Though doubtless graced with many virtues, young,
And erring, and in nothing more astray  the object of the journey to Paris, since
Than iu this marriage." 
TAYLOR (Edwinthe Fair).  if the hostile family guessed at the residence of the poor infant, they would
NoTnING could be kinder than the have full opportunity for obliterating all
Ambassador's family, and Philip found the scanty traces of her.   Poor perhimself at once at home there, at least in secuted little thing! the uncertain hope
his brother's room, which was all the of her existence seemed really the only
world to him.   Fortunately, Amnbroipe thread that still bound Berenger to life.
Pare, the most skilful surgeon of his day, He had spent eighteen months in hope
had stolen a day from his attendance on  deferred, and constant bodily pain; and
King Charles, at St. Germain, to visit his when the frightful disappointment met
Paris patients, and, though unwilling to him at La Sablerie, it was no wonder
add to the list of cases, when he heard that his heart and hope seemed buried




THE CHEVALIER'S EXPIATION.                      185
in the black scorched ruins where all he smallest fragments, without letting any
cared for had perished. He was scarcely one see it.
nineteen, but the life before him seemed  On the last day of the Carnival, the
full of nothing but one ghastly recollec- young men of the household had asked
tion, and, as he said in the short sad Master Thistlewood to come out with
little letter which he wrote to his grand- them and see the procession of-'the BWuvf
father from his bed, he only desired to  Gras; but before it could take place, relive long enough to save Eustacie's child ports were flying about that put the city
from being a nameless orphan maintained in commotion, caused the Ambassador to
for charity in a convent, and to see her forbid all going out, and made Philip exsafe in Aunt Cecily's care; and then he pect another Huguenot massacre.  The
should be content to have done with this Duke of AlenQon and the King of Navarre
world for ever.                      had been detected, it was said, in a conThe thought that no one except him- spiracy for overthrowing the power of
self could save the child, seemed to give the Queen-mother, bringing in the Huhim the resolution to battle for life that guenots, and securing the crown to Alenoften bears the patient through illness, gon on the King's death. Down-stairs,
though now he was suffering more se- the Ambassador and his secretaries sat
verely and consciously than ever he had anxiously striving to sift the various condone before; and Lady Walsingham often tradictory reports; up-stairs, Philip and
gave up hopes of him. He was tenderly Lady Walsingham were anxiously watchcared for by her and her women, but ing Berenger in what seemed the longPhilip was the most constant nurse, and expected crisis, and Philip was feeling as
his unfailing  assiduity  and  readiness if all the French Court were welcome to
amazed the household who had begun by murder one another so that they would
thinking him ungainly, loutish, aud fit for only let Ambroise Pare come to his brothnothing but country sports.          er's relief. And it was impossible even to
The Chevalier de Ribaumont came send!
daily to inquire; and the first time he  At last, however, when Ash-Wedneswas admitted actually burst into tears at day was half over, there was a quiet
the sight of the swollen disfigured face, movement, and a small pale man in black
and the long mark on the arm which lay was at the bedside, without Philip's havhalf- uncovered. Presents of delicacies, ing even seen his entrance. * He looked at
ointments, and cooling drinks were fre- his exhausted patient, and said, "It is
quently sent from him and from the well, I could not have done you any good
Countess de Selinville; but Lady Walsing- before."
ham distrusted these, and kept her guest  And when he had set Berenger more
strictly to the regimen appointed by Par. at ease he told how great had been the
Now and then, billets would likewise confusion at St. Germain when the plot
come. The first brought a vivid crimson had become known to the Queen-mother.
into Berenger's face, and both it and all The poor king had been wakened at two
its successors he instantly tore into the o'clock in the morning, and carried to his




186                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
litter, where Par6 and his old nurse had  and pain were gone; and though still
tended him. He only said, "Can they very weak, he told Philip that now all his
not let me die in peace?" and his weak- course seemed clear toward his child, inness had been so great on arriving, that stead of being like a dull, distraught
the surgeon could hardly have left him  dream.
for M. de Ribaumont, save by his own     His plan was to write to have a vessel
desire.  "Yes, sir," added Pare, seeing sent from Weymouth, to lie off the coast
Berenger attending to him, "we must till his signal should be seen from La
have you well quickly; his Majesty Motte-Achard, and then to take in the
knows all about you, and is anxious to whole party, and  the little yearling
see you."                             daughter, whom he declared he should
In spite of these good wishes, the re- trust to no one but himself. Lady Walcovery was very slow; for, as the surgeon  singham remonstrated a little at the wonhad suspected, the want of skill in those derful plans hatched by the two lads
who had had the charge of Berenger, at together, and yet she was too glad to see
the first, had been the cause of much of a beginning of brightening on his face to
his protracted suffering. Pare, the inven- make many objections. It was only too
tor of trephining, was, perhaps, the only sad to think how likely he was again to
man in Europe who could have dealt be disappointed.
with the fracture in the back of the head,  He was dressed, but had not left his
and he likewise extracted the remaining  room, and was lying on cushions in the
splinters of the jaw, though at the cost of ample window overlooking the garden,
much severe handling and almost intoler- while Frances and Elizabeth Walsingham
able pain; but by Easter, Berenger found  in charge of their governess tried to
the good surgeon's encouragement veri- amuse him by playing and singing to the
fled, and himself on the way to a far more lute, when a message was brought that
effectual cure than he had hitherto thought M. de Chevalier de Ribaumont prayed to
possible. Sleep had come back to him, be admitted to see him privily.
he experienced the luxury of being free  "What bodes that?" he languidly said.
from all pain, he could eat without diffi-  "Mischief, no doubt," said Frances
culty; and Pare, always an enemy to Walsingham. "Send him word that you
wine, assured him that half the severe are seriously employed."
headaches for thich he had been almost   " Nay, that could scarce be, when he
bled to death, were the consequence of must have heard the twanging of the
his living on bread soaked in sack instead lute,;' said her sister.  " Come away,
of solid food; and he was forbidden  sister."
henceforth to inflame his brain with any- " But M. le Baron has not yet heard
thing stronger than sherbet. His speech, Mr. Sidney's last madrigal, and I was to
too, was much improved; he still could  send him his opinion of it," pouted Frannot utter all the consonants perfectly, and ces; "and I know that would do him
could not speak distinctly without articu- good, while the old grasshopper knight
lating very slowly, but all the discomfort always wearies and chafes him."




THE CHEVALIER'S EXPIATION.                      187
" Nevertheless, kind Mistress Frances,"  A nod of assent.
said Berenger, " methinks I had better  "I only wish it were I."
face the enemy and have the matter over."  "Philip," half angrily, " how can you
The ladies took the hint and vanished, be such a fool?"
but Philip remained till the Chevalier had  "Of course, I know it can't be," said
entered, more resplendent than ever, in a Philip sheepishly, but a little offended.
brown velvet suit slashed with green  "But she's the fairest woman my eyes
satin, and sparkling with gold lace-a ever beheld."
contrast to the deep mourning habit in   " And the falsest."
which Berenger was dressed. After in-    "My father says all women are false;
quiries for his health, the Chevalier looked only they can't help it, and don't mean
at Philip, and expressed his desire of it."
speaking with his cousin alone.          "Only some do mean it," said Beren"If it be of business," said Berenger, ger, drily.
much on his guard, "my head is still     " Brother! " cried Philip, fiercely, as
weak, and I would wish to have the if ready to break a lance, "what right
presence of the Ambassador or one of his have you to accuse that kindly, lovely
secretaries."                         dame of falsehood? "
" This is not so much a matter of busi- " It skills not going through all," said
ness as of family," said the Chevalier, Berenger, wearily. "I know her of old.
still looking so uneasily at Philip that She began by passing herself off on me as
Berenger felt constrained to advise him  my wife."
to join the young ladies in the garden;  "And you were not transported?"
but instead of doing this, the boy paced " I am not such a gull as you."
the corridors like a restless dog waiting  "How very beautiful your wife must
for his master, and no sooner heard the have been!" said Philip, with gruff amazeold gentleman bow himself out than he ment overpowering his consideration.
hurried back again, to find Berenger     "Much you know about it," returned
heated, panting, agitated as by a sharp  Berenger, turning his face away.
encounter.                              There was a long silence, first broken
"Brother, what is it-what has the by Philip, asking more cautiously, "And
old rogue done to you?"             what did you say to him?"
" Nothing," said Berenger, tardily and  " I said whatever could show it was
wearily; and for some minutes he did not most impossible. Even I said the brother's
attempt to speak, while Philip devoured handwriting was too plain on my face for
his curiosity as best he might. At last me to offer myself to the sister. But it
he said, "He was always beyond me. seems all that is to be passed over as an
What think you? Now he wants me to unlucky mistake. I wish I could guess
turn French courtier and marry his daugh- what the old fellow is aiming at."
ter."                                    "I am sure the'Lady looked at you as
"His daughter!" exclaimed Philip, if she loved you."
" that beautiful Lady I saw in the coach? "  "Simpleton! She looked to see how




i88                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
she could beguile me. Love! They do resign," said Berenger. "And then he
nothing for love here, you foolish boy, began to prove to me-what I had no
save par amours. If she loved me, her mind to hear" (and his voice trembled)
father was the last person she would have " all that I know but too well."
sent me. No, no;'tis a new stratagem,   " Hum! you must not be left alone
if I could only see my way into it. Per- again to cope with him," said Walsinghaps Sir Francis will when he can spend ham. " Did he make any question of the
an hour on me."                       validity of your marriage?  "
Though full of occupation, Sir Francis " No, sir, it was never touched on. I
never failed daily to look in upon his con- would not let him take her name into his
valescent guest, and when he heard of the lips."
Chevalier's interview, he took care that  Walsingham considered for some minBerenger should have full time to consult utes, and then said, "It is clear, then, that
him; and, of course, he inquired a good he believes that the marriage can be suffideal more into the particulars of the pro- ciently established to enable you to disturb
posal than Philip had done. When he him in his possession of some part, at
learned that the Chevalier had offered all least, of the Angevin inheritance, or he
the very considerable riches and lands would not endeavor to purchase your
that Diane enjoyed in right of her late renunciation of it by the hand of a daughhusband as an equivalent for Berenger's ter so richly endowed."
resignation of all claims upon the Nid-de- " I would willingly renounce it, if that
Merle property, he noted it on his tables, were all! I never sought it; only I canand desired to know what these claims not give up her child's rights."
might be. "I cannot tell," said Ber-     "And that you almost declared," proenger. "You may remember, sir, the ceeded Walsingham; "so that the Chevparchments with our contract of marriage alier has by his negotation gathered from
had been taken away from Chateau Leurre, you that you have not given up hope that
and I have never seen them."         the infant lives. Do your men know
" Then," said the Ambassador, "you where you believe she is?"
may hold it as certain that those parch-  "My Englishmen know it, of course,"
ments give you some advantage which he said Berenger; " but there is no fear of
fears, since he is willing to purchase it at them. The Chevalier speaks no English,
so heavy a price. Otherwise he himself and they scarcely any French; and, bewould be the natural heir of those lands." sides, I believe they deem him equally my
"After my child," said Berenger, has- butcher with his son. The other fellow
tily.                                I only picked up after I was on my way
" Were you on your guard against to Paris, and I doubt his knowing my
mentioning your'trust in your child's purpose."
life?" said Sir Francis.               " The Chevalier must have had speech
The long scar turned deeper purple with him, though," said Philip; "for it
than ever. " Only so far as that I said was he who brought word that the old
there still be rights I had no power to rogue wished to speak with you."




THE CHEVALIER'S EXPIATION.                       189
"It would be well to be quit yourself the best chance of recovery of the child
of the fellow ere leaving Paris," said Wal- lay in the confusion that might probably
singham.                               follow the death of Charles IX. in the
"Then, sir," said Berenger, with an  absence of his next heir.
anxious voice, "do you indeed think I     Berenger reckoned on the influence
have betrayed aught that can peril the of Elisabeth of Austria, who had been the
poor little one?"                    real worker in his union with Eustacie;
Sir Francis smiled. "We do not set but he was told that it was vain to
lads of your age to cope with old foxes," expect assistance from her. In the, first
he answered; "and it seems to me that year of her marriage, she had fondly hoped
you used fair discretion in the encounter. to enjoy her husband's confidence, and
The mere belief that the child lives does take her natural place in his Court; but
not show him where she may be. In      she was of no mould to struggle with
effect, it would seem likely to most that Catherine de Meidecis, and after a time
the babe would be nursed in some cottage, had totally desisted. Even at the time
and thus not be in the city of La Sablerie of the St. Bartholomew, she had endeavat all. He might, mayhap, thus be put ored to uplift her voice on the side of
on a false scent."                     mercy, and had actually saved the lives
"   no," exclaimed Berenger, startled; of the King of Navarre, and Prince of
" that might bring the death of some Conde, and her father, the good Maxiother person's child on my soul."      milian II. had written in the strongest
" That shall be guarded against," said terms to Charles IX. expressing his horSir Francis. "In the mean time, my fair ror of the massacre. Six weeks later,
youth, keep your matters as silent as may  the first hour after the birth of her first
be-do not admit the Chevalier again in  and only child, she had interceded with
my absence; and, as to this man Guibert, her husband for the lives of two HugueI will confer with my steward whether nots who had been taken alive, and
he knows too much, and whether it be failing then, either through his want of
safer to keep or dismiss him! "        will or want of power, she had collapsed,
"If only I could see the King, and  and yielded up the endeavor. She ceased
leave Paris," sighed Berenger.        to listen to petitions from those who had
And Walsingham, though unwilling to  hoped for her assistance, as if to save both
grieve the poor youth further, bethought them and herself useless pain, and seemed
himself that this was the most difficult to lapse into a sort of apathy to all public
and hopeless matter of all. As young interests. She hardly spoke, mechanically
Ribaurnont grew better, the King grew  fulfilled her few offices in the Court, and
worse; he himself only saw Charles on  seemed to have turned her entire hope
rare occasions, surrounded by a host of and trust into prayer for her husband.
watchful eyes and ears, and every time Her German confessor had been sent
he marked the progress of disease; and home, and a Jesuit given her in his stead,
though such a hint could not be given by but she had made no resistance; she
an Ambassador, he thought that by far seemed to the outer world a dull, weary




190                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
stranger, obstinate in leading a conventual came to his door that always announced
life; but those who knew her best-and the arrival of his good surgeon.
of these few was the Huguenot surgeon     "You look stronger, M. le Baron;
Pare-knew   that her heart had been have you yet left your room?"
broken, when, as a new-made mother,       "I have walked round the gallery
she had failed to win those two guilty  above the hall," said Berenger. " I have
lives; or to make her husband free him- not gone down-stairs; that is for toself from his bondage to bloody counsels. morrow."
To pray for him was all that remained to  "What would M. le Baron say if his
her-and unwearied had been those pray- chirurgeon took him not merely downers. Since his health had declined, she stairs, but up one flight at the Louvre."
had been equally indefatigable in attend-  "Ha!"   cried Berenger; " to the
ing on him, and did not seem to have a King?"
single interest beyond his sick-chamber.  "It is well-nigh the last chance, MonAs to the King of Navarre, for whose sieur; the Queen-mother and all her suite
help Berenger had hoped, he had been   are occupied with services and sermons
all these months in the dishonorable this week; and next week private access
thraldom  of Catherine de M6dicis, and  to the King will be far more difficult. I
was more powerless than ever at this have waited as long as I could that you
juncture, having been implicated in Alen- might gain strength to support the facon's plot, and imprisoned at Vincennes.  tigue."
And thus, the more Berenger heard      "Hope cancels fatigue," said Berenger,
of this state of things, the less hopeful did already at the other end of the room
his cause appear, till he could almost have searching forhis long-disused cloak, sword,
believed his best chance lay in Philip's gloves, hat, and mask.
plan of persuading the Huguenots to storm  "Not the sword," said Pare, "so
the convent.                           please you. M. le Baron must condescend to obtain entrance as my assistant
-the plain black doublet-yes, that is
admirable; but I did not know that M3onsieur was so tall," he added, in some conCHAPTER XXVII.
sternation, as, for the first time, he saw
THE DYING KING.             his patient standing up at his full heightunusual even in England, and more so in
"Die in terror of thy guiltiness,    Fr
Dream on, dream on of bloody deeds and death, France.  Indeed, Berenger had grown
Fainting, despair, despairing yield thy breath."  during his year of illness, and being, of
King Michard III.
ing Rchard   course, extremely thin, looked all the
A FEW days later, when Berenger had  taller, so as to be a very inconvenient
sent out Philip, under the keeping of the  subject to smuggle into the palace unobsecretaries, to see the Queen-mother rep- served.
resent Royalty in one of the grand pro-   However, Ambroise had made up his
cessions of Rogation-tide, the gentle knock  mind to the risk, and merely assisted Ber



THE DYING KING.                           191
enger in assuming his few equipments, of the passage, that only a habitue could
then gave him his arm to go down the have found it without strict search. It
stairs.  Meeting Guibert on the way, was at once opened, and the withered,
Berenger left word with him that he was motherly face of an old woman with keen
going out to take the air with Maitre Pare; black eyes under a formal tight white cap,
and on the man's offering to attend him, looked out.
refused the proposal.                    "Eh? Maitre Pare," she said, " you
Pare's carriage waited in the court, have brought the poor young gentleman?
and Berenger, seated in its depths, rolled  On my faith, he looks scarcely able to
unseen through the streets, till he found walk! Come in, sir, and rest a while in
himself at the little postern of the Louvre, my chamber while Maitre Ambroise goes
the very door whence he was to have led on to announce you to the King. He is
off his poor Eustacie. Here Ambroise more at ease to-day, the poor child, and
made him take off his small black mask, will relish some fresh talk."
in spite of all danger of his scars being  Berenger knew this to be Philippine,
remarked, since masks were not etiquette in the old Huguenot nurse, whom Charles
the palace, and, putting into his arms a IX. loved most fondly, and in whom he
small brass-bound case of instruments, found his greatest comfort. He was very
asked his pardon for preceding him, and glad to sink into the seat she placed for
alighted from the carriage.           him, the only one in her small, bare
This was Ambroise's usual entrance, room, and recover breath there while
and it was merely guarded by a Scottish Par6 passed on to the King, and she
archer, who probably observed nothing. talked as one delighted to have a hearer.
They then mounted the stone stair, the   "Ah, yes, rest yourself-stay; I will
same where Osbert had dragged down    give you a few spoonfuls of the cordial
his insensible master; and as, at the potage I have here for the King; it will
summit, the window   appeared where comfort your heart. Ah! you have been
Berenger had waited those weary hours, cruelly mauled-but he would have saved
and heard the first notes of the bell of you if he could."
St.-Germain-l'Auxerrois, his breath came  " Yes, good mother, I know that; the
in such hurried sobs, that Pare would King has been my very good lord."
fain have given him time to recover him-  "' AhI blessings on you, if you say so
self, but he gasped, "Not here-not from your heart, Monsieur; you know
here;" and Pare, seeing that he could me for one of our poor Reformed. And
still move on, turned, not to the corridor I tell you-I who saw him born, who
leading to the King's old apartments, now  nursed him from his birth-that, suffer as
too full of dreadful associations for poor you may, you can never suffer as he does.
Charles, but toward those of the young Maitre Ambroise may talk of his illness
Queen. Avoiding the ante-room, where coming from blowing too much on his
no doubt waited pages, ushers, and at- horn; I know better. But, ah! to be
tendants, Par6 presently knocked at a here at night would make a stone shed
small door, so hidden in the wainscotting tears of blood. The Queen and I know




192                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
it; but we say nothing, we can only turn her head as he entered; but Charles
pray."                               signed to him to approach, holding out a
The sight of a Huguenot was so great yellow, dropsical-looking hand; and as
a treat to the old woman in her isolated he dropped on one knee and kissed it
life, that her tongue ran thus freely while fervently, the King said, "Here he is,
Berenger sat, scarce daring to speak or Madame, the Baron de- Ribaumont, the
breathe in the strange boding atmosphere same whose little pleasure-boat was sucked
of the palace, where the nurse and surgeon  down in our whirlpool."
moved as tolerated, privileged persons, in  All Elisabeth's memories seemed to
virtue of the necessity of the one to the have been blotted out in that whirlpool,
King-of the other, to all the world. for she only bowed her head formally, and
After a brief interval Pare returned and gave no look of recognition, though she,
beckoned to Berenger, who followed him  too, allowed Berenger to salute her listacross a large state bed-room to a much less, dejected hand. " One would hardly
smaller one, which he entered from under have known him again," continued the
a heavy blue velvet curtain, and found King, in a low huskyvoice; "but I hope,
himself in an atmosphere heavy with sir, I see you are recovering."
warmth   and perfume, and   strangely   "Thanks, Sire, to Heaven's goodness,
oppressed besides. On one side of the and to your goodness in sparing to me the
large fire sat the young Queen, faded, services of Maitre Pare."
wan, and with all animation or energy' Ah! there is none like Pare for curdeparted, only gazing with a silent, wist- ing a wound outside," said Charles, then
ful intentness at her husband. He was leaned back silent; and Berenger, still
opposite to her in a pillowed chair, his kneeling, was considering whether he
feet on a stool, with a deadly white, ought to proffer his petition, when the
padded, puffy cheek, and his great black King continued, " How fares your friend
eyes, always prominent, now with a glassy Sidney, M. le Baron? "
look, and strained wide as though always  " Right well, Sire.  The Queen is
gazing after some horrible sight. "Ma- about to confer on him the honor of
dame la Comtesse " stood in her old, wood- knighthood."
en automaton fashion behind the Queen;   " Not after this order," said Charles,
otherwise, no one was present save Pare, as with his finger he traced the long scar
who, as he held up the curtain, stood  on Berenger's face. " Our sister of Engback to let M. de Ribaumont advance. He land has different badges of merit from
stood still, however, merely bowing low, ours for her good subjects.  Ha! what
awaiting an invitation to come forward, say they of us in England, Baron?"
and trying to repress the startled tear  "I have lain sick at home, Sire, and
called up by the very shock of pity at the have neither seen nor heard," said Bermournful aspect of the young King and enger.
Queen.                                  "Ah! one day more at Montpipeau
Elisabeth, absorbed in her husband, had served'your turn," said the King;
and indifferent to all besides, did not even  but you are one who has floated up again.




THE DYING KING.                           193
One-one at least whose blood is not on himself Nid-de-Merle-but she slipped
my head."                             through his clumsy fingers; did she
The Queen looked up uneasy and im- not? Did you know any thing of her,
ploring, as Charles continued: "Would Madame? "
that more of you would come in this way!  "No," said the Queen, looking up.
They have scored you deep, but know you  " She wrote to me once from her convent;
what is gashed deeper still? YourKing's but I knew I could do nothing for her but
heart! Ah! you will not come, as Coli- bring her enemies' notice on her; so I
gny does, from his gibbet, with his two  made no answer."
bleeding hands. My father was haunted    Berenger could hardly conceal his start
to his dying day by the face of one Hu- of indignation-less at the absolute omisguenot tailor. Why, I see a score, night sion, than at the weary indifference of the
bynight! You aresolid; let mefeel you, Queen's confession.  Perhaps the King
man."                                 saw it, for he added, "So it is, Ribau" M. Pare," exclaimed the poor Queen, mont; the kindest service we can do our
" take him away."                     friends is to let them alone; and, after all,
"No, Madame," said the King, hold- it was not the worse for her. She did
ing tight in his hot grasp Berenger's hand, evade her enemies? "
which was as pale as his own, long, thin,  Yes, Sire," said Berenger, commandand wasted, but cold from strong emo- ing and steadying his voice with great diftion; " take not away the only welcome ficulty, " she escaped in time to give birth
sight I have seen for well-nigh two years." to our child in the ruined loft of an old
He coughed, and the handkerchief he put grange of the Templars, under the care
to his lips had blood on it; but he did not of a Huguenot farmer, and a pastor who
quit his hold of his visitor, and presently  had known my father.  Then she took
said in a feeble whisper, "Tell me, how  refuge in La Sablerie, and wrote to my
did you escape?:"                     mother, deeming me dead.  I was just
Pare, over the King's head, signed to  well enough to go in quest of her. I
him to make his narrative take time; and  came-ah! Sire, I found only charred
indeed his speech was of necessity so slow, ruins. Your Majesty knows how Huguethat, by the time he had related how Os- not bourgs are dealt with."
bert had brought him safely to England,  " And she-? "
the King had recovered himself so as to  Berenger answered but by a look.
say, "See what it is to have a faithful  " Why did you come to tell me this? 
servant. Which of those they have left said the King, passionately. "Do you
mewould do as muchfor me? And now, not know that they have killed me albeing once away with your life, what ready? I thought you came because there
brings you back to this realm  of ours, was still some one I could aid."
after your last welcome? "                There is, there is, Sire," said Beren" I left my wife here, Sire."      ger, for once interrupting royalty. " None
"Ha! and the cousin would have save you can give me my child. It is almarried her-obtained permission to call most certain that a good priest saved it;
13




194                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
but it is in a convent, and only with a  "No, Sire; I have never seen the
royal order can one of my religion either marriage-contract."
obtain it, or even have my questions an-  "Your kinsman knew it well," said
swered."                             Charles.
"Nor with one in Paris," said the    Just then, Madame la Comtesse reKing drily; "but in the country the turned, leading the little Princess by the
good mothers may still honor their King's long ribbons at her waist; Charles bent
hand.-Here, Ambroise, take pen and ink, forward, calling, "Here, ma petite, come
and write the order. To whom?"      here. Here is one who loves thy father.
" To the Mother Prioress of the Ursu- Look well at him, that thou mayest know
lines at Lucon, so please your Majesty," him."
said Berenger, "to let me have possession  The little Madame Elisabeth so far unof my daughter."                      derstood, that, with a certain lofty con" Eh! is it only a little girl?"  descension, she extended her hand for the
"Yes, Sire; but my heart yearns for stranger to kiss, and thus drew from the
her all the more," said Berenger, with King the first smile that Berenger had
glistening eyes.                     seen. She was more than half a year
" You are right," said the poor King. older than the B6rangere on whom his
"Mine, too, is a little girl; and I bless hopes were set, and whom he trusted to
God daily that she is no son-to be the find not such a pale, feeble, tottering litmost wretched thing in France. Let her tie creature as this poor young daughter
come in, Madame. She is little older than  of France, whose round black eyes gazed
my friend's daughter. I would show her wonderingly at his scar; but she was
to him."                              very precocious, and even already too
The Queen signed to Madame la Corn- much of a royal lady to indulge in any
tesse to fetch the child, and Berenger add- awkward personal observation.
ed, " Sire, you could do a further benefit  By the time she had been rewarded
to my poor little one. One more signa- for her good behavior by one of the dried
ture of yours would attest that ratification plums in her father's comfit-box, the order
of my marriage which took place in your had been written by Pare, and Berenger
Majesty's presence."                 had prepared the certificate for the King's
"Ah! I remember," said Charles. signature, according to the form given
"You may have any name of mine that him by his grandfather.
can help you to oust that villain, Narcisse;  " Your writing shakes nearly as much
only wait to use it-spare me any more as mine," said the poor King, as he wrote
storms. It will serve your turn as well his name to this latter. " Now, Madame,
when I am beyond them, and you will you had better sign it also; and tell this
make your claim good. " What," seeing gentleman where to find Father Meinhard
Berenger's interrogative look, " do you in Austria. He was a little too true for
not know that by the marriage-contract us, do you see-would not give thanks
the lands of each were settled on the sur- for shedding innocent blood. Ah! "vivor?"                             and with a gasp of mournful longing, tlhe




THE DYING KING.                          195
King sank back, while Elisabeth, at his Then hiding his face in his handkerchief,
bidding, added her name to the certificate, in a paroxysm of grief and horror, he
and murmured the name of a convent in murmured in a stifled tone, " Blood,
Vienna, where her late confessor could be blood, deliver me, good Lord! "
found.                                  In effect, there was so sudden a
"I cannot thank your Majesty enough," gush of blood from  mouth and nose
said Berenger.  "My child's rights are that Berenger sprang to his feet in disnow secure in England at least, and this" may, and was bond fide performing the
-as he held the other paper for the King part of assistant to the surgeon, when, at
-" will give her to me."             the Queen's cry, not only the nurse
"Ah! take it for what it is worth,"  Philippine hurried in, but with her a
said the King, as he scrawled his very dark, keen-looking man, who at once
"O Charles" upon it. "This order must began applying strong essences to the
be used promptly, or it will avail you King's face, as Berenger supported his
nothing. Write to Ambroise how you head. In a few moments Pare looked up
speed; that is, if it will bring me one at Berenger, and setting him free, intibreath of good news." And as Berenger mated to him, between sign and whisper,
kissed his hand with tearful, inarticulate to go into Philippine's room and wait
thanks, he proceeded, "Save for that there; and it was high time, for though
cause, I would ask you to come to me the youth"had felt nothing in the stress
again. It does me good. It is like a of the moment, he was almost swooning
breath from Montpipeau-the last days when he reached the little chamber, and
of hope-before the frenzy-the misery." lay back in the nurse's chair, with closed
" Whenever your Majesty does me the eyes, scarcely conscious how time went,
honor  -" began Berenger, forgetting or even where he was, till he was partly
all except the dying man.            aroused by hearing steps returning.
" I am not so senseless," interrupted  " The poor young man," said Philipthe King sharply; "it would be losing pine's kind voice, "he is fainting. Ah!
the only chance of undoing one wrong. no wonder it overcame any kind heart."
Only, Ribaumont," he added fervently,   "How is the King?" Berenger tried
"for once let me hear that one man has to say, but his own voice still sounded
pardoned me."                        unnatural and far away.
" Sire, Sire," sobbed Berenger, totally  " He is better for the time, and will
overcome, "how can I speak the word? sleep," said Pare, administering to his
How feel aught but love, loyalty, grati- other patient some cordial drops as he
tude?"                              spoke. "There, sir; you will soon be
Charles half smiled again as he said able to return to the carriage. This has
in sad meditation-" Ah! it was in me been a sore trial to your strength."
to have been a good king if they had let  " But I have gained all-all I could
me. Think of me, bid your friend Sidney hope," said Berenger, looking at his
think of me, as I would have been-not precious papers. "But, alas! the poor
as I have been-and pray, pray for me." King!"




196                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
" You will never, never let a word of  " There are some things that go too
blame pass against him," cried Philippine deep for speech," sighed the almost Engearnestly.  "It is well that one of our lish Berenger; then, after a pause, "Is
people should have seen how it really is there no hope for him? Is he indeed
with him. All I regret is that Maitre dying?"
Ren6 thrust himself in and saw you."      " Without a miracle, he cannot live a
" Who?" said Berenger, who had been  month. He is as truly slain by the St.
too much engrossed to perceive any one.  Bartholomew, as ever its martyrs were,"
"Maitre Ren6 of Milan, the Queen- said Par6, moved out of his usual cautious
mother's perfumer. He came with some reserve toward one who had seen so
plea of bringing a pouncet-box from her, much and felt so truly. "I tell you, sir,
but I wager it was as a spy. I was that his mother hath as truly slain her
doing my best to walk him gently off, sons, as if she had sent Rene there to
when the Queen's cry called me, and he them with his drugs. According as they
must needs come in after me."          have consciences and hearts, so they pine
"I saw him   not," said Berenger; and perish under her rule."
"perhaps he marked not me in the con-     Berenger shuddered, and almost sobfusion."                               bed, "And hath he no better hope, no
"I fear," said Pare gravely, "he was comforter?" he asked.
more likely to have his senses about him  "None save good old Flipote.   As
than you, M. le Baron; these bleedings you heard, the Queen-mother will not
of the King's are not so new to us famil- suffer his own Church to speak to him in
iars of the palace. The best thing now  her true voice. No confessor but one
to be done is to have you to the carriage, chosen by the Cardinal of Lorraine may
if you can move."                      come near him; and with him all is mere
Berenger, now quite recovered, stood  ceremony. But if at the last he opens
up, and gave his warm thanks to the old his ear and heart to take in the true hope
nurse for her kindness to him.         of salvation, it will be from the voice of
"Ah! sir," she said, "you are one of  poor old Philippine."
us. Pray, pray that God will have mercy   And so it was! It was Philippine,
on my poor child! Ile has the truth in  who heard him in the night sobbing over
his heart. Pray that it may save him at the piteous words, "My God, what horthe last."                            rors, what blood! " and, as she took from
Ambroise, knowing that she would him his tear-drenched handkerchief, spoke
never cease speaking while there was any  to him of the Blood that speaketh better
one to hear her, almost dragged Berenger things than the blood of Abel; and it
out at the little secret door, conveyed him  was she, who, in the final agony, heard
safely down the stairs, and placed him  and treasured these last words, "If the
again in the carriage. Neither spoke till Lord Jesus will indeed receive me into
the surgeon said, " You have seen a sad the company of the blessed! "  Surely,
sight, Monsieur le Baron: I need not bid  never was repentance deeper than that
you be discreet."                      of Charles IX.-and these, his parting




THE DYING KING.                           197
words, were such as to inspire the trust the notary who had drawn up the conthat it was not remorse.             tract. If Berenger cared at all, it was
All-important as Berenger's expedi- rather for the sake of punishing and balktion had been, he still could think of little ing Narcisse, than with any desire of the
but the poor king; and, wearied out as inheritance; and even for righteous inhe was, he made very little reply to the dignation he was just now too weary and
astonished friends who gathered round too sad. He could not discuss his rights
him on his return. He merely told Philip to Nid-de-Merle, if they passed over the
that he had succeeded, and then lay al- rights of Eustacie's child, round whom
most without speaking on his bed till the his affections were winding themselves as
Ambassador made his evening visit, when his sole hope.
he showed him the two papers.    Sir     The next evening Par6 calne in quest
Francis could hardly believe his good of Berenger, and after a calm, refreshing,
fortune in having obtained this full at- hopeful Ascension-day, which had been a
testation of the marriage, and promised real balm to the weary spirit, found him
to send to the English Ambassador in enjoying the sweet May sunshine under a
Germany, to obtain the like from Father tree in the garden. "I am glad to find
Meinhard.  The document itself he ad- you out of doors," he said; "I fear I must
vised Berenger not to expose to the dan- hasten your departure."
gers of the French journey, but to leave  "I burn to lose no time," cried Berit with him to be forwarded direct to enger. "Prithee tell them I may safely
Lord Walwyn. It was most important, go! They all call it madness to think of
both as obviating any dispute on the setting out."
legitimacy of the child, if she lived; or,  " Ordinarily, it would be," said Par6;
if not, it would establish those rights of  " but Rene of Milan has sent his underBerenger to the Nid-de-Merle estates, of lings to see who is my new, tall assistant.
which he had heard from the King. This He will report all to the Queen-mother;
information explained what were the and though in this house you could scarceclaims that the Chevalier was so anxious ly suffer personal harm, yet the purpose
to hush up by a marriage with Madame of your journey might be frustrated, and
de Selinville.  Berenger, as his wife's the King might have to undergo another
heir, was by this contract the true owner of those bourrasques which he may well
of the estates seized by the Chevalier and dread."
his son, and could only be ousted, either  " I will go this very night," said Berby his enemies proving his contract to enger, starting up; " where is Philip?Eustacie invalid and to be unfulfilled, or where is Sir Francis?"
by his own voluntary resignation. The    Even that very night Pare thought
whole scheme was clear to Walsingham, not too soon, and the Ascension-tide illuand he wasted advice upon unheeding minations brought so many persons abroad
ears, as to how Berenger should act to that it would be easy to go unnoticed; and
obtain restitution so soon as he should be in the general festivity, when every one
of age, and how he should try to find out was coming and going from the country




198                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
to gaze or worship at the shrines and the infinitely better than his companions had
images decked in every church, it would dared to expect. He dreaded nothing so
be easy for the barriers to be passed with- much as being overtaken by those tidings
out observation. Then the brothers would  which would make King Charles's order
sleep at a large hostel, the first on the mere waste-paper; and therefore pressed
road to England, where Walsingham's on with little regard to his own fatigue,
couriers and guests always baited, and the although happily with increasing strength,
next morning he would send out to them  which carried him a further stage every
their attendants, with horses for their day.
further journey back into Anjou. If any  Lu9on was a closely-guarded, thorenemies were on the watch, this would oughly Catholic city, and his safe-conduct
probably put them off the scent, and it was jealously demanded; but the name
only remained further to be debated, of Ribaumont silenced all doubt. " A
whether the Norman Guibert had better relation, apparently, of M. de Nid-debe dismissed at once or taken with them. Merle," said the officer on guard, and poThere was always a soft place in Beren- litely invited him to dinner and bed at
ger's heart for a Norman, and the man the castle; but these he thought it pruwas really useful; moreover, he would dent to decline, explaining that he brought
certainly be safer employed and in their a letter from the King to the Mother
company, than turned loose to tell the Prioress.
Chevalier all he might have picked up in  The convent walls were pointed out to
the Hotel d'Angleterre. It was, there- him, and he only delayed at the inn long
fore, decided that he should be the at- enough to arrange his dress as might aptendant of the two young men, and he pear to the Abbess most respectful, and,
received immediate orders that night to poor boy, be least likely to startle the
pack up their garments, and hold himself babe on whom his heart was set. At already.                               most every inn, the little children had
Nevertheless, before the hour of de- shrieked and run from  his white and
parture, Guibert had stolen out, had an gashed face, and his tall, lank figure in
interview with the Chevalier de Ribau- deep black; and it was very sadly that he
mont at the H6tel de Selinville, and came said to Philip, " You must come with me.
back with more than one good French  If she turns from me as an ogre, your
crown in his pocket, and hopes of more.  hright ruddy face will win her."
The men were left at the inn with
~-*~ -~charge to let Guibert speak for them, and
to avoid showing their nationality. The
CHAPTER XXVIII.
three months of Paris, and the tailors
THE ORPHANS OF LA SABLERIE.      there, had rendered Philip much less con"The cream-tarts with pepper in them."  spicuous than formerly; but still people
Arabian Nights.  looked at him narrowly as he followed his
HOPE, spring, and recovery carried the brother along the street. The two lads
young Baron de Ribaumont on his journey had made up their minds to encumber




THE ORPHANS OF LA SABLERIE.                        199
themselves with no nurses, or womanfolk. ered lim into the parlor, the barest and
The child should be carried, fondled, and most ascetic-looking of rooms, with a
fed by her boy-father alone. He believed boarded partition across, unenlivened exthat, when he once held her in his arms, cept by a grated hollow, and the outer
he should scarcely even wish to give her portion empty, save of a table, three
up to any one else; and, in his concen- chairs, and a rugged woodcut of a very
tration of mind, had hardly thought of all tall St. Ursula, with a crowd of pigmy
the inconveniences and absurdities that virgins, not reaching higher than the
would arise; but, really, was chiefly oc- ample hem of her petticoat.
cupied by the fear that she would not at  "Did Aunt Cecily live in such a place
first let him take her in his arms, and hold  as this?" exclaimed Philip, gazing round;
her to his heart.                      " or do they live on the fat among downPhilip, a little more alive to the prob- cushions inside there?"
abilities, nevertheless was disposed to re- " Hush -sh," said Berenger, frowning
gard them as "fun and pastime."  He had  with anxiety; for a rustling was heard
had many a frolic with his baby-sisters, behind the screen, and presently a black
and this would be only a prolonged one; veil and white scapulary appeared, and a
besides, it was " Berry's " one hope, and  sweet, calm voice said, " Peace be with
to rescue any creature from a convent was you, sir; what are your commands? "
a good work, in his Protestant eyes, which  Berenger bowed low, and replied,
had not become a whit less prejudiced at " Thanks, reverend Lady, I bring a letter
Paris. So he was quite prepared to take from the King, to request your aid in a
his full share of his niece, or more, if she matter that touches me nearly."
should object to her father's looks, and he  "His Majesty shall be obeyed. Come
only suggested halting at an old woman's you from him? "
stall to buy some sweetmeats by way of   He was forced to reply to her inpropitiation-a proceeding which much  quiries after the poor King's health beamazed the gazing population of Lu9on. fore she opened the letter, taking it under
Two reports were going about: one that her veil to read it; so that as he stood,
the King had vowed a silver image of trembling, almost sickening with anxiety,
himself to St. Ursula, if her Prioress and scarcely able to breathe, he could see
would obtain his recovery by their pray- nothing but the black folds; and at her
ers; the other that he was going to trans- low murmured exclamation, he started as
late her to the royal Abbey of Fonte- if at a cannon-shot.
vrault to take charge of his daughter,    "De Ribaumont!" she said; "can it
Madame Elisabeth. Anyway, high honor be-the child of-of-our poor dear little
by a royal messenger must be intended to  pensionnaire at Bellaise? "
the Prioress, Mere Monique, and the Lu-   "It is-it is!" cried Berenger.' O
9onnais were proud of her sanctity.   Madame, you knew her at Bellaise? "
The portress had already heard the re-  Even so," replied the Prioress, who
port, and opened her wicket even before was in fact the Sceur Monique so loved
the bell could be rung, then eagerly ush- and regretted by Eustacie. "I loved and




200                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
prayed for her with all my heart when    It was no doubt the first time she had
she was claimed by the world. Heaven's been brought in contact with a schismatic,
will be done; but the poor little thing and she could not believe that such reloved me, and I have often thought that spectful courtesy could come from one.
had I been still at Bellaise when she re- He saw he must curb himself; and explain.
turned she would not have fled. But of  "I am neither Calvinist nor Sacrementhis child I have no knowledge."      taire, Madame. I was bred in England,
" You took charge of the babes of La where we love our own Church.   My
Sablerie, Madame," said Berenger, almost aunt is a Benedictine Sister, who keeps
under his breath.                     her rule strictly, though her convent is
"I er infant among those poor or- destroyed; and it is to her that I shall
phans! " exclaimed the Prioress, more carry my daughter. Ah, Lady, did you
and more startled and amazed.         but know my heart's hunger for her! "
" If it be anywhere in this life, it is  The Prioress, better read in the lives
in your good keeping, Madame," said Ber- of the saints than in the sects of heretics,
enger, with tears in his eyes. " Oh! I did not know whether this meant that he
entreat, withhold her no longer."     was of her own faith or not; and her
" But," exclaimed the bewildered nun, woman's heart being much moved by his
" who would you then be, sir?"       pleadings, she said, "' I will heartily give'I-her husband-widower of Eu- your daughter to you, sir, as indeed I
stacie-father of her orphan!" cried Ber- must, if she be here; but you have never
enger. "She cannot be detained from   seen her."
me, either by right or law."             "No; only her empty cradle in the
" Her husband?" still hesitated Mo- burnt house. But I must know her. She
nique. " But he is dead. The poor little is a year old."
one-Heaven have mercy on her soul —        We have two babes of that age; but
wrote me a piteous entreaty, and gave I fear me you will scarce see much likelarge alms for prayers and masses for his ness in either of them to any one you
soul."                                knew," said the Prioress thoughtfully.
The sob in his throat almost strangled  " However, there are two girls old enough
his speech. " She mourned me to the last to remember the parentage of their comas dead. I was borne away senseless and panions, though we forbade them to mendesperately wounded; and when I recov- tion it. Would you see them, sir? "
ered power to seek her it was too late!  "And the infants, so please you, revO Madame! have pity-let me see all she erend Mother," exclaimed Berenger.
has left to me."                         She desired him to wait, and after an
" Is it possible? " said the nun. " We interval of suspense there was a pattering
would not learn the parentage of our of little sabots behind the partition, and
nurslings since all alike become children  through the grating he beheld six little
of Mother Church."    Then, suddenly girls in blue serge frocks and tight white
bethinking herself, "But, surely, Mon- caps. Of the two infants, one with a
sieur cannot be a Huguenot?"          puny, wizen, pinched face was in the




THE ORPHANS OF LA SABLERIE.                        201
arms of the Prioress; the other, a big, Lucie la Grasse, but Agathe and Eulalie
stout, coarse child, with hard brown cheeks are much prettier."
and staring black eyes, was on its own    "But Maitre Gardon?" still asked
feet, but with a great basket-work frame Berenger.
round its head to save it from falls. There  " He ought to be taken and burned,"
were two much more prepossessing chil- said the new Eulalie; "he brought it all
dren of three or four, and two intelligent- on us."
looking girls of perhaps eight and ten, to  "How was it? Was my wife with
the elder of whom the Prioress turned, him-Madame de Ribaumont?      Speak,
saying, " Agathe, I release you from my  my child."
command not to speak of your former       "That was the name," said one girl.
life, and desire you to tell this gentleman  But Maitre Garden had no great lady
if you know who were the parents of with him," said the other, "only his son's
these two little ones."                widow and her baby, and they lodged
" Yes, reverend Mother," said Agathe, with Noemi Laurent, who made the pareadily: "' the old name of Claire " (touch- tisserie."
ing the larger baby) " was Salom6 Potier:'"Ah! " cried Berenger, lighting up
her mother was the washerwoman; and    with the new ray of hope. "Tell me, my
Annonciade, I don't know what her name dear, that they fled with him, and where?"
was, but her father worked for Maitre     "I do not know of their going," said
Brassier who made the kettles."        Agathe, confused and overborne by his
Philip felt relieved to be free from all eagerness.
doubt about these very uninviting little  " Curb yourself, sir," said the Prioress,
ones, but Berenger, though sighing heav- "they will recollect themselves and tell
ily, asked quickly, "Permit me, Madame, you what they can."
a few questions.-Little maid, did you     " It was the little cakes with lemoned
ever hear of Isaac Gardon?"          sugar," suggested the younger girl. " Mai"Maitre Isaac! Oh yes, sir. We used  tre Tressan always said there would be a
to hear him preach at the church, and  judgment onus for our daintiness. Ab!
sometimes he catechised us," she said, and he was very cross about them, and after
her lip quivered.                      all it was the Maire of Luqon who ate
" He was a heretic, and I abjure him," fifteen of them all at once; but then he
added the other girl, perking up her head. is not a heretic."
" Was he in the town? What became     Happily for Berenger, Agathe unravof him?" exclaimed Berenger.          elled this speech.
" He would not be in the town," said   " Mademoiselle  Gardon  made  the
the elder girl. " My poor father had sent sugar-lemoned cakes, and the Mayor of
him word to go away."                  Luqon, one day when he supped with us,'" Eh uoi? "                      was so delighted with them that he car"Our father was Bailli la Grasse," ried one away to show his wife, and afterinterposed the younger girl consequen- ward he sent over to order some more.
tially.  " Our names were Marthe and   Then, after a time, he sent secretly to my




202                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
father to ask him if Maitre Gardon was but that we would pay any fine within
there; for there was a great outcry about our means so they would spare our lives.
the lemon cakes, and the Duke of Alen- Then the man in the fine coat said, it was
qon's army were coming to demand his the Lady they wanted, not the fine; and
daughter-in-law; because it seems she was a great deal he said besides, I know not
a great Lady, and the only person who what, but my father said,'It is our life's
could make the cakes."               blood that they want,' and he put on his
"Agathe " exclaimed the Prioress.  breastplate and kissed us all, and went
"I understand," said Berenger. "The away.  Then came horrible noises and
Cure of Nissard told me that she was firing of cannon, and the neighbors ran
traced through cakes, the secret of which in and said that the enemy were batterwas only known at Bellaise."         ing down the old crumbly bit of wall
"That might be," said Mere Monique. where the monastery was burnt; and
"I remember there was something of just then our man Joseph ran back all
pride in the cakes of Bellaise, though I pale, and staring, to tell us my father
always tried to know nothing of them."  was lying badly hurt in the street. My
"Well, little one, continue," entreated  mother hurried out, and locked the door
Berenger. "You are giving me life and to keep us from following."
hope."                                  The poor child broke down in tears,
"I heard my father and mother talk  and her sister went on. "Oh. we were
about it," said Agathe, gaining courage. so frightened-such frightful sounds came
"He said he knew    nothing of great close, and people ran by all blood and
people, and would give nobody up to the shrieking-and there was a glare in the
Catholics, but as to Maitre Isaac he sky-and nobody came home-till at last
should let him know that the Catholic it grew so dreadful that we hid in the
army were coming, and that it would be cellar to hear and see nothing. Only it
the better for us if we had no pastor grew hotter and hotter, and the light
within our walls; and that there was a through the little grating was red. And
cry that his daughter's lemon cakes were at last there was a noise louder than
made by the Lady that was lost."     thunder, and, oh, such a shaking-for it
"And they escaped!    Ah! would was the house falling down. But we did
that I could thank the good man! "   not know that; we tried to open the
"Surely yes, sir, I never saw them  door and could not; then we cried and
again. Maitre Tressan the elder prayed  called for father and mother-and no one
with us. And when the cruel soldiers heard-and we sat still for fear, till we
came and demanded the Lady and Maitre slept-and then it was all dark, and we
Isaac, and all obstinate Calvinists, our were very hungry. I don't know how
mayor and my father and the rest made time went, but at last, when it was dayanswer that they had no knowledge of light again, there was a talking above, a
the Lady, and did not know where Maitre little baby crying, and a kind voice too;
Gardon was; and as to Huguenots we and then we called out,'Oh take us out
were all one as obstinate as the other, and give us bread.' Then a face looked




THE ORPHANS OF LA SABLERIE.                       203
down the grating. Oh! it was like the   "Monsieur speaks well and kindly,"
face of an angel to us, with all the white said the Prioress; " and now, Agathe,
hair flying round. It was the holy priest make your curtsey, and take away the
of Nissard; and when one of the cruel little ones."
men said we were only little heretics who  "Let me ask one question more, revought to die like rats in a hole, he said erend Mother," said Berenger. "Ah!
we were but innocents who did not know  children, did you ever see her whom you
the difference."                      call Isaac Gardon's daughter-in-law? "
"Ah! we did," said the elder girl.    "No, sir," said the children; "but
"You are younger, sister, you forget mother did, and she promised one day to
more;" and then, holding out her hands take us to see the baby, for it was so
to Berenger, she exclaimed, " Ah! sir, pretty-so white,'that she had never seen
take us away with you."               the like."
"My child!" exclaimed the Prioress,   "So white!" repeated Berenger to
"you told me you were happy to be in himself; and the Prioress, struck, perthe good course."                     haps, by the almost flaxen locks that
" Oh yes! "cried the poor child; "but sparsely waved on his temples, and the
I don't want to be happy! I am forget- hue of the ungloved hand that rested on
ting all my poor father and mother used the edge of the grille, said, smiling, " You
to say. I can't help it, and they would come of a fair family, Monsieur."
be so grieved. Oh, take me away, sir! "  " The White Ribaumonts," said Ber"Take care, Agathe, you will be a re- enger, "and, moreover, my mother was
lapsed heretic," said her sister solemnly. called the Swan of England; my little
"For me, I am a true Catholic. I love sisters have skins like snow. Ah! Mathe beautiful images and the processions." dame, though I have failed, I go away
"Ah! but what would our mother far happier than if I had succeeded."
have. said!" cried poor Agathe, weeping  "And I," she said, "shall cease to
more bitterly.                        pray for that dear one as for one in the
"Poor child, her old recollections grave."
have been renewed," said the Prioress,'Ah! you have prayed for me. Pray
with unchanged sweetness; "but it will still that Heaven will have pity on us,
pass. My dear, the gentleman will tell and unite us once more."
you that it is as impossible for him to  "And reveal the true faith," began
take you, as it is for me to let you go."  the nun; but Philip in the meantime was
"It is so, truly, little one," said Ber- nudging his brother, and whispering in
enger. " The only little girl I could have English, "No Popish prayers, I say!
taken with me would have been my Stay, give these poor little prisoners one
own;" and as her eyes looked at him  feast of the sweetmeats we brought."
wistfully, he added, "No doubt, if your  Of this last hint Berenger was glad,
poor mother could, she would thank this and the Prioress readily consented to a
good Mother-prioress for teaching you to distribution of the dainties among the
serve God and be a good child."       orphans.  He wished to leave a more




204                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
lasting token of his gratitude to the little him up with a new infusion of life, buoymaiden whose father had perhaps saved ancy, and thankfulness.
Eustacie's life, and recollecting that he
had about him a great gold coin, bearing
the heads of Philip and Mary, he begged
leave to offer it to Agathe, and found         CHAPTER XXIX.
that it was received by good Mere MoIN THE KING'S NAME.
nique almost in the light of a relic, as
"Under which king, Bezonian? speak or die."
bearing the head of so pious a queen.  " Under   in           speakorad
" Under King Harry."
Then, to complete Philip's disgust,                       King Henry IV.
lie said, "I took with me my aunt's bless-  "ONE bird in the hand is not always
ing when I set out; let me take yours worth two in the bush, assuredly,"said
with me also, reverend Mother."       Philip, when Berenger was calm enough
When they were in the street again, to hold council on what he called this
Philip railed at him as though he had most blessed discovery; "but where to
subjected himself to a spell.         seek them?"
"She is almost a saint," answered     "I have no fears now," returned
Berenger.                             Berenger.  "We have not been borne
"And have we not saints enough of through so much not to be brought toour own, without running after Popish  gether at last. Soon, soon shall we have
ones behind grates? Brother, if ever the her!  A  minister so distinguished as
good old days come back of invading Isaac Gardon is sure to be heard of either
France, I'll march straight hither, and de- at La Rochelle, Montauban, or Nimes,
liver the poor little wretches so scandalous- their great gathering-places."
ly mewed up here, and true Protestants all  " For Rochelle, then?" said Philip.
the time! "                               Even so. We will be off early to"Hush!   People are noticing the morrow, and from thence, if we do not
sound of your English."              find her there, as I expect, we shall be
"Let them! I never thanked Heav- able to write the thrice happy news to
en properly before that I had not a drop those at home."
of French —" Here Berenger almost       Accordingly, the little cavalcade startshook him by the shoulder, as men turned  ed in good time, in the cool of the mornat his broad tones and foreign words, ing of the bright long day of early June,
and he walked on in silence, while Ber- while apple-petals floated down on them
enger at his side felt as one treading on in the lanes like snow, and nightingales
air, so infinite was the burden taken off in every hedge seemed to give voice
his mind. Though for the present abso- and tune to Berenger's eager, yearning
lutely at sea as to where to seek Eustacie, hopes.
the relief from acquiescence in the horri-  Suddenly there was a sound of horses'
ble fate that had seemed to be hers was feet in the road before them, and as they
such, that a flood of unspeakable happi- drew aside to make way, a little troop of
ness seemed to rush in on him, and bear gendarmes filled the narrow lane. The




IN THE KING'S NAME.                         205
officer, a rough, harsh-looking man, laid  "Is this usage for gentlemen? " exhis hand on Berenger's bridle, with the claimed Berenger, as he was roughly raised
words, " In the name of the King! "  to his feet.
Philip began to draw his sword with  "The King's power has been resisted,"
one hand, and with the other to urge  was all the answer; and when he would
his horse between the officer and his have bent to see how it was with poor
brother, but Berenger called out, "Back! Smithers, one of the men at arms kicked
This gentleman mistakes my person. I over the body with sickening brutality,
am the Baron de Ribaumont, and have saying, "Dead enough, heretic and Enga safe-conduct from the King."       lish carrion."
"What king?" demanded the officer.  Philip uttered a cry of loathing horror,
"From King Charles."              and turned white; Berenger, above all
"I arrest you," said the officer, "in else, felt a sort of frenzied despair, as he
the name of King Henry III. and of the thought of the peril of the boy who had
Queen-Regent Catherine."             been trusted to him.
"The King dead?" exclaimed Beren-     "Have you had enough, sir?" said
ger.                                 the captain. " Mount and come."
On the 30th of May. Now, sir."       They could only let themselves be
"Your warrant-your cause?" still lifted to their horses, and their hands
demanded Berenger.                    were then set free to use their bridles,
" There will be time enough for that each being guarded by a soldier on each
when you are safely lodged," said the side of him. Philip attempted but once
captain, roughly pulling at the rein, to speak, and that in English, "Next
which he had held all the time.      time I shall take my pistol."'"What, no warrant? " shouted Philip,  He was rudely silenced, and rode on
" he is a mere robber! " and with drawn  with wide-open stolid eyes and dogged
sword he was precipitating himself on  face, steadfastly resolved that no Frenchthe captain, when another gendarme, man should see him flinch, and vexed
who had been on the watch, grappled that Berenger had his riding-mask on,
with him, and dragged him off his horse so that his face could not be studied;
before he could strike a blow. The other while he, on his side, was revolving all
two English, Humfrey Holt and John   causes possible for his arrest, and all
Smithers, strong, full-grown men, rode in  means of enforcing the liberation, if
fiercelyto the rescue, and Berenger him- not of himself, at least of Philip and
self struggled furiously to loose himself  Humfrey. He looked round for Guibert,
from the captain, and deliver his brother. but could not see him.
Suddenly, there was the report of a pistol:  They rode on through the intricate
poor Smithers fell, there was a moment lanes till the sun was high and scorchof standing aghast, and in that moment ing, and Berenger felt how far he was
the one man and the two youths were from perfect recovery. At last, howeach pounced on by three or four gen- ever, some little time past noon, the
darmes, thrown down and pinioned.    gendarmes halted at a stone fountain,




206                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
outside a village, and disposing a suffi- crowned by a brilliant red-tiled extincient guard around his captives, the guisher-like cap, and the whole surmountofficer permitted them to dismount and ed by a tall, old keep in the centre. There
rest, while he, with the rest of the  was a square projection containing an
troop and the horses, went to the village arched gateway, with heavy doorways,
cabaret. Philip would have asked his which were thrown open as the party
brother what it meant, and what was to  approached. Philip looked up as he rode
be done, but Berenger shook his head, in, and over the doorway beheld the
and intimated that silence was safest at familiar fretted shield, with the leopard in
present, since they might be listened to; the corner, and " A moi Ribaumont "
and Philip, who   so much imagined round it. Could it, then, be Berenger's
treachery and iniquity to be the order own castle, and was it thus that he was
of the day in France, that he was approaching it?     He himself had not
scarcely surprised at the present disaster, looked up; he was utterly spent with
resigned himself to the same sullen fatigue, dejection, and the severe headendurance. Provisions and liquor were ache brought on by the heat of the sun,
presently sent up from  the inn, but and was only intent on rallying his powBerenger could taste nothing but the ers for the crisis of fate that was probably
cold water of the fountain, which trickled  approaching; and thus scarcely took note
out cool and fresh, beneath an arch sur- of the court into which he rode, lying
mounted by a figure of our Lady. He between the gateway and the corps de
bathed his face and head in the refresh- logis, a building erected when comfort
ing spring, and lay down on a cloak in demanded more space than was afforded
the shade, Philip keeping a constant by the old keep, against which one end
change of drenched kerchiefs on his leaned; but still, though inclosed in a
brow, and hoping that he slept, till at court, the lower windows were small and
the end of two or three hours the iron barred, and all air of luxury was recaptain returned, and gave the word to served for the mullioned casements of the
horse, and the party rode on through  upper story. The court was flagged, but
intricate lanes, blossoming with haw- grass shot up between the stones, and
thorn, and ringing with songs of birds the trim air of ease and inhabited comfort
that spoke a very different language to which the brothers were used at home
now to Berenger's heart, from what they  was utterly wanting.  Berenger was
had said in the hopeful morning.     hustled off his horse, and roughly pushed
A convent bell was ringing to even- through a deep porch, where the first
song, when passing its gateway; the thing he heard was the Chevalier de
escort turned up a low hill, on the Ribaumont's voice in displeasure.
summit of which stood a chateau, cover-  " How now, sir; hands off! Is this
ing a considerable extent of ground, the way you conduct mynephew?"
with a circuit of wall, whitewashed so as' He resisted, sir."
perfectly to glare in the evening sun;  "Sir," said Berenger advancing into
and at every angle a round slim turret, the hall, " I know not the meaning of




IN THE KING'S NAME.                         207
this. I am peacefully travelling with a quickly to clear up matters, and set you
passport from  the King, when I am   free again. Do me the honor to follow
set upon, no warrant shown me, my me to the chamber destined for you."
faithful servant slain, myself and my   " Let me see the order for my arrest,"
brother, an English subject, shamefully said Berenger, holding his head high.
handled."                                "The English scruple must be grati"The violence shall be visited on fied," said the Chevalier. And accordwhatever rascal durst insult a gentle- ingly the gendarme captain unfolded
man and my nephew," said the Chev- before him a paper, which was evidently
alier.  "For release, it shall be looked a distinct order to arrest and examine
to; but unfortunately it is too true that the person of Henri B6renger Eustache,
there are orders from  the Queen in Baron    de Ribaumont and    Sieur de
Council for your apprehension, and it Leurre, suspected of treasonable pracwas only on my special entreaty for the tices - and it bore the signature of
honor of the family, and the affection  Catherine.
I bear you, that I was allowed to receive  "There is nothing here said of my
you here instead of your being sent to stepfather's son, Philip Thistlewood, nor
an ordinary prison."                 of my servant, Humfrey Holt," said
" On what pretext? "demanded Beren- Berenger, gathering the sense with his
ger.                                 dizzy eyes as best he could. " They can"It is known that you have letters not be detained, being born subjects of
in your possession from escaped traitors the Queen of England."
now in England, to La Noue, Duplessis    " They intercepted the justice of the
Mornay, and other heretics."         King," said the captain, laying his hand
"That is easily  explained," said on  Philip's shoulder.  "I shall have
Berenger. " You know well, sir, that them  off with me to the garrison  of
they were to facilitate my search at La Luqon, and deal with them there."
Sablerie. You shall see them yourself,   "Wait!" said the Chevalier, intersir."                                 posing, before Berenger's fierce, horror"That I must assuredly do," replied struck expostulation could break forth;
the Chevalier, " for it is the order of  "this is an honorable young gentleman,
her Majesty, I regret to say, that your son of a chevalier of good reputation in
person and baggage be searched; " then, England, and he need not be so harshly
as indignant color rushed into Berenger's dealt with. You will not separate either
face, and an angry exclamation was be- him or the poor groom from my nephew,
ginning, he added, "Nay, I understand, so the Queen's authority be now rightly
my dear cousin, it is very painful, but we acknowledged."
would spare you as much as possible. It  The captain shrugged his shoulders, as
will be quite enough if the search be made if displeased; and the Chevalier, turning
by myself, in the presence of this gentle- to Berenger, said, " You understand,
man, who will only stand by for form's nephew, the lot of you all depends on
sake. I have no doubt it will enable us your not giving umbrage to these officers




208                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
of her Majesty. I will do my poor best opened, but contained merely clothes
for you, but submission is first needed."  and linen, nothing else that was noticed,
Berenger knew enough of his native except three books, at which the capcountry to be aware that la justice du tain looked with a stupid air; and the
Roi was a terrible thing, and that Chevalier did not seem capable of disPhilip's resistance had really put him  covering more than that all three were
in so much danger that it was needful Latin-one, he, believed, the Bible.
to be most careful not further to offend " Yes, sir, the Vulgate-a copy older
the functionary of Government; and ab- than the Reformation, so not liable to
horrent as the proposed search was to be called a heretical version," said Berenhim, he made no further objection, but ger, to whom a copy had been given
taking Philip's arm, lest they should by Lady Walwyn, as more likely to be
be separated, he prepared  to follow  saved ifhis baggage were searched. "The
wherever he was to be conducted. The other is the Office and Psalter after
Chevalier led the way along a narrow  our English rite; and this last is not
stone passage with loop-hole windows mine, but Mr. Sidney's,-a copy of Virhere and there; and Philip, for all his gilius Maro, which he had left behind at
proud, indifferent bearing, felt his flesh  Paris."
creep as he looked for a stair descending  The Chevalier, not willing to confess
into the bowels of the earth. A stair that he had taken the English Prayerthere was, but it went up instead of book for Latin, hastily said, "Nothing
down, and after mounting   this, and wrong there-no, no, nothing that will
going through a sort of ante-room, a hurt the State; may it only be so with
door was opened into a tolerably spacious what you carry on your person, fair
apartment, evidently in the old keep; cousin.  Stand back, gentlemen, this
for the two windows on opposite sides is gear for myself alone. Now, fair
were in an immensely massive wall, and nephew," he added, "not a hand shall
the floor above and vaulting below were be laid on you, if you will give me your
of stone; but otherwise there was nothing  honorable word, as a nobleman, that
repulsive in the appearance of the room. you are laying before me all that you
There was a wood fire on the hearth; carry about you."
the sun, setting far to the north, peeped  An instant's thought convinced Berin aslant at one window, a mat was on enger that resistance would save nothing,
the floor, tapestry on the lower part of and merely lead to indignity to himself
the walls, a table and chairs, and a wal- and danger to Philip; and therefore he
nut chest, with a chess-board, and a few  gave the promise to show  everything
books on it, were as much furniture as about him without compulsion. Accordwas to be seen in almost any living- ingly, he produced his purse for current
room of the day. Humfrey and Guibert, expenses, poor King Charles's safe-contoo, were already there, with the small duct, and other articles of no consequence,
riding-valises they and poor Smithers from his pockets; then reluctantly opened
had had in charge. These were at once his doublet, and took off the belt contain



IN THE KING'S NAME.                          209
ing his store of gold, which had been re-  And Berenger did not feel it needful
plenished at Walsingham's.  This was to yield up that still better possession,
greedily eyed by the captain, but the stored within his heart, that lapetite and
Chevalier at once made it over to Philip's her pearls were safe together.  It was
keeping, graciously saying, "We do no less endurable to produce the leather
more than duty requires;" but at the case from   a secret pocket within his
same time he made a gesture toward     doublet, since, unwilling as he was that
another small purse that hung round Ber- any eye should scan the letters it conenger's neck by a black ribbon.        tained, there was nothing in them that
"On my sacred word and honor," said  could give any clue toward tracing her.
Berenger, " it contains nothing important Nothing had been written or received
to any save myself."                  since his interview with the children at
"Alas! my bounden duty," urged the Lugon.   There was, indeed, Eustacie's
Chevalier.                            letter to his mother, a few received at
An angry reply died on Berenger's lip. Paris from  Lord Walwyn, reluctantly
At the thought of Philip, he opened the  consenting to his journey in quest of his
purse, and held out the contents on his child, his English passport, the unfortupalm: a tiny gold ring, a tress of black  nate letters to La Noue; and, what evihair, a fragment of carnation-ribbon   dently startled the Chevalier more than
pricked with pin-holes, a string of small, all the rest, the copy of the certificate of
worthless yellow  shells, and, threaded  the ratification of the marriage; but his
with them, a large pear-shaped pearl of consternation was so arranged as to apcountless price. Even the Chevalier was pear to be all on behalf of his young kinstouched at the sight of this treasury, rest- man. "This is serious! " he said, striking on the blanched palm  of the thin ing his forehead, "you will be accused of
trembling hand, and jealously watched by  forging the late King's name."
eyes glistening with sudden moisture,     " This is but a copy," said Berenger,
though the lips were firm set. "Alas! pointing to the heading; "the original
my poor young cousin," he said, " you has been sent with our Ambassador's
loved her well."                       despatches to England."
"Not loved, but love," muttered Ber-   "It is a pity," said the Chevalier,
enger to himself, as if having recourse to looking thoroughly vexed, "that you
the only cordial that could support him  should have brought fresh difficulties on
through the present suffering, and he was yourself for a mere piece of waste paper,
closing his fingers again over his precious since, as things unhappily stand, there is
hoard, when the Chevalier added, "Stay, no living person to be affected by the
nephew-that pearl?"                   validity of your marriage. Dear cousin,"
"Is one of the chaplet; the token  -he glanced at the officer and lowered
she sent to England," he answered.     his voice,-"let me tear this paper; it
Pauvre petite!  Then, at least a frag- would only do you harm, and the Papal
ment remains of the reward of our ances- decree annuls it."
tor's courage," said the Chevalier.       "I have given my word," said Ber14




210                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
enger, "that all that could do me harm  will permit, and meantime allow me to
should be delivered up! Besides," he show you your sleeping-chamber."  He
added, "even had I the feeling for my then politely, as if he had been ushering
own honor and that of my wife and child, a prince to his apartment, led the way,
living or dead, the harm, it seems to me, pointing to the door through which they
would be to those who withhold her had entered the keep, and saying, "This
lands from me."                     is the only present communication with
"Ah, fair nephew! you have fallen the dwelling-house. Two gendarmes will
among designing persons who have filled always be on the outside." He conducted
your head with absurd claims; but I will the young men up a stdne spiral stair to
not argue the point now, since it becomes another room, over that which they had
a family, not a State matter.  These already seen, and furnished as fairly as orpapers "-and he took them into his hand dinary sleeping-chambers were wont to be.
-"must be examined, and to-morrow       Here, said their compulsory host, he
Captain Delarue will take them to Paris, would leave them to prepare for supper,
with any explanation you may desire to when they would do him the honor to
offer. Meantime you and your com- join him in the eating-hall on their sumpanions remain my guests, at full liberty, mons by the steward.
provided you will give me your parole to  His departing bow was duly returned
attempt no escape."                  by Berenger, but no sooner did his steps
"No, sir," said Berenger, hotly, "we die away on the stairs than the young
will not become our own jailers, nor ac- man threw himself down on his bed, in
quiesce in this unjust detention. I warn a paroxysm of suffering, both mental and
you that I am a naturalized Englishman, bodily.
acknowledged by the Queen as my grand-  "Berry, Berry, what is this? Speak
father's heir, and the English Ambassador to me. What does it all mean?" cried
will inform the Court what Queen Eliza- Philip.
beth thinks of such dealings with her sub-  "How can I tell?" said Berenger,
jects."                             showing his face for a moment covered
"Well said," exclaimed Philip, and with tears; "only that my only friend is
drawing himself up, he added, "I refuse dead, and some villanous trick has seized
my parole, and warn you that it is at me, just-just as I might have found her.
your peril that you imprison an English- And I've been the death of my poor
man."                                groom, and got you into the power of
"Very well, gentlemen," said the these vile dastards!  Oh, would that I
Chevalier, "the difference will be that I had come alone! Would that they had
shall unwillingly be forced to let Captain had the sense to aim direct! "
Delarue post guards at the outlets of this  " Brother, brother, anything but this! "
tower. A room beneath is prepared for cried Philip. " The rogues are not worth
your grooms, and the court is likewise it. Sir Francis will have us out in no
free to you. I will endeavor to make time, or know the reason why. I'd scorn
your detention as little irksome as you to let them wring a tear from me."




IN THE KING'S NAME.                        211
"I hope they never may, dear Phil, plained that M. de Ribaumont was too
nor anything worse."                 much fatigued to come to supper, and he
"Now," continued Philip, " the way was accordingly marched along the corwill be to go down to supper, since they ridor with the steward before him, bearwill have it so, and sit and eat at one's ing a lighted torch, and two gendarmes
ease as if one cared for them no more with halberds behind him. And in his
than cat and dog. Hark! there's the walk he had ample time for, first, the
steward speaking to Guibert.  Come, resolution that illness, and not dejection,
Berry, wash your face and come."      should have all the credit of Berenger's
" I-my head aches far too much, absence; then for recollecting of how
were there nothing else."            short standing had been his brother's
" What! it is nothing but the sun," convalescence; and lastly, for a fury of
said Philip. " Put a bold face on it, man, self-execration for his own unkindness,
and show them how little you heed."   rude taunts, and neglect of the recurring
"HIow little I heed!" bitterly re- illness. He would have turned about
peated Berenger, turning his face away, and gone back at once, but the two genutterly unnerved between disappointment darmes were close behind, and he knew
fatigue, and pain; and Philip at that mo- Humfrey would attend to his brother; so
ment had little mercy. Dismayed and he walked on to the hall-a handsome
vaguely terrified, yet too resolute in na- chamber, hung with armor and spoils of
tional pride to betray his own feelings, hunting, with a few pictures on the panels,
he gave vent to his vexation by impa- and a great carved music-gallery at one
tience with a temperament more visibly end. The table was laid out somewhat luxsensitive than his own: "I never thought uriously for four, according to the innovayou so mere a Frenchman," he said con- tion which was beginning to separate the
temptuously. " If you weep and wail so meals of the grandees from those of their
like a sick wench, they will soon have household. Great concern was expressed
their will of you! I'd have let them kill by the Chevalier, as Philip, in French,
me before they searched me."         much improved since the time of his con"'Tis bad enough without this from  versation with Madame de Selinvile,
you, Phil," said Berenger faintly, for he spoke of his brother's indisposition, saywas far too much spent for resentment or ing with emphasis, as he glared at Capself-defence, and had only kept up before tain Delarue, that Maltre Pare had forthe Chevalier by dint of strong effort. bidden all exposure to mid-day heat, and
Philip was somewhat aghast both at the that all their journeys had been made
involuntary gesture of paih, and at find- in morning or evening coolness. "'My
ing that there was not even spirit to be young friend," as his host called him,
angry with him; but his very dismay   "should, he was assured, have mentioned
served at the moment only to feed his dis- this, since Captain Delarue had no desire
pleasure; and he tramped off in his heavy but to make his situation as little painful
boots, which he chose to wear as a proof as possible." And the Chevalier sent his
of disdain for his companions.  He ex- steward at once to offer every thing the




212                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
house contained that his prisoner could found Berenger sitting on the side of his
relish for supper; and then anxiously bed, having evidentlyjust started up on
questioned Philip on his health and diet, hearing their approach. Otherwise he did
obtaining very short and glum answers. not seem to have moved since Philip left
The Chevalier and the captain glanced at him; he had not attempted to undress; and
each other, with little shrugs; and Philip, Humfrey told Philip that not a word had
becoming conscious of his shock hair, been extracted from him, but commands
splashed doublet, and dirty boots, had to let him alone.
vague doubt whether his English dignity   However, he had rallied his forces to
were not being regarded as English lub- meet the Chevalier, and answered manberliness; but, of course, he hated the fully to his excuses for the broiling ride to
two Frenchmen all the more, and re- which he had been exposed, that it matceived their civility with greater gruff- tered not, the effect would pass, it was a
ness. They asked him the present object mere chance; and refused all offers of
of the journey-though, probably, the medicaments, potions, and tisanes, till
Chevalier knew it before; and he told his host at length left the room with a
of the hope that they had of finding the most correct exchange of good-nights.
child at Luqon.                           "Berry, Berry, what a brute I have
" Vain, of course?" said the Chevalier. been!" cried Philip.
"Poor infant! It is well for itself, as for  "Foolish lad!" and Berenger half
the rest of us, that its troubles were ended smiled. " Now help me to bed, for the
long ago."                            room turns round! "
Philip started indignantly.
"Does your brother still nurture any
vain hope? " said the Chevalier...  CHAPTER XXX.
"Not vain, I trust," said Philip.CHAPTER XXX.
" Indeed! Who can foolishly have so    CAGED IN THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST.
inspired him with a hope that merely
" Let him shun castles;
wears out his youth, and leads him into    Safer shall he be on the sandy plain
danger? "Than were castles mounted stand."
T-~~.I~.1. 11-11~~~.,  iiXKing Henry VI.
Philip held his tongue, resolved to be
impenetrable; and he was so far success-  WHILE Berenger slept a heavy mornful, that the Chevalier merely became ing's sleep after a restless night, Philip
convinced that the brothers were not explored (the narrow domain above and
simply riding to La Rochelle to embark below. The keep and its little court
for England, but had some hope and pur- had evidently been the original castle,
pose in view; though as to what that built when the oddly-nicknamed Fulkes
might'be, Philip's bluff replies and stub- and Geoffreys of Anjou had been at
born silence were baffling.            daggers drawn with the Dukes of NorAfter the meal, the Chevalier insisted mandy and Brittany; but it had since,
on coming to see how his guest fared; like most other such ancient    feudal
and Philip could not prevent him.  They fortresses, become the nucleus of walls




CAGED IN THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST.                       213
and buildings for use, defence, or orna- ground his teeth at them, as though they
ment that lay beneath him like a spider's grinned at him like emissaries of the Inweb, when he had gained the roof of quisition.
the keep, garnished with pepper-box tur-  Descending, he found Berenger dressrets at each of the four angles.  Be- ing in haste to avoid receiving an invalid
yond lay the green copses and orchards visit from the Chevalier, looking indeed
of the Bocage, for it was true, as he had  greatly shaken, but hardly so as would
at first suspected, that this was the have been detected by eyes that had
Chateau de Nid-de-Merle, and that Ber- not seen him during his weeks of hope
enger was a captive in his wife's own cas- and recovery.  He. was as resolved as
tle.                                   Philip could wish against any sign of
Chances of escape were the lad's chief weakness before his enemy, and altothought, but the building on which he gether disclaimed illness, refusing the
stood went sheer down for a considerable stock of cooling drinks, cordials, and
way. Then on     the north side there febrifuges, which the Chevalier said had
came out the sharp, high-pitched, tiled  been sent by his sister the Abbess of Belroof of the corps du logis; on the south, laise. He put the subject of his health
another roof, surmounted by a cross at aside, only asking if this were the day
the gable, and evidently belonging to that the gendarme-captain would return
the chapel; on the other two sides lay  to Paris, and then begging to see that
courts-that to the east, a stable-yard; officer, so as to have a distinct underthat to the west, a small, narrow, chilly- standing of the grounds of his imprisonlooking, paved  inclosure, with  enor- ment. The captain had, however, been
mously - massive  walls, the  doorway  a mere instrument; and when Philip
walled  up, and looking   like a true  clamored to be taken before the next
prison-yard. Beyond this wall-indeed, justice of the peace, even   Berenger
on every side-extended offices, servants' smiled at him for thinking that such a
houses, stables, untidy, desolate-looking being existed in France. The only cause
gardens, and the whole was inclosed by  alleged was the vague but dangerous
the white wall with flanking red-tiled  suspicion of conveying correspondence
turrets, whose gaudy appearance had last between England and the heretics, and
night made Philip regard the whole as a this might become extremely perilous
flimsy, Frenchified erection, but he now  to one undeniably half English, regarded
saw it to be of extremely solid stone and  as whole Huguenot, caught on the way
lime, and with no entrance but the great to La Rochelle, with a letter to La None
barbican gateway they had entered by; in his pocket; moreover, to one who
moreover, with a yawning dry moat all had had a personal affray with a King
round. Wherever he looked he saw these famous for storing up petty offences,
tall, pointed red caps, resembling, he whom the last poor King had favored,
thought, those worn by the victims of an  and who, in fine, had claims to estates
auto-da-fe, as one of Walsingham's secre- that could not be spared to the Huguenot
taries had described them to him; and he interest.




214                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
He was really not sure that there tlemen in the evening; though Philip
was not some truth in the professions of laughed at the roses adorning his shoes,
the Chevalier, being anxious to protect and his fresh ruff, as needless attentions
him  from  the Queen-mother and the to an old ruffian like the Chevalier.
Guises; he had never been able to      However, Philip started when he endivest himself of a certain trust in his tered the hall, and  beheld, not the
old kinsman's friendliness, and he was Chevalier alone, but with   him  the
obliged to be beholden to him for the beautiful lady of the velvet coach, and
forms in which to couch his defence. another stately, extremely   handsome
At the same time he wrote to Sir Francis dame, no longer in her first youth, and
Walsingham, and to his grandfather, but in costly black and white garments.
with great caution, lest hisletters should When the Chevalier called her his sister,
be inspected by his enemies, and with  Madame de Bellaise, Philip had    no
the less hope of their availing him, be- notion that she was anything but a
cause it was probable that the Ambas- widow, leading a secular life; and though
sador would return home on the King's a couple of nuns attended her, their
death. No answer' could be expected    dress was so much less conventual than
for at least a fortnight, and even then it Cecily's that he did not at first find
was possible that the Queen-mother them     out. It was explained that Mamight choose to refer the cause to King dame de Selinville was residing with
Henry, who was then in Poland.         her aunt, and that, having come to visit
Berenger wrote these letters with   her father, he had detained the ladies to
much thought and care, but when they   supper, hoping to enliven the sojourn of
were once sealed, he collapsed again   his beaux cousins.
into despair and impatience, and fran-    Madame de Selinville, looking anxtically paced the little court as if he iously at Berenger, hoped she saw him
would dash himself against the walls in better health.    He replied, stiffly,
that detained him from Eustacie; then  that he was perfectly well; and then,
threw himself moodily into a chair, hid by way of safety, repaired to the society
his face in his crossed arms, and fell a of the Abbess, who immediately began
prey to all the wretched visions called up plying him with questions about England,
by an excited brain.                  its Court, and especially the secret marHowever, he was equally alive with riage of Queen Elizabeth and " ce Comte
Philip to the high-spirited resolution  de Dudley," on which she was so mithat his enemies should not perceive or nutely informed as to put him to the
triumph in his dejection. He showed    blush.  Then  she was very    curious
himself at the noonday dinner, before  about the dispersed convents, and how
Captain Delarue departed, grave and   many of the nuns had married, and she
silent, but betraying no agitation; and  seemed altogether delighted  to  have
he roused himself from his sad musings secured the attention of a youth from
at the supper-hour, to arrange his hair, the outer world. His soul at first reand assume the ordinary dress of gen- coiled from  her as one of Eustacie's




CAGED IN THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST.                    215
oppressors, and from her unconvent-like very angry with  his brother for his
talk; and yet he could not but think  distrust.
her a good-natured person, and wonder   When the ladies had ridden away to
if she could really have been hard upon the convent in the summer evening, and
his poor little wife. And she, who had the two brothers had returned to their
told Eustacie she would strangle with  prison, Philip would have begun to rave
her own hands the scion of the rival about Madame deSelinville, but his mouth
house! - she, like most women, was was stopped at once with, "Don't be such
much more bitter against an unseen    a fool, Phil! " and when Berenger shut
being out of reach, than toward a cour- his eyes, leaned back and folded his arms
teously-mannered, pale, suffering-looking together, there was no more use in talkyouth close beside her. She had enough  ing to him.
affection for Eustacie to have grieved  This exceeding dejection continued
much at her wanderings, and at her fate; for a day or two, while Berenger's whole
and now the sorrow-stricken look, that spirit chafed in agony at his helplessness,
by no effort could be concealed, really  and like demons there ever haunted him
moved her toward the young bereaved the thoughts of what might betide Euhusband. Besides, were not all feuds stacie, young, fair, forsaken, and believon the point of being made up by the ing herself a widow. Proudly defiant,
excellent device concocted between her as he showed himself to all eyes beyond
brother and her niece?              his tower, he seemed to be fast gnawing
Meantime, Philip was in raptures and pining himself away in the anguish
with the kindness of the beautiful he suffered through these long days of
Madame de Selinville. He, whom the   captivity.
Mistresses Walsingham treated as a mere  Perhaps ib was Philip's excitement
clumsy boy, was promoted by her manner about any chance of meeting Madame
to be a man and a cavalier. He blushed de Selinville, that first roused him from
up to the roots of his hair and looked the contemplation of his own misery.
sheepish whenever one of her entrancing  It struck him that if he did not rouse
smiles lit upon  him; but then she himself to exert his influence, the boy,
inquired after his brother so cordially, left to no companionship save what he
she told him so openly how brilliant had  could make for himself, might be led
been Berenger's career at the Court, she away by intercourse with the gendarmes,
regretted so heartily their present danger or by the blandishments of Diane, whatand detention, and promised so warmly  ever might be her game. He must be
to use her interest with Queen Catherine, watched  over, and returned  to Sir
that, in the delight of being so talked to, Marmaduke  the  same  true - hearted
he forgot his awkwardness, and freely honest lad who had left home. Nor
and  confidentially, may be too con- had Berenger lain so long under Cecily
fidentially, for he  caught Berenger St. John's tender watching   without
frowning at him, and made a sudden   bearing away some notes of patience,
halt in his narrative, disconcerted but trust, and dutifulness that returned upon




216                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
him as his mind recovered tone after the tary sports were at their service, chess,
first shock. The whispers that had bid- tables, dice, or cards, but Philip detested
den him   tarry the Lord's leisure, be these, and they were only played in the
strong, and commit his way to Him who  evening, or on a rainy afternoon, by Bercould bring it to pass, and could save enger and the Chevalier.
Eustacie as she had already been saved,  It was clearly no part of the old
returned to him  once more: he chid   gentleman's plan to break their health
himself for his faintness of heart, rallied  or spirits. He insisted on taking them
his powers, and determined that cheer- out riding frequently, though always
fulness, dutifulness, and care for Philip  with four gendarmes with loaded arqueshould no longer fail.                buses, so as to preclude all attempt at
So he reviewed his resources, and in  escape, or conversation with the peasants.
the first place arranged for a brief daily  The rides were hateful to both youths,
worship with his two English fellow- but Berenger knew that so many hours
prisoners, corresponding to the home of tedium   were thus disposed of, and
hours of chapel service. Then he pro- hoped also to acquire some knowledge
posed to Philip to spend an hour every  of the country; indeed, he looked at
day over the study of the Latin Bible; every cottage and every peasant with
and when Philip showed himself re- affectionate eyes, as probably having
luctant to give up his habit of staring  sheltered Eustacie; and Philip, after
over the battlements, he represented that one visit paid to the convent at Bellaise,
an attack on their faith was not so im- was always in hopes of making such
probable but that they ought to be pre- another.  His boyish  admiration  of
pared for it.                         Madame de    Selinville was his chief
"I'm quite prepared," quoth Philip; distraction, coming on in accesses when-'I shall not listen to a word they    ever there was a hope of seeing her,
say."                                 and often diverting Berenger by its abHowever, he submitted to this, but surdities, even though at other times
was   far  more  contumacious as to   he feared that the lad might be led
Berenger's other proposal of profiting  away by it, or dissension sown between
by Sidney's copy of Virgil.  Here at them.    Meetings were rare-now and
least he was away from Mr. Adderley   then Madame de Selinville would appear
and study, and it passed endurance to  at dinner or at supper as her father's
have Latin and captivity both at once. guest; and more rarely, the Chevalier
Ile was more obliged for Berenger's would turn his horse's head in the
offer to impart to him the instruction  direction of Bellaise, and the  three
in fencing he had received during his gentlemen would be received in the
first visit to Paris; the Chevalier made unpartitioned parlor, and there treated
no difficulty about lending them  foils, to such lemon cakes as had been the
and their little court became the scene ruin of La Sablerie; but in general the
of numerous encounters, as well as of castle and the convent had little interother games and exercises. More seden- course, or only just enough to whet the




CAGED IN THE BLACKBIRD'S NEST.                    217
appetite of the prisoners for what consti-  " Sir, it is impossible!' said Berenger,
tuted their only variety.             "my wife lives."
Six weeks had lagged by before any    " Comment when you wear mourning
answer from Paris was received, and for her."
then there was no reply from Walsing-    "I wear black because I have been
ham, who had, it appeared, returned  able to procure nothing else since I have
home immediately after King Charles's been convinced that she did not perish
funeral.  The letter from the Council at La Sablerie. I was on my way to seek
bore that the Queen-mother was ready her when I was seized and detained
to accept the Baron de Ribaumont's here."
excuses in good part, and to consider     Where would you have sought her,
his youth; and she had no doubt of his my poor cousin?" compassionately asked
being treated with the like indulgence the Chevalier.
by the King, provided he would prove     "That I know not. She may be in
himself a loyal subject, by embracing England by this time; but that she
the Catholic faith, renouncing all his ille- escaped from La Sablerie, I am well
gitimate claims to the estates of Nid-de- assured."
Merle, and, in pledge of his sincerity,  "Alas! my poor friend, you feed on a
wedding his cousin, the Countess de Se- delusion.  I have surer evidence-you
linville, so soon as a dispensation should shall see the man yourself-one of my
have been procured. On no other con- son's people, who was actually at the assideration could he be pardoned or set at sault, and had strict orders to seek and
liberty.                              save her. Would that I could feel the
"Then," said Berenger slowly, " a least hope left!"
prisoner I must remain until it be the   "Is the man here? Let me see him,"
will of Heaven to open the doors."   said Berenger, hastily.
" Fair nephew! "  exclaimed  the    He was at once sent for, and proved
Chevalier, "make no rash replies. Be- to be one of the stable-servants, a rough
think you to what you expose yourself soldierly-looking man, who made no
by obstinacy. I may no longer be able difficulty in telling that M. de Nid-deto protect you when the King returns." Merle had bidden his own troop to use
And he further went on to represent every effort to reach the widow Lauthat, by renouncing voluntarily all pos- rent's house, and secure the lady. They
sible claims on the Nid-de-Merle estates, had made for it, but missed the way,
the Baron would save the honor of poor and met with various obstacles; and
Eustacie (which indeed equally concern- when they reached it, it was already in
ed the rest of the family), since they then flames, and he had seen for a moment
would gladly drop all dispute of the va- Mademoiselle de Nid-de-Merle, whom he
lidity of the marriage; and the lands of well knew by sight, with an infant in
Selinville would be an ample equivalent her arms at an upper window. He had
for these as well as for all expectations in called to her by name, and was about
England.                             to send for a ladder, when recognizing




218                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the Ribaumont colors, she had turned  proposal, even if I could forsake my faith
back, and thrown herself and her child  or my English kindred. You remember,
into the flames. M. de Nid - de - Merle sir, that I returned this same answer at
was frantic when he heard of it, and they  Paris, when I had no hope that my wife
had searched for the remains among the  survived."
ruins; but, bah! it was like a lime-kiln,  " True. my fair cousin, but I fear time
nothing was to be found-all was cal- will convince you that this constancy is
cined.                                 unhappily misplaced.  You shall have
"No fragment left " said Berenger; time to consider; and when it is proved
"not a corner of tile or beam?"       to you that my poor niece is out of the
"Not so much wood as you could reach of your fidelity, and when you have
boil an egg with; I will swear it on the become better acquainted with the claims
Mass."                                 of the Church to your allegiance, then
"That is needless," said Berenger. may it only prove that your conversion
" I have seen the spot myself. That is all does not come too late. I have the honor
I desired to ask."                    to take my leave."
The Chevalier would have taken his    " One moment more, sir. Is there no
hand and condoled with him over the   answer as to my brother?"
horrible story; but he   drew   back,     "None, cousin. As I told you, your
repeating that he had    seen Widow   country has at present no ambassador;
Laurent's house, and that he saw that but, of course, on your fulfilment of the
some parts of the man's story were so conditions, he would be released with
much falsified that he could not believe you."
the rest. Moreover, he knew that Eu-      " So," said Philip, when the old knight
stacie had not been in the town at the had quitted the room, "of course you
time of the siege.                    cannot marry while Eustacie lives; but
Now the Chevalier's bonafide believed if  "
the man's story, so far as that he never  "Not another word, profane boy!"
doubted that Eustacie had perished, and  angrily cried Berenger.
he looked on Berenger's refusal to accept  "I was only going to say, it is a pity
the tale as the mournful last clinging to  of one so goodly not to bring her over
a vain hope. In his eyes, the actual to the true faith, and take her to Engsight of Eustacie, and the total destruc- land."
tion of the house, were mere matters of   "Much would she be beholden to
embellishment, possibly untrue, but not you!" said Berenger. "So," he added,
invalidating the main fact. IIe only sighing, "I had little hope but that it
said, " Well, my friend, I will not press would be thus. I believe it is all a
you while the pain of this narration is web of this old plotter's weaving, and
still fresh."                         that the Queen-mother acts in it at his
" Thank you, sir; but this is not pain, request. He wants only to buy me off
for I believe not a word of it; therefore  with his daughter's estates from asserting
it is impossible for me to entertain the my claim to this castle and lands; and




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                      219
I trow he will never rise up here till-  fair play, yet it was always with his
till   "                              elbows on the table and his fingers in
" Till when, Berry?"               his ears, regardless of appearing to the
"Till mayhap my grandfather can    priest in the character of the deaf adder.
move the Queen to do something for us; After all, he was not the object, and
or till Madame de Selinville sees a face good Pere Bonami at first thought the
she likes better than  her brother's day his own, when he found that almost
carving; or, what can I tell? till malice all his arguments against Calvinism were
is tired out, and Heaven's will sets us equally impressed upon Berenger's mind,
free! May Eustacie only have reached  but the differences soon revealed themhome! But I'm sorry for you, my poor selves; and the priest, though a good
Phil."                                man, was not a very happily-chosen
"Never heed, brother," said Philip; champion, for he was one of the old" what is prison to me, so that I can now  fashioned, scantily - instructed, countryand then see those lovely eyes?"     priests, who were more numerous before
And the languishing air of the clumsy the Jesuit revival of learning, and
lad was so comical as to beguile Berenger knew nothing of controversy save that
into a laugh. Yet Berenger's own feeling adapted to the doctrines of Calvin, so
would go back to his first meeting with that in dealing with an Anglican of the
Diane; and as he thought of the eyes school of Ridley and Hooker, it was
then fixed on him, he felt that he was like bow and arrow against sword. And
under a trial that might become more in those days of change, controversial
severe.                               reading was one of the primary studies
even of young laymen, and Lord Walwyn,.'~~ -  ~with a view to his grandson's peculiar
position, had taken care that he should
CHAPTER XXXI.
be well instructed, so that he was not at
THE DArKi POOL OF THE FUTURE.     all unequal to the contest.  Moreover,
apart from argument, he clung as a point
"Triumph, triumph, only she
That knit his bonds can set him free."  of honor to the Church as to the wife
SOUTHEiY.  that he had accepted in his childhood;
No change was made in the life of the and often tried to recall the sketch that
captives of Nid-de-Merle after the answer Philip Sidney had once given him of a
from Paris, except that Pere Bonami, tale that a friend of his designed to
who had already once or twice dined turn into a poem, like Ariosto's, in terra
at the Chevalier's table, was requested  rima, of a Red Cross knight separated
to make formal exposition of the errors from his Una as the true faith, and
of the Reformers and of the tenets of tempted by a treacherous Duessa, who
his own Church to the Baron de Ribau- impersonated at once falsehood   and
mont.                                 Rome. And he knew so well that the
Philip took such good care not to be least relaxation of his almost terrified
deluded that, though he sat by to see resistance would make him so entirely




220                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
succumb to Diane's beauty and brilliancy, and pined for him as she kept her flock,
that he kept himself stiffly frigid and re- made the rivulets, the brooks, the mounserved.                               tains re-echo with her sighs and plaints,
Diane never openly alluded to the and had wandered through the hills and
terms on which he stood, but he often valleys, gathering simples wherewith she
found gifts from unknown hands placed had compounded a balsam that might
in his room. The books which he had do away with the scars that the claws
found there were changed when he had of the lions had left, so that he might
had time to study them; and marks again appear with the glowing cheeks and
were placed in some of the most striking  radiant locks that had excited the envy
passages.  They were of the class that of the god of day.
turned the brain of the Knight of La     Berenger burst out laughing over the
Mancha, but with a predominance of practical part of this poetical performthe pastoral, such as the Diana of George ance, and laughed the more at Philip's
of Montemayor, and his numerous imi- hurt, injured air at his mirth. Philip,
tators-which Philip thought horrible who would have been the first to see the
stuff-enduring nothing but a few of absurdity in any other Daphn6, thought
the combats of Amadis de Gaul or Pal- this a passing pleasant device, and conmerin of England, until he found that sidered it very unkind in his brother
Madame de Selinville prodigiously ad- not even to make experiment of the balmired the " silly swains more silly than  sam of simples, but to declare that he had
their sheep," and was very anxious that much rather keep his scars for Eustacie's
M. le Baron should be touched by their sake than wear a smooth face to please
beauties; whereupon honest Philip made Diane.
desperate efforts to swallow them in his  Still Berenger's natural courtesy stood
brother's stead, but was always found fast in his way. He could not help being
asleep in the very middle of arguments respectful and  attentive  to the old
between Damon and Thyrsis upon the Chevalier, when their terms were, apdevoirs of love, or the mournings of some parently at least, those of host and
disconsolate nymph over her jealousies of  guest; and to a lady he could not be
a favored rival.                     rude and repellent, though he could be
One day, a beautiful ivory box, exhal- reserved.  So when the kinsfolk met,
ing  sweet perfume, appeared in the no stranger would have discovered that
prison chamber, and therewith a sealed one was a prisoner and the others his
letter in verse, containing an affecting  captors.
description of how Corydon had been      One August day when Madame de
cruelly torn by the lions in endeavoring  Selinville and her lady attendants were
to bear away Sylvie from her cavern, supping at the castle at the early hour
how Sylvie had been rent from him and  of six, a servant brought in word that
lost, and how vainly he continued to  an Italian pedlar craved leave to disbewail her, and disregard the loving la- play his wares. He was welcome, both
ment of Daphne, who had ever mourned  for need's sake and for amusement,




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                     221
and was readily admitted. He was a      The old Chevalier, who had hitherto
handsome olive-faced Italian, and was been taken up with the abstruse calcufollowed by a little boy with a skin lation-derived from his past days of
of almost Moorish dye-and great was economy-how much ribbon would be
the display at once made on the tables, needed to retrim his murrey just-auof                                   corps, here began to lend an ear, though
"Lawn as white as driven snow,    saying nothing. Philip looked on in
Cyprus, black as e'er was crow;
Gloves as sweet as fragrant posies,  open - eyed wonder, and nudged his
Masks for faces and for noses    brother, who muttered in return, " Jugand there was a good deal of the eager, glery! "
desultory bargaining that naturally took  "Ah, the fair company are all slow
place where purchasing was an unusual to believe," said the pedlar. "Hola,
excitement and novelty, and was to   Alessio! " and taking a glove that Philip
form  a whole evening's amusement. had left on the table, he held it to the
Berenger, while supplying the defects boy. A few unintelligible words passed
of his scanty travelling wardrobe, was between them; then the boy pointed
trying to make out whether he had seen direct to Philip, and waved his hand
the man before, wondering if he were northwards.   "He says the gentleman
the same whom he had met in the forest who owns this glove comes from the
of Montpipeau, though a few differences North, from far away," interpreted the
in dress, hair, and beard made him some- Italian; then, as the boy made the geswhat doubtful.                       ture of walking in chains, " that he is a
"Perfumes? Yes, lady, I have store captive."
of perfumes: ambergris and violet dew,  " Ay," cried Philip, " right, lad; and
and the Turkish essence distilled from  can he tell how long I shall be so?"
roses; yea, and the finest spirit of the  " Things yet to come," said the
Venus myrtle-tree, the secret known to mountebank, "are only revealed after
the Roman dames of old, whereby they long preparation. For them must he
secured perpetual beauty and love-   gaze into the dark pool of the future.
though truly Madame should need no The present and the past he can divine by
such essence. That which nature has the mere touch of what has belonged to
bestowed on her secures to her all hearts the person."
-and one valued more than all."         " It is passing strange," said Philip to
"Enough," said Diane, blushing some- Madame de Selinville. "You credit it,
what, though with an effort at laughing Madame?"
off his words, "these are the tricks of  " Ah, have we not seen the wonders
your trade."                         come to pass that a like diviner foretold
" Madame is incredulous; yet, Lady, to the Queen-mother? "said Diane; "her
I have been in the East. Yonder boy sons should be all kings-that was told
comes from the land where there are to her when the eldest was yet Dauspells that make known the secrets of phin."
lives."                                 "And there is only one yet to come,"




222                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
said Philip, awe-struck. "But see, what queries on which the spirits will throw
has he now?"                          light."
" VYronique's kerchief," returned Ma-  "And how am I to know that you
dame de Selinville, as the Italian began  will not bring the devil to shatter the casto interpret the boy's gesture.       tle, my friend?" demanded the Chevalier.
"Pretty maidens, he says, serve fair "Or, more likely still, that you are not
ladies-bear tokens for them. This dam- laughing all the time at these credulous
sel has once been the bearer of a bouquet boys and ladies?"
of heather of the pink and white, whose   " Of that, sir, you may here convince
bells were to ring hope."             yourself," said the mountebank, putting
"Eh, eh, Madame, it is true!" cried into his hand a sort of credential in
Veronique, crimson with surprise and Italian, signed by Renato di Milano, the
alarm. "M. le Baron     knows it is Queen's perfumer, testifying to the skill
true."                                 of his compatriot Ercole Stizzito both in
Berenger had started at this revela- perfumery, cosmetics, and in the secrets
tion, and uttered an inarticulate excla- of occult sciences.
mation; but at that moment the boy,       The Chevalier was no Italian scholar,
in whose hand his master had placed a  and his daughter interpreted the scroll
crown froli the money newly paid, to him, in a rapid low voice, adding, "I
began to make vehement gestures, which  have had many dealings with Rene of
the man interpreted. "Le Balafre, he Milan, father. I know he speaks sooth.
says, pardon me, gentlemen, le Balafre There can be no harm in letting the poor
could reveal even a deeper scar of the man play out his play-all the castle serheart than of the visage "-and truly the vants will be frantic to have their forboy's brown hand was pressed on his tunes told."
heart-" yet truly there is yet hope       "I must speak with the fellow first,
(esperance) to be found. Yes'-as the daughter," said the Chevalier.   "He
boy put his hand to his neck-" he must satisfy me that he has no unlawful
bears a pearl, parted from  its sister dealings that could bring the Church
pearls. Where they are, there is hope. down on us." And he looked meaningly
Who can miss Hope, who has sought it at the mountebank, who replied by a
at a royal death-bed?"                whole muster-roll of ecclesiastics, male
"Ah, where is it?" Berenger could and female, who had heard and approved
not help exclaiming.                  his predictions.
"Sir," said the pedlar, "as I told    "A few more words with thee, fellow,"
Messieurs and  Mesdames before, the    said the Chevalier, pointing the way to
spirits that cast the lights of the future  one of the rooms opening out of the hall.
on the dark pool need invocation. Ere  "As master of the house I must be conhe can answer M. le Baron's demands, vinced of his honesty," he added. "If I
he and I must have time and seclusion. am satisfied, then, who will may seek to
If Monsieur le Chevalier will grant us hear their fortune."
an empty room, there will we answer all   Chevalier, man and boy disappeared,




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                      223
and Philip was the first to exclaim, "A  " Then, you think it mere cozening?
strange fellow! What will he tell us? If so, we should find it out."
Madame, shall you hear him?"             " I don't reckon myself keener than
"That depends on my father's report," an accomplished Italian mountebank,"
she said. " And yet," sadly and pensively, said Berenger, drily.
"my future is dark and void enough.     Further conference was cut short by
Why should I vex myself with hearing  the return of the Chevalier, saying, in
it?"                                 his paternal genial way, "Well, children,
"Nay, it may brighten," said Philip.  I have examined the fellow and his
" Scarcely, while hearts are hard," credentials, and for those who have
she murmured with a slight shake of the enough youth and hope to care to have
head, that Philip thought indescribably the future made known to them, bah!
touching; but Berenger was gathering it is well! "
his purchases together, and did not see.  "Is it sorcery, sir? " asked Philip,
"And you, brother," said Philip, "you  anxiously.
mean to prove him?"                     The Chevalier shrugged his shoulders.
"No," said Berenger. "Have you     "What know I? " he said; "for those
forgotten, Phil, the anger we met with, who have a fine nose for brimstone there
when we dealt with the gipsy at Hurst may be, but he assures me it is but the
Fair?"                                white magic practised in Egypt, and the
"Pshaw, Berry, we are past flogging boy is Christian! "
now."                                    "Did you try his secrets, father?"
"Out of reach, Phil, of the rod, inquiredMadame de Selinville. *
but scarce of the teaching it struck into  "I, my daughter? An old man's forus."                                 tune is in his children. What-have I to
" What?" said Philip sulkily.     ask? "
" That divining is either cozening    " I-I scarcely like to be the first!"
man or forsaking God, Phil. Either it is said the lady, eager, but hesitating.
falsehood, or it is a lying wonder of the " Vronique, you would have your fordevil.'                               tune told?"
"But, Berry, this man is no cheat."   "I will be the first," said Philip,
"Then he is worse."               stepping forward manfully.   "I will
"Only, turn not away, brother. How  prove him  for you, lady, and tell you
should he have known things that even I whether he be a cozener or not; or
know not?-the heather."              if his magic be fit for you to deal
"No marvel in that," said Berenger. with."
"This is the very man I bought An-      And confident in the inherent intuinora's fan from; he was prowling round tion of a plain Englishman, as well as
Montpipeau, and my heather was given  satisfied to exercise his resolution for
to VYronique with little secrecy. And once in opposition to Berenger's opinion,
as to the royal death-bed, it was Rene, Master Thistlewood stepped toward the
his master, who met me there."        closet where the Italian awaited his cli



224                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ents, and Berenger knew that it would be  "Not at all, madame," said Berenger,
worse than useless to endeavor to with- gravely.  "I do not understand white
hold him. He only chafed at the smile magic."
which passed between father and daughter  " Our good cousin has been too well
at this doughty self-assertion.       bred among the Reformers to condescend
There was a long silence. Berenger to our little wickednesses, daughter,"
sat with his eyes fixed on the window  said the Chevalier; and the sneer-much
where the twilight horizon was still like that which would await a person
soft and bright with the pearly gold now who scrupled at joining in tableof the late sunset, thinking with an  turning or any form  of spiritualismintensity of yearning what it would purpled Berenger's scar, now his only
be could he truly become certain of manner of blushing; but he instantly
Eustacie's present doings; questioning perceived that it was the Chevalier's
whether he would try to satisfy that desire that he should consult the conlonging by the doubtful auguries of the  juror, and therefore became the more
diviner, and then, recollecting how he resolved against running into a trap.
had heard from wrecked sailors that to   "I am sure," said Madame de Selinseek to delude their thirst with seawater ville, earnestly, though with an affectadid but aggravate their misery.  He tion of lightness, "a little wickedness
knew  that whatever he might hear is fair when there is a great deal at
wouldbeunworthyof confidence. Either stake. For my part, I would not hesiit might have been prompted by the tate long, to find out how soon the
Chevalier, or it might be merely framed King will relent toward my fair cousin
to soothe and please him-or, were it a here! "
genuine oracle, he had no faith in the   "That, madame," said Berenger, with
instinct that was to perceive it, but the same grave dryness, "is likely to be
what he had faith in was the Divine better known to other persons than this
protection over his lost ones. "No," wandering Greek boy."
he thought to himself, "I will not by a  Here Philip's step was heard returnpresumptuous sin, in my own impatience, ing hastily. He was pale, and looked
risk incurring woes on them that deal a good deal excited, so that Madame
with familiar spirits and wizards, that de Selinville uttered a little cry, and
peep and mutter. If ever I am to hear exclaimed, "Ah! is it so dreadful,
of Eustacie again, it shall be by God's then?"
will, not the devil's."                  "No, no, Madame," said Philip,
Diane de Selinville had been watching  turning round, with a fervor and confihis face all the time, and now said, with  dence he had never before shown. " On
that almost timid air of gaiety that she my word, there is nothing formidable.
wore when addressing him: "You too, You see nothing-nothing but the Italian
cousin, are awaiting Monsieur Philippe's and the boy. The boy gazes into a vesreport to decide whether to look into the sel of some black liquid, and sees-sees
pool of mystery."                    there all you would have revealed. Ah! "




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                    225
"Then you believe?" asked Madame may devour their impatience a little
de Selinville.                      longer."
" It cannot be false," answered Philip;  "Thanks, sir," said Berenger; " but I
"he told me everything.  Things he am not tempted," and he gave the usual
could not have known. My very home, signal to the gendarmes, who, during
my father's house, passed in review before meals, used to stand as sentries at the
that strange little blackamoor's eyes; great door of the hall.
where I-though I would have given       "It might settle your mind," mutworlds to see it —beheld only the lamp tered Philip, hesitating.  "And yetmirrored in the dark pool."          yet-"
"How do you know it was your        But he used no persuasions, and perfather's house?" said Berenger.     mitted himself to be escorted with his
" I could not doubt. Just to test the brother along the passages to their own
fellow, I bade him ask for my native chamber, where he threw himself into a
place. The little boy gazed, smiled, chair with a long sigh, and did not
babbled his gibberish, pointed.  The speak. Berenger meantime opened the
man said he spoke of a fair mansion  Bible, glanced over the few verses he
among green fields and hills,'a grand meant to read, found the place in the
cavalier embonpoint,'-those were his Prayer-book, and was going to the stairs
very words,-at the door, with a tankard to call Humfrey, when Philip broke
in one hand. Ah! my dear father, why forth: "Wait, Berry; don't be in such
could not I see him too? But who could haste."
mistake him or the manor?"              "What, you want time to lose the
"And did he speak of future as well taste of your dealings with the devil? "
as past?" said Diane.               said Berenger, smiling.
"Ye yes, yes,," said Philip, with more  Pshaw! no devil in the matter,"
agitation.  "Lady, that will you know  testily said Philip. "No, I was only
for yourself."                       wishing you had not had a Puritan fit,
"It was not dreadful? " she said, ris- and seen and heard for yourself. Then
ing.                                 I should not have had to tell you," and
" Oh, no;" and Philip had become he sighed.
crimson, and hesitated; "certes, not   "I have no desire to be told," said
dreadful. But   I must not say more." Berenger, who had become more fixed
"Save good-night," said Berenger, in the conviction that it was an imposrising. "See, our gendarmes are again ture.
looking as if we had long exceeded       No desire! Ah! I had none when
their patience. It is an hour later than  I knew what it was. But you ought to
we are wont to retire."             know."
"If it be your desire to consult this  "Well," saidBerenger, "you will burst
mysterious fellow now you have heard anon if I open not my ears."
your brother's report, my dear baron,"  "Dear Berry, speak not thus. It
said the Chevalier, "the gendarmes will be the worse for you when you do
15




226                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
hear. Alack, Berenger, all ours have Had he wings like the Cupids in the balbeen vain hopes. I asked for her-and lets at the Louvre? "asked Berenger prothe boy fell well-nigh into convulsions vokingly.
of terror as he gazed; spoke of flames  "I tell you I saw nothing," said
and falling houses. That was wherefore Philip tartly. "This was the Italian's
I pressed you not again-it would have interpretation of the boy's gesture. It
wrung your heart too much. The boy was to be by means of love, he said, and
fairly wept and writhed himself, crying of a lady, who —  He made it plain
out in his tongue for pity on the fair lady enough who she was," added the boy,
and the little babe in the burning house. coloring.
Alack, brother," said Philip, a little hurt  "No doubt as the Chevalier had
that his brother had not changed coun- taught him."
tenance.                                "You have prejudged, and are deaf
" This is the lying tale of the man-at- to all," said Philip. "What, could the
arms which our own eyes contradicted," Chevalier have instructed him to say that
said Berenger; " and no doubt was like- I-I-" he hesitated, " that my-my love
wise inspired by the Chevalier."     -I mean that he saw my shield per pale
" See the boy, brother! How should with the field fretty and the sable leophe have heard the Chevalier?   Nay, ard?"
you might hug your own belief, but      "Oh! it is to be my daughter, is
it is hard that we should both be in it? "said Berenger, laughing; "I am very
durance for your mere dream that she happy to entertain your proposals for
lives."                              her."
"Come, Phil, it will be the devil    "Berenger, what mocking fiend has
indeed that sows dissension between us," possessed you? " cried Philip, half angrily,
said Berenger. "You know well enough half pitifully. "How can you so speak
that were it indeed with my poor Eu- of that poor child?"
stacie as they would fain have us believe,  " Because the more they try to force
rather than give up her fair name I on me the story of her fate, the plainer
would rot in prison for life. Or would it is to me that they do not believe it.
you have me renounce my faith, or wed I shall find her yet, and then, Phil, you
Madame de Selinville upon the witness shall have the first chance."
of a pool of ink that I am a widower?"  Philip growled.
he added, almost laughing.              "Well, Phil," said his brother, good"For that matter," muttered Philip, humoredly, "any way, till this Love
a good deal ashamed and half affronted, comes that is to let us out, don't let
"you know I value the Protestant faith Moor or fiend come between us. Let
so that I never heard a word from the me keep my credence for the honest
wily old priest. Nevertheless, the boy, Bailli's daughters at Lugon; and rememwhen I asked of our release, saw the ber I would give my life to free you, but
gates set open by Love."             I cannot give away my faith." Philip
" What did Love look like in the pool? bent his head. He was of too stubborn




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                      227
a mould to express contrition or affection, yet withal there was a tremor, a quiver
but he mused for five minutes, then   of the downcast eyelids, and a trembling
called Humfrey, and at the last moment of the fair hand, as though she were ill
as the heavy tread came up-stairs, he at ease; even though it was by no means
turned round and said, "You're in the the first time she had trafficked with the
right on't there, Berry. Hap what hap, dealers in mysterious arts who swarmed
the foul fiend may carry off the conjuror around Catherine de Medicis.  There
before I murmur at you again  Still I were words lately uttered that weighed
wish you had seen him. You would with her in their simplicity, and she
know'tis sooth."                    could not forget them in that gloomy
While Berenger, in his prison cham- light, as she gazed on the brown face of
her, with the lamplight beaming on his the Italian, Ercole, faultless in outline
high white brow and clear eye, stood  as a classical mask, but the black depths
before his two comrades in captivity, of the eyes sparkling with intensity of
their true-hearted faces composed to  observation, as if they were everywhere
reverence, and as he read, "I have hated  at once and gazed through and through.
them that hold of superstitious vanities He wore his national dress, with the
and my trust hath been in the Lord, short cloak over one shoulder; but the
I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy, little boy, who stood at the table, had
for Thou hast considered my trouble  been fantastically arrayed in a sort of
and known my soul in adversities," semi-Albanian garb, a red cap with a
feeling that here was the oracle by long tassel, a dark, gold-embroidered
which he was willing to abide-Diane velvet jacket sitting close to his body,
de Selinville was entering the cabinet and a white kilt over his legs, bare except
where the secrets of the future were to for buskins stiff with gold. The poor
be unveiled.                         little fellow looked pale in spite of his
There she stood-the beautiful Court tawny hue, his enormous black eyes were
lady-her lace coif (of the Mary of heavy and weary, and he seemed to be
Scotland type) well framed the beautiful trying to keep aloof from the small brazen
oval of her face, and set off the clear vessel formed by the coils of two serpents
olive of her complexion, softened by  that held the inky liquid of which Philip
short jetty curls at the temples, and had spoken.
lighted by splendid dark eyes, and by   No doubt of the veritable nature of
the smiles of a perfect pair of lips. A  the charm crossed Diane; her doubt was
transparent veil hung back over the of its lawfulness, her dread of the superruff like frostwork-formed fairy wings, natural region she was invading. She
and over the white silk bodice and hesitated before she ventured on her
sleeves laced with violet, and the violet first question, and started as the Italian
skirt that fell in ample folds on the first spoke,-"What would the Eccelground; only, however, in the dim light lentissima?  Ladies often hesitate to
revealing by an occasional gleam that it speak the question nearest their hearts.
was not black. It was a stately presence, Yet is it ever the same. But the lady




228                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
must be pleased to form it herself in gate, in full day, on horseback; andwords, or the lad will not see her vis- and it is Madame who is with them,'
ion."                                he added, as the lad pointed decidedly
"Where, then, is my brother?" said to her, "It is Madame who opens their
Diane, still reluctant to come direct to prison."
the point.                              Diane's face lighted with gladness for
The boy gazed intently into the black  a moment; then she said, faltering (most
pool, his great eyes dilating till they women of her day would not have been
seemed like black wells, and after a long even thus reserved), "Then, I shall marry
time, that Diane could have counted by again?"
the throbs of her heart, he began to    The boy gazed and knitted his brow;
close his fingers, perform the action over then, without any pantomime, looked
the other arm of one playing on the lute, up and spoke.  " The Eccellentissima
throw his head back, close his eyes, and shall be a bride once more, he says," exappear to be singing a lullaby. Then he plained the man, "but after a sort he
spoke a few words to his master quickly. cannot understand. It is exhausting, lady,
"HIe sees," said Ercole, "a gentleman thus to gaze into the invisible future;
touching the lute, seated in a bedroom, the boy becomes confused and exhausted
where lies, on a rich pillow, another gen- rere long."
tleman,"-and as the boy stroked his     " Once more-I will only ask of the
face, and pointed to his hands-" wear- past. My cousin, is he married or a
ing a mask and gloves. It is, he says, in  widower? "
my own land, in Italy," and as the boy  The boy clasped his hands and looked
made the action of rowing, "in the terri- imploringly, shaking his head at the
tory of Venice."                     dark pool, as he murmured an entreat"It is well," said Madame de Selin- ing word to his master. "Ah! Madame,J'
ville, who knew that nothing was more said the Italian, "that question hath
probable than that her brother should already been demanded by the young
be playing the King to his sleep in the Inglese. The poor child hath been so
medicated mask and gloves that cherished terrified by the scene it called up, that
the royal complexion, and, moreover, that he implores he may not see it again. A
Henry was lingering to take his pastime sacked and burning town, a lady in a flamin Italy to the great inconvenience of his ing house-"
kingdom.                                "Enough, enough," said Diane; "I
Her next question came nearer her could as little bear to hear as he to see.
heart-"You saw the gentleman with a It is what we have ever known and
scar. Will he leave this castle?"    feared. And now "-she blushed as she
The boy gazed, then made gestures of spoke-" sir, you will leave me one of
throwing his arms wide, and of passing those potions that Signor Renato is wont
out; and as he added his few words, the to compound."
master explained: " He sees the gentle-  " Capisco! " said Ercole, with a rapid
man leaving the castle, through open motion of his head.




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                     229
" It must be such," added Diane, " as you, if you obey my commands. I have
can be disguised in sherbet or milk. other work for you. But first repeat to
All hitherto have failed, as the person me more fully what you told me before.
in question tastes no wine."         Where was it that you saw this un" It will take a more refined prepara- happy girl under the name of Espetion-a subtler essence," returned Ercole; rance "
" but the Eccellentissima shall be obeyed  "At a hostel, sir, at Charente, where
if she will supply the means, for the ex- she was attending on an old heretic
pense will be heavy."                teacher of the name of Garden, who
The bargain was agreed upon, and a had fallen sick there, being pinched by
considerable sum advanced for a philtre, the fiend with rheumatic pains after his
compounded of stange Eastern plants deserts.  She bore the name of Esp6and mystic jewels; and then Diane, with rance Garden, and passed for his son's
a shudder of relief, passed into the full widow."
light of the hall, bade her father good-  "And by what means did you know
night, and was handed by him into the her not to be the mean creature she prelitter that had long been awaiting her tended?" said the Chevalier, with a gesat the door.                         ture of scornful horror.
The Chevalier, then, with care on his  "Illustrissimo, I never forget a face.
brow, bent his steps toward the apart- I had seen this lady with M. le Baron
ment where the Italian still remained, when they made purchases of various
counting the money he had received.  trinkets at Montpipeau; and I saw her
"So! " he said as he entered, "so, fully again. I had the honor to purchase
fellow, I have not hindered your gains, from her certain jewels, that the Ecceland you have been true to your agree- lenza will probably redeem; and evenment?'                             pardon, sir-I cut off and bought of her,
" Illustrissimo, yes.  The pool of her hair."
vision mirrored the flames, but nothing  "Her hair!" exclaimed the Chevbeyond-nothing-nothing."             alier, in horror. "The miserable girl
" They asked you, then, no more of to have fallen so low! Is it with you,
those words you threw out of Espe- fellow?"
rance?"                                "Surely, Illustrissimo. Such tresses
" Only the English youth, sir; and -so shining-so silky-so well-kept, I
there were plenty of other hopes to dance reserved to adorn the heads of Signor
before the eyes of such a lad! With M. Renato's most princely customers," said
le Baron it will be needful to be more the man, unpacking, from  the inmost
guarded."                            recesses of one of his most ingeniously
" M. le Baron shall not have the op- arranged packages, a parcel which conportunity," said the Chevalier.  " He tained the rich mass of beautiful black
may abide by his decision, and what tresses.  Ah! her head looked so noble,"
the younger one may tell him. Fear he added, "that I felt it profane to let
not, good man, it shall be made good to my scissors touch those locks; but she




230                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
said that she could never wear them  more than their weight in gold; nor did
openly more, and that they did but take these jewels make up the cost of these, toup her time, and were useless to her gether with the warm cloak for him, and
child and her father-as she called him; the linen for her child that she had been
and she much needed the medicaments purchasing. I tell you, sir, the babe
for the old man that I gave her in ex- must have no linen but the finest fabric
change."                             of Cambrai-yes, and even carnation-col"IHeavens!  A daughter of Ribau- ored ribbons-though, for herself, I saw
mont!" sighed the Chevalier, clenching the homespun she was sewing. As she
his hand.  " And now, man, let me see mused over what she could throw back,
the jewels with which the besotted child I asked if she had no other gauds to
parted."                             make up the price, and she said, almost
The jewels were not many, nor re- within herself,'They are my child's, not
markable. No one but a member of mine.' Then remembering that I had
the family would have identified them, been buying the hair of the peasantand not one of the pearls was there; and maidens, she suddenly offered me her
the Chevalier refrained from inquiring tresses. But I could yet secure the
after them, lest, by putting the Italian pearls, if Eccellenza would."
on the scent of anything so exception-  "Do you, then, believe her to be in
ally valuable, he should defeat his own any positive want or distress? " said the
object, and lead to the man's securing  Chevalier.
the pearls and running away with them.  "Signor, no.  The heretical houseBut Ercole understood his glance, with holds among whom  she travels gladly
the quickness of a man whose trade support the families of their teachers, and
forced him to read countenances. "The at Catholic inns they pay their way. I
Eccellenza is looking for the pearls of understood them to be on their way to
Ribaumont? the lady made no offer of  a synod of Satan at that nest of heretics,
them to me."                         Montauban, where doubtless the old mis"Do you believe that she has them  creant would obtain an appointment to
still? "                            some village."
"I am certain of it, sir. I know     "When did you thus fall in with
that she has jewels-though she said not them? "
what they were-which she preserved      "It was on one of the days of the
at the expense of her hair. It was thus. week of Pentecost," said Ercole. "It is
The old man had, it seems, been for at that time I frequent fairs in those
weeks on the rack with pains caught by parts, to gather my little harvest on the
a chill when they fled from La Sablerie, maidens' heads."
and though the fever had left him, he   "Parbleu! class not my niece with
was still so stiff in the joints as to be those sordid beings, man," said the Chevunable to move. I prescribed for him  alier, angrily.  "Here is your price"unguents of balm and Indian spice, which, tossing a heavy purse on the tableas the Eccellenza knows, are worth far "and as much more shall await you




THE DARK POOL OF THE FUTURE.                      231
when you bring me sure intelligence yond the territory where the affairs of
where to find my niece. You under- Ribaumont were interesting.
stand; and mark, not one word of the    But the Chevalier went through a
gentleman you saw here. You say she sleepless night. Long did he pace up
believes him dead?"                  and down his chamber, grind his teeth,
"The Illustrissimo must remember clench his fists and point them at his
that she never dropped her disguise with head, and make gestures of tearing his
me, but I fully think that she supposes thin grey locks; and many a military
herself a widow. And I understand the oath did he swear under his breath as he
Eccellenza, she is still to think so. I thought to what a pass things had come.
may be depended on."                 His brother's daughter waiting on an old
"You understand," repeated the Chev- Huguenot bourgeois, making sugar-cakes,
alier, "this sum shall reward you when  selling her hair! and what next! Here
you have informed me *here to find her was she alive after all, alive and disgra-as a man like you can easily trace her cing herself; alive-yes, both she and her
from  Montauban.  If you have any husband-to perplex the Chevalier, and
traffickings with her, it shall be made force him either to new crimes or to begworth your while to secure the pearls gar his son! Why could not the one
for the family; but, remember, the first have really died on the St. Bartholomew,
object is herself, and that she should be or the other at La Sablerie, instead of
ignorant of the existence of him whom  putting the poor Chevalier in the wrong
she fancied her husband."            by coming to life again!
" I see, Signor; and not a word, of  What had he done to be thus forced
course, of my having come from you. I to peril his soul at his age? Ah, had he
will discover her, and leave her noble but known what he should bring on himfamily to deal with her. Has the Illus- self when he wrote the unlucky letter,
trissimo any further commands?"      pretending that the silly little child
"None," began the Chevalier; then, wished to dissolve the marriage. How
suddenly, " This unhappy infant-is it should he have known that the lad would
healthy? Did it need any of your treat- come meddling over? And then, when
ment? "                              he had dexterously brought about that
"Signor, no. It was a fair, healthy  each should be offended with the other,
bambina of a year old, and I heard the and consent to the separation, why must
mother boasting that it had never had a royalty step in and throw them together
day's illness."                      again? Yes, and he surely had a right to
"Ah, the less a child has to do in the feel ill-used, since it was in ignorance of
world, the more is it bent on living," the ratification of the marriage that he
said the Chevalier with a sigh; and then, had arranged the frustration of the elopewith a parting greeting, he dismissed the ment, and that he had forced on the
Italian, but only to sup under the careful wedding with Narcisse, so as to drive
surveillance of the steward, and then to Eustacie to flight from the convent-in
be conveyed by early morning light be- ignorance again of her life that he had




232                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
imprisoned Berenger, and tried to buy  and degrade his son, and incur his resentoff his claims to Nid-de-Merle with Di- ment. It would probably be easy to obane's hand. Circumstances had used him  tain a promise from Berenger, in his first
cruelly, and he shrank from fairly con- joy and gratitude, of yielding up all pretemplating the next step.             tensions of his own or his wife's; but.
He knew well enough what it must however honorably meant, such a prombe. Without loss of time a letter must ise would be worth very little, and would
be sent to Rome, backed by strong inter- be utterly scorned by Narcisse. Besides,
est, so as to make it appear that the how could he thwart the love of his
ceremony at Montpipeau, irregular, and  daughter and the ambition of his son
between a Huguenot and Catholic, had both at once?
been a defiance of the Papal decree, and  No; the only security for the possesmust therefore be nullified. This would sion of Nid-de-Merle lay in either the
probably be attainable, though he did  death of the young baron and his child,
not feel absolutely secure of it. Pending  or else in his acquiescence in the invalidithis, Eustacie must be secluded in a con- ty of his marriage, and therefore in the
vent; and, while still believing herself a illegitimacy of the child.
widow, must, immediately on the arrival  And it was within the bounds of posof the decree and dispensation, be forced  sibility that, in his seclusion, he might at
into the marriage with Narcisse before length learn to believe in the story of the
she heard of Berenger's being still alive. destruction at La Sablerie, and, wearying
And then Berenger would have no longer of captivity, might yield at length to the
any excuse for holding out. His claims persuasions of Diane and her father, and
would be disposed of, and he might be become so far involved with them as to
either sent to England, or he might be be unable to draw back, or else be so
won upon by Madame de Selinville's con- stung by Eustacie's desertion as to accept
stancy.                               her rival willingly.
And this, as the Chevalier believed,  It was a forlorn hope, but it was the
was the only chance of saving a life that only medium that lay between either the
he was unwilling to sacrifice, for his cap- death or the release of the captive; and
tive's patience and courtesy had gained  therefore the old man clung to it as also much upon his heart that he was re- most praiseworthy, and did his best to
solved to do all that shuffling and tem- bring it about by keeping his daughter
porizing could do to save the lad from  ignorant that Eustacie lived, and writing
Narcisse's hatred and to secure him to to his son that the Baron was on the
Diane's love.                         point of becoming a Catholic and marryAs to telling the truth and arranging  ing his sister; and thus that all family
his escape, that scarcely ever crossed the danger and scandal would be avoided,
old man's mind. It would have been to  provided the matter were properly repreresign the lands of Nid-de-Merle, to re- sented at Rome.
turn to the makeshift life he knew but
too well, and, what was worse, to ruin




"JAM   SATIS."                          233
with by constant cutting, that their
CHAPTER XXXII.               ruddy trunks had been obliged to rise
branchless, till about twelve feet above' JAM SATIS." 
ground they had been allowed to spread
"You may go walk, and give me leave awhile,  out their limbs in the form of ordinary
My lessons make no music in three parts."  forest-trees; and, altogether, their foliage
Taming of the Shrew.
became a thick, unbroken, dark, everWHETHER the dark pool really showed green roof, impervious to sunshine, and
Sir Marmaduke Thistlewood or not, at almost impervious to rain, while below
the moment that his son desired that his their trunks were like columns forming
image should be called up, the good five arcades, floored only by that darkknight was, in effect, sitting nodding  red crusty earth and green lichen growth
over the tankard of sack with which his that seems peculiar to the shelter of
supper was always concluded, while the yew-trees. The depth of the shade and
rest of the family, lured out of the sunny the stillness of the place made it somehall by the charms of a fresh summer thing peculiarly soothing   and  quiet,
evening, had dispersed into the gardens or more especially when, as now, the sunset
hall.                                 light came below the branches, richly
Presently a movement in the neigh- tinted the russet pillars, cast long shadborhood made him think it incumbent on  ows, and gleamed into all the recesses
him to open his eyes wide, and exclaim, of the interlacing boughs and polished
" I'm not asleep."                    leafage above.
"Oh no! you never are asleep when     "Do you see, Sir Duke?" demanded
there's anything you ought to see!" re- his lady.
turned Dame Annora, who was standing      " I see my little maids making a rare
by him with her hand on his chair.    feast under the trees upon their straw"H ow now I Any tidings of the lads?" berries, set out on leaves. Bless their
he exclaimed.                         little hearts! what a pretty fairy feast
"Of the lads?   No, indeed; but they've made of it, with the dogs lookthere will be bad tidings for the lads if ing on as grave as judges! It makes me
you do not see to it! Where do you    young again to get a smack of the hautthink your daughter is, Sir Duke?"   bois your mother brought from Chelsea" Where?   How   should I know? Gardens."
She went out to give her sisters some    "H aut-bois! He'd never see if the
strawberries, I thought."             house were afire overhead. What's that
"See here," said Lady Thistlewood, beyond?"
leading the way to the north end of the  "No fire, my dear, but the sky all
hall, where a door opened into what aglow with sunset, and the red cow standwas called the Yew-tree Grove. This ing up against the light, chewing her
consisted of five rows of yew-trees, cud, and looking as well pleased as though
planted at regular intervals, and their she knew there wasn't her match in Dornatural mode of growth so interfered  set."




234                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Lady Thistlewood fairly stamped, and  "No vows, quothal " muttered Sir
pointed, with her fan like a pistol, down Marmaduke, well aware of the Cardinal
a side aisle of the grove, where two fig- of Lorraine's opinion of his lady's comures were slowly moving along.       plexion.  "So much the better; he is
"Eh! what? Lucy with her apron too good a young fellow to be forced to
full of rose-leaves, letting them float mope single, and yet I hate men's breakaway while she cons the children's les- ing their word."
son for the morrow with Merrycourt?     "And that's all you have to say!"
They be no great loss, when the place angrily cried her ladyship. "No one
is full of roses. Or why could you not save myself ever thinks how it is to be
call to the wench to take better heed with my poor dear wounded, heartto them, instead of making all this broken son when he comes home to find
pother?"                            himself so scurvily used by that faithless
"A pretty sort of lesson it is like to girl of yours, ready-"
be! A   pretty sort of return for my    "Hold, madam," said Sir Marmaduke,
poor son, unless you take the better with real sternness; "nothing rash against
heed! "                              my daughter. How should she be faith" Would that I saw any return at all less to a man who has been wedded ever
for either of the poor dear lads! " sighed since she knew him  "
the knight wearily; "but what you may   "He is free now," said Lady Thistlebe driving at I cannot perceive."    wood, beginning to cry (for the last
"What! When'tis before your very letters received from Berenger had been
eyes, how yonder smooth-tongued French  those from Paris, while he still believed
impostor, afterluring him back to his ruin Eustacie to have perished at La Sabbeyond seas, is supplanting him even here, lerie); "and I do say it is very hard
and your daughter giving herself over to that just when he is rid of the French
the wily viper!"                     baggage, the bane of his life, and is
"The man is a popish priest," said Sir coming home, may be with a child upon
Marmaduke; "no more given to love his hands, and all wounded, scarred,
than Mr. Adderly or Friar Rogers."   and blurred, the    only  wench   he
The dame gave a snort of derision: would or should have married should
"Prithee, how many popish priests be throw herself away on a French vagnow  wedded parsons?    Nor, indeed, abond beggar, and you aiding and abeteven if his story be true, do I believe ting."
he is a priest at all. I have seen many  "Come, come, Dame Nan," said Sir
a young abbe, as they call themselves, Marmaduke, "who told you I was aiding
clerk only- in name, loitering at court, and abetting?"
free to throw off the cassock any mo-   "Tell me not, Sir Duke, you that see
ment they chose, and as insolent as the them a courting under your very eyes,
rest.  Why, the Abbe de Lorraine, and will not stir a finger to hinder it.
cardinal that is now, said of my com- If you like to see your daughter take up
plexion —"                           with a foreign adventurer, why, she's no




"JAM SATIS."                           235
child of mine, thank Heaven! and Ive    The color rushed hotly into young
nought to do with it."               M6ricour's face, and he answered quickly,
" Pshaw, Dame, there's no taking up  " My rank-I mean my order-should
in the case; and if there were, sure it is answer that."
not you that should be hard on Lucy."   "Stay, young man, we are not in
Whereupon Annora fell into such a France; your order, be it what it may,
flood of tears at the cruelty of casting has not hindered many a marriage in
such things up to her, that Sir Marma- England; though, look you, no man
duke was fain in his blundering way should ever wed with my consent who
to declare that he only meant that an broke his word to God in so doing; but
honest Englishman had no chance where they tell me your vows are not always
a Frenchman once came in, and then made at your age."
very nearly to surrender at discretion.  "Nor are they," exclaimed M6ricour,
At any rate, he escaped from her tears in a low voice, but with a suddenlight on
by going out at the door, and calling to his countenance.  "The tonsure was
Lucy to mind her rose-leaves; then, as given me as a child, but no vow of celishe gazed round, dismayed at the pink bacy has passed my lips."
track along the ground, he asked her    Sir Marmaduke exclaimed, "Oh!-"
what she had been doing.    Whereto with a prolongation of the sound that
she answered with bright face and lasted till Mericour began again.
honest eyes, that Mr. Mericour had      " But, sir, let tongues wag as they will,
been going over with her the ode " Jam  it is for nought. Your fair daughter was
satis," of Horatius, wherewith to prepare but as ever preparing beforehand with
little Nan for him to-morrow, and then me the tasks with which she so kindly
she ran hurriedly away to secure the re- indoctrinates her little sisters. I never
mainder of the rose-leaves, while her thought of myself as aught but a relicompanion was already on his knees pick- gious, and should never dream of human
ing up the petals she had dropped.   love."
" Master Merrycourt," said Sir Mar-  "I thought so! I said so! "said Sir
maduke, a little gruffly, " never heed Marmaduke, highly gratified. "I knew
the flower-leaves. I want a word with  you were an honorable man that would
you."                                never speak of love to my daughter by
Claude de Mericour rose hastily, as if stealth, nor without means to maintain
somewhat struck by the tone.         her after her birth."
" The matter is this," said the knight,  The word "birth " brought the blood
leading him from the house, and signing into the face of the son of the peer of
back the little girls who had sprung France, but he merely bowed with contoward them-" it has been brought to siderable stiffness and pride, saying, " You
my mind that you are but a youth, and, did me justice, sir."
pardon me, my young master, but when    " Come, don't be hurt, man," said Sir
lads and lasses have their heads together Marmaduke, putting his hand on ~his
over one book, tongues wag."         shoulder. " I told you I knew you for an




236                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
honorable man I You'll be over here tor if he has made none of their vows,
morrow to hear the little maids their Jam  feels as bound as though he had. He's
satis, or whatever you call it, and dine an honest fellow, thinking of his studies
with us, after to taste Lucy's handiwork in and not of ladies or any such trumpery.
jam cranberry, a better thing as I take it." So give me a kiss, Lucy girl, and thou
Mericour  had  recovered  himself, shalt study Jam satis, or any other jam
smiled, shook the good Sir Marmaduke's he pleases, without more to vex thee."
proffered hand, and, begging to excuse  Lucy, now that the warfare was over,
himself from bidding good-night to the had began to weep so profusely that so
ladies on the score of lateness, he walked soon as her father released her, she turned,
away to cross the downs on his return made a mute gesture to ask permission to
to Combe Walwyn, where he was still depart, and hurried away; while Lady
resident, according to the arrangement by Thistlewood, who disliked above all that
which he was there to await Berenger's her husband should think her harsh to
return, now deferred so much beyond all her step-children, began to relate the exreasonable expectation.               ceeding tenderness of the remonstrance
Sir Marmaduke, with a free heart, be- which had been followed with such distook himself to the house, dreading to  proportionate floods of tears.
find that Lucy had fallen under the objur-  Poor Sir Marmaduke hoped at least
gations of her stepmother, but feeling  that the veil of night had put an end
impelled to stand her protector, and to the subject which harassed him  at
guided to the spot by the high key of  a time when he felt less capable than
Dame Annora's voice.                  usual of bearing vexation, for he was
He found Lucy-who, on the rare oc- yearning sadly after his only son. The
casions when good-natured Lady Thistle- youths had been absent ten months,
wood was really angry with her, usually and had not been heard of for more
cowered  meekly-now     standing  her than three, when they were just leaving
ground, and while the dame was paus- Paris in search of the infant.    Sir
ing for breath, he heard her gentle  Francis Walsingham, whose embassy
voice answering steadily, "No, madam, had ended with the death of Charles
to him I could never owe faith, nor IX., knew nothing of them, and great
troth, nor love, save such as I have for apprehensions respecting them were bePhilip."                             ginning to prevail, and, to Sir Marma"Then it is very unfeeling and un- duke especially, seemed to be eating out
grateful of you. Nor did you think so the peace and joy of his life. Philip,
once, but it is all his scars and-"  always at his father's side ever since
By this time Sir Marmaduke had he could run alone, was missed at every
come near enough to put his arm round visit to stable or kennel; the ring of his
his daughter, and say, " No such thing, cheery voice was wanting to the house;
Dame. It had been unseemly in the lass and the absence of his merry whistle
had it been otherwise. She is a good seemed to make Sir Marmaduke's heart
girl and a discreet; and the Frenchman, sink like lead as he donned his heavy




"JAM SATIS."                              237
boots, and went forth in the silver dew  " Sir," he said, " I was bred as one
of the summer morning to judge which  set apart from love. I had never learned
of his cornfields would soonest be ready to think it possible to me,-I thought
for the sickle. Until this expedition of so even when I replied to you last
his sons he had, for more than fourteen evening; but, sir, the words you then
years, never been alone in those morning spoke, the question you asked me set my
rounds on his farm; and much as he heart burning, and my senses whirling-"
loved his daughters, they seemed to weigh And between agitation and confusion he
very light in the scale compared with the stammered and clasped his hands passturdy heir who loved every acre with sionately, trying to continue what he
his own ancestral love. Indeed, perhaps, was saying, but muttering nothing intelSir Marmaduke had a deeper, fonder af- ligible.
fection for the children of his first mar-  Sir Marmaduke filled up the interval
riage, because he had barely been able to  with a long whistle of perplexity; but,
give his full heart to their mother before too kind not to pity the youth's distress,
she was taken from them, and he had he laid his hand on his shoulder, saying,
felt almost double tenderness to be due to  "You found out you were but a hotthem, when he at length obtained his blooded youth after all, but an honest
first and only true love. Now, as he one. For, as I well trust, my lass knows
looked over the shining billows of the nought of this."
waving barley, his heart was very sore  "How should she know, sir, what I
with longing for Philip's gladsome shout knew not myself?"
at the harvest-field, and he thought with  "Ha! ha!" chuckled Sir Duke to
surprise and compunction how he had himself, " so'twas all Dame Nan's doing
seen Lucy leave him struggling with a that the flame has been lighted! Ho!
flood of tears. While he was still thus ho! But what is to come next is the
gazing, a head appeared in the narrow  question?" and he eyed the French youth
path that led across the fields, and pres- from head to foot with the same considerently he recognised the slender, upright ing look with which he was wont to study
form of the young Frenchman.         a bullock.
" A fair good-morrow to you, Master  " Sir, sir," cried Mericour, absolutely
Merrycourt! You come right early to flinging himself on his knee before him
look after your ode?"               with national vehemence, "do give me
" Sir," said Mericour, gravely saluting hope! Oh! I will bless you, I will-"
him, "'I come to make you my con-       " Get up, man," said the knight, hasfession. I find that I did not deal truly tily; "no fooling of this sort. The milkwith you last night, but it was all unwit- maids will be coming. Hope-why, what
tingly."                             sort of hope can be given you in the mat"How? "exclaimed Sir Marmaduke, ter?" he continued; "you are a very
recollecting Lucy's tears and looking much  good lad, and I like you well enough, but
startled.; You have not "-and there he you are not the sort of stuff one gives
broke off, seeing Mericour eager to speak. one's daughter to. Ay, ay, I know you




238                   THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
are a great man in your own country, but least be there maintained, and perchance
what are you here i"                obtain the means for carrying on my
" A miserable fugitive and beggar, I studies at the Temple."
know that," said Mericour, vehemently,  "Not ill thought of," said the knight;
"but let me have but hope, and there is "a fair course enough for you; but look
nothing I will not be!"            you, you must have good luck indeed to
"Pish 1" said Sir Marmaduke.     be in a state to marry within ten or
"Hear me," entreated the youth, re- fifteen years,-very likely not then-havcalled to common-sense; "you know   ing nothing of your own, and my wench
that I have lingered at the chateau yon- but little, for Lucy's portion cannot be
der, partly to study divinity and settle made equal to her sisters, her mother havmy mind, and partly because my friend ing been no heiress like Dame Nan. And
Ribaumont begged me to await his return. would you have me keep the maid unI will be no longer idle; my mind is wedded till she be thirty or thirty-five
fixed.. To France I cannot return, while years old, waiting for your fortune?"
she gives me no choice between such doc-  M6ricour looked terribly disconcerted
trine and practice as I saw at court, and at this.
such as the Huguenots would have im-   "Moreover," added the knight, "they
posed on me. I had already chosen Eng- will all be at me, so soon as those poor
land as my country before-before this lads come home-Heaven grant they do
wild hope had awakened in me. Here, I -to give her to Berenger."
know my nobility counts for nothing,   "Sir," said Mericour, looking up with
though, truly, sir, few names in France a sudden smile, "all that I would ask
are prouder. But it shall be no hindrance. is, what you are too good a father to do,
I will become one of your men of the that you would not put any force on her
robe. I have heard that they can enrich inclinations."
themselves and intermarry with your    "How now? you said you had never
country noblesse."                  courted her! "
"True, true," said Sir Marmaduke,   "Nor have I, sir. But I see the force
"there is more sense in that notion than of your words. Should she love another
there seemed to be in you at first. My man, my dreams were, of course, utterly
poor brother Phil was to have been a vain, but if not-" He broke off.
lawyer if he had lived, but it seems to me  " Well, well, I am no man to force a
you are a long way off from that yet! girl to a match against her will; but
Why, our Templars be mostly Oxford never trust to that, man. I know what
scholars."                          women are, and let a fantastic stranger
"So it was explained to me," said come across them, there's an end of old
M6ricour, "but for some weeks past the friends. But yours is an honest purLady Burnet, to whose sons, as you know, pose, and you are a good youth; and if
I have been teaching French, has been you had any thing to keep her with, you
praying me to take the charge of them  should have Lucy to-morrow, with all my
at Oxford, by which means I should at heart."




THE SCANDAL OF THE SYNOD OF MONTAUBAN.                  239
Then came the further question whether Mericour should be allowed an inter-CHAPTER XXXIII.
view with Lucy. Sir Marmaduke was        THE SCANDAL OF THE SYNOD OF
simple enough to fancy that she need not          MONTATBAN.
be made aware of the cause of Mericour's     ye, wha are sae gud yoursel,
new arrangement, and decided against it.     Sae pious and sae holy,
ThXon  a   orwulcuecd  Ye've naught to do but mark and tell
The young man sorrowfully acquiesced,       Your neebour's fauts and folly."
but whether such a secret could be kept                            BURNS.
was another thing. To him it would       THE old city of Montauban, once fahave been impossible to renew their for- mous as the home of Ariosto's Rinaldo
mer terms of intercourse without betray- and his brethren, known to French roing his feelings, and he therefore absented mance as "Les Quatre Fils Aymon," achimself.  Lady Thistlewood triumphed  quired in later times a very diverse species
openly in Sir Marmaduke's having found  of fame,-that, namely, of being one of
him out and banished him from the house; the chief strongholds of the Reformed.
Lucy looked white and shed silent tears. The Bishop Jean de Lettes, after leading
Her father's soft heart was moved, and  a scandalous life, had professed a sort of
one Sunday evening he whispered into  Calvinism, had married, and retired to
her ear that Dame Nan was all wrong, Geneva, and his successor had not found
and Mericour only kept away because he it possible to live at Montauban from the
was an honorable man.     Then Lucy   enmity of the inhabitants. Strongly situsmiled and brightened, and Sir Duke ated, with a peculiar municipal constitufondly asked her if she were fool enough tion of its own, and used to Provencal
to fancy herself in love with the man.  independence both of thought and deed,
"Oh no, how should she, when he the inhabitants had been so unanimous in
had never named love to her? She was their Calvinism, and had offered such
only glad her father esteemed him."   efficient resistance, as to have wrung
So then foolish, fond Sir Marmaduke from Government reluctant sanction for
told her all that had passed, and if it the open observance of the Reformed
had not been too late, he would have worship, and for the maintenance of
sent for Mericour, from Lady Burnet's; a college for the education of their minbut his own story did almost as well in istry.
bringing back Lucy's soft pink color.    There then was convoked the National
She crept up into Cecily's room one day, Synod, answering to the Scottish General
and found that she knew all about it. Assembly, excepting that the persecuted
and was as kind and sympathising as she French Presbyterians met in a different
could be-when a vocation had been given place every year.  Delegated pastors
up, though no vows had been taken. there gathered from every quarter. From
She did not quite understand it, but she Northern France came men used to live
would take it on trust.              in constant hazard of their lives; from
Paris, confessors such as Merlin, the
chaplain who, leaving Coligny's bedside,




240                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
had been hidden for three days in a hay- cards and dice were prohibited; any
loft, feeding on the eggs that a hen daily stronger expletive than the elegant ones
laid beside him; army chaplains were invented for the special use of the King
there who had passionately led battle- of Navarre was expiated either by the
psalms ere their colleagues charged the purse or the skin; Marot's psalmody
foe, and had striven with vain endeavors was the only music, black or sad color
to render their soldiers saints; while the only wear; and, a few years later,
other pastors came from Pyrenean vil- the wife of one of the most distinguished
lages where their generation had never statesmen and councillors of Henri of
seen flames lighted against heresy, nor Navarre was excommunicated for the
knew what it was to disperse a congrega- enormity of wearing her hair curled.
tion in haste and secrecy for fear of the  To such a community it was a delightenemy.                                ful festival to receive a national assembly
The audience was large and sympa- of ministers ready to regale them   on
thising.  Montauban had become the daily sermons for a whole month, and to
refuge of many Huguenot families who  retail in private the points of discipline
could nowhere else profess their faith  debated in the public assembly; and,
without constant danger; and a large apart from mere eagerness for novelty,
proportion of these were ladies, wives of many a discreet heart beat with gladness
gentlemen in the army kept up by La at the meeting with the hunted pastor
Noue, or widows who feared that their of her native home, who had been the
children might be taken from them to be first to strike the spiritual chord, and
brought up by their Catholic relations, awake her mind to religion.
elderly dames who longed for tranquillity  Every family had their honored guest,
after having lost husbands or sons by  every reception-room was in turn the
civil war.  Thickly they lodged in the scene of some pious little assembly that
strangely-named gaschies and vertiers, as drank eau sucree, and rejoiced in its fathe divisions and sub-divisions of the city vorite pastor; and each little congress inwere termed, occupying floors or apart- dulged in gentle scandal against its rival
ments of the tall old houses; walking  coterie. But there was one point on
abroad in the streets in grave attire, stiff which all the ladies agreed,-namely,
hat, crimped ruff, and huge fan, and that good Maitre Isaac Gardon had fallen
forming a society in themselves, close- into an almost doting state of blindness
packed, punctilious, and dignified, rigidly to the vanities of his daughter-in-law,
devout but strictly censorious, and alto- and that she was a disgrace to the
gether as unlike their typical country- community, and ought to be publicly repfolks of Paris as if they had belonged to  rimanded.
a different nation. And the sourest and  Isaac Gardon, long reported to have
most severe of all were such as had lived been martyred - some said at Paris,
farthest south, and personally suffered  others averred at La Sablerie-had inthe least peril and alarm.             deed been welcomed with enthusiastic
Dancing was an unheard-of enormity; joy and veneration, when he made h]is




THE SCANDAL OF THE SYNOD OF MONTAUBAN.                  241
appearance at Montauban, pale, aged, was always happy, because     always
bent, leaning on a staff, and showing the healthy, and living in an atmosphere of
dire effect of the rheumatic fever which  love; and she was the pet and wonder
had prostrated him after the night of  of all the household, from the grinning
drenching and exposure during the escape apprentice to the grave young candidate
from La Sablerie. Crowded as the city who hoped to be elected pastor to the
was, there was a perfect competition  Duke de Quinet's village in the Ceamong the tradesfolk for the honor of vennes.
entertaining him and the young widow    And yet it was la petite Rayonette
and child of a St. Bartholomew martyr. who first brought her mother into trouble.
A cordwainer of the street of the Soubi- Since her emancipation from swaddlingrous Hauts obtained this honor, and the clothes she had been equipped in a little
wife, though speaking only the sweet grey woollen frock, such as Eustacie had
ProvenQal tongue, soon established the learned to knit among the peasants, and
most friendly relations with M. Gardon's varied with broad white stripes which
daughter-in-law.                     gave it something of the moonbeam  efTwo or three more pastors likewise feet; but the mother had not been able
lodged in the same house, and ready aid to resist the pleasure of drawing up the
was given by Mademoiselle Gardon, as bosom and tying it with a knot of the
all called Eustacie, in the domestic cares very carnation color that Berenger used
thus entailed, while her filial attention  to call her own. That knot was disto her father-in-law and her sweet tender- cussed all up and down the Rue Soubiness to her child, struck all this home rous Hauts, and even through the Carcircle with admiration.  Children of riera Major! The widow of an old friend
that age were seldom   seen at home of Maitre Gardon had remonstrated on
among the better classes in towns. Then, the improprieties of such gay vanities, and
as now, they were universally consigned Mdlle. Gardon had actually replied, redto country-nurses, who only brought dening with insolence, that her husband
them home at three or four years old, had loved to see her wear the color.
fresh from  a squalid, neglected cottage  Now, if the brethren at Paris had
life, and Eustacie's little moonbeam, la indulged their daughters in such backpetite Rayonette, as she loved to call slidings, see what had come of it! But
her, was quite an unusual, spectacle; that poor Theodore Garden should have
and from  having lived entirely with  admired his bride in such unhallowed
grown people, and enjoyed the most ten- adornments, was an evident calumny;
der and dainty care, she was intelligent and many a head was shaken over it in
and brightly docile to a degree that ap- grave and pious assembly.
peared marvellous to those who only     Worse still; when she had been insaw children stupefied by a contrary  vited to a supper at the excellent Madame
system. She was a lovely little thing, Fargeau's, the presumptuous little bourexquisitely fair, and her plump white  geoise had evidently not known her place,
limbs small but perfectly moulded; she but had seated herself as if she were a
16




242                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
noble lady, afille de qualite, instead of a dispense with her ribbon while we are
mere minister's widow and a watchma- here? "
ker's daughter. Pretend ignorance that  "Eh, father? At the bidding of those
precedence was to be here observed! impertinents?"
That was another Parisian piece of im-  " Take care, daughter; you were perpudence, above all in one who showed feet with the tradesfolk and peasants, but
such ridiculous airs as to wipe her lips you cannot comport yourself as successwith her own handkerchief instead of the fully with this petite noblesse, or the pastable-cloth, and to be reluctant to help tors' wives."
herself from the general dish of potage  "They are insolent, father.  I, in
with her own spoon. Even that might my own true person, would treat no one
have been overlooked if she would have as these petty dames treat me," said
regaled them with a full and particular Eustacie. "I would not meddle between
account of her own rescue from the mas- a peasant woman and her child, nor ask
sacre at Paris but she merely colored questions that must needs wring her
up, and said that she had been so ill as heart."
to know scarcely any thing about it; and  "Ah, child! humility is a bitter leswhen they pressed her further, she son; and even this world needs it now
shortly said, "They locked me up; " and, from you. We shall have suspicions;
before she could be cross-examined as to  and I heard to-day that the King is in
who was this "they," Maitre Gardon in- Dauphiny, and with him M. de Nid-deterfered, saying that she had suffered so Merle. Be not alarmed; he has no force
much that he requested the subject with him, and the peace still subsists;
might never be mentioned to her. Nor but we must avoid suspicion. There is a
would he be more explicit, and there was preche at the Moustier to-day, in French.
evidently some mystery, and he was it would be well if you were to attend it."
becoming blindly indulgent and besot-   "I understand as little of French serted by the blandishments of an artful wo- mons as of Provenqal," murmured Euman.                                 stacie; but it was only a murmur.
Eustacie was saved from hearing the  Maitre Gardon had soon found out
gossip by her ignorance of the Pro- that his charge had not head enough to
vencal, which was the only language of be made a thorough-going controversial
all but the highest and most cultivated  Calvinist.. Clever, intelligent, and full
classes.  The hostess had very little of resources as she was, she had no calangue d'oui, and never ventured on any pacity for argument, and could not enter
complicated discourse, and Isaac Garden, into theoretical religion. Circumstances
who could speak both the oc and oui, had driven her from her original Church
was not a person whom' it was easy to  and alienated her from those who had
beset with mere hearsay or petty re- practised such personal cruelties on her
monstrance, but enough reached him at and hers, but the mould of her mind relast to make him one day say mildly, mained what it had been previously; she' My dear child, might not the little one clung to the Huguenots because they pro



THE SCANDAL OF THE SYNOD OF MONTAUBAN.                   243
tected her from those who would have over that weary little head. After a
forced an abhorrent marriage on her and  specimen or two, the chances of the sersnatched her child from her; and, per- mon being in Provencal, and the necessisonally, she loved and venerated Isaac ty of attending to her child, had been
Gardon with ardent, self-sacrificing filial Eustacie's excuse for usually offering to
love and gratitude, accepted as truth all attend to the menage and set her hostess
that came from his lips, read the Scrip- free to be present at the preachings.
tures, sang and prayed with him, and     However, Rayonette was considered
obeyed him as dutifully as ever the true  as no valid excuse; for did not whole cirEsperance could have done; but, except cles of black-eyed children sit on the
the merest external objections against the floor in sleepy stolidity at the feet of their
grossest and most palpable popular cor- mothers or nurses, and was it not a 1iere
ruptions and fallacies, she really never worldly folly to pretend that a child of
entered into the matter. She had been  sixteen months could not be brought to
left too ignorant of her own system to  church? It was another instance of the
perceive its true claims upon her; and mother's frivolity and the grandfather's
though she could not help preferring idolatry.
High Mass to a Calvinist assembly, and    The Moustier, or minster, the monasshrinking with instinctive pain and hor- tic church of Montauban, built on Mont
ror at the many profanations she wit- Auriol in honor of St. Th6odore, had,
nessed, the really spiritual leadings of her twelve years before, been plundered and
own individual father-like leader had  sacked by the Calvinists, not only out
opened so much that was new and pre- of zeal for iconoclasm, but from longcious to her, so full of truth, so full of standing hatred and jealousy against the
comfort, giving so much moral strength, monks. Catherine de Medicis had, in
that, unaware that all the foundations 1546, carried off two of the jasper colhad been laid by Mere Monique, the res- umns from  its chief doorway to the
olute, high-spirited little thing, out of Louvre; and, after some years more, it
sheer constancy and constitutional cour- was entirely destroyed. The grounds of
age, would have laid down her life as a the Auriol Mountain Monastery have
Calvinist martyr, in profound ignorance been desolate down to the present day,
that she was not in the least a Calvinist when they have been formed into public
all the time.                         gardens. When Eustacie walked through
Hitherto, her wandering life amid the them, carrying her little girl in her arms,
persecuted Huguenots of the West had  a rose in her bosom to console her for the
prevented her from hearing any preach- loss of her bright breast-knot, they were
ing but good Isaac's own, which had been  in raw fresh dreariness, with tottering,
rather in the way of comfort and encour- blackened cloisters, garden flowers run
agement than of controversy, but in this wild, images that she had never ceased to
great gathering it was impossible that regard as sacred lying broken and defiled
there should not be plenty of vehement among the grass and weeds.
polemical oratory, such as was sure to fly  Up the broad path was pacing the




244                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
municipal procession, headed by the three to address the Almighty and the congreConsuls, each with a serjeant bearing a gation in prayers and discourses, interwhite rod in front and a scarlet mantle, spersed with Psalms sung by the whole
and the Consuls themselves in long robes assembly. There was no want of piety,
with wide sleeves of quartered black and depth, force, or fervor. These were men
scarlet, followed by six halberdiers, like- refined by persecution, who had strugwise in scarlet, blazoned with the shield  gled to the light that had been darkened
of the city-gules, a golden willow-tree, by the popular system, and, having
pollarded and shedding its branches, a once been forced into foregoing their
chief azure with the three fleur-de-lys of scruples as to breaking the unity of the
royalty.  As little Rayonette gleefully  Church, regarded themselves even as
pointed at the brilliant pageant, Eusta- apostles of the truth. Listening to them,
cie could not help saying, rather bitterly, Isaac Gardon felt himself rapt into the
that these messieurs seemed to wish to  hopes of cleansing, the aspirations of uniengross all the gay colors from heaven and versal re-integration that had shone beearth for themselves; and Maitre Isaac fore his early youth, ere the Church had
could not help thinking she had some shown herself deaf, and the reformers in
right on her side as he entered the church  losing patience had lost purity, and disonce gorgeous with jaspers, marbles, and  appointment had crushed him into an
mosaics, glowing with painted glass, re- aged man.
splendent with gold and jewels, rich with  He was recalled by the echo of a gay,
paintings and draperies of the most bril- little inarticulate cry-those baby tones
liant dyes; but now, all that was not an  that had become such music to his ears
essential part of the fabric utterly gone, that he hardly realized that they were
and all that was, soiled, dulled, defaced; not indeed from his grandchild.  In a
the whole building, even up to the end moment's glance he saw how it was. A
of the chancel, was closely fitted with little bird had flown in at one of the
benches occupied by the "sad-colored"  empty windows, and was fluttering over
congregation. Isaac was obliged by a the heads of the congregation, and a
strenuous effort of memory to recall " Ne- small, plump, white arm and hand was
hushtan" and the golden calves, before he stretched out and pointing -a rosy, fair,
could clear from his mind, " Now they  smiling face upturned; a little grey figure
break down all the carved work thereof had scrambled up on the knee of one of
with axes and with hammers."- But, the still, black-hooded women; and the
then, did not the thorough-going Re- shout of irrepressible delight was breakformers think Master Isaac a very weak  ing on the decorum of the congregation,
and backsliding brother?              in spite of hushes, in spite of the uplifted
Nevertheless, in right of his age, his rod of a scarlet serjeant on his way down
former reputation, and his sufferings, his the aisle to quell the disturbance; nay,
place was full in the midst of the square- as the bird came nearer, the exulting
capped, black-robed ministers who sat voice, proud of the achievement of a new
herded on a sort of a platform together, word, shouted  L ioineau, moineau."




THE SCANDAL OF THE SYNOD OF MONTAUBAN.                  245
Angered by defiance to authority, down  towards himself. Whatever he desired
came the rod, not indeed with great she would do, she would stay or go
force, but with enough to make the arms with hitn anywhere except to a sermon
clasp round the mother's neck, the face at the Moustier, and she did not think
hide itself on it, a loud terrified wail ring that in her heart her good father desired
through the church, and tempestuous little infants to be beaten-least of all,
sobbing follow it up. Then uprose the Berenger's little one. And with Rayoblack-hooded figure, the child tightly  nette already on his knee, stealing his
clasped, and her mantle drawn round it, spectacles, peace was made.
while the other hand motioned the offi-  Peace with him, but not with the concial aside, and down the aisle, even to the gregation! Were people to stalk out of
door she swept with the lofty carriage, church in a rage, and make no reparahigh-drawn neck, and swelling bosom of tion? Was Maitre Isaac to talk of oran offended princess.                phans, only children, and maternal love,
Maitre Gardon heard little more of as if weak human affection did not need
the discourse, indeed he would have chastisement?   Was this saucy Parisifollowed at once had he not feared to  enne to play the offended, and say that if
increase the sensation and the scandal. the child were not suffered at church she
He came home to find Rayonette's tears must stay at home with it? The ladies
long ago dried, but her mother furious. agitated to have the obnoxious young
She would leave Montauban that minute, widow reprimanded in open Synod, but
she would never set foot in a heretic to their still greater disgust, not a pastor
conventicle again, to have her fatherless would consent to perform the office.
child, daughter of all the Ribaumonts, Some said that Maitre Gardon ought to
struck by base canaille. Even her uncle rule his own household, others that they
could not have done worse; he at least respected him too much to interfere,
would have respected her blood.      and there were others abandoned enough
Maitre Gardon did not know that his to assert that if any one needed a repricharge could be in such a passion, as, mand it was the serjeant.
her eyes flashing through tears, she    Of these was the young candidate,
insisted on being taken away at once. Samuel Mace, who had been educated at'
No, she would   hear nothing.   She the expense of the Dowager Duchess de
seemed to feel resentment due to the Quinet, and hoped that her influence
honor of all the Ribaumonts, and he would obtain his election to the pastorate
was obliged peremptorily to refuse to  of a certain peaceful little village deep in
quit Montauban till his business at the the Oevennes. She had intimated that
Synod should be completed, and then  what he wanted was a wife to teach and
to leave her in a flood of angry tears improve the wivesofthe peasant farmers,
and reproaches for exposing her child to  and where could a more eligible one be
such usage, and approving it.        found than Esperance Gardon?     Her
Poor little thing, he found her meek  cookery he tasted, her industry he saw,
and penitent for her unjust anger her tenderness to her child, her attention




246                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
to her father, were his daily admiration;
and her soft velvet eyes and sweet smile      CHAPTER XXXIV.
went so deep in his heart that he
MADAME LA DUCHESSE.
would have bought her ells upon ells
of pink ribbon, when once out of sight  "He found an ancient dame in dim brocade."
TENNYSON.
of the old ladies; would have given a
father's love to her little daughter, and a  MADAME la Duchesse de Quinet had
son's duty and veneration to Isaac Gardon. been a great heiress, and a personal
His patroness did not deny her ap- friend and favorite of Queen Jeanne
proval. The gossip had indeed reached d'Albret.  She had been left a widow
her, but she had a high esteem for Isaac after five years' marriage, and for forty
Gardon, believed in Samuel Mace's good subsequent years had reigned despotisense, and heeded Montauban scandal cally in her own name and that of mon
very little. Her protege would be much  fils.  Busied with the support of the
better married to a spirited woman who  Huguenot cause, sometimes by arms, but
had seen the tworld than to a mere more usually by politics, and constantly
farmer's daughter who had never looked  occupied by the hereditary government
beyond her cheese. Old Gardon would of one of the lesser counties of France,
be an admirable adviser, and if he were the Duke was all the better son for retaken into the mnenage she would add to linquishing to her the home administrathe endownment another arable field, and tion, as well as the education of his two
grass for two more cows. If she liked motherless boys; and their confidence
the young woman on inspection, the and affection were perfect, though he
marriage should take place in her own was almost as seldom at home as she
august presence.                     was abroad. At times, indeed, she had
What! had Maitre Gardon refused? visited Queen Jeanne at Nerac; but,
Forbidden that the subject should be since the good Queen's death, she only
mentioned to his daughter? Impossible, left the great chateau of Quinet to make
either Mace had managed matters fool- a royal progress of inspection through
ishly, or the old man had some doubt of the family towns, castles, and estates,
him which she could remove, or else it sometimes to winter in her beautiful
was foolish reluctance to part with his hereditary hotel at Montauban, and as at
daughter-in-law.  Or the gossips were present to attend any great assembly of
right after all, and he knew her to be the Reformed.
too light-minded, if not worse, to be the  Very seldom was her will not law.
wife of any pious young minister. Or Strong-sense and judgment, backed by
there was some mystery.   Any way, the learning that Queen Marguerite of
Madame la Duchesse would see him, and Navarre had introduced among the combring him to his senses, make him give panions of her daughter, had rendered
the girl a good husband if she were her superior to most of those with
worthy, or devote her to condign punish- whom  she came in contact: and the
ment if she were unworthy.           Huguenot ministers, much more depend



MADAME LA DUCHESSE.                         247
ent on their laity than the Catholic hausted both Mace's history and her
priesthood, for the most part treated her own beneficent intentions for him. Then
as not only a devout and honorable he said, " Madame is very good, and the
woman, an elect lady, but as a sort of young man appeared to me excellent.
State, authority.  That she had the Nevertheless, this thing may not be.
right-mindedness to respect and esteem  My daughter-in-law has resolved not to
such men as Theodore Beza, Merlin, &c., marry again."
who treated her with great regard, but  "Nay, but this is mere folly," said
never cringed, had not become known the Duchess.   "We hold not Catholic
to the rest.  Let her have once pro- tenets on merit in abstaining, but rather
nounced against poor little Esp6rance go by St. Paul's advice that the younger
Gardon, and public disgrace would be a widows should marry, rather than wax
matter of certainty.                 wanton.  And, to tell you the truth,
There she sat in her wainscoted wal- Maitre Gardon, this daughter of yours
nut cabinet, a small woman by her does seem to have set tongues in moinches, but stately enough to seem of tion."
majestic stature, and with grey eyes, of  "Not by her own fault, Madame."
inexpressible keenness, which she fixed  "Stay, my good friend; I never found
upon the halting, broken form of Isaac a man-minister or lay-who was a fair
Gardon, and his grave, venerable face, judge in these matters. You old men
as she half rose and made a slight are no better than the young-rather
acknowledgment of his low bow.       worse-because you do not distrust your"Sit, Maitre Gardon, you are lame," selves.  Now, I say no harm  of the
she said, with a wave of her hand. " I young woman, and I know an angel
gave you the incommodity of coming would be abused at Montauban for not
to see me here, because I imagined that wearing  sad-colored wings; but she
there were matters you would not openly needs a man's care-you are frail, you
discuss en pleine salle."            cannot live for ever-and how is it to be
" Madame is considerate," said Isaac, with her and her child?"
civilly, but with an open-eyed look and  "I hope to bestow them among her
air that at once showed her that she had kindred ere I die, Madame," said Isaac.
not to deal with one of the ministers   "No kindred can serve a woman like
who never forgot their low birth in deal- a sensible husband! Besides, I thought
ing with her.                        all perished at Paris. Listen, Isaac Gar"I understand," said she, coming to  don, I tell you plainly that scandal is
the point at once, "that you decline the afloat. You are blamed for culpable inproposals of Samuel Mac6 for your difference to alleged levities-I say not
daughter-in-law.  Now I wish you to that it is true-but I see this, that unless
know that Mace is a very good youth, you can bestow your daughter-in-law or
whom I have known from his birth "-  a good, honest man, able to silence the
and she went on in his praise, Isaac whispers of malice, there will be meas
bowing at each pause, until she had ex- ures taken that will do shame both tc




248                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
your own grey hairs and to the memory whose wife was happy in dying with
of your dead son, as well as exposing the him."
poor young woman herself. You are one    And who, then, is she? "
who has a true tongue, Isaac Gardon;    "Madame la Duchesse has heard of
and if you can assure me that she is a the family of Ribaumont."
faithful, good woman, as poor Mace      "Ha! M. de Ribaumont! A      gay
thinks her, and will give her to him in  comrade of King Henry II., but who
testimony thereof, then  shall not a had his eyes opened to the truth by M.
mouth open against her. If not, in spite l'Amiral, though he lacked courage for
of all my esteem  for you, the disci- an open profession. Yes, the very last
pline of the Reformed must take its pageant I beheld at Court, was the wedcourse."                             ding of his little son to the Count de
"And for what?" said Isaac, with a Ribaumont's daughter. It was said that
grave tone, almost of reproof. "What the youth was one of our victims at
discipline can punish a woman for letting Paris."
her infant wear a colored ribbon, and   "Even so, Madame; and this poor
shielding it from a blow?"           child is the little one whom you saw
"That is not all, Master Isaac," said wedded to him." And then, in answer
the Duchess, seriously; " but, in spite of to the Duchess's astonished inquiry, he
your much-respected name, evil and cen- proceeded to relate how Eustacie had
sorious tongues will have it that matters been forced to fly from her kindred, and
ought to be investigated; that there is how he at first encountered her at his
some mystery; that the young woman own lurking-place, and had accepted her
does not give a satisfactory account of as a charge imposed on him by Proviherself, and that the child does not re- dence; then explained how, at La Sablesemble either her or your son-in short, rie, she had been recognised by a young
that you may be deceived by an impos- gentleman she had known at Paris, but
tor, perhaps a Catholic spy. Mind, I say who professed to be fleeing to England,
not that I credit all this, only I would there to study the Protestant controshow you what reports you must guard versy; and how she had confided to him
against."                            a letter to her husband's mother, who
" La pauvre petite!" said Isaac, un- was married in England, begging her to
der his breath, as if appalled; then col- send for her and her daughter, who was
lecting himself, he said, "Madame, these heiress to certain English estates, as well
are well-nigh threats. I had come hither as French.
nearly resolved to confide in you without  Madame," added Gardon, "Heaven
them."                               forgive me, if I do the youth injustice
"Then there is a mystery?"       by suspecting him, but no answer ever
"Yes, Madame, but the, deception is arrived to that letter; and while we still
solely in the name. She is, invery truth, expected one, a good and kindly citizen,
a widow of a martyr of the St.-Barth6- who I trust has long been received into
lemy, but that martyr was not my son, glory, sent me notice that a detachment




MADAME LA DUCHESSE.                         249
of Monsieur's army was on its way from  that the cold and wet of our night on
La Rochelle, under command of M. de the sands-though those tender young
Nid-de-Merle, to search out this poor frames did not suffer therefrom-should
lady in La Sablerie.  He, good man, bring on an illness which has made an
deemed that, were we gone, he could old man of me. I struggled on as long
make terms for the place, and we there- as I could, hoping to attain a safe restingfore left it. Alas! Madame knows how  place for her, but the winter cold cornit fared with the pious friends we left. pleted the work; and then, Madame-oh
Little deeming how they would be dealt that I could tell you the blessing she was
with, we took our way along the Sables to me!-her patience, her watchfulness,
d'Olonne, where alone we could be safe, her tenderness, through all the long
since, as Madame knows, they are for weeks that I lay helpless alike in mind
miles impracticable for troops. But we and body at Charente. Ah! Madame,
had another enemy there-the tide; and had my own daughter lived, she could
there was a time when we truly deemed not have been more to me than that nothat the mercy granted us had been that ble lady; and her cheerful love did even
we had fallen into the hand of the Lord more for me than her tender care."
instead of the hand of cruel man. Yes,  "I must see her," ejaculated the
Madame, and even for that did she give Duchess; then added, " But was it this
thanks, as she stood, never even trem- illness that hindered you from placing
bling, on the low sandbank, with her her in safety in England?"
babe in her bosom, and the sea creeping  " In part, Madame; nay, I may say,
up on all sides. She only turned to me wholly. We learned that the assembly
with a smile, saying,'She is asleep, she was to take place here, and I had my
will not feel it, or know any thing till she poor testimony to deliver, and to give
wakes up in Paradise, and sees her father.' notice of my intention to my brethren
Never saw I a woman, either through  before going to a foreign land, whence
nature or grace, so devoid of fear. We perhaps I may never return."
were rescued at last, by the mercy of   "She ought to be in England," said
Heaven, which sent a fisherman, who Madame de Quinet; "she will never be
bore us to his boat when benumbed with safe from these kinsmen in this country."
cold, and scarce able to move. He took  "M. de Nid-de-Merle has been all the
us to a good priest's, Colombeau of Nis- spring in Poland with the King," said
sard, a man who, as Madame may know, the minister, " and the poor lady is
is one of those veritable saints who still thought to have perished at La Sablerie.
are sustained by the truth within their Thus the danger has been less pressing,
Church, and is full of charity and mer- but I would have taken her to England
cy. He asked me no questions, but fed, at once, if I could have made sure of her
warmed, sheltered us, and sped us on our reception, and besides-" he faltered.
way. Perhaps, however, I was over-      "The means?" demanded the Duchconfident in myself, as the guardian of ess, guessing at the meaning.
the poor child, for it was Heaven's will'"Madame is right. She had brought




250                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
away some money and jewels with her, with a strange manner between a smile
but alas, Madame, during my illness, and a tear of earnestness, "allow me to
without my knowledge, the dear child bespeak your goodness for my daughter.
absolutely sold them to procure comforts The poor little thing is scarcely more
for me. INay-" his eyes filled with than a child. She is but eighteen even
tears, "she whom they blame for vani- now, and it is not always easy to tell
ties, sold the very hair from her head to  whether she will be an angel of noble
purchase unguents to ease the old man's goodness, or, pardon me, a half-petulant
pains; nor did I know it for many a day  child."
after. From day to day we can live, for  "I understand: " Madame de Quinet
our own people willingly support a pas- laughed, and she probably did undertor and his family; and in every house stand more than reluctant, anxious Isaac
my daughter has been loved, - every- Gardon thought she did, of his winning,
where but in this harsh-judging town. gracious, yet haughty, headstrong, little
But for the expense of a voyage, even  charge, so humbly helpful one moment,
were we at Bordeaux or La Rochelle, we so self-asserting and childish the next, so
have nothing, save by parting with the dear to him, yet so unlike any thing in
only jewels that remain to her, and those his experience.
-those, she says, are heirlooms; and,    "Child," he said, as he found her in
poor child, she guards them almost as the sunny window engaged in plaiting
jealously as her infant, around whom she the deep folds of his starched ruffs,
has fastened them beneath her clothes. "you have something to forgive me."
She will not even as yet hear of leaving  " Fathers do not ask their children's
them in pledge, to be redeemed by the pardon," said Eustacie, brightly, but
family.  She says they would hardly then, with sudden dismay, "Ah! you
know her without them.    And truly, have not said I should go to that
Madame, I scarce venture to take her to  Moustier again."
England, ere I know what reception       "No, daughter; but Madame de
would await her. Should her husband's Quinet entreats-these are her wordsfamily disown or cast her off, I could that you will do her the honor of calling
take better care of her here than in a on her. She would come to you, but
strange land."                       that she fears to attract notice to us."
"You are right, Maitre Garden," said  "You have told her! " exclaimed
the Duchess, "the risk might be great. Eustacie.
I would see this lady. She must be a    "I was compelled, but I had already
rare creature. Bear her my greetings, thought of asking your consent, and she
my friend, and pray her to do me the is a true and generous lady, with whom
honor of a visit this afternoon. Tell her your secret will be safe, and who can
I would come myself to, her, but that I hush the idle tongues here. So, daughunderstand she does not wish to attract ter," he added restlessly, " don your
notice."                             hood; that ruff will serve for another
"Madame," said Isaac, rising, and day."




MADAME LA DUCHESSE.                         251
"Another day, when the morrow is f stretched out its broad stone steps,
Sunday, and my father's ruff is to put covered with vaultings absolutely across
to shame all the other pastors," said the street, affording a welcome shade,
Eustacie, her quick fingers still moving. and no obstruction where wheeled car" No, he shall not go ill-starched for any riages never came.
Duchess in France. Nor am I in any      All was, as Maltre Isaac had said,
haste to be lectured by Madame de decorum itself. A couple of armed reQuinet, as they say she lectured the tainers, rigid as sentinels, waited on the
Dame de Soubrera the other day."     steps; a grave porter, maimed in the
"My child, you will go; much de- wars, opened the great door; half a
pends on it."                        dozen laquais in sober though rich liv" Oh yes, I am going; only if Madame eries sat on a bench in the hall, and had
de Quinet knows who I am, she will not somewhat the air of having been set to
expect me to hurry at her beck and call con a lesson. Two of them, coming rethe first moment. lere, Rayonette, my  spectfully forward, ushered Maitre Garbird, my beauty, thou must have a clean  don and his companion to an ante-room,
cap; ay, and these flaxen curls combed."  where various gentlemen, or pastors, or
"Would you take the child? "      candidates-among them Samuel Mac —
" Would I go without Mademoiselle were awaiting a summons to the Duchess,
de Ribaumont? She is all her mother or merely using it as a place of assembly.
is, and more. There, now she is a true A page of high birth, but well schooled
rose-bud, ready to perch on my arm. in steadiness of demeanor, went at once
No, no, bon pe're. So great a girl is too to announce the arrival; and Gardon and
much for you to carry. Don't be afraid, his companion had not been many momy darling, we are not going to a ser- ments in conversation with their acmon, no one will beat her; oh, no, and  quaintance among the ministers, before
if the insolent retainers and pert lacqueys a grave gentleman returned, apparently
laugh at her mother, no one will hurt from his audience, and the page, coming
her."                                to Eustacie, intimated that she was to
"Nay, child," said Maitre Gardon; follow him to Madame la Duchesse's
" this is a well-ordered household, where presence.
contempt and scorn are not suffered.    He conducted her across a great
Only, dear, dear daughter, let me pray  tapestry-hung saloon, where twelve or
you to be your true self with the fourteen ladies of all ages-from seventy
Duchess."                            to fifteen-sat at work: some at tapestry,
Eustacie shrugged her shoulders, and some spinning, some making coarse garhad mischief enough in her to enjoy ments for the poor. A great throne-like
keeping her good father in some doubt chair, with a canopy over it, a foot-stool,
and dread as he went halting wearily by  a desk, and a small table before it was
her side along the much-decorated streets vacant, and the work-a poor child's
that marked the grand Gasche of Tarn knitted cap-laid down; but an elderly
and Tarascon.  The Hotel de Quinet minister, seated at a carved desk, had




252                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
not discontinued reading from a great with a smile, " Ihad the honor to see
black book, and did not even cease while you married."
the strangers crossed the room, merely  "Ah, then,"-Eustacie glowed, almaking a slight inclination with his head, most smiled, though a tear was in her
while the ladies half rose, rustled a eyes-" you can see how like my little
slight reverence with their black, grey, one is to her father-a true White Ribauor russet skirts, but hardly lifted their mont."
eyes. Eustacie thought the Louvre had   The Duchess had not the most disnever been half so formidable or impres- tinct recollection of the complexion of
sive.                                the little bridegroom; but Rayonette's
The page lifted a heavy green curtain fairness was incontestable, and the old
behind the canopy, knocked at the door, lady complimented it so as to draw on
and, as it opened, Eustacie was conscious the young mother into confidence on
of a dignified presence, that, in spite of the pet moonbeam appellation which she
her previous petulance, caused her in- used in dread of exciting suspicion by
stinctively to bend in such a reverence as using the true name of Berengere, with
had formerly been natural to her; but, all the why and wherefore.
at the same moment, a low and magnifi-  It was what the Duchess wanted.
cent curtsy was made to her, a hand was Imperious as some thought her, she
held out, a stately kiss was on her brow, would on no account have appeared to
and a voice of dignified courtesy said, cross-examine any one whose essential
"Pardon me, Madame la Baronne, for nobleness of nature struck her as did
giving you this trouble. I feared that little Eustacie's at the first moment she
otherwise we could not safely meet."  saw  her; and yet she, had decided,
"Madame is very good. My Rayo- before the young woman arrived, that
nette, make thy reverence; kiss thy hand her own good opinion and assistance
to the lady, my lamb." And the little should depend on the correspondence
one obeyed, gazing with her blue eyes of Madame de Ribaumont's history of
full opened and clinging to her mother.  herself with Maitre Gardon's.
" Ah! Madame la Baronne makes        Eustacie had, for a year and a half,
herself obeyed," said Madame de Quinet, lived with peasants; and, indeed, since
well pleased. "Is it then a girl?"   the trials of her life had really begun,
"Yes, Madame, I could scarcely for- she had never been with a woman of
give her at first; but she has made her- her own station whom she could give
self all the dearer to me?"          confidence, or from whom  she could
"It is a pity," said Madame de Quinet, look for sympathy. And thus a very
"for yours is an ancient stem."      few  inquiries and tokens of interest
"Did Madame know my parents?" from the old lady drew out the whole
asked Eustacie, drawn from her spirit of story, and more than once filled Madame
defiance by the equality of the manner de Quinet's eyes with tears.
with which she was treated.             There was only one discrepancy;
"Scarcely," replied the Duchess; but, Eustacie could not believe that the




MADAME LA DUCHESSE.                         253
Abb6 de Mericour had been a faithless de Ribaumont's wife will there be
messenger. Oh no! Either those savage- entered; and from my house at Quinet
looking sailors had played him false, or you shall write, and I, too, will write;
else her belle-mere would not send for my son shall take care that the letters
her.  "My mother-in-law never loved be forwarded safely, and you shall await
me," said Eustacie; "I know she never their arrival under my protection. That
did. And now she has children by her will be more fitting than running the
second marriage, and no doubt would country with an old pastor, hein? "
not see my little one preferred to them.  "Madame, nothing shall induce me
I will not be her suppliant."        to quit him! " exclaimed Eustacie, ve"And what then would you do?" hemently.
said Madame de Quinet, with a more      "Hear me out, child," said the
severe tone.                         Duchess.  "He goes with us to assist
" Never leave my dear father," said my chaplain; he is not much fitter for
Eustacie, with a flash of eagerness; wandering than you, or less so. And
"Maitre Isaac, I mean.  He has been  you, Madame, must, I fear me, still
more to me than any-any one I ever remain his daughter-in-law in my houseknew  save "                         hold; or if you bore your own name
" You have much cause for gratitude  and rank, this uncle and cousin of yours
to him," said Madame de Quinet.  "I might learn that you were still living;
honor your filial love to him.  Yet, and did they claim you-"
you have duties to this little one. You  " Oh, Madame, rather let me be your
have no right to keep her from her meanest kitchen-girl! "
position. You ought to write to Eng-    "To be-what do they call you?land again.  I am  sure Maitre Isaac Esp6rance Gardon will be quite enough.
tells you so."                       I have various women here-widows,
Eustacie would have pouted, but the wives, daughters of sufferers for the
grave, kind authority of the manner truth's sake, who either are glad of rest,
prevented her from being childish, and or are trained up to lead a godly life in
she said, "If I wrote, it should be to the discipline of my household. Among
my husband's grandfather, who brought them  you can live without suspicion,
him up, designated him as his heir, and provided," the old lady added, smiling,
whom he loved with all his heart. But, "you can abstain from turning the heads
oh, Madame, he has one of those English  of our poor young candidates."
names! So dreadful! It sounds like Vol-  " Madame," said Eustacie, gravely,
au-vent, but it is not that precisely."  "I shall never turn any one's head.
Madame de Quinet smiled, lut she There was only one who was obliged to
was a woman of resources. "See, my love me, and happily I am     not fair
friend," she said, "the pursuivant of  enough to win any one else."
the consuls here has the rolls of the   " Tenez, child.  Is this true simherald's visitations throughout the king- plicity? Did Gardon, truly, never tell
dom. The arms and name of the Baron you of poor Samuel Mac6?"




254                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Eustacie's face expressed such genuCHAPTER XXXV.
ine amazement and consternation, that         CHAPTER XXXV.
the Duchess could not help touching her    THE ITALIAN PEDLAR.
on the cheek, and saying, " Ah! simple
" This caitiff monk for gold did swear,
as a pensionnaire, as we used to say when  That by his drugs my rival fair
no one else was innocent. But it is            A saint in heaven should be."
SCOTT.
true, my dear, that to poor Samuel we
owe our meeting. I will send him off,   A GRAND cavalcade bore the house
the poor fellow, at once to Bourg-le-Roy  of Quinet from  Montauban-coaches,
to preach his three sermons; and when  wagons, outriders, gendarmes-it was a
they have driven you a little out of his perfect court progress, and so slow and
head, he shall have Mariette there-a cumbrous that it was a whole week in
good girl, who will make him an excel- reaching agrand old castle standing on
lent wife.  She is ugly enough, but it a hill-side among chestnut woods, with
will be all the same to him just then! an avenue a mile long leading up to it;
I will see him, and let him know that and battlemented towers fit to stand a
I have reasons. He lodges in your house, siege.
does he? Then you had better come to   Eustacie was ranked  among   the
me at once. So willduchess's gentlewomen. She was so far
me at once. So will evil tongues best be
silenced.                            acknowledged as a lady of birth, that
she was usually called M[adame Esp6"But hold," the Duchess said, smil- e was usually called Madame Esp-...  rance; and though no one was supposed
ing. "You will think me a foolish old 
to doubt her being Theodore Gardon's
woman, but is it true that you have 
widow, she was regarded as being a
saved the Pearls of Ribaumont, of which
ood Canon F t ts         person of rank who had made a misgood Canon Froissart tells? "
alliance by marrying him. This Madame
Eustacie lifted her child on her knee,, de Quinet had allowed the household to
untied the little grey frock, and showed
infer, thinking that the whole bearing
them fastened beneath, well out of sight.
t m   s l gr  of her guest was too unlike that of a:I' thought my treasures should guard
Paris bourgeoise not to excite suspicion,
one another," she said. " One I sent as
but she deemed it wiser to refrain from
a token to my mother-in-law. For the
treating her with either intimacy or
rest, they are not mine, but hers; her
distinction that might excite jealousy
father lent them to me, not gave: so
or suspicion. Even as it was, the conshe wears them thus; and anything but 
sciousness of a secret, or the remnants
her life should go rather than they 
should."                            of Montauban gossip, prevented any
should."
Hein,  a fine guardian for them!" familiarity between Eustacie and the
" Iei7, a fine guardian for them! "
good ladies who surrounded her; they
was all the duchess said in answer.
were very civil to each other, but
their only connecting link was the
delight that every one took in petting
pretty little Rayonette, and the wonder




THE ITALIAN PEDLAR.                          255
that was made of her signs of intelli- a prophet in the name of a prophet,"
gence and attempts at talking.  Even  generally sat presiding over the work,
when she toddled fearlessly up to the while some one, chaplain, grandson, or
stately Duchess on her canopied throne, young maiden, read aloud from carefully
and held out her entreating hands, and  assorted books; religious treatises at
lisped  the word " montre," Madame certain hours, and'at others, history.
would pause in her avocations, take her Often, however, Madame was called
on her knee, and display that wonderful away into her cabinet, where she gave
gold and enamel creature which cried   audience to intendants, notaries from her
tic-tic, and  still remained an unap- estates, pastors from the villages, capproachable mystery to M. le Marquis tains of little garrisons, soldiers offerand M. le Vicomte, her grandsons.     ing service, farmers, women, shepherds,
Pale, formal stiff boys they looked, foresters, peasants, who came either on
twelve and ten years old, and under the her business or with their own needsdominion of a very learned tutor, who  for all of which she was ready with the
taught them Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, beneficence and decision of an autoalternately with an equally precise, stiff crat.
old esquire, who trained them in mar-     The chapel had been " purified," and
tial exercises, which seemed to be as made bare of all altar or image. It was
much matters of rote with them     as filled with benches and a desk, whence
their tasks, and to be quite as un- Isaac Garden, the chaplain, any pastor
interesting. It did not seem as if they  on a visit, or sometimes a candidate for
ever played, or thought of playing; and his promotion, would expound, and offer
if they were ever to be gay, witty     prayers, shortly in the week, more at
Frenchmen, a wonderful change must length on Sunday; and there, too, classes
come over them.                       were held for the instruction of the
The elder was already betrothed to a peasants.
Bearnese damsel, of an unimpeachably      There was a great garden full of
ancient and Calvinistic family; and the medicinal plants, and decoctions and diswhole establishment had for the last tilleries were the chief variety enjoyed
three years been employed on tapestry  by the gentlewomen. The Duchess had
hangings for a whole suite of rooms, studied much in quaint Latin and French
that were to be fitted up and hung with  medical books, and, having much experithe histories of Ruth, of Abigail, of the  ence and good sense, was probably as
Shunammite, and of Esther, which their good a doctor as any one in the kingdom
diligent needles might hope to complete  except Ambroise Pare and his pupils;
by the time the marriage should take   and she required her ladies to practise
place, three years later! The Duchess, under her upon the numerous ailments
who really was not unlike "that great that the peasants were continually bringwoman" the Shunammite, in her digni- ing for her treatment. "No one could
fled content with "dwelling among her tell," she said, "how soon they might
own people," and her desire to "receive be dealing with gunshot wounds, and all




256                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ought to know how to sew up a gash, or cruel W's perplexed them  so much.
deal with an ague."                  However, the address was the least of
This department suited Eustacie much  Eustacie's troubles; she should be only
better than the stitching, and best of all too glad when she got to that, and she
she liked to be sent with Maitre Isaac to was sitting in Maitre Isaac's room, trysome cottage where solaces for soul and ing to make him dictate her sentences
body were needed, and the inmate was and asking him how to spell every third
too ill to be brought to Madame la word, when the dinner-bell rang, and
Duchesse. She was learning much and the whole household dropped down from
improving too in the orderly household, salon, library, study, or chamber, to the
but her wanderings had made her some- huge hall, with its pavement of black
thing of a little gipsy. She now and and white marble, and its long tables,
then was intolerably weary, and felt as for Madame de Quinet was no woman to
if she had been entirely spoilt for her discard wholesome old practices.
natural post. " What would become of    Then, as Eustacie, with Rayonette
her," she said to Maitre Isaac, "if she trotting at her side, and Maitre Isaac
were too grand to dress Rayonette?"  leaning on her arm, slowly made her
She was not greatly distressed that way to that high table where dined Mathe Montauban pursuivant turned out to  dame la Duchesse, her grandsons, the
have only the records of the Provenqal ministers, the gentlemen in waiting, and
nobility, and was forced to communicate some three or four women besides herwith his brethren at Bordeaux before he self, she saw that the lower end of the
could bring down the Ribaumont gene- great hall was full of silks, cloths, and
alogy to the actual generation; and so ribbons heaped together; and, passing by
slow was communication, so tardy the the lengthy rank of retainers, she remode of doing every thing, that the ceived a bow and a look of recognition
chestnut-leaves were falling and autumn from a dark, acute-looking visage which
becoming winter before the blazoned let- she remembered to belong to the pedlar
ter showed Ribaumont de Picardie     she had met at Charente.
" Gules, fretty or, a canton of the last, a  The Duchess, at the head of her
leopard, sable. Eustache Beranger, m. table, was not in the best of humors.
Annora, daughter and heiress of Villiam, Her son had sent home letters by a
Baron of Valvem, in the county of courier whom     he had picked up for
Dorisette, England, who beareth azure himself and she never liked nor trusted,
a syren regardant in a mirror proper." and he required an immediate reply
The syren was drawn in all her pro- when she particularly resented being
priety impaled with the leopard, and hurried. It was a galimafre, she said;
she was so much more comprehensible for, indeed, most matters where she was
than the names to both Madame de Qui- not consulted, did become a galinafre
net and Eustacie, that it was a pity they  with her. Moreover, under favor of the
could not direct their letters to her rather courier, her porters had admitted this
than to "Le Baron de Valvem," whose pedlar, and the Duchess greatly disliked




THE TALIAN PEDLAR.                          257
pedlars. All her household stores were after that galimafrei, and see that none
bought at shops of good repute in Mon- of these fools were unreasonably cheated,
tauban, and no one ought to be so im- and that there was no attempt at gulling
provident as to require dealings with  the young ones with charms or fortunethese mountebank vagabonds, who dan- telling, as well as to conclude the matter
gled vanities before the eyes of silly girls, so as to give no excuse for the Italian
and filled their heads with Paris fashions, fellow lingering to sup and sleep. She
if they did not do still worse, and excite then retired to her cabinet to prepare
them to the purchase of cosmetics and her despatches, which were to include
love-charms.                          a letter to Lord Walwyn. Though     a
Yet the excitement caused by the ap- nominal friendship subsisted between
proach of a pedlar was invincible, even  Elizabeth and the French  court, the
by Madame la Duchesse. It was inevi- Huguenot chiefs always maintained a
table that the crying need of glove, correspondence with England, and there
kerchief, needle, or the like, should be was little danger but that the Duke de
discovered as soon as he came within   Quinet would be able to get a letter,
ken, and once in the hall there was no  sooner or later, conveyed to any man of
being rid of him except by a flagrant mark.   In the course of her letter,
act of inhospitality. This time, it was Madame de Quinet found it necessary
worst of all, for M. le Marquis himself to refer to Eustacie. She rang her little
must needs be the first to spy him, bring  silver handbell for the little foot-page,
him in, and be in want of a silver chain  who usually waited outside her door.
for his hawk; and his brother the Vi- He appeared not. She rang again, and
comte must follow him up with all man- receiving no answer, opened her door
ner of wants inspired by the mere sight and sallied forth, a wrathful dame, into
of the pack.                          the hall. There, of course, Master Page
Every one with the smallest sum of had been engulfed in the galimafre, and
money must buy, every one without in- not only forming one of the swarm
spect and assist in bargaining; and all around the pedlar, but was actually
dinner-time, eyes, thoughts, and words aping courtly grimaces as he tried a
were wandering to the gay pile in the delicate lace ruffle on the hand of a silly
corner, or reckoning up needs and means. little smirking maiden, no older than
The pedlar, too, knew what a Calvinist himself! But this little episode was,
household was, and had been extremely like many others, overlooked by Madame
discreet, producing nothing that could  de Quinet, as her eye fell upon the little
reasonably be objected to; and the Duch- figure of Rayonette, standing on the
ess, seeing that the stream was too strong  table with her mother and two or three
for her, wisely tried to steer her bark ladies besides, coaxing her to open her
through it safely instead of directly op- mouth, and show the swollen gums that
posing it.                             had of late been troubling her, while
As soon as grace was over, she called the pedlar was evidently expending his
her maitre d'hatel, and bade him look  blandishments upon her.
17




258                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
The maitre d'h6tel was the first to  "Madame,"said Eustacie, rufflinginto
perceive his mistress, and, as he ap- fierceness, "you are very good to me;
proached, received a sharp rebuke from  but I must keep the management of my
her for allowing the fellow to produce daughter to myself."
his quack medicines; and, at the same   The Duchess looked at her from head
time, she desired him to request Madame to foot. Perhaps it was with an impulse
Esperance to come to her immediately to treat her impertinence as she would
on business. Eustacie, who always had have done that of a dependant; but the
a certain self-willed sense of opposition  old lady never forget herself: she only
when the Duchess showed herself per- shrugged her shoulders and said, with
emptory toward her, at first began to studied politeness, " When I unfortunatemake answer that she would come as ly interrupted your consultation with
soon as her business was concluded; but this eminent physician, it was to ask you
the steward made a gesture toward the a question regarding this English family.
great lady sailing up and down as she Will you do me the honor to enter my
paced the dais in stately impatience. cabinet?"
" Good fellow," she said, "I will return  And whereas no one was looking, the
quickly, and see you again, though I am  old lady showed her displeasure by ushnow interrupted.-Stay there, little one, ering Madame de Ribaumont into her
with good Mademoiselle Perrot; mother cabinet like a true noble stranger guest;
will soon be back."                  so that Eustacie felt disconcerted.
Rayonette, in her tooth-fretfulness,  The Duchess then began to read aloud
was far from enduring to be forsaken so her own letter to Lord Walwyn, pausing
near a strange man, and her cry made it at every clause, so that Eustacie felt the
necessary for Eustacie to take her in her delay and discussion growing interminaarms, and carry her to the dais where ble, and the Duchess then requested to
the Duchess was waiting.             have Madame de Ribaumont's own letter
"So!" said the lady, "I suspected at once, as she wished to inclose it, make
that the fellow was a quack as well as a up her packet, and send it without delay.
cheat."                              Opening a secret door in her cabinet, she
"Madame," said Eustacie, with spirit, showed Eustacie a stair by which she
"he sold me unguents that greatly re- might reach Maitre Gardon's room withlieved my father last spring."       out crossing the hall. Eustacie hoped to
"And because rubbing relieved an find him there and tell him how intolerold man's rheumatics, you would let a able was the Duchess; but, though she
vagabond cheat, drug, and sicken, this found him, it was in company with the
poor child for what is no ailment at all-  tutor, who was spending an afternoon on
and the teeth will relieve in a few days. Plato with him. She could only take up
Or, if she were feverish, have not we de- her letter, and retreat to Madame's cabicoctions brewed from heaven's own pure  net, where she had left her child. She
herbs in the garden, with no unknown finished it as best she might, addressed
ingredient?"                         it after the herald's spelling of the title,




THE ITALIAN PEDLAR.                        259
bound it with some of the Duchess's black the little one showed any perilous sympfloss silk-wondering meanwhile, but lit- tom. And as happily Rayonette only
tle guessing that the pedlar knew, where showed two little white teeth, and much
was the tress that had bound her last at- greater good humor, the syrup was neartempt at correspondence, guessing least ly forgotten, when, a fortnight after the
of all that that tress lay on a heart still Duchess received a despatch from her
living and throbbing for her. All this son which filled her with the utmost inhad made her a little forget her haste to  dignation. The courier had indeed arassert her liberty of action by returning rived, but the packet had proved to be
to the pedlar; but, behold when she filled with hay and waste paper. And
came back to the hall, it had resumed its upon close examination, under the lash,
pristine soberness, and merely a few lin- the courier had been forced to confess to
gering figures were to be seen, packing having allowed himself to be overtaken
up their purchases.                  by the pedlar, and treated by him to a
While she was still looking round in supper at a cabaret. No doubt, while he
dismay, Mademoiselle Perrot came up to was afterwards asleep, the contents of
her and said,'Ah! Madame, you may his packet had been abstracted. There
well wonder! I never saw Maitre Be- had been important documents for the
noit there so cross; the poor man did but Duke besides Eustacie's letters, and the
offer to sell little Fanchon the elixir that affair greatly annoyed the Duchess,
secures a good husband, and old Benoit though she had the compensation of havdescended on him like a griffin enraged, ing been proved perfectly right in her
would scarce givehim time to compute his prejudice against pedlars, and her dislike
charges or pack his wares, but hustled him  of her son's courier. She sent for Euforthlike amerethief! And I missedmy  stacie to tell her privately of the loss,
bargain for that muffler that had so taken  and of course the young mother at once
my fancy. But, Madame, hetspoke to me turned pale and exclaimed, " The wicked
apart, and said you were an old customer one! Ah! what a blessing that I gave
of his, and that rather than the little my little darling none of his dose! "
angel should suffer with her teeth, which  "H ein? You had some from him
surely threaten convulsions, he would then! " demanded the Duchess with disleave with you this sovereign remedy of pleasure.
sweet syrup-a spoonful to be given each  "No, Madame, thanks, thanks to you.
night."                              Oh! I never will be self-willed and
Eustacie took the little flask.  She naughty again. Forgive me, Madame."
was much inclined to give the syrup by  And down she dropped on her knee,
way of precaution, as well as to assure with clasped hands and glistening eyes.
herself that she was not under the Duch-  " Forgive you, silly child, for what? "
ess's dominion; but some strong instinct said Madame de Quinet, nearly laughof the truth of the lady's words that the ing.
child was safer and healthier undoctored,  "Ah! for the angry, passionate
made her resolve at least to defer it until thoughts I had! Ah! Madame, I was




260                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
all but giving the stuff to my little angel notion of his being the same person
in very spite-and then-   " Eustacie's whom she had seen when at Montpipeau.
voice was drowned in a passion of tears, Indeed, he had altered his appearance so
and she devoured the old lady's hand much that he had been only discovered
with her kisses.                     at Nid-de-Merle by eyes sharpened by
"Come, come," said the Duchess, distrust of his pretensions to magic arts.
"let us be reasonable. A man may be a   Madame de Quinet, however, conthief, but it does not follow that he is a eluded that Eustacie had been known,
poisoner."                           or else that her jewels had betrayed her,
"Nay, that will we see," cried Eu- and that the man must have been emstacie. "He was resolved that the little ployed by her enemies. If it had not
lamb should not escape, and he left a been the depth of winter, she would
flask for her with Mademoiselle Perrot. have provided for the persecuted lady's
I will fetch it, if Madame will give me immediate transmission to England; but
leave. Oh, the great mercy of Heaven the storms of the Bay of Biscay would
that made her so well that I gave her have made this impossible in the state of
none! "                              French navigation, even if Isaac Gardon
Madame de Quinet's analytic powers had been in a condition to move; for the
did not go very far, and would probably first return of cold had brought back
have decided against the syrup if it had severe rheumatic pains, and with them
been nothing but virgin honey. She was came a shortness of breath, which
one who fully believed that her dear even the Duchess did not know to be the
Queen Jeanne had been poisoned with a token of heart complaint. He was conpair of gloves, and she had unlimited fined to his room, and it was kneeling by
faith in the powers of evil possessed by his bedside that Eustacie poured out her
Ren6 of Milan. Of course, she detected thankfulness for her child's preservation,
the presence of a slow poison, whose and her own repentance for the passing
effects would have been attributed to the fit of self-will and petulance.  The
ailment it was meant to cure; and thought of Rayonette's safety seemed
though her evidence was insufficient, she absolutely to extinguish the fresh anxieprobably did Ercole no injustice.  She ty that had arisen, since it had become
declined testing the compound on any  evident that her enemies no longer supunfortunate dog or cat, but sealed it up posed her dead, but were probably upon
in the presence of Gardon, Eustacie, and her traces.  Somehow, danger had beMademoiselle Perrot, to be produced come almost a natural element to her,
against the pedlar if ever he should be and having once expressed her firm resocaught.                             lution that nothing should separate her
Then she asked Eustacie if there was from her adopted father, to whom indeed
any reason to suspect that he recognised her care became constantly -more necesher. Eustacie related the former deal- sary, she seemed to occupy herself very
ings with him, when she had sold him  little with the matter; she nursed him
her jewels and her hair, but she had no as cheerfully and fondly, and played with




SPELL AND POTION.                           261
Rayonette as merrily as ever, and left to so long watched and loved one so true
him  and Madame de Quinet the grave    and conscientious as Berenger de Ribauconsultations as to what was to be done mont without having her perceptions
for her security. There was a sort of  elevated; but at the same time the pasnatural buoyancy about her that never sion of love had become intensified,
realized a danger till it came, and then  both by long continuance and by reher spirit was roused to meet it.      sistance. She had attached herself, believing him free, and her affections
could not be disentangled by learning
CHAPTER  XXXVI.that he was bound-rather the contrary.
SPELL AND POTION.               Besides, there was plenty of sophistry.
"Churl, upon thy eyes I throw       Her father had always assured her of
All the power this charm doth owe."  the invalidity of the marriage, without
Midsummer Night's Dream.
thinking it necessary to dwell on his
HER rival lived! The tidings could  own arrangements for making it innot but be communicated to Diane de valid, so that was no reasonable ground
Selinville, when her father set out en  of objection; and a lady of Diane's
grande tenue to demand his niece from  period, living in the world where she
the Duke de Quinet. This, however, had lived, would have had no notion of
was not till spring was advancing; for objecting to her lover for a previous
the pedlar had not been able to take a amour, and as such was she bidden to
direct route back to Nid-de-Merle, since rank Berenger's relations with Eustacie.
his first measure had necessarily been to  And  there was the less scruple on
escape into a province where the abstrac- Eustacie's account, because the Chevation of a Huguenot nobleman's despatches lier, knowing that the Duchess had a
would be considered as a meritorious son and two grandsons, had conceived
action. Winter weather, and the prac- a great terror that she meant to give
tice of his profession likewise, delayed  his niece to one of them; and this
Ercole so much that it was nearly Easter would be infinitely worse both for the
before he brought his certain intelli- interests of the family and of their
gence to the Chevalier, and to the lady  party, than even her re-union with the
an elixir of love, clear and colorless as young Baron.  Even Narcisse, who on
crystal, and infallible as an inspirer of his return had written to Paris a grudgaffection.                             ing consent to the experiment of his
Should she administer it, now that father and sister, had allowed that the
she knew her cousin not to be the law- preservation of Berenger's life was needful object of affection she had so long  ful till Eustacie should be in their power,
esteemed him, but, as he persisted in  so as to prevent such a marriage as that!
considering himself, a married man? To Diane, the very suggestion became
Diane had more scruples than she would  certainty: she already saw  Eustacie's
have had a year before, for she had not shallow little heart consoled and her




262                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
vanity excited by these magnificent pros- him for his faith that she was not dead;
pects, and she looked forward to the and in the second he actually found
triumph of her own constancy, when himself in the ravine of the Grange du
Berenger should find the image so long Temple. No need to ask, every voice
enshrined in his heart crumble in its was shouting the name, and though the
sacred niche.                        gendarmes were round    him  and he
Yet a little while then would she be durst not speak to Rotrou, still he could
patient, even though nearly a year had reply with significative earnestness to
passed and still she saw no effect upon the low bow with which the farmer bent
her prisoners, unless, indeed, Philip had to evident certainty that here was the
drunk of one of her potions by mistake imprisoned Protestant husband of the
and his clumsy admiration was the con- poor lady.  Berenger wore his black
sequence.  The two youths went on vizard mask as had been required of
exactly in the same manner, without a him, but the man's eyes followed him,
complaint, without a request, occupying  as though learning by heart the outline
themselves as best they might-Berenger of his tall figure.  The object of the
courteously attentive to her father, and Chevalier's journey was, of course, a
coldly courteous to herself. He had en- secret from the prisoners, who merely
tirely recovered his health, and the felt its effects by having their meals
athletic powers displayed by the two  served to them in their own tower; and
brothers when wrestling, fencing, or when he returned after about a month's
snow - balling in the court- yard were absence thought him looking harassed,
the amazement and enyy of their guard. aged, and so much out of humor that
Twice in the course of the winter there he could scarcely preserve his usual
had been an alarm of wolves, and in politeness.  In effect he was greatly
their eagerness and excitement about chagrined.
this new sport,.they had accepted the    " That she is in their hands is certain,
Chevalier's offer of taking their parole the hypocrites! " he said to his daughter
for the hunt.  They had, then, gone and sister; "and no less so that they
forth with a huge posse of villagers who have designs on her; but I let them
beat the woods with their dogs till know that these could be easily travthe beast was aroused from its lair and ersed."
driven into the alleys, where waited     " But where is she, the unhappy aposgentlemen, gendarmes, and gamekeepers tate child?" said the Abbess. "They
with their guns.  These two chases durst not refuse her to you."
were chiefly memorable to Berenger,      "I tell you they denied all present
because in the universal intermingling knowledge of her. The Duke himself
of shouting peasants he was able in the had the face to make as though he never
first to have some conversation with heard of her. He had no concern with
Eustacie's faithful protector Martin, who his mother's household and guests fortold him the incidents of her wander- sooth! I do not believe he has; the
ings witl tears in his eyes, and, blessed poor fellow stands in awe of that terrible




SPELL AND POTION.                         263
old heretic dragon, and keeps aloof from nothing more than that the old heretic
her as much as he can. But he is, after Gardon with his family had gone away
all, a beau jeune homme; nor should I be in Madame la Duchesse's litter, but whithsurprised if he were the girl's gay bride- er they could not tell. But the cabaretier
groom by this time, though I gave him  there is furious secretly with the Quinets
a hint that there was an entanglement for having spoilt his trade by destroying
about the child's first marriage which, by the shrine at the holy well, and I have
French law, would invalidate any other made him understand that it will be for
without a dispensation from the Pope."  his profit to send me off intelligence so
"A hard nut that for a heretic," soon as there is any communication belaughed the Abbess.                  tween them and the lady. I made the
"He acted the ignorant-knew noth- same arrangement with a couple of gening about the young lady; but had the darmes of the escort the Duke gave me.
civility to give me a guide and an escort So at least we are safe for intelligence
to go to Quinet. Ka foi! I believe   such as would hinder a marriage."
they were given to hinder me-take me    "But they will be off to England!"
by indirect roads, make me lose time at said the abbess.
chateaux. When I arrived at the grim    "I wager they will again write to
old chateau-a true dungeon, precise as a make sure of a reception. Moreover, I
convent-there was the dame, playing have set that fellow Ercole and others
the Queen Jeanne as well as she could, of his trade to keep a strict watch on all
and having the insolence to tell me that the roads leading to the ports, and give
it was true that Madame la Baronne de me due notice of their passing thither.
Ribaumont, as she was pleased to call We have law on our side, and did I once
her, had honored her residence for some claim her, no one could resist my right.
months, but that she had now quitted it, Or should the war break out, as is proband she flatly refused to answer any able, then could my son sweep their
question whither she was gone! The whole province with his troops. This
hag! she might at least have had the time she cannot escape us."
decorum to deny all knowledge of her,   The scene that her father's words and
but nothing is more impertinent than her own imagination conjured up, of Euthe hypocritical sincerity of the here- stacie attracting the handsome widowertics."                               duke, removed all remaining scruples
"But her people," exclaimed the Ab- from Madame de Selinville. For his own
bess, " surely some of them knew and sake, the Baron must be made to fulfil
could be brought to speak."          the prophecy of the ink-pool, and allow
"All the servants I came in contact his prison doors to be opened by love.
with played the incorruptible; but still I Many and many a tender art did Diane
have done something. There were some rehearse; numerous were her sighs;
fellows in the village who are not at their wakeful, languishing, and restless her
ease under that rule. I caused my peo- nights and days; and yet, whatever her
ple to inquire them out. They knew   determination to practise upon her cousin




264                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the witcheries that she had learned in  These were brought by a handsome but
the Escadron de la Reine-mere, and seen  slight, pale lad called Aime de Selinville,
played off effectually where there was a relative of the late Count, as he told
not one grain of love to inspire them, her them, who had come to act as a gentlepowers and her courage always failed her man attendant upon the widowed countin the presence of him whom she sought ess. The brothers rather wondered how
to attract. His quiet reserve and simpli- he was disposed of at the convent, but
city always disconcerted her, and any at- all there was so contrary to their precontempt at blandishment that he could not ceived notions that they acquiesced. The
mistake, was always treated by him as first time he arrived it was a long, hot
necessarily an accidental error, as if any  summer day, and he then brought them
other supposition would render her des- a cool iced sherbet in two separate flasks,
picable, and yet there was now and then  that for Philip being mixed with wine,
a something that made her detect an ef- which was omitted for Berenger; and
fort in his restraint as if it were less dis- the youth stood lingering and watching,
taste than self-command.  Her brother anxious, he said, to be able to tell his
had contemptuously acquiesced in the ex- lady how the drinks were approved.
periment made by herself and her father, Both were excellent, and to that effect
and allowed that so long as there was the prisoners replied; but no sooner
any danger of the Quinet marriage, the was the messenger gone, than Berenger
Baron's existence was needful.    He said smilingly, " That was a love-potion,
would not come to Nid-de-Merle, nor did Phil."
they want him there, knowing that he      " And you drank it! " cried Philip in
could hardly have kept his hands off his horror.
rival.  But when the war broke out        "I did not think of it till I saw how
again in the summer of 1575, he joined  the boy's eyes were gazing curiously at
that detachment of Guise's army which  me as I swallowed it. You look at me
hovered about the Loire, and kept watch  as curiously, Phil.  Are you expecting
on the Huguenot cities and provinces of it to work? Shall I be at the fair lady's
Western France. The Chevalier made    feet next time we meet? "
several expeditions to confer with his    "How can you defy it, Berry? "
son, and to keep up his relations with the  " Nay, Phil; holy wedded love is not
network of spies whom he had spread   to be dispelled by a mountebank's decocover the Quinet provinces. The prison- tion."
ers were so much separated from all in-   " But suppose it were poisonous, Bertercourse with the dependants that they  ry, what can be done?" cried Philip,
were entirely ignorant of the object of  starting up in dismay.
his absence from home. On these'occa-     Then you would go home, Phil, and
sions they never left their tower and its this would be over. But-" seeing his
court, and had no enlivenment save an  brother's terror-" there is no fear of
occasional gift of dainties or message of that. She is not like to wish to poison
inquiry from  the ladies at Bellaise. me."




SPELL AND POTION.                          265
And the potion proved equally ineffec- whose union, with the heir of the elder
tive on mind and body, as indeed did all line, was to conclude all family feuds.
the manipulations exercised upon a little  Only now did Berenger understand what
waxen image that was supposed to repre- his father had said on his death-bed of
sent M. le Baron. Another figure was flagrant injustice committed in his days
offered to Diane, in feminine form, with  of darkness. He felt that he was reaping
black beads for eyes, and a black plaster the reward of the injuries committed
for hair, which, when stuck full of pins against the Chevalier and his son on beand roasted before the fire, was to cause half of the two unconscious children.
Eustacie to peak and pine accordingly. He would willingly at once have given
But from this measure Diane shrank. If up all claim to the Nid-de-Merle estateaught was done against her rival it must and he was now of age; two birthdays
be by her father and brother, not byher- had passed in his captivity and brought
self; and she would not feel herself  him to years of discretion, but he had no
directly injuring her little cousin, nor more power than before to dispose of
sinking herself below him whom   she what was the property of Eustacie and
loved. Once his wife, she would be good her child; and the whole question of the
for ever, held up by his strength.   validity of his marriage would be given
Meantime Berenger had received a up by his yielding even the posthumous
greater shock that she or her father un- claim that might have devolved on him
derstood in the looking over of some of in case of Eustacie's death. This would
the family parchments kept in store at be giving up her honor, a thing imposthe castle. The Chevalier, in showing  sible.
them to him, had chiefly desired to glori- " Alas! " he sighed, " my poor father
fy the family by demonstrating how its might well say he had bound a heavy
honors had been won, but Berenger was burden around my neck."
startled at finding that Nid-de-Merle had  And from that time his hopes sank
been, as it appeared to him, arbitrarily lower as the sense of the justice of his
and unjustly declared to be forfeited by  cause left him. He could neither deny
the Sieur de Bellaise, who had been his religion nor his marriage, and therethrown into prison by Louis XI. for some fore could do nothing for his own deliverdemonstration in favor of the poor Duke ance; and he knew himself to be sufferde Berri, and granted to the favorite ing as the cause of a great injustice; inRibaumont.   The original grant was deed, to be bringing suffering on the still
there, and to his surprise he found it was more innocent Philip.
to male heirs-the male heirs alone of    The once proudly indifferent youth
the direct line of the Ribaumont-to  was flagging now; was losing appetite,
whom the grant was made. How, then, flesh, and color; was unwilling to talk
came it to Eustacie? The disposal had, or to take exercise; and had a wan and
with almost equal injustice, been changed  drooping air that was most painful to
by King Henry II. and the late Count de watch. It seemed as if the return of
Ribaumont in favor of the little daughter summer brought a sense of the length




266                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
and weariness of the captivity, and that much graver, as by these letters, dated
the sunshine and gaiety of the landscape three months since, they understood how
had become such a contrast to the captives' many they must have missed, and likedeadness of spirit that they could hardly wise that nothing had been heard of
bear to behold them, and felt the dull themselves since they had left Paris sixprison walls more congenial to their feel- teen months ago. Their letters, both to
ings than the gaiety of the summer hay their relations and to Sir Francis Walsingand harvest fields.                  ham, had evidently been suppressed;
and Lord North, who had succeeded
Walsingham as ambassador, had probaCHAPTER    XXXVII.           bly been misled by design, either by Narcisse de Nid-de-Merle himself, or by some
BEATING AGAINST THE BARS.       of his agents, for Lord Walwyn had
" My horse is weary of the stall,  heard from him that the young men were
And Iam sick of captive thrall."  loitering among the castles and garrisons
Lady of the LakEe.
of Anjou, leading a gay and dissipated
LETTERS!  They were hailed like life, and that it was universally believed
drops of water in a thirsty land. No that the Baron de Ribaumont had emdoubt they had been long on the way, braced the Catholic faith, and would
ere they had reached the hands of the shortly be presented to Henry III. to reChevalier de Ribaumont, and it was ceive the grant of the Selinville honors,
quite possible that they had been read upon his marriage with his cousin, the
and selected; but, as Berenger said, he widow of the last of the line. With
defied any Frenchman to imitate either much earnestness and sorrow did good
Lord Walwyn's style or Sir Marma- old Lord Walwyn write to his grandson,
duke's, and when late in the autumn the conjuring him to bethink himself of his
packet was delivered to him, the two home, his pure faith, his loving friends,
captives gloated over the very outsides and the hopes of his youth: and, at
before they opened them.             least, if he himself had been led away
The first intelligence that greeted by the allurements of the other party, to
them made them give a cry of amuse- remember that Philip had been entrusted
ment and surprise. Lady Thistlewood, to him in full confidence, and to return
whose regrets that each of her girls was him to his home.  "It was grief and
not a boy had passed into a proverb, shame to him," said the good old man,
had at length, in Dolly's seventh year. "to look at Sir Marmaduke, who had
given birth to a son on Midsummer Day. risked his son in the charge of one hith"Well," said Philip, sighing, "we erto deemed trustworthy; and even if
must drink his health to-night! It is Berenger had indeed forgotten and cast
well, if we are to rot here, that some one away those whom he had once seemed
should make it up to them!          to regard with love and duty, he com"And join Walwyn and Hurst!" mmanded him to send home Philip, who
said Berenger; and then both faces grew  owed an obedience to his father that




BEATING AGAINST THE BARS.                      267
could not be gainsayed." Lord Walwyn the unconsolatory platitudes uttered by
further bade his grandson remember that Philip, who always grew  sullen and
the arrangements respecting his inherit- dogged when his brother's French temance had been made in confidence that perament broke forth under any sudden
his heir was English in heart and faith, stroke. "If they will believe such things,
and that neither the Queen nor his own let them! You have not heard what my
conscience would allow him to let his father says to it."
inheritance pass into French or Papist  "It will be all the same," groaned
hands. There was scarcely a direct re- Berenger.
proach, but the shaken, altered hand-   " Nay! now that's a foul slander, and
writing showed how stricken the aged you should be ashamed of doing my
man must be; and after his signature was father such wrong," said Philip. "Lisadded one still more trembling line, " An ten;" and he read, "'I will believe no ill
ye return not speedily, ye will never see of the lad no more than of thee, Phil.
the old grandsire more."             It is but a wild-goose chase, and the poor
Berenger scarcely finished the letter young woman is scarce like to be above
through his burning tears of agony, and ground; but, as I daily tell them,'tis
then, casting it from him, began to pace hard a man should forfeit his land for
the room in fierce agitation, bursting out seeking his wife. My Lord North sends
into incoherent exclamations, grasping at rumors that he is under Papist guiding,
his hair, even launching himself against and sworn brother with the Black Ribauthe massive window with such frenzied monts; and my lady, his grandmother, is
gestures and wild words that Philip, who like to break her heart, and my lord
had read through all with his usual silent credits them more than he ought, and
obtuseness, became dismayed, and laying never a line as a token comes from you.
hold of him, said, "Prithee, brother, do Then there's Dame Annora, as proud of
not thus! What serves such passion? "  the babe as though neither she nor woman
Berenger burst into a strange loud born ever had a son before, and plains
laugh at the matter-of-fact tone. "What over him, that both his brothers should
serves it! what serves any thing " he be endowed and he but a younger son.
cried, "but to make me feel what a mis- What will be the end on't I cannot tell.
erable wretch I am? But he will die, I will stand up for the right as best man
Philip-he will die-not having believed may do, and never forget that Berry is
me! How shall we keep ourselves from  her first-born, and that his child may be
the smooth - tongued villain's throat? living; but the matter is none of mine,
That I should be thus judged a traitor by and my lord is very aged, nor can a man
my grandfather-"                     meddle between his wife and her father.
And with a cry as of bodily anguish  So this I tell you that you may make
he hid his face on the table, and groaned your brother lay it to heart. The sooner
as he felt the utter helplessness of his he is here the better, if he be still, as I
strong youth in bonds.               verily believe and maintain him to be, an
" It can't be helped," was the next of honest English heart that snaps his fin



268                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
gers at French papistry.' There," con- pressed moans and sobs-then knew that
eluded Philip, triumphantly, "he knows he was on his knees-then, after long
an honest man! He's friend and good and comparatively silent weeping, he lay
father to you as much as ever. Heed down again, and from the hour when he
none of the rest. He'll never let this lit- awoke in the morning, he returned no
tie rogue stand in your light."      more to the letters; and though for
" As if I cared for that! " said Beren- some little time more sad and dispirited,
ger, beginning his caged tiger walk again, he seemed to have come to regard the
and, though he tried to repress his an- misjudgment at home as a part of the
guish, breaking out at times into fierce burden he was already bearing.
revilings of the cruel toils that beset him,  That burden was, however, pressing
and despairing lamentations over those more heavily. The temperaments of the
beloved ones at home with sobs, groans, two brothers so differed that while the
and tears, such as Philip could not brook French one was prostrated by the agony
to witness, both because they were so of a stroke, and then rallied patiently to
violent and mournful, and because he endure the effects, the English character
thought them womanish, though in effect opposed a passive resistance to the blow,
no woman's grief could have had half gave no sign of grief or pain, and from
that despairing force. The ferter of the that very determination suffered a sort
French noble, however, came to his aid. of exhaustion that made the effects of
At the first sound of the great supper- the evil more and more felt. Thus, from
bell he dashed away his tears, composed the time Philip's somewhat tardy imahis features, washed his face and demand- gination had been made to realize his
ed haughtily of Philip, whether there home, his father, and his sisters, the
were any traces in his looks that the cruel home-sickness, and weariness of his caphypocrite, their jailer, could gloat over.  tivity, which had already begun to unAnd with proud step and indifferent dermine his health and spirits, took inair he marched into the hall, answered  creasing effect.
the Chevalier's polite inquiry whether  He made no complaint-he never exthe letter had brought good tidings by pressed a wish-but, in the words of the
coolly thanking him and saying that all prophet, he seemed, "pining away on his
at home were well; and when he met feet." He did not sleep, and though, to
the old man's inquiring glance out of the avoid remark, he never failed to appear
little keen black bead in the puckered, at meals, he scarcely tasted food. He
withered eyelid, he put a perfectly stony never willingly stirred from  cowering
unmeaningness into his own gaze, till his over the fire, and was so surly and illeyes looked like the blue porcelain from  tempered that only Berenger's unfailing
China so much prized by the Abbess. He good - humor could have endured it.
even played at chess all the evening with  Even a wolf-hunt did not stir him. He
such concentrated attention as to be uni- only said he hated outlandish beasts, and
formly victorious.                   that it was not like chasing the hare in
Yet half the night Philip heard sup- Dorset.  His calf-love for Madame de




BEATING AGAINST THE BARS.                      269
Selinville had entirely faded away in his King do as he will with me, but let
yearnings after home. She was only one Philip's case be known to our Ambassaof the tediously-recurring sights of his dor."
captivity, and was loathed like all the rest.  "My poor cousin," said the ChevaThe regulation rides with the Chevalier lier, "you know  not what you ask.
were more detestable than ever, and by- Did I grant your desire, you would only
and-by they caused such fatigue that learn how implacable King Henri is to
Berenger perceived that his strength those who have personally offended him
must be waning, and became so seriously  -above all, to heretics. Nor could the
alarmed that one evening, when Philip  Ambassador do any thing for one who
had barely dragged himself to the hall, resisted by force of arms the king's justasted nothing but a few drops of wine, tice. Leave it to me; put yourself in my
and then dropped into an uneasy slumber hands, and deliverance shall come for
in his chair, he could not but turn to the him first, then for you."
Chevalier an appealing, indignant coun-  "How, sir?"
tenance, as he said, in a low but quiver-  "One token of concession-one ating voice, "You see, sir, how he is al- tendance at mass-one pledge that the
tered!".  alliance shall take place when the for"Alas! fair nephew, it is but too malities have been complied with-then
plain. He is just of the age when such  can I report you our own; give you alrestraint tells severely upon the health."  most freedom  at once; despatch our
Then Berenger spoke out upon the. young friend to England without loss of
foul iniquity of the boy's detention. For time; so will brotherly affection conhimself, he observed, he had nothing to quer those chivalrous scruples, most honsay; he knew the terms of his release, orable in you, but which, carried too far,
and had not accepted them; but Philip, become cruel obstinacy."
innocent of all damage to the Ribau-    Berenger looked at Philip; saw how
mont interests, the heir of an honorable faded and wan was the ruddy sun-burnt
family, what had he done to incur the complexion, how  lank  and bony the
cruel imprisonment that was eating   sturdy form, how listless and wasted the
away his life?                       hands. Then arose, bursting within him,
"I tell you, sir," said Berenger, with the devoted generosity of the French
eyes filled with tears, "that his liberty nature, which  would even accept sin
is more precious to me than my own. and ruin for self, that so the friend
Were he but restored to our home, full may be saved, and after all had he not
half the weight would be gone from my gone to mass out of mere curiosity?-did
spirit."                             he not believe that there was salvation
"Fair nephew," said the Chevalier, in theGallican Church? Was it notpos-' you speak as though I had any power sible that, with Philip free to tell his
in the matter, and were not merely story at home, his own deliverance might
standing between you and the King."  come before he should be irrevocably
" Then if so," said Berenger, " let the committed to Madame de Selinville? If




270                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Eustacie were living, her charms must   He spoke English, but Berenger reoverthrow that which her rival was for- plied in French.
cing upon him at her own peril. Nay,    "You were not wrong, Philip. Sir,
how else could he obtain tidings of her? he dreamed that the devil was tempting
And for those at home, did they deserve me in your voice while you were promisthat he should sacrifice all, Philip includ- ing me his liberty on my fulfilling your
ed, for their sake? The thoughts, long first condition."
floating round his brain, now surged    "What?" said Philip, now    fully
upon him in one flood, and seemed to awake, and gathering the state of things,
overwhelm in those moments of confu- as he remembered the words that had
sion all his powers of calling up the other doubtless been the cause of his dream.
side of the argument; he only had an  " And if you did, Berenger, I give you
instinct remaining that it would be a lie warning they should never see me at
to God and man alike. "God help me!" home. What! could I show my face
he sighed to himself; and there was there with such tidings? No! I should
sufficient consideration and perplexity go straight to La Noue, or to the Low
expressed in his countenance to cause Countries, and kill every Papist I could
the Chevalier to feel his, cause almost for having debauched you!"
gained; and rising eagerly, with tears in  "Hush! hush! Philip," said Berenhis eyes, he exclaimed, "Embrace me, ger. "I could not break my faith to
my dear, dear son! The thing is done I Heaven or my wife even for your sake,
Oh! what peace, what joy!"          and my cousin sees how little beholden
The instinct of recoil came stronger you would be to me for so doing. With
now.   He stepped back with folded your leave, Monsieur, we will now rearms, saying again, " God help me! tire."
God forbid that I should be a trai-     The Chevalier detained Berenger for
tor! "                              a moment to whisper, " What I see is so
"My son, hear me; these are but noble a heart that I know you cannot
easily removed points of honor," began sacrifice him to your punctilio."
the Chevalier; but at that moment       Philip was so angry with Berenger,
Philip suddenly started from, or in, his so excited, and so determined to show
slumber, leaped on his feet, and called that nothing ailed him, that for a short
out, "Avaunt, Satan!".then opened his time he was roused, and seemed to be
eyes, and looked, as if barely recalling recovering: but in a few days he flagged
where he was.                        again, only, if possible, with more gruff" Philip!" exclaimed Berenger, "did ness, moodiness, and pertinacity in not
you hear? "                          allowing that any thing was amiss. It
"I-I don't know," he said, half-be- was the bitterest drop of all in Berenwildered.  "Was I dreaming that the ger's cup, when in the end of January
fiend was parleying with us in the voice he looked back at what Philip had been
of M. le Chevalier there to sell our souls only a month before, and saw how he
for one hour of home? "              had wasted away and lost strength; the




BEATING AGAINST THE BARS.                       271
impulse rather to ruin himself than de- He knew the way to the Grange da
stroy his brother came with such force Temple, and to the chief towns in the
that he could scarcely escape it by his neighborhood. Philip and Humfrey had
ever-recurring cry for help to withstand  both lost something of their intensely
it. And then Diane, in her splendid national look and speech, and, moreover,
beauty and witchery, would rise before war having broken out again, there was
him, so that he knew how a relaxation hope of falling in with Huguenot partiof the lengthened weary effort would  zans even nearer than at La Rochelle.
make his whole self break its bonds and But whether successful or not, some engo out to her. Dreams of felicity and lib- terprise was absolutely needed to save
erty, and not with Eustacie, would even Philip from his despondent apathy; and
come over him, and he would awaken to Berenger, who in these eighteen months
disappointment before he came to a sense had grown into the strength and vigor of
of relief and thankfulness that he was manhood, felt as if he had force and powstill his own. The dislike, distaste, and er for almost any effort to save this hopedread that came so easily in his time of less waiting.
pain and weakness were less easy to      He held council with Humfrey, who
maintain in his full health and forced in- suggested that it might be well to exactivity. Occupation of mind and hope amine the vaults below the keep.  Ie
seemed the only chance of enabling either had a few days before, while going after
of the two to weather this most dreary  some of the firewood, stored below the
desert period; and Berenger, setting his ground-floor chamber, observed a door,
thoughts resolutely to consider what locked, but with such rusty iron hinges
would be the best means of rousing that they might possibly yield to vigorous
Philip, decided at length that any endeav- efforts with a stone; and who could tell
or to escape, however arduous and des- where the underground passages might
perate, would be better than his present come out? "
apathetic languor, even if it led to nothing.  Berenger eagerly seized the idea.
After the first examination of their pris- Philip's mood of contradiction prompted
on, Berenger had no thought of escape; him to pronounce it useless folly, and he
he was still weak and unenterprising. vouchsafed no interest in the arrangeHe had for many months lived in hopes ments for securing light, by selecting all
of interference from home; and, besides, the bits of firewood fittest for torches,
the likelihood that so English a party as and saving all the oil possible from the
his own would be quickly pursued and two lamps they were allowed. The chief
recaptured, where they did not know   difficulty was that Guibert was not trusttheir road, and had no passports, had de- ed, so that all had to be done out of his
terred him lest they should fall into still sight; and on the first day Berenger was
straiter imprisonment. But he had since obliged to make the exploration alone,
gained, in the course of his rides, and by since Humfrey was forced to engross
observation from the top of the tower, a Guibert in some occupation out of sight,
much fuller knowledge of the country. and Philip had refused to have any thing




272                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
to do with it, or be like a rat routing in with a small barred, unglazed window,
the corners of his trap.             perfectly dark, so that Berenger, who
However, Berenger had only just as- alone could reach to the bottom of it,
certained that the iron- work was so could not guess where it looked out.
entirely rusted away as to offer no im-  " We must return by daylight; then,
pediment, when Philip came languidly may-be, we may judge," sighed Philip.
roaming into the cellar, saying, "Here!  "Hark! " exclaimed Berenger.
I'll hold the torch! You'll be losing   "Rats," said Philip.
yourself in this wolf's mouth of a place  " No-listen-a voice! Take care! "
if you go alone."                    he added, in a lower tne, " we may be
The investigation justified Philip's close on some of the servants."
predictions of its uselessness. Nothing  But, much nearer than he expected, a
was detected but rats, and vaults, and voice on his right hand demanded, " Does
cobwebs; it was cold, earthy, and damp; any good Christian hear me?"
and when they thought they must have    " Who is there? " exclaimed Philip.
penetrated far beyond the precincts of  "Ah! good sir, do I hear the voice
the keep, they heard Humnfrey's voice  of a companion in misery? Or, if you
close to them, warning them that it was be free, would you but send tidings to
nearly dinner-time.                  my poor father? "
The next day brought them a more     " It is a Norman accent! " cried Berpromising discovery, namely of a long  enger. "Ah! ah! it is not poor Landry
straight passage, with a gleam of light at Osbert? "
the end of it; and this for the first time  " I am-I am that wretch. Oh, would
excited Philip's interest or curiosity. He that M. le Baron could know! "
would have hastened along it at once, but  "My dear, faithful foster- brother!
for the warning summons from Humfrey; They deceived me," cried Berenger, in
and in the excitement of even this grain great agitation, as an absolute howl came
of interest, he ate more heartily at sup- from the other side of the wall: "M. le
per than he had done for weeks, and was Baron come to this! Woe worth the
afterward more eager to prove to Beren- day! " and Berenger with difficulty mitiger that night was the best time to pur- gated his affectionate servant's lamentasue their researches.                tions enough to learn from him how he
And Berenger, when convinced that had been seized almost at the gates of
Guibert was sound asleep, thought so Bellaise, closely interrogated, deprived
too; accompanied'by Humfrey, they de- of the letter to Madame la Baronne, and
scended into the passage. The light of thrown into this dungeon. The Chevacourse was no longer visible, but the lier, not an unmerciful man, according to
form of the crypt, through which they  the time, had probably meant to release
now passed, was less antique than that him as soon as the marriage between his
under the keep, and it was plain they  son and niece should have rendered it
were beneath a later portion of the Cas- superfluous to detain this witness to Bertle.  The gallery concluded in a wall, enger's existence. There, then, the poor




BEATING AGAINST THE BARS.                       273
fellow had lain for three years, and his  The torches were, however, waxing
work during this weary time had been  so low that the sight could not long be
the scraping with a potsherd at the stone afforded poor Osbert; and, with a promof his wall, and his pertinacious perse- ise to return to.him next day, the party
verance had succeeded in forming a hole returned to the upper air, where they
just large enough to enable him to see warmed themselves over the fire, and
the light of the torch carried by the held  council over measures for the
gentlemen. On his side, he said, there present relief of the captive. Berenger
was nothing but a strong iron door, and grieved that he had given him up so
a heavily-barred window, looking, like  entirely for lost as to have made no
that in the passage, into the fosse within  exertions on his behalf, and declared his
the walled garden; but on the other resolution of entreating that he might be
hand, if he could enlarge his hole suffi- allowed to enjoy comparative comfort
ciently to creep through it, he could with them in the keep. It was a risk,
escape with them in case of their finding but the Chevalier might fairly suppose
a subterranean outlet.  The opening that the knowledge of Osbert's situation
within his cell was, of course, much  had oozed out through some of the serlarger than the very small space he had vants, and gratitude and humanity alike
made by loosening a stone toward the impelled Berenger to run some risk for
passage, but he was obliged always to his foster-brother's sake. He was greatbuild up each side of his burrow at the ly touched at the poor fellow's devotion,
hours of his jailer's visit, lest his work  and somewhat amused, though with an
should be detected, and to stamp the almost tearful smile at the joy with
rubbish into his floor. But while they  which he had proclaimed-what Berentalked, Humfrey and Philip, with their ger was quite unaware of, since the keep
knives, scraped so diligently that two  furnished no mirrors-the disappearance
more stones could be displaced; and of his scars. "'Tis even so," said Philip,
looking down the widening hole through  " though I never heeded it. You are as
the prodigious mass of wall, they could  white from crown to beard as one of the
see a ghastly, ragged, long-bearded scare- statues at Paris; but the great red gash
crow, with an almost piteous expression  is a mere seam, save when yon old Satan
of joy on his face, at once again seeing  angers you, and then it seems to reveal
familiar faces. And when, at his earnest your feelings, blushing for all the rest
entreaty, Berenger stood so as to allow  of your face."
his countenance to be as visible as the  " And the cheek-wound is hidden, I
torch could make it through the " wall's- suppose," said Berenger, feeling under
hold," the vault echoed with the poor the long fair moustache and the beard,
fellow's delighted cry. "I am happy! which was developing into respectable
M. le Baron is himself again. The asas- proportions.
sin's cruel work is gone! Ah! thanks    "Hidden? aye, entirely.  No one
to the saints! Blessed be St. Lucie, it would think your bald crown had only
was not in vain that I entreated her!"  twenty-one years over it; but you are a
18




274                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
personable fellow still, quite enough to  fast, but with more of reflection and
please Daphn6," said Philip.          principle, less of mere instinct, than when
"Pshaw!" replied Berenger, pleased his powers were lost or distracted in the
nevertheless to hear the shadow of a jest effort of constant endurance of pain and
again from Philip.                    weakness.  The charge of Philip, the
It was quite true. These months of  endeavor both of educating him   and
quiescence-enforced though they were keeping up his spirits, as well as the
-had given his health and constitution  controversy with Pore Bonami, had been
time to rally after the terrible shock they  no insignificant parts of the discipline of
had sustained.  The severe bleedings these months; and, little as the Chevahad, indeed, rendered his complexion  lier had intended it, he had trained his
perfectly colorless; but there was some- young kinsman into a far more substanthing in this, as well as in the height tial and perilous adversary, both in body
which the loss of hair gave his brow, and mind, than when he had caged him
which, added to the depth and loftiness in his castle of the Blackbird's Nest.
of countenance that this long period of
patience and resolution had impressed on
his naturally fine features, without taking
away that open candor that had first at-      CHAPTER XXXVIII.
tracted Diane when he was a rosy lad.
THE ENEMY IN PRESENOE.
His frame had strengthened at the same
time, and assumed the proportions of      "Then came and looked him in the face
manhood; so that, instead of being the      An angel beautiful and bright,
And then he knew it was a fiend,
overgrown maypole that Narcisse used to     That miserable knight."
COLERIDGE.
sneer at, he was now broad-shouldered
and robust, exceedingly powerful, and so  "FATHER, dear father, what is it?
well made, that his height, upward of What makes you look so ill, so hagsix feet, was scarcely observed, except gard?" cried Diane de Selinville, when
by comparison with the rest of the world. summoned the next morning to meet
And his character had not stood still. her father in the parlor of the convent.
He had first come to Paris a good, honest,  Ah, child! see here. Your brother
docile, though high-spirited boy; and will have us make an end of it. He has
though manly affections, cares, and sor- found her."
rows had been thrust on him, he had       "Eustacie! Ah, and where?"
met them like the boy that he was, hard-  "That he will not say, but see here.
ly conscious how deep they went. Then  This is all his billet tells me:'The hare
had come the long dream of physical suf- who has doubled so long is traced to her
fering, with  only one thought perti- form. My dogs are on her, and in a
nacionsly held throughout-that of con- week's time she will be ours. I request
stancy to his lost wife; and from this you, sir, to send me a good purse of
he had only thoroughly wakened in his crowns to reward my huntsmen; and in
captivity, the resolution still holding  the meantime-one way or the other



THE ENEMY IN PRESENCE.                        275
that pet of my sister's must be disposed awaken, then will he see that to persist
of. Kept too long, these beasts always in the validity of his marriage would
become savage. Either let him be pre- be misery, dishonor to her, then-"
sented to the royal menagerie, or there  " Child, you know not how hard he
is a still surer way.'               is in his sense of right.  Even for his
"And that is all he says? " exclaimed brother's sake he would not give way
Diane.                               an inch, and the boy was as obstinate as
"All! He was always cautious. He he."
mentions no names.   And now, child,     "Ah! but this comes nearer.   He
what is to be done? To give him up to  will be stung; his generosity will be
the king is, at the best, life-long impris- piqued.  He will see that the kindest
onment, yet, if he were still here when thing he can do will be to nullify his
my son returns-   Alas! alas! child, I claim, and the child-"
have been ruined body and soul between   The Chevalier groaned, struck his
you! How could you make me send brow with his fist, and muttered, "That
after and imprison him? It was a mere will concern no one-that has been proassassination! " and the old man beat his vided for.  Ah! ah! children, if I lose
head with grief and perplexity.      my own soul for you, you-"
" Father! " cried Diane, tearfully, "I  "Father, my sweet father: say not
cannot see you thus. We meant it for these cruel things. Did not the Queen's
the best. We shall yet save him."     confessor tell us that all means were law"Save him! Ah, daughter, I tossed ful that brought a soul to the Church?
all night long thinking how to save him, and here are two."
so strong, so noble, so firm, so patient,  " Two! Why, the youth's heresy is
so good even to the old man who has part of his point of honor.     Child,
destroyed his hope-his life!  Ah! I child, the two will be murdered in my
have thought till my brain whirls."   very house, and the guilt will be on my
"Poor father!  I knew you would soul."
love him," said Diane, tenderly. " Ah!  " No, father! We will-we will save
we will save him yet. He shall be the him. See, only tell him this."
best of sons to you. Look, it is only to  " This-what?  My brain is contell him that she whom he calls his wife fused. I have thought long-long."
is already in my brother's hands, wedded  " Only this, father, dear father. You
to him."                             shall not be tormented any more, if only
"Daughter-" and he pushed back    you will tell him that my brother has
his grey hair with a weary, distressed made Eustacie his wife, then will I do
gesture-" I am tired of wiles; I am old; all the rest."
I can carry them out no longer."        Diane coaxed, soothed, and encouraged
" But this is very simple; it may al- her father by her caresses, till he mountready be true-at least it will soon be ed his mule to return to the castle at
true. Only tell him that she is my dinner-time, and she promised to come
brother's wife. Then will his generosity  early in the afternoon to follow up the




276                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
stroke he was to give. She had never sight of death of their own causing, but
seen him falter before-he had followed they had a horror of that which came
out his policy with a clear head and un- by Nature's hand.  The purple face
sparing hand-but now that Berenger's and loud gasps of the stricken man
character was better known to him, and terrified them  out of their senses.the crisis long delayed had come so sud-  C'est un coup! "was the cry, and they
denly before his eyes, his whole pow- went clattering off to the servants.
ers seemed to reel under the alterna- These, all men but one old crone, came
tive.                                in a mass to the door, looked in, beheld
The dinner-bell clanged as he arrived their master rigid and prostrate on the
at the castle, and the prisoners were floor, supported by the prisoner, and
marched into the hall, both intent upon  with fresh shrieks about " Mesdames! a
making their request on Osbert's behalf, priest! a doctor! " away they rushed.
and therefore as impatient for the con- The two brothers were not in much less
clusion of the meal, and the absence of  consternation, only they retained their
the servants, as was their host.  His senses. Berenger loosened the ruff and
hands trembled so much that Berenger doublet, and bade Philip practise that
was obliged to carve for him; he made art of letting blood which he had learned
the merest feint of eating; and now and for his benefit. When Madame de Selinthen raised his hand to his head as if to  ville and her aunt, with their escort,
bring back scattered ideas.           having been met half-way from Bellaise,
The last servant quitted the room, arrived sooner than could have been exwhen Berenger perceived that the old pected, they found every door open from
man was hardly in a state to attend to  hall to entrance-gateway, not a person
his request, and yet the miserable frost- keeping watch, and the old man lying
bitten state of poor Landry seemed to  death-like upon cushions in the hall,
compel him to speak.                 Philip bandaging his arm, and Berenger
"Sir," he began, " you could do me a rubbing his temples with wine and the
great kindness."                      hottest spices on the table.  He is betThe Chevalier looked at him with ter -   he is alive," said Berenger, as
glassy eyes.                         they entered; and as both ladies would
"My son," he said, with an effort, I have fallen on him with shrieks and sobs,
also had something to say. Ah! let me he bade them listen, assured them that
think.  I have had enough.  Call my the only chance of life, was in immediate
daughter," he added, feeling helplessly  care, and entreated that bedding might
with his hands, so that Berenger started  be brought down, and strong essences
up in alarm, and received him in his fetched to apply to the nose and temarms just in time to prevent his sinking ples.  They obeyed, and brought the
to the floor senseless.              servants to obey; and by the time
" It is a stroke! " exclaimed Berenger. the priest and the sister infirmarer had
" Call, Phil! Send the gendarmes."   arrived from the convent, he had opened
The gendarmes might be used to the his eyes, and, as he saw Berenger, tried




THE ENEMY IN PRESENCE.                       277
to murmur something that sounded like state their kindly young hearts could not
" Mon fils."                         but grieve.
"He lives!-he speaks! —he can re-    They heard that he had recovered
ceive the sacraments! " was the imme- consciousness enough to have made a sort
diate exclamation; and as preparations of confession; and Pere Bonami brought
began to be made, the brothers saw that them his formal request, as a dying man,
their presence was no longer needed, and for their pardon for all the injuries he
returned to their own tower.         had done them; but his speech was too
"So, sir," said the gendarme ser- much affected for any specification of
geant, as they walked down the passage, what these were. The first thing they
" you did not seize the moment for es- heard in early morning was that, in the
cape."                               course of the night, he had breathed his
"I never thought of it," said Beren- last; and all day the bells of all the
ger.                                 churches round were answering one an"I hope, sir, you will not be the  other, with the slow, swinging, melanworse for it," said the sergeant.  "An choly notes of the knell.
honorable  gentleman  you have ever     In the early twilight, Pere Bonami
proved yourself to me, and I will bear brought a message that Madame de Selin.
testimony that you did the poor old gen- ville requested M. le Baron to come and
tleman no hurt; but nobles will have it speak with her, and he was accordingly
their own way, and pay little heed to a oonducted, with the gendarme behind
poor soldier."                       him, to a small chamber opening into the
" What do you mean, friend?"     hall-the same where the incantations of
"Why, you see, sir, it is unlucky that the Italian pedlar had been played off
you two happened to be alone with M. le before Philip and Diane. The gendarme
Chevalier. No one can tell what may remained outside the door by which they
be said when'they seek an occasion  entered the little dark room, only lighted
against a person."                   by one little lamp.
To the brothers, however, this sug-  "Here, daughter," said the priest, "is
gestion sounded so horrible and unnatu- your cousin.'He can answer the quesral, that they threw it from them. They tion you have so much at heart," and
applied themselves at every moment with these words Pere Bonami passed
possible to enlarging Osbert's hole, and beneath the black curtain that covered
seeking an outlet from the dungeon; but the entrance into the hall, admitting as
this they had not been able to discover, he raised it for a moment a flood of pure
and it was necessary to be constantly light from the wax-tapers, and allowing
on their guard in visiting the vaults, the cadence of the chanting of the priests
lest their absence from their apartment to fall on the ear. At first Berenger
should be detected; and they believed was scarcely able to discern the pale
that if Narcisse arrived at the castle, face that looked as if tears were all dried
they should find in him a far less gentle up, and even before his eyes had clearly
jailer than the poor old man, for whose perceived her in the gloom, she was




278                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
standing before him with clasped hands,  "Nay," said Berenger, "if he repentdemanding, in a hoarse, breathless whis- ed, the after-consequences to me will
per, " Had he said any thing to you?"  have no effect on him now."
"Any thing? No, cousin," said Ber-   "Have pity, then, on yourself- on
enger, in a kind tone. " He had seemed your brother."
suffering and oppressed all dinner-time, " I have," said Berenger. "He had
and when the servants left us, he mur- rather die with me than see me a traimured a few confused words, then sank." tor."
"Ah, ah, he spoke it not!  Thank     "And least of all," she exclaimed,
Heaven! AhI it is a load gone. Then   with choking grief, " have you compasneither will I speak it," sighed Diane  sion on me!-on me who have lost the
half aloud.  " Ah! cousin, he loved  only one who felt for me-me, for me
you."                                 who have loved you with every fibre of
" He often was kind to us," said my heart-for me who have lived on the
Berenger, impelled to speak as tenderly  music of your hardest, coldest word-for
as he could of the enemy, who had cer- me who would lay my life, my honor, in
tainly tortured him, but as if he loved the dust for one grateful glance from you
him.                                  -and whom you condemn to the anguish
"He bade us save you," said Diane, of-your death! Aye, and for what?
her eyes shining with strange wild light For the mere shadow of a little girl, who
in the gloom. " He laid it on my aunt had no force to love you, of whom you
and me to save you; you must let us. know nothing —nothing! Oh! are you
It must be done before my brother a crystal rock, or are you a man? See, I
comes," she added, in hurried accents. kneel to you to save yourself and me."
"The messengers are gone; he may be     There were hot tears dropping from
here any moment. He must find you in  Berenger's eyes as he caught Diane's
the chapel-as-as my betrothed! "      hand, and held it forcibly to prevent
"And you sentforme here to tempt her thus abasing herself.   Her wild
me-close to such a chamber as that?" words and gestures thrilled him in every
demanded Berenger, his gentleness be- pulse and wrung his heart, and it was
coming sternness, as much with his own  with a stifled, agitated voice that he
worse self as with her.              said" Listen.  Ah! it is the only way.    "God help you and me both, Diane!
Listen, cousin.  Do you know   what To do what you ask would-would be
killed my father? It was my brother's no saving of either. Nay, if you will
letter saying things must be brought to kneel," as she struggled with him, "let
an end: either you must be given up to it be to Him who alone can bring us
the King, or worse-worse. And now, through;" and releasing her hand, he
without him to stand between you and dropped on his knees by her side, and
my brother, you are lost. Oh! take pity  covered his face with his hands, in an
on his poor soul that has left his body, earnest supplication that the spirit of
and bring not your blood on his head."  resistance which he almost felt slipping




THE ENEMY IN PRESENCE.                        279
from him might be renewed. The action staeie had been hissed into Berenger's
hushed and silenced her, and as he rose ear.  Narcisse looked older, sallower,
he spoke no other word, but silently  and more worn than at that time; and
drew back so much of the curtain that Philip, seeing his enemy for the first
he could see into the hall, where the time, contrasted him with the stately
dead man still lay uncoffined upon the presence of Berenger, and felt as if a rat
bed where his own hands had laid him, were strangling a noble steed.
and the low, sweet requiem of kneeling  Each young man punctiliously repriests floated round him.  Rest, rest, moved his hat, and Nid-de-Merle, withand calm they breathed into one sorely- out deigning further salutation, addressed
tried living soul, and the perturbed his companion. "Sir, you are here on
heart was quelled by the sense how   the part of the King, and to you I deshort the passage was to the world liver up these prisoners who, having
where captivity and longing would be been detained here on the charge of carended. He beckoned to Pere Bonami to rying on treasonable correspondence, and
return to Diane, and then, protected by protected by my father out of considerahis presence from any further demonstra- tion for the family, have requited his
tions, kissed her hand and left her.  goodness by an attempt to strangle him,
He told Philip as little as possible of which has caused his death."
this interview, but his brother remarked  Philip actually made a leap of indighow much time he spent over the Psalms nation; Berenger, better prepared, said
that evening.                        to the officer, "Sir, I am happy to be
The next day the brothers saw from  placed in charge of a King's servant,
their upper window the arrival of Nar- who will no doubt see justice done, and
cisse, or, as he had called himself for the shelter us from the private malice that
last three years, the Marquis de Nid-de- could alone devise so monstrous an accuMerle, with many attendant gentlemen, sation. We are ready to clear ourselves
and a band of fifty or sixty gendarmes. upon oath over the corpse, and all the
The court was filled with their horses, household and our own guards can bear
and rang with their calls for refreshment. witness."
And the captives judged it wise to re-  " The witnesses are here," said Narmain in their upper room in case they  cisse, pointing to the servants, ill-looking
should be called for.                men, who immediately began to depose
They were proved to have been wise to having found their master purplein so doing; for about an hour after their faced and struggling in the hands of the
arrival there was a great clanging of two young men, who had been left alone
steel boots, and Narcisse de Ribaumont, with him after dinner.
followed by a portly, heavily-armed gen-  Berenger felt that there was little use
tleman, wearing a scarf of office, by two in self-defence. It was a fabrication the
of the servants, and by two gendarmes, more easily to secure his cousin's purentered the room. It was the first time pose of destroying him, and his best hope
(he cousins had met since le baiser d'Eu- lay in passing into the hands of persons




280                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
who were less directly interested in his find no egress we may hold out till
ruin. He drew himself up to his full they think us fled and leave open the
height, saying, "If there be justice in doors! "
France, our innocence will be proved. I  Philip's face lighted up again, and
demand, sir, that you examine the abbess, they did their best by way of preparathe priest, the steward, the sergeant of tion, collecting wood for torches, and
gendarmes: they are impartial witnesses, putting aside food at their meals. It was
and will serve the King's justice, if jus- a very forlorn hope, but the occupation
tice be his purpose. Or, if this be but M. it caused was effectual in keeping up
de Nid-de-Merle's way of completing the Philip's spirits, and saving him from dework he left unfinished four years ago, I spondency.
am ready. Only let my brother go free.
He is heir to nothing here."
"Enough, sir.  Words against the           CHAPTER    XXXIX.
King's justice will be reckoned against,, is,,,y, ~-.-,,,THE PEDLARE'S PREDICTION.
you," said the officer. "I shall do myself the honor of attending the funeral     But if ne'er so close you wall him,
Do the best that you may;
the day after to-morrow, and then I shall   Blind Love, if so you call him,
convey you to Tours, to answer for this       Will find out his way."  Old Song.
deed at your leisure.-Monsieur le Mar-  "Too late," muttered Berenger to
quis, are the prisoners secure here, or himself, as he stood by the fire in his
would you have them gardes d ue? "  prison- chamber.  Humfrey and Philip
"No need for that," said Narcisse, were busy in the vaults, and he was
lightly; "had there been an exit they taking his turn in waiting in the sittingwould have found it long ago. Your room to disarm suspicion. " It is too
good fellows outside the door keep them  late now, and I thank God that so it is."
safe enough. —. le Baron de Ribaumont,  " Do you indeed, M. le Baron? " said a
I have the honor to wish you a good- low voice close beside him; and, as he
morning."                            turned in haste, he beheld, at the foot of
Berenger returned his bow with one the turret-stair, the youth Aime de Selinfull of defiance, and the door was agaih ville, holding a dark lantern in his hand,
locked upon the prisoners; while Philip and veiling its light.
exclaimed, "The cowardly villain, Berry;  "Ha!" and he started to his feet.
is it a hanging matter?"             "Whence come you? "
"Not for noble blood," said Berenger.'"From my Lady," was the youth's
"We are more likely to be brought to no answer.  "She has sent me to ask
trial, but to lie prisoners for life; " then  whether you persist in what you replied
as Philip grew white and shivered with a to her the other day. For if not, she
sick horror, he added bravely, " But they  bids me say that it is not too late."
shall not have us, Philip. We know the  "And if I do persevere? "
vaults well enough to play at hide and  "Then-ah! what do I know? Who
seek with them there, and even if we can tell how far malice can go? And




THE PEDLAR'S PREDICTION.                      281
there are towers and bastilles where ville. Strange, to trust her secrets to
hope never enters. Moreover, your re- that lad; but hush, here he is again,
searches underground are known."     much sooner than I thought.   What,
"Sir," said Berenger, the heart-sinking sir, have you been with your Lady
quelled by the effort of resistance, "Ma- again? "
dame de Selinville has my answer-I must  "Yes, sir," the youth said, with a
take the consequences. Tell her, if she trembling voice, and Berenger saw that
truly wishes me well, the honorable way his eyes were red with weeping; " she
of saving us would be to let our English bids me tell you that she yields. She
friends know what has befallen us."  will save you even while you hate and
"You forget, M. le Baron, even if despise her! There is only one thing-"
she could proclaim the dishonor of her  "And what is that? "
family, interference from a foreign power  "You must encumber yourself with
might only lead to a surer mode of re- the poor Aime. You must let me serve
moving you," said Aime, lowering his you instead of her. Listen, sir, it canvoice and shuddering.                not be otherwise."  Then with a brisker,
" Even so, I should thank her. Then more eager voice, he continued: "Monwould the bitterest pang be taken away. sieur knows that the family burial-place
Those at our home would not deem us is Bellaise? Well, to-morrow, at ten
faithless recreants."                o'clock, all the household, all the neigh"Thank her! " murmured the lad in borhood, will come and sprinkle holy
an inward voice. "Very well, sir, I water on the bier.   The first requiem
will carry her your decision. It is your will be sung, and then will all repair to
final one.  Disgrace, prison, death-  the convent. There will be the funeral
rather than freedom, love, wealth! "  mass, the banquet, the dole.  Every
"The semblance of dishonor, rather creature in the castle-nay, in all the
than the reality! " said Berenger, firm- neighborhood for twenty miles roundly.                                  will be at the convent, for the Abbess
The light-footed page disappeared, has given out that the alms are to be
and in a few moments a very different double, and the bread of wheat. Not a
tread came up from below, and Philip soul will remain here, save the two genappeared.                            darmes on guard at that door, and the
"What is it, Berry?  Methought I poor Aime, whom no one will miss, even
heard a voice."                      if any person could be distinguished in
"Forgive me, brother," said Beren- their black cloaks. Madame la Comtesse
ger, holding out his hand; "I have has given him this key, which opens a
thrown away another offer."          door on the upper floor of the keep, un"Tush, the thing to pardon would be known to the guards, who, for that mathaving accepted one. I only wish they ter, shall have a good tankard of spiced
would leave us in peace! What was it wine to console and occupy them. Then
this time?"                          is the way clear to the castle-court,
"A  message through young Selin- which is not overlooked by their win



282                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
dow, the horses are in the stables, and they also prepared their small baggage
we are off-that is, if M. le Baron will for departure. Their stock of money,
save a poor youth from the wrath of M. though some had been spent on renewde Nid-de-Merle."                    ing their clothes, and some in needful
" You are an honest fellow! " cried gratuities to the servants and gendarmes,
Philip, shaking him vehemently by the was sufficient for present needs, and they
hand. "You shall go with us to Eng- intended to wear their ordinary dress.
land, and we will make a brave man of They were unlikely to meet any of the
you."                                peasants round; and, indeed, Berenger
" We shall owe you our lives," said had so constantly ridden out in his black
Berenger, warmly, " and be ever bound mask, that its absence, now that his scars
to you. Tell your lady that this is mag- were gone, was as complete a change as
nanimity; that now I truly thank her as could be effected in one whose height
our preserver; and shall bless her all was so unusual.
the days of the life she gives us. But  "There begins the knell," said Philip,
my servants?"                       standing at the window. " It is our joy"Guibert is a traitor," said Aim6; bell, Berry! Every clang seems to me
"he has been so ever since you were at to say,'Home! home! home!'"
Paris. Breathe no word to him; but      "For you, Phil," said Berenger;
he, as a Catholic, shall be invited to the " but I must be satisfied of Eustacie's
funeral. Your stout Englishman should fate first. I shall go first to Nizardby all means be with us."            whither we were bound when we were
" My Norman, also," added Berenger. seized-then to La Rochelle, whence you
"My dear foster-brother, who has lan- may-"
guished in the dungeon for three years;"  " No more of that," burst out Philip.
and when the explanation had been    "What! would you have me leave you
made, Aim6 assented, though half-unwill- now, after all we have gone through toingly, to the necessity, and presently gether? Not that you will find her. I
quitted them to bear back their answer don't want to vex you, brother, such a
to his lady. Philip shook his hand vio- day as this, but your conjuror's words
lently again, patted him on the back, so are coming true in the other matter."
as almost to take away his breath, and  " How? What mean you, Phil?"
bade him  never fear, they would be     "What's the meaning of Aime?"
sworn brothers to him for ever; and asked Philip. " Even I am French scholthen threw up his hat into the air, and ar enough for that.  And who sends
was so near astonishing the donjon walls him?"
with a British hurrah, that Berenger had  Meantime the court was already filling
to put his hand over his mouth, and with swarms of persons of every rank
strangle the shout in his very throat.  and degree, but several anxious hours
The chief of that night was spent in had passed before the procession was
enlarging the hole in Osbert's wall, so as marshalled; and friars and monks, black,
to admit of his creeping through it; and white, and grey,-priests in rich robes




THE PEDLAR'S PREDICTION.                     283
and tall caps,-black-cloaked gentlemen three companions applied themselves to
and men-at-arms-all bearing huge wax feeding, rubbing, and warming Osbert
tapers-and peasants and beggars of every and assuring him that the pains in his
conceivable aspect, - filed out of the limbs would pass with warmth and exercourt, bearing with them the richly-em- cise. He had been valiant of heart in his
blazoned bier of the noble and puissant dungeon; but his sudden plunge into upknight, the Beausire Charles Eustache per air was like rising from the grave,
de Ribaumont de Nid-de-Merle, his son and brought on all the effects of his
walking behind in a long black mantle, dreary captivity, of which he had hardly
and all who counted kindred or friend- been sensible when he had first listened
ship following two and two; then all the to the voice of hope.
servants, every one who properly be-    Dazzled, crippled, helpless, it seemed
longed to the castle, was counted out by almost impossible that he should share
the brothers from the windows, and Gui- the flight, but Berenger remained resobert among them.                     lute; and when Aim6 returned from his
"Messieurs," a low, anxious voice fourth frantic promenade, he was told
sounded in the room.                 that all was ready.
"We will only fetch Osbert."         But for the strength of Berenger and
It was a terrible " only," as precious Humfrey, the poor fellow could never
moments slipped away before there ap- have been carried up and up, nearly to
peared in the lower chamber Berenger the top of the keep, then along a narrow
and Humfrey, dragging between them a gallery, then down again even to the cassqualid wretch, with a skin like stained tle-hall, now empty, though with the
parchment over a skeleton, tangled hair candlesticks still around where the bier
and beard, staring bewildered eyes, and had been. Aime knelt for a moment
fragments of garments, all dust, dirt, and where the head had been, hiding his face;
rags.                                Osbert rested in a chair, and Philip looked
" Leave me, leave me, dear master," wistfully up at his own sword hung over
said the object, stretching his whole per- the chimney.
son toward the fire as they let him sink  " Resume your swords, Messieurs,"
down before it. "You would but ruin said Aim6, observing him; "Madame
yourself."                           desires it; and take pistols also."
"It is madness to take him," said    They gladly obeyed; and when, after
Aim6, impatiently.                   this short delay, they proceeded, Osbert
" I go not without him," said Beren- moved somewhat less painfully, but when
ger. " Give me the soup, Philip."    they arrived at the stable only four horses
Some soup and wine had been placed stood there.
by the fire, and likewise a shirt and a  "Ah! this miserable!" cried Aim6,
suit of Humfrey's clothes were spread be- passionately, "he ruins all my arrangefore it. Aim6 burst out into the yard, ab- ments."
solutely weeping with impatience, when,  "Leave me," again entreated Lanunheeding all his remonstrances, his dry. " Once outside, I can act the beg



284                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
gar, and cripple, and get back to Nor- sorry if we seemed to neglect you. We
mandy."                              owe you and your lady all gratitude, but
"Better leave me," said Humfrey; I must be the judge of my own duty,
"they cannot keep me when you are out and you can only be with me if you conof their clutches."                  form."
"Help me, Humfrey," said Berenger,   The youth seemed to be devouring
beginning to lift his foster-brother to the his tears, but only said, "I was vexed
saddle; but there the poor man wavered, to see my lady's plan marred, and your
cried out that his head swam, and he chance thrown away."
could not keep his seat, entreating almost  "Of that I must judge," said Berin agony to be taken down.            enger.
"Lean onme," said Berenger, putting  They were in a bye-lane, perfectly
his arms around him.   " There! you  solitary. The whole country was at the
will be able to get to the Grange du  funeral. Through the frosty air there
Temple, where you will be in safe came an occasional hum or murmur from
shelter."                            Ballaise, or the tinkle of a cow-bell in
"Sir, sir," cried Aime, ready to tear the fields, but no human being was visihis hair, "this is ruin! My lady meant ble. It was certain, however, that the
you to make all speed to La Rochelle Rotrous, being Huguenots, and no vassals
and there embark, and this is the contra- of Nid-de-Merle, would not be at the
ry way!"                             obsequies, and Berenger, walking with
"That cannot be helped," said Beren- swift strides, supporting Osbert on his
ger; "it is the only safe place for my  horse, continued to cheer him  with
foster-brother."                      promises of rest and relief there, and
Aim6, with childish petulance, mut- listened to no entreaties from Philip or
tered something about ingratitude in  Humfrey to take one of their horses.
crossing his lady's plans; but, as no one Had not Osbert borne him on his shoulattended to him, he proceeded to unfasten  ders through the butchery at Paris, and
his horse, and then exclaimed, half-cry- endured three years of dungeon for his
ing, " Will no one help me? "        sake?
" Not able to saddle a horse! a pretty  As for Philip, the slow pace of their
fellow for a cavalier! " exclaimed Philip, ride was all insufficient for his glee. He
assisting, however, and in a few minutes made his horse caracole at every level
they were all issuing from a low side  space, till Berenger reminded him that
gate, and looking back with bounding  they might have far to ride that night,
hearts at the drooping banner on the  and even then he was constantly breakkeep of Nid-de-Merle.                ing into attempts at shouting and whisOnly young Aime went with bowed   tling as often repressed, and springing up
head and drooping look, as though pout- in his stirrups to look over the high
ing, and Berenger, putting Osbert's bridle  hedges.
into Humfrey's hand, stepped up to him,  The Grange was so well concealed in
saying, "Hark you, M. de Selinville, I am  its wooded ravine, that only, when close




THE PEDLAR'S PREDICTION.                      285
upon the gate, the party became aware black eyes of keenest fire, struck Berenthat this farm-yard, usually so solitary, ger at once with a sense of recognition
formed an exception to the general de- as well as of being under a glance that
sertion of the country.  There was a seemed to search out every body and
jingle and a stamp of horses in the every thing at once.
court, which could hardly be daylight  "More friends!" and the tone again
echoes of the Templars. Berenger feared recalled a flood of recollections.  "I
that the Guisards might have descended thank and welcome you. What! You
upon Rotrou, and was stepping forward have met the enemy-where is he?"
to reconnoitre, while young De Selin-    "My servant is not wounded, Sire,"
ville, trembling, besought him not to run  said Berenger, removing his hat and
into danger, but to turn and hasten to La bending low.  " This is the effect of
Rochelle. By this time, however, the long captivity. We have but just esparty had been espied by two soldiers caped."
stationed at the gate, but not before    " Then we are in the same case!
Berenger had had time to remark that Pardon me, sir, I have seen you before,
they did not wear either the gold fleur but for once I am at fault."
de lys like his late guards, or the white  " When I call myself De Ribaumont,
cross of Lorraine; nor had they the your Grace will not wonder."
strange air of gay ferocity usual with   "The dead alive! If I mistake not
the King's mercenaries. And almost by it was in the Inferno itself that we last
instinct, at a venture, he made the old met! But we have broken through the
Huguenot sign he had learned from his gates at last! I remember poor King
father, and answered, " For God and the  Charles was delighted to hear that you
Religion." ~                         lived! But where have you been a capThe   counter - sign  was  returned  tive?"
"Bearn and Bourbon is the word to-      "At Nid-de-Merle, Sire, my kinsmen
day, comrade," replied the sentinel. accused me of treason in order to hinder
"     Eh quoi! have you had an encounter my search for my wife.  We escaped
that you bring a wounded man?"      even now during the funeral of the
" Not wounded, but nearly dead in a Chevalier."
Guisard prison," said Berenger, with an  "By favor of which we are making
unspeakable sense of relief and security, our way'to Parthenay unsuspected,
as the sentries admitted them into the though, by my faith, we gather so like
large walled court, where horses were a snowball, that we could be a match
eating hay, being watered and rubbed for a few hundreds of Guisards. Who
down; soldiers snatching a hasty meal is with you, M. de Ribaumont? "
in corners; gentlemen in clanking breast-  " Let me present to your Majesty my
plates coming in and out of the house, English brother, Philip Thistlewood,"
evidently taking orders from a young man  said Berenger, drawing the lad forward,
in a grey and silver suit, whose brown making due obeisance, though entirely
eagle face, thin cheeks, arched nose, and ignorant who was the plainly-dressed,




286                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
travel-soiled stranger, so evidently a born nothing except ropes should bring him
lord of men.                         back to Paris, and that he left there the
"An Englishman is ever welcome," mass and his wife-the first he could diswas his gracious reception.          pense with, the last he meant to have;
" And," added Berenger, "let me and he was now on his way to Parthenay
also present the young De Selinville, to to meet his sister whom he had sent
whom I owe my escape.-Where is he, Rosny to demand. By the time BerenPhilip?"                            ger had heard this, he had succeeded in
He seemed to be busy with the horses, finding honest Rotrou, who was in a state
and Berenger could not catch his eye.  of great triumph, and readily undertook
" Selinville!  I thought that good to give Osbert shelter, and as soon as he
Huguenot house was extinct."         should have recovered to send him to
"This is a relation of the late Count headquarters with some young men who
de Selinville, my cousin's husband, Sire. he knew would take the field as soon as
He arranged my evasion, and would be they learned that the King of Navarre
in danger at Nid-de-Merle.-Call him, had set up his standard. Even the inPhilip."                             roads made into the good farmer's stores
Before this was done, however, the did not abate his satisfaction in enterKing's attention was otherwise claimed, taining the prime hope of the Huguenot
and turning to one of his gentlemen he cause; but Berenger advanced as large a
said, " Here, D'Aubign6, I present to you sum as he durst out of his purse, under
an acquaintance made in Tartarus. See pretext of the maintenance of Osbert
to his entertainment ere we start for during his stay at the Grange. He exParthenay."                          amined Rotrou   upon his subsequent
Agrippa d'Aubign6, still young, but knowledge of Isaac Gardon' and Eustagrave and serious-looking, greeted M. de cie, but nothing had been heard of them
Ribaumont as men meet in hours when since their departure, now nearly three
common interests make rapid friend- years back, except a dim rumor that they
ships; and from him Berenger learned, had been seen at the Synod of Montauin a few words, that the King of Na- ban.
varre's eyes had been opened at last to  "Well, my friend," said Philip, when
the treachery of the court, and'his own  about to remount, " this will do rather
dishonorable bondage. During a feverish  better than a headlong gallop to Rochelle
attack, one night when D'Aubign6 and  with Nid-de-Merle at our heels."
D'Armagnac were sitting up with him,    "If M. le Baron is safe, it is well,"
his resolution was taken, and on the first said Aim6, shortly.
hunting day after his recovery, he with  "Is Selinville there?" said Berenger,
these two, the Baron de Rosny and about coming up. " Here, let me take you to
thirty more of his suite, had galloped the King of Navarre, he knew your famaway, and had'joined the Monsieur and ily in Languedoc."
the Prince of Cond6 at Alenqon. He had  "No, no," petulantly returned the
abjured the Catholic faith, declared that boy. "What am I that he should notice




THE SANDS OF OLONNE.                          287
me! It is M. de Ribaumont whom I fol- able security of her secret countenance;
low, not him or his cause."           and, secondly, to ride to Nissard to ex"Boy,"   said  Berenger, dismayed, amine into the story he had previously
"remember, I have answered for you."  heeded so little, of the old man and his
" I am no traitor," proudly answered  daughter rescued from the waves the day
the strange boy, and Berenger was forced  before La Sablerie was taken.
to be thus satisfied, though intending to  " If Pluto relented, my dear Orpheus,
watch him closely.                    surely Navarre may," said Henry, goodhumoredly, "only may the priest not
be more adamantine than Minos. Where
lies Nissard? On the Sables d'Olonne?
CHAPTER XL.                 Then you may go thither with safety
while we lie here, and I shall wait for
THE SANDS OF OLONNE.           my sister or for news of her."
So Berenger arranged for an early
" Is it the dew of night
That on her glowing cheek          start on the morrow; and young SelinShines in the moonbeam?-0, she weeps, she  ville listened with a frown, and strange
weeps,
And the good angel that abandoned her  look in his dark eyes. " You go not to
At her hell baptism, by her tears drawn  England? " he said.
down
Resumes his charge... and the hope  "Not yet," said Berenger.
Of pardon and salvation rose                    w    n 
As now she understood" This was not what my lady expectAs now she understood
Thy lying prophecy of truth."ed," he muttered; but though Berenger
SOUTHEY.
silenced him by a stern look, he took the
" M. DE RIBAUMONT," said Henry of  first opportunity of asking Philip if it
Navarre, as he stood before the fire would not be far wiser of his brother to
after supper at Parthenay, "I have been place himself in safety in England.
thinking what commission I could give     "Wiser, but less honest," said Philip.
you proportioned to your rank and influ-  "He who has lost all here, who has
ence."                                incurred his grandfather's anger," pur" Thanks to your Grace, that inquiry  sued Aime, " were he not wiser to make
is soon answered. I am a beggar here. his peace with his friends in England? "
Even my paternal estate in Normandy is    " His friends in England would not
in the hands of my cousin."           like him the better for deserting his poor
"You have wrongs," said Henry, wife's cause," said Philip.    "I advise
"and wrongs are sometimes better than  you to hold your tongue, and not meddle
possessions in a party like ours."    or make."
Berenger seized the opening to ex-    Aime subsided, and Philip detected
plain his position, and mention that his something like tears. He had still much
only present desire was for permission, of rude English boyhood about him, and
In the first place, to send a letter to Eng- he laughed roughly. " A fine fellow, to
land by the messenger whom the King weep at a word! Hie thee back to feed
was despatching to Elizabeth. in toler- my lady'slap-dog,'tis all thou art fit for."




288                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
"There spoke English gratitude," said them life and ecstasy. Philip kept as
Aime, with a toss of the head and flash  near the incoming waves as his inlandof the eye.                          bred horse would endure, and sang,
Philip despised him the more for cast- shouted, and hallooed to them as weling up his obligations, but had no retort come as English waves; but Aim6 de
to make. He had an idea of making a Selinville had never even beheld the sea
man of young Selinville, and his notion  before, and even when the tide was still
of the process had something of the bul- in the distance, was filled with nervous
lying tendency of English youth toward terror as each rushing fall sounded nearthe poor-spirited or cowardly. He or- er; and, when the line of white foamy
dered the boy roughly, teased him for his crests became more plainly visible, he
ignorance of manly exercises, tried to  was impelled to hurry on toward the
cure his' helplessness by increasing his steeple, so fast that the guide shouted to
difficulties, and viewed his fatigue as af- him that he would only bury himself in
fectation or effeminacy. Berenger inter- a quicksand.
fered now and then to guard the poor     "But," said he, white with alarm,
boy from a horse-jest or practical joke, and his teeth chattering, " how can we
but he too felt that Aime was a great in- creep with those dreadful waves advancumbrance, hopelessly cowardly, fanciful, cing upon us to drown us?"
and petulant; and he was sometimes      Berenger silenced Philip's rude laugh,
driven to speak to him with severity, and was beginning to explain that the
verging on contempt, in hopes to rouse a speed of the waves could always be calsense of shame.                      culated by an experienced inhabitant;
The timidity, so unusual and inexpli- and his voice had seemed to pacify Aim6
cable in a youth of eighteen or twenty, a little, when the spreading water in
showed itself irrepressibly at the Sands front of a broken wave flowing up to his
of Olonne. These were not misty, as horse's feet, again rendered him nearly
on Berenger's former journey. Nissard frantic. "Let us go back!" he wildly
steeple was soon in sight, and the guide entreated, turning his horse; but Berenwho joined them on a rough pony, had ger caught his bridle, saying, "That would
no doubt that there would be ample be truly death. Boy, unless you would
time to cross before high water.  There be scorned, restrain your folly. Nothing
was, however, some delay, for the winter else imperils us."
rains had brought down a good many      Here, however, the guide interposed,
streams of fresh water, and the sands saying that it had become too late to
were heavy and wet, so that their horses pursue their course along the curve of
proceeded slowly, and the rush and dash the shore, but they must at once cut
of the waves proclaimed that the flow of straight across, which he had intended
the tide had begun. To the two brothers to avoid, because of the greater depth of
the break and sweep was a home-sound, a small river that they would have to
speaking of freshness and freedom, and cross, which divided further out into
the salt breeze and spray carried with small channels, more easily forded. They




THE SANDS OF OLONNE.                         289
thus went along the chord of the are and sword, and dashed into the water;
formed by the shore, and Aime was some- and in the lapse of a few moments he
what reassured, as the sea was at first struggled back to the island, where
farther off; but before long they reached  Philip and Humfrey, leg-deep in water,
the stream, which lost itself in many lit- the one received his burden, the other
tle channels in the sands, so that when helped him to land.
the tide was out there was a perfect net-  "On, gentlemen, not a moment to
work of little streams dividing low shing- lose," cried the guide; and Berenger,
ly or grassy isles, but at nearly high tide, still panting; flung himself on his horse,
as at present, many of these islets were held out his arms, gathered the small, alsubmerged, and the strife between river most inanimate figure upon the horse's
and sea caused sudden deepenings of the neck before him, and in a few minutes
water in the channels.               more they had crossed the perilous pasThe guide eagerly explained that the sage, and were on a higher bank where
safest place for crossing was not by the they could safely halt; and Philip, as he
large sandbank furthest in, that looked came to help his brother, exclaimed:
so firm and promising-it was a recent   "What a fool the boy is! "
shifting performance of the water's heap-  "Hush! " said Berenger, gravely, as
ing up, and would certainly sink away they laid the figure on the ground.
and bury horse and man. They must       "What! He can't have been drowned
ride further out, to the shingly isle; it in that moment. We'll bring him to."
and the channels on either side had     " Hands off!" said Berenger, kneelshingly bottoms, and were safe.      ing over the gasping form, and adding in
" This way," called Berenger, himself a lower voice, " don't you see?" He
setting the example, and finding no diffi- wound his hand in the long, drenched
culty; the water did not rise above his hair, and held it up, with cheeks burning
boots, and the current was not strong. like fire, and his sear purple.
He had reached the shingly isle when he  "A woman!-what?-who? "     Then
looked round for his companions; Hum- suddenly divining, he exclaimed, "The
frey and Philip were close behind him; jade! " and started with wide eyes.
but, in spite of the loud " gare!" of the  "Stand back," said Berenger; "she
guide, Aim6, or his horse-for each were is coming to herself."
equally senselesswith alarm-were mak-   Perhaps she had been more herself
ing inwards; the horse was trying to than he knew, for, as he supported her
tread on the sandbank, which gave way head, her hand stole over his and held it
like the water itself, under its frantic fast. Full of consternation, perplexity,
struggles-there was a loud cry-a shrill, and anger as he was, he could not but
unmistakable woman's shriek-the horse feel a softening pity toward a creature so
was sinking-a white face and helpless devoted, so entirely at his mercy. At
form were being carried out on the waves, the moment when she lay helpless against
but not before Berenger had flung him- him, gasps heaving her breast under her
self from his horse, thrown off his cloak manly doublet, her damp hair spread on
19




290                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
his knees, her dark eyes in their languor -me who ask only to follow you as a
raised imploringly to his face, her cold menial servant? "
hand grasping his, he felt as if this great  "That has become impossible," he
love was a reality, and as if he were answered, "to say nothing of-my brother,
hunting a shadow; and, as if fate would my servant, and the guide have seen-;"
have it so, he must save and gratify one and, as she remembered her streaming
whose affection must conquer his, who hair, and tried, in dawning confusion, to
was so tender, so beautiful-even native gather it together, he continued: " you
generosity seemed on her side. But in shrank from the eye of the King of Nathe midst, as in his perplexity, he looked varre. You cannot continue as you have
up over the grey sea; he seemed to see done; you have not even strength."
the picture so often present to his mind  "Ah! had you sailed for England,"
of the pale, resolute girl, clasping her she murmured.
babe to her breast, fearless of the advan-  "It had only been greater shame,"
cing sea, because true and faithful. And he said. "Cousin, I am head of your
at that thought faith and prayer rallied family, husband of your kinswoman, and
once again round his heart, shame at the  bound to respect the reputation you
instant's wavering again dyed his cheek; risked for me. I shall, therefore, place
he recalled himself, and speaking the you in charge of the priest till you can
more coldly and gravely because his either return to your aunt or to some
heart was beating over hotly, he said, other convent. You can ride now. We
" Cousin, you are better. It is but a lit- will not wait longer in these wet gartle way to Nissard."                 ments."
" Why have you saved me, if you will  He raised her from the ground, threw
not pity me?" she murmured.         his own dry cloak round her shoulders
" I will not pity, because I respect and unmanageable hair, and lifted her on
my kinswoman who has saved our lives," his horse; but, as she would have leaned
he said, steadying his voice with difficul- against him, he drew himself away, beckty. " The priest of Nissard will aid me oned to Philip, and put the bridle into his
in sparing your name and fame."      hands, saying, "Take care of her. I
"Ah! " she cried, sitting up with a shall ride on and warn the priest."
start of joy, "but he would make too    "The rock of diamond," she murmany inquiries! Take me to England   mured, not aware that the diamond had
first."                              been almost melting.   That youthful
Berenger started as he saw how he gravity and resolution, with the mixture
had been misunderstood.              of respect and protection, imposed as
"Neither here nor in England could usual upon her passionate nature, and
my marriage be set aside, cousin. No; daunted her into meekly riding beside
the priest shall take charge of you,.and Philip without a word-only now and
place you in safety and honor."      then he heard a low moan, and knew that
" He shall not! " she cried, hotly. she was weeping bitterly.
"Why-why will you drive me from you     At first the lad had been shocked be



THE SANDS OF OLONNE.                         291
yond measure and would have held escape in disguise, had been nearly
aloof as from a kind of monster, but Ma- drowned, and was in need of refreshdame de Selinville had been the first ment and female clothing. Jacinthe did
woman to touch his fancy, and when he not like the sound, but drenched clothes
heard how piteously she was weeping, were such a passport to her master's
and recollected where he should have house, that she durst not refuse. Berenbeen but for her, as well as all his own ger carried off his other companions to
harshness to her as a cowardly boy, he the cabaret, and when he had dried himfelt himself brutally ungrateful, and self, went to wait for the priest at the
spoke: "Don't weep so, madame; I am  church door, sitting in the porch, where
sorry I was rude to you, but you see, more than one echo of the exhortation to
how should I take you for a woman? "  repentance and purity rang in his ears,
Perhaps she heard, but she heeded and enforced his conviction that here
not.                                 he must be cruel if he would be merci"My brother will take good care to ful.
shield you," Philip added.  "He will    It was long before Pere Colombeau
take care you are safe in one of your came out, and then, if the scar had not
nunneries; " and as she only wept the blushed for all the rest of his face, the
more, he added, with a sudden thought, sickly, lanky lad of three years since
"You would not go there; you would would hardly have been recognised in
embrace the Protestant faith?"      the noble, powerful-looking young man
"I would embrace whatever was who unbonneted to the good cure. But
his! "                               the priest's aspect was less benignant
Philip muttered something about see- when Berenger tried to set before him
ing what could be done. They were al- his predicament; he coldly asked where
ready at the entrance of the village, and the unhappy lady was; and when BerenBerenger had come out to meet them, ger expressed his intention of coming the
and, springing -toward him, Philip ex- next morning to ask his counsel, he only
claimed, in a low  voice, "Berry, she bowed. He did not ask the brothers to
would abjure her Popish errors! You  supper, nor show any civility; and Bercan't give her up to a priest."      enger, as he walked back to the cabaret,
"Foolery, Philip," answered Beren- perceived that his story was but half beger, sternly.                        lieved, and that, if Diane's passion were
" If she would be a convert!"     still stronger than her truth or genrerosi"Let her be a modest woman first;" ty, she would be able to make out a terand Berenger, taking her bridle, led her rible case against him, and to willing
to the priest's house.               ears, naturally disposed against a young
He found that Pere Colombeau was cavalier and a heretic.
preaching a Lent sermon, and that no-   He sat much dispirited by the fire of
body was at home but the housekeeper, the little wine-shop, thinking that his
to whom he had explained briefly that forbearance had been well-nigh thrown
the lady with him had been forced to away, and that his character would never




292                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
be cleared in Eustacie's eyes, attaching, reparation to the injured," said the
indeed, more importance to the blot than  priest.
would have been done by a youth less    Berenger looked at him anxiously.
carefully reared.                       "I will not leave you," he added.
It was quite dark when a knock came  "See, I shall pray for you yonder, by
to the door, the cure's white head ap- the altar," and he slowly moved up the
peared in the lamplight; he nodded aisle.
kindly to all the guests, and entreated  "Rise, cousin, I entreat you," said
that M. de Ribaumont would do him the Berenger much embarrassed, as he disapfavor to come and speak with him.    peared in the darkness.
No sooner were they outside the      "I must speak thus," she answered,
house, than the cure held out his hand, in a hoarse exhausted voice. " All! parsaying, "Sir, forgive me for a grievous don, pardon!" she added, rising, howinjustice toward you; " then pressing  ever, so far as to raise clasped hands and
his hand, he added with a voice tremu- an imploring face. "Ah! can you parlous with emotion, " Sir, it is no slight don? It was through me that you bear
thing to have saved a wandering sheep those wounds; that she-Eustacie-was
by your uprightness and loyalty."    forced into the masque, to detain you for
"Have you then opened her eyes, that night. Ah! pardon."
father?" said Berenger, relieved from a  "That is long past," said Berenger.
heavy load.                           "I have been too near death not to have
"You have, my son," said the old pardoned that long ago. Rise, cousin, I
man. " You have taught her what truth  cannot see you thus."
and virtue are. For the rest, you shall  "That is not all," continued Diane.
hear for yourself."                   "It was I-I who moved my father to
Before Berenger knew where he was, imprison you." Then, as he bent his
a door was opened, and he found himself head, and would have again entreated
in the church. The building was almost her to rise, she held out,her hand as if
entirely dark, but there were two tall to silence him, and spoke faster, more
lights at the altar in the distance, and a wildly. " Then-then I thought it would
few little slender tapers burning before save your life. I thought-" she looked
certain niches and shrines, but without at him strangely with her great dark
power to conquer with the gloom more eyes, all hollow and cavernous in her
than enough to spread a pale circle of white face.
yellow light beneath them, and to show  " I know," said Berenger, kindly,
mysteriously a bit of vaulting above. A  "you often urged it on me."
single lamp hung from an arch near the  There was a sort of movement on the
door, and beneath it, near a pillar, knelt, part of the kneeling figure of the priest
or rather crouched, on the floor, a female  at the altar, and she interrupted, saying
figure with a dark peasant-cloak drawn precipitately, " Then-then, I did think
over her head.                       you free."
" The first token of penitence is    "Ah! "he gasped. "Now-!"




THE SANDS OF OLONNE.                        293
"Now I know that she lives!" and more.   However, he and my brother
Diane once more sank at his feet a trem- were sure she was under their protecbling, shrinking, annihilated heap of tion; they took measures, and-and the
shame and misery.                    morning my poor father was stricken
Berenger absolutely gave a cry, that there had been a letter from my brother
though instantly repressed, had the ring to say he was on her track, and matters
of ecstacy in it. " Cousin-cdusin! " he must be ended with you, for he should
cried, "all is forgiven-all forgotten, if have her in a week;" and then as Beryou will only tell me where! "      enger started forward with an inarticu"That I cannot," said Diane, rousing late outburst, half of horror, half of inherself again, but speaking in a dull in- terrogation, she added, "Where, he said
different tone, as of one to whom the not, nor did I learn from him. All our
prime bitterness was past, "save that one interview was spent in sneers that
she is under the care of the Duchess de answered to my wild entreaties; but this
Quinet;" and she then proceeded, as I know-that you would never have
though repeating a lesson: "You re- reached Tours a living man."
member the Italian conjuror whom you    "And now, now he is on the way to
would not consult? Would that I had her!" cried Berenger, "and you kept it
not!" she added, clasping her hands. from me!"
"His prediction lured me! Well, he      "There lay my hope," said Diane,
saw my father privately, told him he raising her head; and now, with glitterhad seen her, and had bought her jewels, ing eyes and altered voice, " How could I
even her hair. My father sent him in not but hate her who had bereaved me
quest of her again, but told not me till of you; her for whose sake I could not
the man returned with tidings that she earn your love? "
was at Quinet in favor with the Duchess.  The change of her tone, had, perhaps,
You remember that he went from home. warned the priest to draw nearer, and as
It was to demand her; and, ah! you she perceived him, she said, "Yes, faknow how long I had loved you, and ther, this is not the way to absolution,
they told me that your marriage was void, but my heart will burst if I say not all."
and that all would be well upon the dis-  "Thou shalt not prevail, foul spirit,"
pensation coming. And now the good fa- said the priest, looking earnestly into
ther there tells me that I was deceived-  the darkness, as though he beheld the
cruelly deceived-that such adispensation fiend hovering over her, "neither shall
would not be granted save through gross these holy walls be defiled with accents
misrepresentation."  Then, as Berenger of unhallowed love.  You have made
began to show tokens of eagerness to come your reparation, daughter, it is quite
at tidings of Eustacie, she continued, enough."
"Ah! it is vain to seek to excuse one   " And can you tell me no more?" said
you care not for. My father could learn Berenger, sadly. " Can you give me no
nothing from the Duchess; she avowed clue that I may save her from the wolf
that she had been there, but would say no that may be already on her track?




294                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Cousin, if you would do this, I would able shelter could be found for her; and
bless you for ever."                 the cure replied that he had already
"Alas! I would if I could! It is spoken to her of the convent of Lugon,
true, cousin, I have no heart to deceive and should take her there so soon as it
you any longer. But it is to Madame could safely be done, and that Abbess
de Quinet that you must apply, and if Monique, he trusted, would assist her
my brother has thought me worth pur- crushed spirit in finding the path of penisuit, you may be in time! One mo- tence. He thought her cousin had betment-" as he would have sprung away ter not endeavor to see her again; and
as if in the impulse to fly to the rescue-  Berenger himself was ready to forget
" Cousin, had you gone to England as I her very existence in his burning anxiety
hoped, I would have striven to deserve to outstrip Narcisse in the quest of Euto win that love of yours, but you have stacie.
conquered by your constancy.-Now,
father, I have spoken my last save as
penitent."                                     CHAPTER XLI.
She covered her head and sank down
again.                                       OUR LADY OF HOPE.
Berenger, bewildered and impelled to' Welcome to danger's hour,
be doing something, let the priest lead  Brief greeting serves the time of strife."
SCOTT.
him out before he exclaimed, " I said
nothing to her of pardon!"              As soon as it was possible to leave
"' You do pardon? " said the priest.  Nissard, Berenger was on his way back
He paused a moment. "Freely, if I to headquarters, where he hoped to meet
find my wife. I can onlyremembernow  the Duke de Quinet among the many
that she set me on the way. I would Huguenot gentlemen who were flocking
ease her soul, poor thing, and thinking  to the Bourbon standard; nor was he
would make me hard again."           disappointed in the hope, for he was pre" Do the English bring up their sons sented to a handsome middle-aged gentlewith such feelings?" asked the cure, man, who told him, with much politepausing for a moment.                ness, that he was aware that his mother
"Of course," said Berenger. "May had had the honor to receive and enterI say that one word, sir? "          tain Mme. de Ribaumont, and that some
"Not now," said the priest; "she months ago he had himself arranged for
had better be left to think of her sin the conveyance of her letters to England,
toward heaven, rather than toward man." but, he said, with a smile, he made a
"But do you leave her there, sir? "  point of knowing nothing of his mother's
"I shall return. I shall pray for her guests, lest his duties as a governor
true penitence," said the priest, and Ber- might clash with those of hospitality.
enger perceived from his tone that one He offered to expedite M. de Ribaumont's
without the pale might inquire no fur- journey to Quinet, observing that, if
ther. He only asked how safe and honor- Nid-de-Merle were, indeed, on the point




OUR LADY OF HOPE.                          295
of seizing the lady, it must be by treach- crimson to the ears, while Berenger
ery; indeed he had, not ten days back, replied, with greater coolness than he
had the satisfaction of hanging an Italian  had given himself credit for, that the
mountebank who had last year stolen a youth had been nearly drowned on the
whole packet of despatches, among them  Sables d'Olonne, and had been left at
letters from Mme. de Ribaumont, and the Dom  Colombeau's to recover.  The
fellow was probably acting as a spy upon  sharp-witted king looked for a moment
her, so that no time was to be lost in rather as Sir Hugh the Heron did when
learning from his mother where she was. Marmion accounted for his page's abOn thle next morning he was about to sence, but was far too courteous and too
send forward twenty men to reinforce a insouciant to press the matter further,
little frontier garrison on the River though Berenger saw quite enough of
Dronne, and as M. le Baron must pass his expression to feel that he had been
through the place, it would be conferring  delivered from his companion only just
a favor on him to take the command. in time.
The men were all well mounted and       Berenger set forth so soon as his imwould not delay, and when once across patience could prevail to get the men
the frontier of Guyenne, no escort would into their saddles. He would fain have
be needed.                           ridden day and night, and grudged every
Berenger gladly accepted the propo- halt for refreshment, so as almost to run
sal. It did not occur to him that he was the risk of making the men mutinous.
thus involved in the civil war, and bear- Evening was coming on, and his troop
ing arms against the sovereign. In spite had dismounted at a cabaret, in front of
of Queen Elizabeth's alliance with the which he paced up and down with Philip,
French court, she connived at her youth- trying to devise-some pretext for hastenfll subjects seeking the bubble reputation ing them on another stage before night,
in the mouths of Valois cannon; and so when a weary, travel-stained trooper
little did Henri III. seem to Berenger to rode up to the door and was at once
be his king, that he never thought of the hailed as a comrade by the other men,
question of allegiance-nay, if the royal and asked, "What cheer at Pont de
officers were truly concerned in his ar- Dronne? "
rest, he was already an outlaw.  This   "Bad enough," he answered, " unless
was no moment for decision between   you can make the more speed there! "
Catholic and Calvinist, all he wanted Then making obeisance to Berenger, he
was to recover his wife and forestall her continued his report, saying that Captain
enemies.                             Falconnet was sending him to M. le Due
Henri of Navarre gave his full consent with information that the Guisards were
to the detachment being placed under astir, and that five hundred gendarmes,
charge of M. de Ribaumont. He asked under the black Nid-de-Merle, as it was
somewhat significantly what had become said, were on their way, intending to
of the young gentleman who had attend- surprise Pont de Dronns, and thus cut
ed M. de Ribaumont, and Philip blushed the King of Navarre off from Guyenne




296                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
and his kingdom beyond it. After this him as mere men-at-arms gossip, in his
Berenger had no more difficulty with  eagerness to expedite the start of his parhis men, who were most of them Quinet ty; and in less than an hour they were
vassals, with homes south of the Dronne, en route for Pont de Dronne; but hastand the messenger only halted for a has- en as he would, it was not till near noon
ty meal, hastening on to the duke, that the next day that he came in sight of a
a more considerable succor might at valley, through which wound a river,
once be despatched.                  crossed by a high-backed bridge, with a
"Is she there whom they call the tall, pointed arch in the middle, and a
Lady of Hope?" asked one of the soldiers, very small one on either side. An old
a mercenary, less interested than most of building of red stone, looking like what
his comrades, as he had only a fortnight it was-a monastery converted into a
since transferred his services from Guise fortress —stood on the nearer, or northto Quinet.                           ern bank, and on the belfry tower waved
" Our Lady of Sadness just now," re- a flag with the arms of Quinet. Higher
plied the messenger; " her old father is up the valley, there was an ominous hum,
at the point of death. However, she is and clouds of smoke and dust; and the
there, and at our last siege twenty wine- gendarmes, who knew the country, reskins would not so well have kept up  joiced that they were come just in time,
men's hearts."                       and exchanged anxious questions wheth" And the little one, the white fairy, er the enemy were not fording the river
is she there too? They say'tis a spirit, higher up, so as to attack not only the
a changeling that could not brook the fortress on this northern side, but the
inside of a church, but flew out of the bridge-tower on the southern bank of the
Moustier at Montauban like a white swan river.
in the middle of a sermon."             Spurring down the hill, the party
" I only know I've seen her sleep  were admitted, at the well-guarded gatelike a dormouse through prayers, sermon, way, into a large thickly - walled yard
and all at Pont de Dronne.  i'ollette, if where the soldiers and horses remained,
she be, she belongs to the white elves of and Berenger and Philip, passing through
the moonlight."                      a small arched doorway into the body
" Well, they say bullets won't touch  of the old monastery, were conducted to
her, and no place can he taken where a great wainscoted hall, where a pulpit
she is," replied the trooper. " Nay, that projecting from the wall, and some deItalian pedlar rogue, the same that the faced emblematic  ornaments, showed
Duke has since hung, had sold to long that this had once been the refectory,
Gilles and snub-nosed Pierre, silver bul- though guardroom appliances now occulets, wherewith they swore to shoot the pied it. The man who had shown them
one or the other next time they had a in left them, saying he would acquaint
chance."                             Captain Falconnet with their arrival,
These words were spoken at no great and just then a sound of singing drew
distance from Berenger, but passed by  both brothers to the window. It looked




OUR LADY OF HOPE.                           297
out on what had once been the quad- point them their posts without further
rangle, bounded on three sides by the question. Berenger had intended to purchurch, the refectory, and the monk's sue his journey to Quinet without delay,
lodgings, the cloistered arcade running  but the intelligence that the enemy were
round all these.  The fourth side was on the southern as well as the northern
skirted by the river, which was, how- side of the river rendered this impossiever, concealed  by an   embankment, ble; and, besides, in defending this key
raised, no doubt, to supply the place of of Guyenne against Narcisse, he was
the wall, which had been unnecessary   also defending Eustacie.
to the peaceful original inhabitants.     The state of affairs was soon made
What attracted Berenger's eyes was, known to him. The old monastery,
however, a group in the cloister, consist- covering with its walls an extensive
ing of a few drooping figures, some of  space, formed a fortress quite strong
men in steel caps, others of veiled, enough to resist desultory attacks, and
shrouded women, and strange, mingled   protect the long bridge, which was itself
feelings swept over him as he caught the strongly walled on either side, and with
notes of the psalm sung over the open  a barbican at the farther end. In former
grave-                                assaults, the attacks had always been on
" Si qu'en paix et seurt6 bonne   the north, the Catholic side, as it might
Coucherai et reposerai-          be called; but now the enemy had crossed
Car, Seigneur, ta bont6 tout ordonne
Et elle seule espoir donne      the river above the fort, and were inQue seur et seul r6gnant serai."  vesting the place on both sides. Long
"Listen, Philip," he said, with moist- foreseeing this, the old commandant had
ening eyes; then as they ended, "it is guarded the bank of the river with an
the 4th Psalm:'I lay me down in peace  earthwork, a long mound, sloped irregand take my rest.' Eustacie and I used  ularly on either hand, over which nuto sing it to my father. It was well merous little paths had since been worn
done in these mourners to sing it over him  by the women within, when on their
whom they are laying down to take his way to the river with their washing;
rest, while the enemy are at the gates. but he had been setting every one to
See, the poor wife still kneels while the work to destroy and fill up these, so that
rest disperse; how dejected and utterly the rampart was smooth and sloping,
desolate she looks!"                  perfectly easy indeed to cross, but high
He was so intently watching her as and broad enough to serve as an effectual
not to perceive the entrance of a tall, protection against such artillery as the
grizzled old man in a steel cap, evidently  detached troops of the Guise party were
the commander of the garrison. There likely to possess; and the river was far
was the brief welcome of danger's hour too wide, deep, and strong in its main
-the briefer, because Captain Falconnet current to be forded in the face of a
was extremely deaf, and taking it for hostile garrison. The captain had about
granted that the new-comers were gen- fifty gendarmes in his garrison, besides
tlemen of the duke's, proceeded to ap- the twenty new-comers whom he per



298                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
sisted in regarding as Berenger's charge; den after a fox.  Scaling-ladders were
and there were, besides, some seventy  planted and hurled down again; stones
peasants and silk-spinners, who had come were cast from the battlements, crushing
into the place as a refuge from the ene- the enemy; and throughout Berenger's
my-and with these he hoped to hold out quick eye, alert movements, and great
till succor should come from the Duke. height and strength made him a most
He himself took the command of the valuable champion, often applauded by a
north gate, where the former assaults low murmur of commendation from old
had been made, and he intrusted to his Falconnet, or a loud shout of " Ha, well
new ally the tower protecting the bridge, done, the Duke's Englishman," from the
advising him to put on armor; but Ber- gendarmes-for English they would have
enger, trying on a steel cap, found that him to be-on the presumptions afforded
his head could not bear the weight, by his companions his complexion, and
and was forced to return to his broad- his slow speech. Nor did Philip and
brimmed Spanish hat, while Philip, in  Humfrey fail to render good service. But
high glee, armed himself as best he could just as the enemy had been foiled in a
with what Captain Falconnet could lend  sharp assault and were dragging away
him. He was too much excited to eat their wounded, Philip touched his brothof the scanty meal that was set before  er, and saying, " I can hold out no longthem-a real fight seemed like a fair day  er," showed blood trickling down his
to him, and he was greatly exalted by his right side.
brother's post of command-a post that   Berenger threw an arm round him,
Berenger felt a heavy responsibility only  and Captain Falconnet seeing his case,
thrust upon him by the commandant's said, "You are hit, petit Anglais; you
incapacity of hearing how utterly inex- have done gallantly.-There will be time
perienced he was.                    for you to take him to his quarters, sir;
The formal summons to surrender to these fellows have had enough for the
the King, and the refusal, had duly passed, present, and you can tarry with him till
and it became evident that the first at- you hear the bugle. Whither, did you
tack was to be on the bridge-gate. Cap- ask? Let me see.-You, Renaud, take
tain Falconnet hurried to the place, and him to the chapel, the old chancel behind
the fighting was hot and desperate. the boarding will be more private; and
Every assailant who tried to throw his desire Madame to look to him.  Farefaggot into the moat became a mark for well! I hope it may prove slight; you
arquebus or pistol, and the weapons that are a brave youth."  And he shook hands
had so lately hung over the hearth at with Philip, whose intense gratification
Nid-de-Merle were now aimed again and sustained him for many steps afterward.
again at the heads and corslets of Gui-  He hardly remembered receiving the
sards, with something of the same exult- hurt, and was at first too busy to heed it,
ing excitement, only higher, more en- or to call off any one's attention, until a
grossing, and fiercer, as that with which  dread of falling, and being trodden on,
the lads had taken aim at a wolf, or rid- had seized him and made him speak;




OUR LADY OF HOPE.                          299
and indeed he was so dizzy that Beren- every now and then hand or handkerger with difficulty kept him on his feet chief was lifted as if to clear her eyes
over the bridge, and in the court lifted from the tears that would not cease to
him in his arms and carried him almost gather and blind her; and she merely
fainting into the cloister, where by the spoke when some direction to an assistnew-made grave still knelt the black- ant, some sympathetic word to the paveiled mourner. She started to her feet tient was needed. Even Philip in his
as the soldier spoke to her; seemed at dizzy trance guessed that he was succeedfirst not to gather the sense of his words; ing to the bed whence one much dearer
but then, as if with an effort, took them  had gone to his quieter rest in the cloisin, made one slight sound like a moan of ter. Before he was laid there, however,
remonstrance at the mention of the place, the bugle sounded; there was a loud
but again recollecting herself, led the shout, and Philip  exclaimed, " Go,
way along a stone passage, into which a brother! "
flight of stairs descended into the apsidal  "Trust him to me, sir," said the
chancel, roughly boarded off from the sunken, extinguished voice; "we will
rest of the church. It was a ruinous, do our best for him."
desolate place, and Berenger looked round  He was forced merely to lift Philip
in dismay for some place on which to lay to the bed, and to hurry away, while the
down his almost unconscious burden. soldier followed him saying, consolingly,
The lady bent her head and signed tow- "Fear not, sir, now our Lady of Hope
ard the stone sedilia in the wall; then, has him. Nothing goes ill to which she
after two ineffectual essays to make her sets her hand."
voice audible, choked as it was with long  Another growl of artillery was now
weeping, she said, low and huskily, "We heard, and it was time for the warriors
will make him more comfortable, soon;" to forget the wounded in the exigencies
and added some orders to the soldier, who  of the present. An attack was made on
disappeared up the stairway, and Beren- both gates at once, and the commandant
ger understood that he was gone to fetch  being engaged at his own post, Berenger
bedding. Then taking from under her had to make the utmost of his brief exheavy mourning cloak a large pair of perience, backed by the counsel of a
scissors, she signed to Berenger how to tough old sergeant, and great was his
support his brother, while they relieved sense of exhilaration, and absolute enjoyhim of his corslet, sword-belt, and doub- ment in this full and worthy taxing of
let. The soldier had meantime returned  every power of mind and body. The cry
with an old woman, both loaded with  among the enemy, "Aim at the black
bedding, which she signed to them to ar- plume," attested his prominence; but
range in one of the little bays or niches the black plume was still unscathed
that served to form a crown of lesser when spring twilight fell. The.din began
chapels around the chancel. She flung to subside; recalls were sounded by the
aside her muffling cloak, but her black besiegers; and Berenger heard his own
hood still hung far over her face, and exploit bawled in the ear of the deaf




300                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
commandant, who was advancing over has come to me in the Walnut Chamber
the bridge. The old captain compli- at home."
mented him, told him that he should be  "I tell you I was in my perfect
well reported of to M. le Duc and Sieur senses," returned Philip;'there she
la Noue, and invited him to supper and was, just as when we left her. And,
bed in his own quarters. The supper what was stranger still, she talked
Berenger accepted, so soon as he should French."
know how it was with his brother; but   "Sleep and see her again," laughed
as to bed, he intended to watch his Berenger.
brother, and visit his post from time to
time.
The captain entered by the main doorCHAPTER XLII.
of the chapel, where ten or twelve
wounded were now lying, tended by           THE SILVER BULLET.
peasant-women. Berenger merely passed.
"I am all wonder, 0 my son, my soul
through, seeing as he went the black    Is stunned within me; powers to speak to
hood busy over a freshly - brought - in    him
Or to interrogate him have I none,
patient. He found a door which ad-      Or even to look on him."
COWPER'S Odyssey.
mitted him through the rough screen of                    C   ER Odyssey.
boards to the choir where he had been   IN his waking senses Philip adhered
in the earlier part of the day.  The to his story that his little sister Dolly had
moonlight came through the shivered  stood at the foot of his bed, called him
eastern windows, but a canvas curtain "'lepauvre," and had afterward disaphad been hung so as to shelter Philip's peared, led away by the nursing lady.
vaulted recess from the cold draught, It seemed to Berenger a mere delusion
and the bed itself, with a chair beside of feverish weakness; for Philip had lost
it, looked neat, clean, and comfortable. a great deal of blood, and the wound,
Philip himself was cheery; he said the though not dangerous, permitted no atbullet had made a mere flesh-wound, tempt at moving, and gave much pain.
and had passed out on the other side, Of the perfections of the lady as nurse
and the Lady of Hope, as they called and surgeon Philip could not say enough,
her, was just such another as Aunt and pale and overwept as he allowed
Cecily, and had made him very com- her to be, he declared that he was sure
fortable, with clean linen, good cool that her beauty must equal Mme. de Se
drinks, and the tenderest hand. But he linville's. Berenger laughed, and lookwas very sleepy, so sleepy that he hardly ing round this strange hospital, now
cared to hear of the combat, only he lighted by the full rays of the morning
roused himself for a moment to say, sun, he was much struck by the scene.
"Brother, I have seen Dolly."           It was the chancel of the old abbey
"Dolly!"                          church. The door by which they had
" Our sister Dolly."              entered was very small, and perhaps
"Ah, Phil! many a strange visitor had led merely to the abbot's throne, as




THE SILVER BULLET.                         301
an irregularity for his own convenience, will come to dress his wound in good
and only made manifest by the rending time," answered the old woman."
away of the rich wooden stall-work,    "And when? I should like to hear
some fragments of which still clung to what she thinks of it," said Berenger.
the walls. The east end, like that of  "How?" said the old woman, with a
many French churches, formed a semi- certain satisfaction in his disappointcircle, the high altar having been in the ment, "is our Lady of Hope to be
centre, and five tall, deep bays forming coming down among you gay gallants?"
lesser chapels embracing it, their vaults  "But who is this Lady of Hope?"
all gathered up into one lofty crown demanded he.
above, and a slender pillar separating  "Who should she be but our good
between each chapel, each of which fur- pastor's daughter? Ah! and a brave,
ther contained a tall narrow window. good daughter she was too, abiding the
Of course, all had been utterly desolated, siege because his breath was so bad that
and Philip was actually lying in one of he could not be moved."
these chapels, where the sculptured     "What was his name?" asked Berfigure of St. John and his Eagle still enger, attracted strangely by what he
remained on the wall; and a sufficient heard.
remnant of his glowing sanguine robe    "Ribault, Monsieur-Pasteur Ribault.
of love was still in the window to serve Ah! a good man, and sound preacher,
as a shield from  the bise.  The high when preach he could; but when he
altar, of rich marbles, was a mere heap could not, his very presence kept the
of shattered rubbish; but what sur- monks' revenants from vexing us-as a
prised Berenger more than all the ruined  cat keeps mice away; and, ah! the
architectural beauty which his cinque- children have been changed creatures
cento trained taste could not understand, since Madame dealt with them. What,
was, that the tiles of the pavement were Monsieur would know why they call her
perfectly clean and diligently swept, the our Lady of Hope? Esperance is her
rubbish piled up in corners; and here true name; and, moreover, in the forand there the relics of a cross or carved mer days this abbey had an image that
figure laid together as by a tender, rev- they called Notre-Dame de l'Esperance,
erential hand. Even the morsels of and the poor deceived folk thought it
painted glass had been placed side by did great miracles. And so, when she
side on the floor, so as to form a mosaic came hither and wrought such cures
of dark red, blue, and green; and a and brought blessings wherever she
child's toy lay beside this piece of patch- went, it became a saying  among us
work. In the midst of his observations, that at length we had our true Lady of
however, Captain Falconnet's servant Hope."
came to summon him to breakfast; and    A more urgent summons here forced
the old woman appearing at the same Berenger away, and his repetition of the
time, he could not help asking whether same question received much the same
the Lady were coming. " Oh, yes, she answer from deaf old Captain Falconnet.




302                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
He was obliged to repair to his post could they harm her! "  "Hola! little
with merely a piece of bread in his one! Gare go back to your mother!"
hand; but, though vigilance was need- "Do not disturb yourself, sir; she is
ful, the day bade fair to be far less safer than you," were the ejaculations
actively occupied than its predecessor; almost at the same moment, while he
the enemy were either disposed to turn  sprang forward, horrified at the peril of
the siege into a blockade, or were such an infant. He had reached the angle
awaiting  reinforcements and  heavier between the bridge and rampart when
artillery; and there were only a few  he perceived that neither humanity nor
desultory attacks in the early part of superstition were protecting the poor
the morning.   About an hour before child; for, as she turned down the
noon, however, the besiegers seemed to remnant of one of the treacherous little
be drawing out in arms, as if to receive paths, a man in bright steel and deep
some person of rank, and at the same black had spurred his horse to the river's
time sounds were heard on the hills to  brink, and was deliberately taking aim
the eastward, as if troops were on the at her. Furious at such brutality, Bemarch. Berenger having just been told renger fired the pistol he held in his
by the old sergeant that probably all hand, and the wretch dropped from his
would be quiet for some time longer, horse, but at the same moment his pistol
and been almost laughed at by the exploded, and the child rolled down the
veteran for consulting him whether it bank, whence a piteous wail came up,
would be permissible for him to be impelling Berenger to leap down to her
absent a few minutes to visit his broth- assistance, in the full face of the enemy.
er; was setting out across the bridge Perhaps he was protected for the mofor the purpose, his eyes in the direc- ment by the confusion ensuing on the
tion of the rampart, which followed fall of the officer; and when he reached
the curve of the river.   The paths the bottom of the bank, he saw the little
which,-as has been said-the feet of creature on her feet, her round cap and
the washerwomen and drawers of water grey woollen dress stripped half off in
had worn away in quieter times, had been the fall, and her flaxen hair falling
smoothed and scarped away on the outer round her plump, white, exposed shoulside, so as to come to an abrupt termi- der, but evidently unhurt, and gathering
nation some feet above the gay mari- yellow marigolds as composedly as though
golds, coltsfoot, and other spring flowers she had been making May garlands.
that smiled by the water-side.  Sud- He snatched her up, and she said, with
denly he beheld on    the rampart a the same infantine dignity, "Yes, take
tiny grey and white figure, fearlessly me up; the naughty people spoilt the
trotting, or rather dancing, along the path. But I must take my beads first."
summit, and the men around him ex- And she tried to struggle out of his
claimed, " The little moonbeam child!" arms, pointing therewith to a broken
"A fairy-a changeling! "-"They can- string among the marshy herbage on
not shoot at such a babe!"     "Nor which gleamed-the pearls of Ribaumont!




THE SILVER BULLET.                        303
In the few   seconds in which he thee!-Oh, do not struggle with me,"
grasped them, and then bore the child he cried, himself imploring now. "Child,
upthe embankment in desperate bounds, one kiss for thy father;" and meana hail of bullets poured round him, time, putting absolute force on his veringing on his breastplate, shearing the hement affection, he was hurrying to
plume from his hat, but scarcely even the chancel.
heard; and in another moment he had    There Philip hailed them with a shout
sprung down, on the inner side, grasping as of desperate anxiety relieved; but
the child with all his might, but not daring before a word could be uttered, down
even to look at her, in the wondrous the stairs flew the Lady of Hope, crying
flash of that first conviction. She spoke wildly, " Not there-she is not-"
first. "Put me down, and let me have but perceiving the little one in the
my beads," she said in a grave, clear stranger's arms, she held out her own,
tone; and then first he beheld a pair crying, "Ah! is she hurt, my angel?"
of dark-blue eyes, a sweet wild-rose face  "Unhurt, Eustacie! Our child is un-Dolly's all over. He pressed her so hurt!" Berenger said, with an agonized
fast and so close, in so speechless and endeavor to be calm; but for the moment
overpowering an ecstasy, that again she her instinct was so entirely absorbed in
repeated, and in alarm, " Put me down, examining into the soundness of her child's
I want my mother!"                   limbs, that she neither saw nor heard
"'Yes, yes! your mother! your moth- anything else.
er! your mother!" he cried, unable to   "Eustacie," he said, laying his hand
let her out of his embrace; and then re- on her arm.  She started back, with
straining himself as he saw her frightened bewildered eyes.  "Eustacie-wife! do
eyes, in absolute fear of her spurning him, you not know me? Ah! I forgot that
or struggling from him, "My sweet! my I am changed."
child! Ah! do you not know me!"         "You-you-" she gasped, utterly
Then, remembering how wild this was, confounded, and gazing as if turned to
he struggled to speak calmly: "What are stone, and though at that moment the
you called, my treasure? "          vibration of a mighty discharge of cannon
"I am lac petite Rayonette,"  she said, rocked the walls, and strewed Philip's
with puzzled dignity and gravity; "and bed with the crimson shivers of St.
my mother says I have a beautiful long John's robe, yet neither of them would
name of my own besides."             have been sensible of it had not Hum"B6rangere-my Berangre —"         frey rushed in at the same moment,
"That is what she says over me, as I crying, "They are coming on like fiends,
go to sleep in her bosom at night," said sir."
the child, in a wondering voice, soon ex-  Berenger passed his hand over his
changed for entreaty, "0, hug me not so face.  "You will know me when-if I
hard. 0, let me go-let me go to her. return, my dearest," he said. "If not,
Mother! mother!"                     then still, thank God! Philip, to you I
"My child, mine own, I am taking trust them!"




304                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
And with one kiss on that still, cold,  "Spirit!" cried Philip. " Nay, Maalmost petrified brow, he had dashed dame, it was himself. Ah! and you are
away. There was a space of absolutely she whom we have sought so long; and
motionless silence, save that Eustacie this dear child —no wonder she has
let herself drop on the chancel step, Dolly's face."
and the child, presently breaking the   "Who-what?" said Eustacie, pressspell, pulled her to attract her notice to ing her temples with her hands, as if to
the flowers. "Mother, here are the soucis retain her senses. " Speak; was yonder
for the poor gentleman's broth. See, the a living or dead man-and who? "
naughty people had spoilt all the paths,  "Living, thank God! and your own
and I rolled down and tore my frock, husband; that is, if you are really Euand down fell the beads, but be not angry, stacie. Are you, indeed?" he added, bemother dear, for the good gentleman picked coming doubtful.
them up, and carried me up the bank."   " Eustacie, that am I," she murmured.
"The bank! " cried Eustacie, with a "But he is dead; they killed him, I saw
scream, as the sense of the words reached the blood where he had waited for me.
her ears.  "Ah! no wonder!    Well His child's danger brought him from the
might thy danger bring thy father's grave."
spirit;" and she grasped the little one  "No, no. Look at me, sister Eufervently in  her  arms, murmuring, stacie. Listen to me. Osbert brought
"Thank, thank God, indeed!  Oh! my him home, more dead than alive-but
precious one; and did He send that alive still."
blessed spirit to rescue thee?"         "No," she cried, half passionately.
"And will you tie up my frock, and " Never could he have lived and left me
may I put the flowers into the broth?" to mourn him so bitterly."
chattered Rayonette.  " And why did     " If you knew-" cried Philip, growhe kiss me and hug me so tight; and ingindignant. "For weeks helayin deadly
how did he know what you say over me lethargy, and when, with his left hand,
as we fall asleep?"                 he wrote and sent Osbert to you, your
Eustacie clasped her tighter, with a kinsfolk threw the poor fellow into a
convulsive shudder of thankfulness; and dungeon, and put us off with lies that
Philip, but half hearing, and barely you were married to your cousin. All
gathering the meaning of her mood, believed, only he-sick, helpless, speechventured to speak, "Madame-"         less, as he was-he trusted you still;
As if touched by an electric shock, and so soon as Mericour came, though he
Eustacie started up, as recalled to instant could scarce brook the saddle, nothing
needs, and coming toward him said, would hold him from seeking you. We
"Do you want anything, sir? Pardon   saw only ruin at La Sablerie, and wellone who has but newly seen a spirit from  nigh ever since have we been clapped up
the other world-brought by his child's in prison by your uncle. We were on the
danger." And the dazed, trancelike look way to Quinet to seek you. He has kept
was returning.                       his faith whole through wounds and pain




THE SILVER BULLET.                        305
and prison and threats,-aye, and sore and Berenger's. What, thou little sweettemptation," cried Philip, waxing elo- ing (what French word is good enough
quent; " and, oh, it cannot be that you for her?), didst run into peril for me, not
do not care for him!"               knowing how near I was to thee? What,
" Doubt not my faith, sir," said Eu- must I eat it? Love me then, and call me
stacie, proudly; " I have been as true to Philip."
him as if I had known he lived. Nor do  But the boarded door was thrown
I know who you are to question me."  back, and I"Madame, more wounded,"
At this moment the child pressed for- resounded. The thrill of terror, the elasward, holding between her two careful tic reaction at the ensuing words, "From
plump hands a red earthenware bowl, the north gate," was what made Eustacie
with the tisane steaming in it, and the in an instant know herself to be'not
yellow petals strewn over the surface. widow but wife. She turned round at
She and Philip had taken a great fancy once, holding out her hand, and saying
to each other, and while her mother was with a shaken, agitated voice, " Mon
busy with the other patients, she had frere, pardon me, I know not what I say;
been left to her quiet play with her frag- and after all, he will find me bien mechante
ments of glass, which she carried one by still.". Then as Philip devoured her hand
one to display, held up to the light, to with kisses, and held it fast, " I must go;
her new friend; who, in his weak state, these poor men need me. When I can,
and after his long captivity, found her I will return."
the more charming playmate because she  " Only let me have the little one," enso strangely reminded him of his own treated Philip, " it is almost home already
little sisters. She thought herself his to look at her."
little nurse, and missing from his broth  And when Eustacie next looked in on
the yellow petals that she had been wont them, they were both fast asleep.
to think the charm of tisane, the house-  She, poor thing, the only woman with
wifely little being had trotted off, unseen brains among the many scared females
and unmissed, across the quadrangle, in the garrison, might not rest or look
over the embankment, where she had of- the wonder in the face. Fresh sufferers
ten gathered them, or attended on the needed her care, and related gallant
"lessive" on the river's brink; and now  things of "the Duke's Englishman,"
she broke forth exultingly, " Here, here things of desperate daring and prowess
is the tisane, with all the soucis. Let me that sent the blood throbbing to her
feed you with them, sir."           heart with exultation, but only to be' Ah! thou sweet one," gasped Philip, followed by a pang of anguish at having
" I could as soon eat them as David could let him go back to peril-nay, perhaps, to
drinkthe water! Forthese-forthese-!" death-without a word of tenderness or
and the tears rushed into his eyes. "Oh! even recognition.  She imaged him as
let me but kiss her, madame, I loved her the sunny-faced youth who had claimed
from the first moment. She has the very her in the royal castle, and her longing
face of my little sister-my little sister to be at his side and cling to him as his
20




306                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
own, became every moment more fervent the reinforcements. Either the enemy
and irresistible, until she gladly recollected had paused to take food, or were devising
the necessity of carrying food to the de- some fresh mode of attack; and as the
fenders; and snatching an interval from  line of women advanced, there started
her hospital cares, she sped to the old forth from under the arch a broad-shoulcircular kitchen of the monastery, where dered, white-faced, golden-bearded pershe found the lame baker vainly trying to sonage, who cried joyously " My dearest,
organize a party of frightened women to my bravest! this for me! " and lifted the
carry provisions to the garrison of the pitcher from her head as he grasped her
bridge-tower.                         hand with a flesh-and-blood clasp indeed,
"Give some to me," she said. "MIy but the bright-cheeked, wavy-haired lad
husband is there! I am come to fetch his of her dream withered away with a shock
dinner."                              of disappointment, and she only looked
The peasant-women looked and whis- up with wistful puzzled earnestness inpered as if they thought that, to add to stead of uttering the dear name that she
their misfortunes, their Lady of Hope had had so long been whispering to herself.
become distracted by grief; and one or "Dearest," he said, "this is precious intwo, who held the old faith, and were deed to me, that you should let me feast
like the crane among the sparrows, even my eyes once more on you. But you
observed that it was a judgment for the may not tarry. The rogues may renew
profane name that had been given her, their attack at any moment."
against which she had herself uniformly  She had thought of herself as insistprotested.                           ing on standing beside him and sharing
"My husband is come," said Eustacie, his peril. Had he been himself she must
looking round with shining eyes. "Let have done so, but this was a stranger,
us be brave wives, and not let our men  whose claiming her made her shrink
famish."                              apart till she could feel the identity which,
She lifted up a loaf and a pitcher of though she believed, she could not realize.
broth, and with the latter poised on her Her hand lay cold and tremulous within
erect and graceful head, and elastic his warm pressure, but she was too much
though steady step, she led the way; wrought up and full of joy and haste to
the others following her with a sort of be sensible of anything but of the brave
awe, as of one they fancied in a super- affection that had dared all to come to
human state. In fact, there was no great him; and he was perfectly happy, even
danger in traversing the bridge with its as a trumpet-call among the foe warned
lofty parapet on either side; and her him to press her fingers to his lips and
mind was too much exalted and moved to say, as his bright blue eye kindled: " God
be sensible of any thing but a certain ex- grant that we may meet and thank Him
ulting awe of the battle-sounds. There to-night!, Farewell, my lost and found!
was, however, a kind of lull in the assault I fight as one who has something to fight
which had raged so fiercely ever since for."
the fall of the officer, and the arrival of  He might not leave his post, but he




THE SILVER BULLET.                          307
watched her with eyes that could not the whole garrison, perhaps even to the
be satiated, as she recrossed the bridge; enemy's camp, what was still too new a
and, verily, his superabundant ecstacy, joy not to be a secret treasure of delight.
and the energy that was born of it, were So he only wrung the old Captain's hand,
all needed to sustain the spirits of his and strode away as soon as he was regarrison through that terrible afternoon. leased.
The enemy seemed to be determined to   It was nearly dark, in spite of a rising
carry the place before it could be relieved, moon, but beneath the cloister arch was
and renewed the storm again and again torch-light, glancing on a steel headwith increasing violence, while the de- piece, and on a white cap, both bending
fenders, disheartened by their perti- down over a prostrate figure; and he
nacity, dismayed at the effects of the heard the voice he loved so well say, "It
heavy artillery now brought to bear on is over! I can do no more. It were
the tower, and direfully afraid of having best to dig his grave at once here in
the bridge destroyed, would have aban- silence-it will discourage the people
doned their barbican and  shut them- less.-Renaud and Armand, here! "
selves up within the body of the place  He paused for a few minutes unseen in
had not Berenger been here, there, and the shadow while she closed the eyes and
everywhere, directing, commanding, ex- composed the limbs of the dead soldier;
horting, cheering, encouraging, exciting then, kneeling, said the Lord's Prayer
enthusiasm by word and example, win- in French over him. Was this the being
ning proud admiration by feats of valor he had left as the petted plaything of the
and dexterity sprung of the ecstatic in- palace? When she rose, she came to
spiration of new-found bliss, and watch- the arch and gazed wistfully across the
ing, as the conscious defender of his moonlit quadrangle, beyond the dark
own most beloved, without a moment's shade cast by the buildings, saying to
respite, till twilight stillness sank on the the soldier, " You are sure he was
enemy, and old Falconnet came to relieve safe? "
him, thanking him for his gallant defence,  "My Eustacie," said Berenger, coming
and auguring that by noonday to-morrow  forward, " we meet in grave times! "
at latest, MI. le Duc would succor them,  The relief of knowing him safe after
unless he were hampered by any folly of the sickening yearnings and suspense of
this young Navarre.                  the day, and, moreover, the old ring of
Too blissful for the sense of fatigue, tenderness in his tone made her spring
Berenger began to impart to the Corn- to him with real warmth of gladness,
mandant his delight, but the only answer and cry, " It is you! All is well."
he got was "Hope, yes, every hope;"      "Blessedly well, ma mnie, my sweetand he again recognised what he had heart," he said, throwing his arm round
already perceived, that the indistinctness her, and she rested against him murmurof his utterance made him entirely un- ing. "Now I feelit! Thou art thyself! "
intelligible to the deaf Commandant, They were in the dark cloister passage,
and that shouting did but proclaim to and when he would have moved for



308                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
ward she clung closer to him, and mur- prayer for a blessing on their reunion,
mured, "O wait, wait, yet an instant-  and the babe so wonderfully preserved
Thus I can feel that I have thee-the to them.
same-my own! "                         Not till then did he carry her into
"My poor darling," said Berenger, the lamplight by Philip's bed, and scan
after a second, "you must learn to bear therein every feature, to satisfy his eyes
with both my looks and speech, though  with the fulfilled hope that had borne
I be but a sorry shattered fellow for him through those darkest days, when,
you."                                 despairing of the mother, the thought
" No, no," she cried, hanging on him  of the child had still sustained him to
with double fervor. "No, I am loving throw his will into the balance of the scale
you the more already,-doubly-trebly   between life and death. Little Beran-a thousand times.   Only those mo- gere gazed up into his face silently, with
ments were so precious, they made all wondering, grave, and somewhat sleepy
these long years as nothing. But come eyes, and then he saw them fix themto the little one, and to your brother."  selves on his powder-grimed and bloody
The little one had already heard them, hands. "Ah! little heart," he said, "I
and was starting forward to meet them, am truly in no state to handl, so pure a
though daunted for a moment by the piece of sugar as thou; I should have
sight of the strange father; she stood on rid myself of the battle-stains ere touchthe pavement, in the full flood of the ing thee, but how recollect anything at
moonlight from the east window, which  such a moment? "
whitened her fair face, flaxen hair, and  Eustacie was glad he had broken the
grey dress, so that she did truly look like spell of silence; for having recovered
some spirit woven of the moonbeams. her husband, her first instinct was to
Eustacie gave a cry of satisfaction. "Ah! wait upon him.  She took the child
good, good, it was by moonlight that I from him, explaining that she was going
saw her first!"                      to put her to bed in her own rooms up
Berenger took her in his arms, and the stone stair, which for the present
held her to his breast with a sense of were filled with the fugitive women
insatiable love, while Philip exclaimed, and children who had come in from the
"Aye, well may you make much of her, country, so that the chancel must conbrother. Well might you seek them far tinue the lodging of Berenger and his
and wide. Such treasures are not to be brother; and for the time of her abfound in the wide world."            sence she brought him water to wash
Berenger, without answering, carried  away the stains, and set before him
the little one to the step of the ruined  the soup she had kept warm over her
high altar, and there knelt, holding  little charcoal brazier.  It was only
Eustacie by the hand, the child in one when thus left that he could own, in
arm, and, with the moon glancing on his answer to Philip's inquiries, that he
high white brow and earnest face, he could feel either hunger or weariness;
spoke a few words of solemn thanks and nay, he would only acknowledge enough




THE SILVER BULLET                          309
of the latter to give a perfect charm to heart? They have been my chaplet all
rest under such auspices. Eustacie had this time."
despatched her motherly cares promptly  "Ah!" cried Eustacie, "poor, good
enough to be with him again just as in Mademoiselle No6mi! she threaded them
taking off his corslet he had found that for my child, when she was very little.
it had been pierced by a bullet, and pur- Ah! could she have given them to.you
suing the trace, through his doublet, he -could it then not have been true-that
found it lodged in that purse which he horror? "
had so long worn next his heart, where  " Alas! it was too true. I found these
it had spent its force against the single shells in the empty cradle, in the burnt
pearl of Ribaumont. And holding it up house, and deemed them all I should ever
to the light, he saw that it was of silver. have of my babe."
Then there returned on him and Philip   "Poor Noemi! poor No6mi! She althe words they had heard two days be- ways longed to be a martyr; but we fled
fore, of silver bullets forged for the de- from her, and the fate we had brought
struction of the white moonlight fairy, on her. That was the thought that
and he further remembered the moment's preyed on my dear father. He grieved
shock and blow that in the midst of his so to have left his sheep-and it was only
wild amaze on the river's bank had made for my sake. Ah! I have brought evil
him gather his breath and strength to on all who have been good to me, bebound desperately upward, lest the next ginning with you. You had better cast
moment he should find himself wounded me off, or I shall bring yet worse! "
and powerless.                          " Let it be so, if we are only together."
For the innocent, then, had the shot  He drew her to him and she laid her
been intended; and she running into head on his shoulder, murmuring, "'Ah!
danger out of her sweet, tender instincts father, father, were you but here to see
of helpfulness, had been barely saved at it. So desolate yesterday, so ineffably
the extreme peril of her unconscious fa- blest to-day. Oh! I cannot even grieve
ther's life. Philip, whose vehement af- for him now, save that he could not just
fection for the little one had been grow- have seen us; yet I think he knew it
ing all day, was in the act of telling would be so."
Berenger to string the bullet in the    "Nay, it may be that he does see
place of the injured pearl, as the most us," said Berenger. " Would that I had
precious heirloom of Ribaumont bravery, known who it was whom you were laywhen Eustacie returned, and learning all, ing down' en paix et sezrte bonne.' As
grew pale and shuddered as danger had it was, the psalm  brought precious
never made her do before: but this thoughts of Chateau Leurre, and the little
strange day had almost made a coward wife who was wont to sing it with me."
of her.                                 "Ah! " said Eustacie, "it was when
"And this it has spared," said Ber- he sang those words as he was about to
enger, taking out the string of little sleep in the ruin of the Temple that first
yellow shells. " Dost know them, sweet I-cowering there in terror-knew him




310                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
for no Templar's ghost, but for a friend. some terror of the ghosts of the murdered
That story ended my worst desolation. monks, had entreated for a pastor to
That night he became my father; the protect them; and Madame la Duchesse
next my child came to me! "          thought that in this capacity Isaac Gar"My precious treasure! Ah! what don, known by one of the many aliases
you nust have undergone, and I all un- to which the Calvinist ministers conknowing, capable of nothing wiser than  stantly resorted, might avoid suspicion
going out of my senses, and raging in a for the present. She took the persecuted
fever because I could convince no one fugitives for some stages in an opposite
that those were all lies about your being  direction, in her own coach, then reaught but my true and loving wife. But turned to face and baffle the Chevalier,
tell me, what brought thee hither to be while her trusty steward, by a long dethe tutelary patron, where, but for the tour, conducted them to Pont de Dronne,
siege, I had overpassed thee on the way  which they reached the very night after
to Quinet? "                          the Chevalier had returned through it to
Then Eustacie told him how the Ital- Nid-de-Merle.
ian pedlar had stolen her letters, and at-  The pastor and his daughter were
tempted to poison her child-the pedlar placed under the special protection of
whom he soon identified with that wiz- Captain Falconnet, and the steward had
ard who had talked to him of "Esp6- taken care that they should be well
rance," until the cue had evidently been  lodged, in three rooms that had once
given by the Chevalier. Soon after the been the abbot's apartments. Their stay
Duke had despatched a messenger to say had been at first intended to be short,
that the Chevalier de Ribaumount was on but the long journey had been so full of
the way to demand his niece; and as it suffering to Isaac, and left such serious
was a period of peace, and the law was effects, that Eustacie could not bear to
decidedly on his side, Madame de Quinet undertake it again, and Madame de Quiwould be unable to offer any resistance. net soon perceived that she was safer
She therefore had resolved to send Eu- there than at the chateau, since strangers
stacie away-not to any of the seaports were seldom  admitted to the fortress,
whither the uncle would be likely to  and her presence there attracted no attrace her, but absolutely to a place which  tention. But for Isaac Gardon's declinhe would have passed through upon his ing health, Eustacie would have been
journey into Guyenne. The monastery  much happier here than at the chateau;
of Notre-Dame de l'Esperance at Pont de the homely housewifery life, where all
Dronne had been cruelly devastated by  depended on her, suited her; and, using
the Huguenots in order to form a fortress her lessons in domestic arts of nursing
to command the passage of the river, and  and medicine for the benefit of her father's
a garrison had been placed there, as well flock, she had found, to her dismay, that
as a colony of silk-spinners, attracted by the simple people, in their veneration,
the mulberry-trees of the old abbey gar- had made her into a sort of successor to.
den. These, however, having conceived the patroness of the convent. Isaac had




THE SILVER BULLET.                           311
revived enough for a time to be able to been great for the blessing that his almost
conduct the worship in the church, and heaven-sent daughter had been to him in
to instruct some of his flock; but the his loneliness, bereavement, and decay.
teaching of the young had been more Much as he loved her, he did not show
and more transferred to her, and, as she himself grieved or distressed on her acingenuously said, had taught her more count; but, as he told her, he took the
than she ever knew before. He gradually summons to leave her as a sign that his
became weaker and more suffering, and task was done, and the term of her trials
was absolutely incapable of removal, ended. "I trust as fully," he said, "that
when an attack by the Guisards was thou wilt soon bein safe and loving hands,
threatened. Eustacie might have been   as though I could commit thee to them,"
sent back to Quinet; but she would not   And so he died in her arms, leaving
hear of leaving him; and this first had her a far fuller measure of blessing and
been a mere slight attack, as if a mere  of love than ever she had derived from
experiment on the strength of the place. her own father; and as the enemy's
She had, however, then had to take the trumpets were already sounding on the
lead in controlling the women, and teach- hills, she had feared insult to his remains,
ing them to act as nurses, and to carry  and had procured his almost immediate
out provisions; and she must then have  burial in the cloister, bidding the assistbeen seen by some one, who reported    ants sing, as his farewell, that evening
her presence there to Narcisse-perhaps psalm which had first brought soothing
by the Italian pedlar. Indeed Humfrey, to her hunted spirit.
who came in for a moment to receive his   There, while unable, after hours of
master's orders, report his watch, and weeping, to tear herself from the grave
greet his lady, narrated, on the authority  of her father and protector, had she in
of the lately enlisted man-at-arms, that her utter desolation been startled by the
M. de Nid-de-Merle had promised twenty  summons, not only to attend to the
crowns to any one who might shoot down  wounded stranger, but to lodge him in
the heretics' little white diablesse.  the chancel.  " Only this was wanting,"
About six weeks had elapsed since the was the first thought in her desolation,
first attack on Pont de Dronne, and in for this had been her own most cherished
that time Gardon had sunk rapidly. IIe resort.  Either the bise, or fear of a
died as he lived, a gentle, patient man, haunted spot, or both, had led to the
not a characteristic Calvinist, though his nailing up of boards over the dividing
lot had been thrown with that party in  screen, so that the chancel was entirely
his perplexed life of truth-seeking and  concealed from the church; and no one
disappointment in the aspirations and  ever thought of setting foot there till
hopes of early youth. He had been, how- Eustacie, whose Catholic reverence was
ever, full of peace and trust that he should indestructible, even when she was only
open his eyes where the light was clear, half sure that it was not worse than a
and no cloud on either side would mar his foible, had stolen down thither, grieved
perception; and his thankfulness had I at its utter desolation, and with fond and




312                     THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
careful hands had cleansed it, and amend- and lighted up the brown face and
ed the ruin so far as she might. She earnest eyes of the little dark figure,
had no other place where she was sure who, with   hands clasped round her
of being uninterrupted; and here had  knees, sat gazing as if she could never
been her oratory, where she daily prayed, gaze her fill upon the sleeping warrior
and often came to hide her tears and beside whom she sat, his clear straight
rally her spirits through that long attend- profile like a cameo, both in chiselling
ance on her fatherly friend. It had been  and in color, as it lay upon the brown
a stolen pleasure. Her reverent work  cloak where he slept the profound sleep
there, if once observed, would have been  of content and of fatigue.
treated as rank idolatry; and it was with  Neither she nor Philip would have
consternation as well as grief that she spoken or stirred to break that wellfound, by the Captain's command, that earned rest; but sounds from without
this her sanctuary and refuge was to be were not long in opening his eyes, and
invaded by strange soldiers! Little did  as they met her intent gaze, he smiled
she think-!                         and said, "Good morrow, sweetheart!
And thus they sat telling each other What, learning how  ugly a fellow is
all, on the step of the ruined chancel, come back to thee? "
among the lights and shadows of the'No, indeed! I was trying to trace
broken windows of the apse.     How    thine old likeness, and then wondering
unlike the stately Louvre's halls of stat- how I ever liked thy boyish face better
uary and cabinets of porcelain, or the than the noble look thou bearest now! "
Arcadian groves of Montpipeau! and        "Ah! when I set out to come to
yet how little they reeked that they  thee, I was a walking rainbow; yet I
were in a beleaguered fortress, in the was coxcomb enough to think thou
midst of ruins, wounded sufferers all wouldst overlook it."
around, themselves in hourly jeopardy!    "Show me those cruel strokes," she
It was enough that they had one an- said; "I     see one "-and her finger
other. They were so supremely happy   traced the seam as poor King Charles
that their minds unconsciously gathered  had done-" but where is the one my
up those pale lights and dark fantastic wicked cousin called by that frightful
shades as adjuncts of their bliss.    name? "
" Nay, verily, that sweet name spared
my life! A   little less spite at my
CHAPTER XLIII.               peach cheek, and I had been sped, and
had not lisped and stammered all my
LE BAISER D EUSTACIE.
days in honor of le baiser d'Eustacie;"
"No pitying voice, no eye, affords
One tear to grace his obsequies."  and as he pushed aside his long golden
One tear to grace his obsequies."                             Zn
GRAY.   silk moustache to show the ineffaceable
GOLDEN sunshine made rubies and sap- red and purple scar, he added, smiling,
phires of the fragments of glass in the  " It has  waited  long  for its right
windows of Notre-Dame de l'Esp6rance, remedy."




LE BAISER D'EUSTACIE.                       313
At that moment the door in the rood- before, looked about for some interpreter
screen opened. Captain Falconnet's one whose voice might be more effectual,
eye stared in amazement, and from be- but found himself being conducted to the
neath his gray moustache thundered   spiral stair of the church-steeple; and
forth the word " Comment!" in accents suddenly gathering that some new feafit to wake the dead.                ture in the case had arisen, followed the
Was this Esperance, the most irre- old man eagerly up the winding steps to
proachable of pastors' daughters and the little square of leaden roof where the
widows? "What, Madame, so soon as Quinet banner was planted.      It comyour good father is under ground? At manded a wide and splendid view, to the
least I thought one woman could be Bay of Biscay on the one hand, and the
trusted; but it seems we must see to inland mountains on the other; but the
the wounded ourselves."              warder who already stood there pointed
She blushed, but stood her ground; silently to the north, where, on the road
and Berenger shouted, "She is my wife, by which Berenger had come, was to be
sir!-my wife whom I have sought so seen a cloud of dust, gilded by the rays
long! "                              of the rising sun.
"That must be as Madame la Duch-     Who raised it was a matter of no
esse chooses," said the Captain. " She doubt; and Berenger's morning orisons
is under her charge, and must be sent to  were paid with folded hands, in silent
her so soon as this canaille is cleared thanksgiving, as he watched the sparkoff.-To your rooms, madame! "        ling of pikes and gleaming of helmets"I am her husband! " again cried and the white flag of Bourbon at length
Berenger.': We have been married six- became visible.
teen years."                            Already the enemy below were send"You need not talk to me of dowry; ing out scouts-they rode to the top of
Madame la Duchesse will settle that, if the hill-then a messenger swam  his
you are fool enough to mean anything horse across the river.  In the camp
by it. No, no, mademoiselle, I've no before the bridge-tower men buzzed out
time for folly.-Come with me, sir, and of their tents, like ants whose hill is
see if that be true which they say of the disturbed; horses were fastened to the
rogues outside."                     cannon, tents were struck, and it was
And putting his arm intoBerenger's, plain that the siege was to be raised.
he fairly carried him off, discoursing by  Captain Falconnet did his ally the
the way on feu M. l'Amiral's saying, honor to consult him  on the expedithat " over-strictness in camp was peril- ence of molesting the Guisards by a
ous, since a young saint, an old devil," sally, and trying to take some of their
but warning him that this was prohibit- guns; but Berenger merely bowed to
ed gear, as he was responsible for the whatever he said, while he debated
young woman to Madame la Duchesse. aloud the pros and cons, and at last
Berenger, who had never made the Cap- decided that the garrison had been too
tain hear anything that he did not know  much reduced for this, and that M. le




314                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Due would prefer finding them drawn to the Duke and the Captain.    Then
up in good order to receive him, to their they saw Falconnet presenting the tall
going chasing and plundering disrepu- auxiliary who had been so valuable to
tably among the enemy - the Duke him, the joyous greeting of an old friend
being here evidently a much greater per- bestowed on him, his gesture as he
sonage than the King of Navarre, he- pointed up to the window, and the
reditary Governor of Guyenne though  King's upward look, as he doffed his
he were. Indeed, nothing was wanting  hat and bowed low, while Eustacie reto the confusion of Berenger's late as- sponded  with the most graceful of
sailants. In the camp on the north side reverences, such as reminded Philip that
of the river things were done with some his little sister-in-law and tender nurse
order, but that on the other side was was in truth a great court lady.
absolutely abandoned, and crowds were   Presently Berenger came up-stairs,
making in disorder for the ford, leaving  bringing with him  his faithful fostereverything behind them, that they might brother Osbert, who had entirely renot have their retreat cut off. Would  covered, and had accompanied the army
there be a battle? Falconnet, taking in in hopes of finding his master.  The
with his eye the numbers of the sue- good fellow was full of delight at the
coring party, thought the Duke would  welcome of his lady, and atl once beallow the besiegers to depart unmolest- stirred himself in assisting her in rectifyed, but remembered with a sigh that a ing the confusion in which her guests had
young king had come to meddle in their left her apartment.
affairs!                               Matters had not long been set straight
However, it was needful to go down  when steps were heard on the stone
and marshal the men for the reception  stair, and, the door opening wide, Capof the new-comers, or to join in the tain Falconnet's gruff voice was heard,
fight, as the case might be.          "This way, Monseigneur; this way,
And it was a peaceful entrance that Sire."
took place some hours later, and was    This was Madame la Baronne de
watched from the windows of the prior's Ribaumont's first reception.  She was
rooms by Eustacie, her child, and Philip, standing at the dark walnut table, fresh
whom she had been able to install in her starching and crimping Berenger's soliown apartments, which had been vacated  tary ruff, while under her merry superby the refugee women in haste to return intendence those constant playfellows
home, and where he now sat in Maitre Philip and Rayonette were washing, or
Gardon's great straw chair, wrapped in pretending to wash, radishes in a wooden
his loose gown, and looking out at the bowl, and Berenger was endeavoring
northern gates, thrown open to receive to write his letter of good tidings to be
the King and Duke, old Falconnet pre- sent by special messenger to his grandsenting the keys to the Duke, the Duke father.  Philip was in something very
bowing low as he offered them to the like a Geneva gown; Eustacie wore her
King, and the King waving them back prim   white cap and frill, and coarse




LE BAISER D'EUSTACIE.                        315
black serge kirtle; and there was but Madame; and therewith they took leave
one chair besides that which Philip was with some good-humored mirth as to
desired to retain, only two three-legged whether M. de Ribaumont would join
stools and a bench.                  them at supper, or remain in the bosom
Nevertheless, Madame de Ribaumont of his family, and whether he were to be
was equal to the occasion; nothing    regarded as a gay bridegroom or a huscould have been more courtly, graceful, band of sixteen years' standing.
or unembarrassed than her manner of      "Nay," said the King, "did his good
receiving the King's gallant compli- Orpheus know how nearly his Eurydice
ments, and of performing all the courte- had slipped through his fingers again?
sies suited to the hostess and queen of the how  M. de Quinet had caught the
place: it was the air that would have be- respectable Pluto yonder in the grey
fitted the stateliest castle-hall, yet that moustache actually arranging an escort
in its simplicity and brightness still more to send the lady safe back to Quinet
embellished the old ruinous convent-cell. bon gre mnalgre-and truly a deaf Pluto
The King was delighted; he sat down   was worse than even Orpheus had enupon one of the three-legged stools, took  countered! "
Rayonette upon his knee, undertook to    So laughing, he bowed again his comfinish washing the radishes, but ate nearly pliments, but Eustacie demanded so soon
all he washed, declaring that they put as he was gone, what he meant by calling
him in mind of his old hardy days on her by such names. If he thought it was
the mountains of Bearn. He insisted on her Christian name, it was over-familiar
hearing all Rayonette's adventure in -if not, she liked it less.
detail; and on seeing the pearls and the  "It is only that he last saw you in the
silver bullet, "You could scarcely have Infernal Regions, na mie," said Berenger;
needed the token, sir," said he with a "and I have sought you ever since, as
smile to Berenger; "Mademoiselle had Orpheus sought Eurydice."
already shown herself of the true blood  But her learning did not extend so
of the bravest of knights."          far; and when the explanation was made,
The tidings of the attack on Pont de she pouted, and owned that she could
Dronne had caused the Duke to make a not bear to be reminded of the most
forced march to its relief, in which the foolish and uncomfortable scene in her
King had- insisted on joining him; and life-the cause of all her troubles; and
they now intended to wait at Pont do as Berenger was telling her of Diane's
Dronne till the rest of the troops came confession that her being involved in the
up, and to continue their march through  pageant was part of the plot for their
Guyenne to Nerac, the capital of Henry's detention at Paris, Osbert knocked at the
county of Foix.  The Duke suggested   door, and entered with a bundle in his
that if Philip were well enough to move arms, and the air of having done the right
when the army proceeded, the family thing.
might then take him to Quinet, where     "There, sir," he said with proud satisthe Duchess would be very desirous to see faction, "I have been to the camp across




316                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
the river.  I heard there were good asked what he thought now of clapping
stuffs to be had there for nothing, and guiltless folk into dungeons, and shooting
thought I would see if I could find a coat innocent children like sparrows; but he
for Monsieur Philippe, for his own is a grinned and cursed like a demon, and I
mere ruin."                          left him."
This was true, for Eustacie had been  " In  any  one's charge?"  asked
deciding that between blood and rents it Berenger.
had become a hopeless case for renova-  "In the fiend's, who is coming for
tion; and Osbert joyously displayed a him," said the descendant of the Norsebeautifully-embroidered coat of soft leath- man. "I only told Humfrey that if he
er, which he had purchased for a very saw any one likely to meddle he should
small sum of a plunderer who had been tell them he was reserved for you. Eh!
there before him.  The camp had been M. le Baron is not going now. Supper
so hastily abandoned that all the luggage is about to be served, and if M. le
had been left, and, like a true valet, Os- Baron would let me array him with this
bert had not neglected the opportunity ruff of Spanish point, and wax the ends
of replenishing his master's wardrobe. of his belle moustache  "
"And," said he, "I saw there one whom   "It is late," added Eustacie, laying
M. le Baron knows, -M. de Nid-de- her hand on his arm; "there may be
Merle."     -                        wild men about-he may be desperate!
"Here! " cried Eustacie, startled for 0 take care! "
a moment, but her eyes resting reassured  " la mnie, do you not think me
on her husband.                      capable of guarding myself from a wild
"Madame need not be alarmed," said cat-leap of a dying man? He must not
Osbert; "M. le Baron has well repaid be left thus. Remember he is a Ribauhim. Ah! ah! there he lies, a spectacle mont."
for all good Christians to delight in."  Vindictiveness and revenge had their
"It was then he, le scelerat?  ex- part in the fire of Eustacie's nature.
claimed Berenger; "I had already thought Many a time had she longed to strangle
it possible."                        Narcisse; and she was on the point of
"And he fell by your hands!" cried saying, "Think of his attempts on that
Eustacie. "That is as it should be."  little one's life-think of your wounds
"Yes, Madame," said Osbert; "it did and captivity;" but she had not spent
my very heart good to see him writhing three years with Isaac Garden without
there like a crushed viper. M. le Baron's learning that there was sin in giving
bullet was mortal, and his own people way to her keen hatred; and she forced
thought him not worth the moving, so herself to silence, while Berenger said,
there he lies on the ground howling and reading her face, "Keep it back, sweetcursing.  I would have given him the heart! BMake it not harder for me. I
coup de grdce myself, but that I thought would as soon go near a dying serpent,
M. le Baron might have some family but it were barbarity to leave him as
matters to settle with him; so I only Osbert describes."




LE BAISER D'EUSTACIE.                       317
Berenger was too supremely and tri- de Selinville is as spotless a matron as
umphantly happy not to be full of mercy; when she perilled herself to save my life.
and as Osbert guided him to the hut I never even knew her sex till I had
where the miserable man lay, he felt little drawn her half drowned from the sea,
but compassion. The scene was worse and after that I only saw her in the presthan he had expected; for not only had ence of Dom Colombeau of Kissard, in
the attendants fled, but plunderers had whose care I left her."
come in their room, rent away the cover-  Narcisse's features contorted themings from the bed, and torn the dying man selves into a frightful sneer as he mutfrom it.  Livid, nearly naked, covered tered, "The intolerable fool, and that he
with blood, his fingers hacked, and ears should have got the better of me, that is
torn for the sake of the jewels on them, if it be true-and I believe not a word of
lay the dainty and effeminate tiger-fop of it."
former days, moaning and scarcely sen-    At least," said Berenger, "waste
sible. But when the mattress had been not these last hours on hating and rereplaced, and Berenger had lifted him  viling me, but let this fellow of mine,
back to it, laid a cloak over him, and who is a very fair surgeon, bind your
moistened his lips, he opened his eyes, wound again."
but only to exclaim, "You there! as if I  "Eh! "  said iNarcisse, spitefully,
had not enough to mock me! Away! " turning his head, "your own rogue? Let
and closed them sullenly.            me see what work he made of le baiser
" I would try to relieve you, cousin," d'Eustacie.  Pray, how  does it please
said Berenger. The answer was a savage her? "
malediction on hypocrisy, and the words,  "She thanks Heaven that your chief'' And my sister?"                  care was to spoil my face."
"Your sister is in all honor and     "I hear she is a prime doctress; but
purity at the nunnery of Lugon."     of course you brought her not hither lest
He laughed a horrible, incredulous she should hear how you got out of our
laugh.  " Safely disposed of ere you keeping."
cajoled la petite with the fable of your " She knows it."
faithfulness! Nothing like a Huguenot'Ah! she has been long enough at
for lying to both sides;" and then ensued court to know one must overlook, that
another burst of imprecations on the one's own little matters may be overdelay that had prevented him from seiz- looked."
ing the fugitives-till Berenger felt as if  Berenger burst out at last, "Her I
the breath of hell were upon him, and will not hear blasphemed: the next
could not help vindicating himself, vain word against her I leave you to yourthough he knew it to be: "Narcisse de self."
Ribaumont," he said gravely, " my word  " That is all I want, said Narcisse.
has never been broken, and you know  "These cares of yours are only douceurs
the keeping of it has not been without to your conceited heretical conscience,
cost. On that word believe that Madame and a lengthening out of this miserable




318                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
affair. You would scoff at the only real near those gates. Nid-de-Merle is lying
service you could render me."        at the point of death, calling for a priest."
"And that is —"                      "Ventre Saint- Gris!" exclaimed the
"To fetch a priest. Ha  ha! one of King, "he is the very demon of the piece,
your sort would sooner hang me. You who carved your face, stole your wife,
had rather see me perish body and soul and had nearly shot your daughter."
in this Huguenot doghole! What do you   "The more need of his repentance,
stammer! Bring a psalm-singing heretic Sire, and without a priest he will not
here, and I'll teach him and you what try to repent.  I have promised him
you may call blasphemy."'one."
"A priest you shall have, cousin," said  "A  bold promise!" said Henry.
Berenger gravely; "I will do my utmost " Have you thought how our good friends
to bring you one. Meanwhile, strive to here are likely to admit a priest of Baal
bring yourself into a state in which he into the camp? "
may benefit you."                       " No, Sire, but my best must be done.
Berenger was resolved that the promise I pray you counsel me."
should be kept. He saw that despair was  Henry laughed at the simple confihardening the wretched man's heart, and dence of the request, but replied, "The
that the possibility of fulfilling his readiest way to obtain a priest will be to
Church's rites might lead him to address ride with a flag of truce to the enemy's
himself to repentance; but the difficulties camp-they are at St. Esme,-and say
were great.  Osbert, the only Catholic that M. de Nid-de-Merle is a prisoner and
at hand, was disposed to continue his dying, and that I offer safe-conduct to
vengeance beyond the grave, and only  any priest that will come to him-though
at his master's express command would whether a red-hot Calvinist will respect
even exercise his skill to endeavor to pres- my safe-conduct or your escort is another
erve life till the confessor could be brought. matter."
Ordinary Huguenots would regard the'"At least, Sire, you sanction my makdesire of Narcisse as a wicked supersti- ing this request."
tion, and Berenger could only hurry' Have you men enough to take with
back to consult some of the gentlemen you to guard you from marauders? "
who might be supposed more unpreju-     "I have but two servants, Sire, and
diced.                               I have left them with the wounded
As he was crossing the quadrangle man."
at full speed, he almost ran against the  "Then I will send with you half a
King of Navarre, who was pacing up   dozen Gascons, who have been long
and down reading letters, and who re- enough at Paris with me to have no
plied to his hasty apologies by saying scruples."
he looked as if the fair Eurydice had   By the time Berenger had explained
slipped through his hands again into the matters to his wife and brother, and
Inferno.                             snatched a hasty meal, a party of gay,
"Not so, Sire, but there is one too  soldierly-looking fellows were in the




LE BAISER D'EUSTACIE.                       319
saddle, commanded by a bronzed sergeant frank simplicity of the young cousin,
who was perfectly at home in conducting  while, nevertheless, jealousy and family
messages between contending parties. tactics had led her to aid in his destrucAfter a dark ride of about five miles, the tion, only to learn through her remorse
camp at the village of St. Esm6 was how much she loved him. And when
reached, and this person recommended in his captivity she thought him in her
that he himself should go forward with power, but found him beyond her reach,
a trumpet, since M. de Ribaumont was unhallowed as was her passion, yet still
liable to be claimed as an escaped pris- the contemplation of the virtues of one
oner. There was then a tedious delay, beloved could not fail to raise her standbut at length the soldier returned, and ard. It was for his truth and purity that
another horseman with him. A priest she had loved him, even while striving
who had come to the camp in search of to degrade these qualities; and when he
M. de Nid-de-Merle was willing to trust came forth from her ordeal unscathed,
himself to the King of Navarre's safe- her worship of him might for a time be
conduct.                             more intense, but when the idol was
"Thanks, sir," cried Berenger; "this removed, the excellence she had first
is a work of true charity."          learned to adore in' him might yet lead
"I think I know that voice," said the that adoration up to the source of all
priest.                              excellence. All she sought now was shel" The priest of Nissard!"        ter wherein to weep and cower unseen;
"Even so, sir. I was seeking M. de but the priest believed that her tears
Nid-de-Merle, and had but just learned would soon spring from profound depths
that he had been left behind wounded." of penitence such as often concluded the
" You came to tell him of his sister?" lives of the gay ladies of France. hMere
And as they rode together the priest Monique had received her tenderly, and
related to Berenger that Madame de the good priest had gone from Luqon to
Selinville had remained in the same announce her fate to her aunt and
crushed, humiliated mood, not exactly brother.
penitent, but too much disappointed and  At Bellaise he had found the Abbess
overpowered with shame to heed what much scandalized. She had connived at
became of her, provided she was not her niece's releasing the prisoner, for she
taken back to her brother or her aunt. had acquired too much regard for him
She knew that repentance alone was left to let him perish under Narcisse's hands,
for her, and permitted herself to be taken and she had allowed VYronique to perto LuQon, where Mere Monique was the senate Diane at the funeral mass, and
only person whom she had ever respected. also purposely detained Narcisse to preThere had no doubt been germs of good vent the detection of the escape; but the
within her, but the crime and intrigue of discovery that her niece had accompanied
the syren court of Catherine de Medici his flight had filled her with shame and
had choked them; and the first sense of fury.
better things had been awakened by the  Pursuit had been made toward La




320                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
Rochelle, but when the neighborhood cisse's ghastly face, as though he almost
of the King of Navarre became known, regretted the obligation forced on him,
no doubt was entertained that the fugi- but Berenger saw him no more. It was
tives had joined him, and Narcisse, re- needful for the security of the priest
serving his revenge for the family honor and the tranquillity of the religious rites
till he should encounter Berenger, had that he should keep watch outside, lest
hotly resumed the intention of pouncing  any of the more fanatical of the Hugueon Eustacie at Pont de Dronne, which  nots should deem it their duty to break
had been decided on upon the report of in on what they had worked themselves
the Italian spy, and only deferred by his into believing offensive idolatry.
father's death. This once done, Beren-  His watch did not prove uncalled for.
ger's own supposed infidelity would have At different times he had to plead the
forced him to acquiesce in the annulment King's safe-conduct, his own honor, and
of the original marriage.            even to defend his own Protestantism
It had been a horrible gulf, and Ber- by appealing to his wounds and services.
enger shuddered as one who had barely Hearts were not soft enough then for
struggled to the shore, and found his the cruelty of disturbing a dying man to
dear ones safe, and his enemies shat- be any argument at all in that fierce
tered and helpless on the strand. They  camp; but even there the name of Pere
hurried on so as to be in time. The Colombeau met with respect. The saintpriest, a brave and cautious man, who  ly priest had protected too many enemies
had often before carried the rites of the for any one who had heard of him to
Church to dying men in the midst of the  wish him ill.
enemy, was in a secular dress, and when  Nearly all night was Berenger thus
Berenger had given the password, and forced to remain on guard, that the sole
obtained admittance, they separated, and hope for Narcisse's repentance and salonly met again to cross the bridge. vation might not be swept away by
They found Osbert and Humfrey still violence from without, renewing bitteron guard, saying that the sufferer still ness within. Not till toward morning
lingered, occasionally in a terrible par- was he called back. The hard, lingering
oxysm of bodily anguish, but usually si- death-struggle had spent itself, and slow
lent, except when he upbraided Osbert convulsive gasps showed that life was
with his master's breach of promise or nearly gone; but the satanic sneer had
incapacity to bring a priest through his passed away, and a hand held out, a
Huguenot friends.                    breathing like the word "pardon " seemed
Such a taunt was on his tongue when  to be half uttered, and was answered
Pere Colombeau entered and checked from the bottom of Berenger's kind and
the scoff by saying, "See, my son, you pitying heart. Another quarter of an
have met with more pardon and mercy hour, and Narcisse de Ribaumont Nideven on earth than you had imagined  de-Merle was dead. The priest looked
possible."                           pale, exhausted, shocked, but would reThere was a strange spasm on Nar- veal nothing of the frame of mind he had




THE GALLIMAFR1.                           321
shown, only that if he had been touched including the Ribaumonts, Rayonette beby any saving penitence, it was owing to ing perched by turns in front of her fahis kinsman.                         ther or mother, and the Duke de-Quinet
Berenger wished to send the corpse declaring that he should do his best to
to rest in the family vault at Bellaise, divide the journey into stages not too
where the Chevalier had so lately been long for Philip, since he was anxious to
laid; and the priest undertook to send give his mother plenty of time to make
persons with a flag of truce to provide preparations for her royal guest.
for the transport, as well as to announce  He had, however, little reckoned on
the death to the sister and the aunt. the young King's promptitude. The first
Wearied as he was, he would not accept courier he had despatched was overtaken
Berenger's earnest invitation to come and at a cabaret only five leagues from Pont
take rest and refreshment in the prior's de Dronne, baiting his horse, as he said;
rooms, but took leave of him at the fur- the second was found on the road with a
ther side of the fortress, with almost lame horse; and the halt for the night
reverent blessings, as of one not far from  was made so far on the way that only a
the kingdom of heaven; and Berenger, half-day's journey remained beyond it.
with infinite peacefulness in his heart, The last stage had been ridden, much to,went home in the silence of the Sunday the Duke's discontent, for it brought
morning, and lay sleeping away his long them to a mere village inn, with scarcely
fatigue through the chief part of the day, any accommodation. The only tolerable
while Pastor Merlin was preaching an bed was resigned by the King to the use
eloquent sermon upon his good brother of Philip, whose looks spoke the exhausIsaac Gardon, and Eustacie shed sweet tion of which his tongue scorned to cornfilial tears, more of tenderness than sor- plain. So painful and feverish a night
row.                                 ensued that Eustacie was anxious that he
should not move until the Duke should,
as he promised, send a mule litter back
for him; but this proposal he resented,
CHAPTER XLIV.               and, in the height of his constitutional
obstinacy, appeared booted and spurred
TH E  GALLIMAF RE.
at the first signal to mount.
"Speats and raxes, speats and raxes, speats  Nor could Eustacie, as she soon perand raxes." —lord Somerville's Billet.
ceived, annoy him more than by showNEVER wont to let the grass grow  ing her solicitude for him, or attracting
under his feet, Henry of Navarre was im- to him the notice of the other cavaliers.
patient of awaiting his troops at Pont de As the only lady of the party, she reDronne, and proposed to hasten on to  ceived a great deal of attention, with
Quinet, as a convenient centre for col- some of which she would gladly have
lecting the neighboring gentry for con- dispensed. Whether it were the King's
ference. Thus, early on Monday, a party habit of calling her " la belle Eurydice,"
of about thirty set forth on horseback, or because as she said, he was "si laid "
21




322                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
and reminded her of old unhappy days second, his head bare, his hand on the
of constraint, she did not like him, and royal rein, and signing to his eldest son
had almost displeased her husband and to hold the stirrup; but, before the boy
his brother by saying so. She would had comprehended, Henry had sprung
gladly have avoided the gallantries of down, and was kissing the old lady's
this day's ride by remaining with Philip  hand, saying, "Pardon, Madame, I trust
at the inn; but not only was this impos- to your goodness for excusing this sursible, but the peculiar ill-temper of con- prise from an old friend's son."
cealed suffering made Philip drive her  Neither seeing nor caring for king or
off whenever she approached him with  prince, the stranger gentleman at the
inquiries; so that she was forced to leave same moment pounced upon Eustacie
him to his brother and Osbert, and ride and her little girl, crying aloud in Engforward between the King and Duke, the lish, " Here she is!  My dear, I am
last of whom she really liked.        glad to see you. Give her to me, poor
Welcome was the sight of the grand Berenger's little darling. Ah! she does
old chateau, its mighty wings of chest- not understand. Where's Merrycourt?"
nut forest stretching up the hills on    Just then there was another English
either side, and the stately avenue ex- exclamation, "My father! Father! dear
tending before it; but just then the last father! " and Philip, flinging himself from
courier was discovered, reeling in his the saddle, fell almost prone on that broad
saddle under the effects of repeated breast, sobbing convulsively, while the
toasts in honor of Navarre and Quinet.  eyes that, as he truly boasted, had never
" We are fairly sped," said the Duke wasted a tear on his enemies, were streamto Eustacie, shrugging his shoulders be- ing so fast that his father's welcome
tween amusement and dismay.           savored of reproof: "What's all this?
"Madame la Duchesse is equal to any Before these French too."
gallimafre," said Eustacie, demurely; at  " Take care, father," cried Berenger,
which the Duke laughed heartily, saying, leaping from his horse; " he has an ugly
"It is not for the family credit I fear, wound just where you are holding him."
but for my own! "                        "Wounded! my poor boy.      Look
"Nay, triumph makes everything be up."
forgiven."                               " Where is your room, sir?" said Ber" But not forgotten," laughed the  enger, seeing his hosts entirely occupied
Duke.   " But, allons!  Now for the with the King; and at once lifting the
onset. We are already seen. The forces almost helpless Philip like a little child
muster at the gateway."              in his strong arms, he followed Sir MarBy the time the cavalcade were at the maduke, who, as if walking in his sleep,
great paved archway into the court, the led the way up the great stone staircase
Duchess stood at the great door, a grand- that led outside the house to the upper
son on either side, and a great burly  chambers.
fresh-colored gentleman behind her.      After a short interval, the Duchess, in
M. de Quinet was off his horse in a the plenitude of her glory at entertaining




THE GALLIMAFR1I.                          323
her dear Queen's son, came up en grane Grace will condescend to the Andromeda
tenue, leading the King by the hand, the  Chamber, Madame. He kindly gave up
Duke walking backward in front, and his his bed to our young friend last night,
two sons each holding a big wax candle when there was less choice than you can
on either side.                       give him."
"Here, Sire, is the chamber where    They all moved off again; and, before
the excellent Queen did me the honor Eustacie was ready for the mallows,
to repose herself."                   Madame de Quinet, for whom the very
The Duke swung open the door of name of a wound had an attraction,
the state bedchamber.  There, on the returned with two handmaidens bearing
velvet-hung bed, sat le gros Chevalier bandages and medicaments, having by
anglais, whom she had herself installed this time come to the perception that the
there on Saturday. Both his hands were wounded youth was the son of the great
held fast in those of a youth who lay Englishman who had arrived with young
beside him, deadly pale, and half un- Mericour in search of her little protegee,
dressed, with the little Ribaumont attend- and that the tall man was her husband so
ing to a wound in his side, while her long supposed to be dead. She was curichild was held in the arms of a very  ous to see her pupil's surgery, of which
tall, bald-headed young man, who stood  she highly approved, though she had no
at the foot of the bed. The whole group  words to express her indignation at the
of interlopers looked perfectly glorified  folly of travelling so soon. Indeed, nothwith happiness and delight.  Even the ing but the passiveness of fatigue could
wounded youth, ghastly and suffering as have made her despotism endurable to
he was, lay stroking the big Englishman's Philip; but he cared for nothing so long
hand with a languid, caressing air of as he could see his father's face,. and hear
content, almost like that of a dog who his voice-the full tones that his ear had
has found his master.  None of them   yearned for among the sharp expression
were the least embarrassed: they evident- of the French accent-and Sir Marmaduke
ly thought this a visit of inquiry after the seemed to find the same perfect satisfacpatient; and while the Duchess stood tion; indeed, all were so rejoiced to be
confounded, and the Duke much inclined together, that they scarcely exerted themto laugh, Eustacie turned eagerly, ex- selves to ask questions. When Berenger
claiming, "Ah! Madame, I am glad you would have made some explanation, Sir
are come. May I beg Mademoiselle Per- Marmaduke only said, " Tell me not yet,
rot for some of your cooling mallow- my dear boy. I see it is all right, and my
salve?  Riding has sadly inflamed the head will hold no more yet but that I
wound."                               have you and the lad again! Thank God
"Riding-with such a wound! Are for it! Never mind how."
we all crazed?" said Madame la Duchesse,  When, however, with some difficulty
absolutely bewildered out of her dignified they got him away from Philip's bedside
equanimity; and her son, seeing her for down to supper, the King came and made
once at a loss, came to her rescue. "His him high compliments upon the distin



324                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
guished bravery of his sons, and Mericour instead of you and Berry, that I never
interpreted, till Sir Marmaduke-though  thought to care so little for a child of my
answering that of course the lads must do own."
their duty, and he was only glad to hear  "We drank his health at Nid-de-Merle,
they had done it-became more and more and were not a little comforted that you
radiant and proud, as he began to gather would have him in our place."
what their trials and what their steadfast-  "I'd rather —  Well, it skills not
ness and courage had been. His goodly talking of it, but it just shows the way
face, beaming with honest gladness, was, of women. After all the outcry Dame
as Henry told the Duchess, an absolute Annora had made about her poor son,
ornament to her table.               and no one loving him or heeding his
Unable, however, to converse with interest save herself, no sooner was this
any one but Berenger and MBricour, and little fellow born than she had no thought
pining all the time to get back to his son, for any but he, and would fain have had
the lengthy and ceremonious meal was a her father settle all his lands on him,
weary penance to him; and so soon as protesting that if Berry lived, his French
his release was possible, he made his way lands were enough for him.  Out of
up-stairs again, where he found Philip sight, out of mind, is the way with
much refreshed by a long sleep, and only women."
afraid that he should find the sight of his  Womanhood was always made acfather merely a dream; then, when satis- countable for all Lady Thistlewood's folfied on that head, eager to hear of all at lies, and Philip acquiesced, asking furhome-"The sisters, the dogs, my moth- ther, "Nay, but how came you hither,
er, and my little brother?" as he arranged father? Was it to seek us or Eustacie?"
his inquiry.                             "Both, both, my lad. One morning,
" Ha! you heard of that, did you?"  just after Christmas, I rid over to Combe
"Yes," said Philip, " the villains gave with my dame behind me, and found the
us letters once-only once-and those house in commotion with a letter that
what they thought would sting us most. young Sidney, Berry's friend, had just
O father, how could they think such foul sent down by special messenger. It had
shame of Berry?"                     been writ more than a year, but, bless
"Don't speak of it, Phil; I never did, you, these poor foreigners have such
nor Aunt Cecily, not for a moment; but crooked ears and tongues that they don't
my Lord is not the man he was, and those know what to make of a plain man's
foes of yours must have set abroad vile name, and the only wonder was that it
reports for the very purpose of deceiving ever came at all. It seems the Duke
us. And then this child must needs be here had to get it sent over by some of
born, poor little rogue. I shall be able to the secret agents the French Protestants
take to him now all is right again; but by have in England, and what do they do
St. George, they have tormented me so but send it to one of the Vivians in Cornabout him, and wanted me to take him as wall; and it was handed about among
a providence to join the estates together, them for how long I cannot say, till there




THE GALLIMAFRA.                          325
was a chance of sending it up to my Lord wyn's and Mistress Cecily's breeding;
of Warwick; and he, being able to make and my wife was all for accepting it, havnothing of it, shows it to his nephew, ing by that time given up all hope of
Philip Sidney, who, perceiving at once poor Berry. But I would have no comwhom it concerned, sends it straight to mands laid on my girl, being that I had
my Lord, with a handsome letter hoping pledged my word not to cross her in the
that it brought good tidings. There then matter, and she hung about my neck and
it was, and so we first knew that the prayed me so meekly to leave her unpoor lady had not been lost in the sack wedded, that I must have been made of
of the town, as Master Hobbs told us. stone not to yield to her. So I told Mr.
She told us how this Duchess had taken Horner that his son Jack must wait for
her under her protection, but that her little Nancy if he wanted a daughter of
enemies were seeking her, and had even mine-and the stripling is young enough.
attempted her child's life."        I believe he will. But women's tongues
"The ruffians! even so."         are not easy to stop, and Lucy was worn
"And she said her old pastor was fail- so thin, and had tears in her eyes-that
ing in health, and prayed that some trusty she thought I never marked-whenever
person might be sent to bring home at she was fretted or flouted, and at last I
least the child to safety with her kindred. took her back to stay at Combe for Aunt
There was a letter to the same effect, Cecily to cheer up a bit; and well, well,
praising her highly too, from the Duchess, to get rid of the matter and silence Dame
saying that she would do her best to Nan, I consented to a betrothal between
guard her, but the kinsmen had the law  her and Merrycourt-since she vowed
on their side, and she would be safer in she would rather wait single for him than
England. Well, this was fair good news, wed any one else. He is a good youth,
save that we marvelled the more how you and is working himself to a shadow beand Berry should have missed her; but tween studying and teaching; but as to
the matter now was who was the trusty sending him alone to bring Berry's wife
person, who should go. Claude Merry- back, he was over-young for that. No
court was ready-"                   one could do that fitly save myself, and
" How came he there?" demanded I only wish I had gone three years ago,
Philip. " I thought he had gone, or been to keep you two foolish lads out of harm's
sent off with Lady Burnett's sons."  way. But they set up an unheard-of" Why, so he had; but there's more hubbub, and made sure I should lose myto say on that score. He was so much in self. What are you laughing at, you
favor at Combe, that my Lord would Jacksauce?"
not be denied his spending the holiday  "To think of you starting, father,
times there; and, besides, last summer with not a word of French, and never
we had a mighty coil. The Horners of from home farther than once to London."
Mells made me a rare good offer for Lucy  "Ah! you thought to come the travfor their eldest son, chiefly because they elled gentleman over me, but I've been
wanted a wife for him of my Lady Wal- even with you. I made Dame Nan teach




326                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
me a few words, butI never could re- not be displeased: she always said the
member anything but that'mercy' is girl would grow up no beauty, and'tis'thank ye.' However, Merrycourt of- the way of women to brook none fairer
fered to come with me, and my Lord than themselves! Better so. She is a
wished it. Moreover, I thought he might good Protestant, and has done rarely by
aid in tracing you out. So I saw my you, Phil."
Lord alone, and he passed his word to   "Truly, I might be glad'twas no
me that, come what would, no one should court madam that stood by me when
persuade him to alter his will to do wrong Berry was called back to the fight: and
to Berenger's daughter; and so soon as for the little one,'tis the loveliest and
Master Hobbs could get the Throstle un- bravest little maid I ever saw.  Have
laden, and fitted out again, we sailed for they told you of the marigolds, father?"
Bordeaux, and there he is waiting for us,  "Why, the King told the whole to
while Claude and I bought horses and the Duchess, so Berry said, and then
hired a guide, and made our way here on drank the health of the daughter of the
Saturday, where we were very welcome; bravest of knights; and Berry held her
and the Duchess said she would but wait up in his arms to bow again, and drink
till she could learn there were no bands to them from his glass. Berry looked a
of the enemy at hand, to go down with proud man, I can tell you, and a comely,
me herself to the place where she had spite of his baldness; and'tis worth havsent the lady. A right worthy dame is ing come here to see how much you lads
this same Duchess, and a stately; and are thought of-though to be sure'tis
that young King, as they call him, seems not often the poor creatures here see so
hard to please, for he told Berry that his much of an Englishman as we have made
wife's courtliness and ease in his recep- of Berry."
tion were far above aught that he found  Philip could not but laugh. "'Tis
here. What he means is past a plain scarce for that that they value him, sir."
man, for as to Berry's wife she is handy,  "Say you so?  Nay, methinks his
and notable enough, and'tis well he loves English heart and yours did them good
her so well; but what a little brown  service. Indeed, the King himself told
thing it is, for a man to have gone me as much by the mouth of Merrycourt.
through such risks for.  Nothing to May that youngster's head only not be
look at beside his mother!"          turned! Why, they set him at table
"If you could only see Madame de above Berenger, and above half the
Selinville!" sighed Philip; then "Ah! King's gentlemen. Even the Duchess
sir, you would know the worth of Eu- makes as if he were one of her highest
stacie had you seen her in yonder town." guests-he a poor Oxford scholar, doubt"Very like!" said Sir Marmaduke; ing if he can get his bread by the law,
" but after all our fears at home of a fine and flouted as though he were not good
court madam, it takes one aback to see enough for my daughter.'Tis the world
a little homely brown thing, clad like a topsy-turvy, sure enough!  And that
serving wench.  Well, Dame Nan will this true love that Berenger has run




THE GALLIMAFRI.                           327
through fire and water after, like aknight was restored to her cheek; and though
in a pedlar's ballad, should turn out a neck, brow, and hands were browner
mere little, brown, common- looking  than in the shelter of convent or palace,
woman after all, not one whit equal to she was far more near absolute beauty
Lucy!"                              than in former days, both from counteSir Marmaduke modified his disap- nance and from age. Her little proud
pointment a little that night, when he head was clustered with glossy locks of
had talked Philip into a state of fever- jet, still short, but curling round her
ishness and suffering that became worse brow and neck, whose warm brunette
under Madame de Quinet's reproofs and tints contrasted well with the delicate,
remedies, and only yielded to Eustacie's stiffened cobweb of her exquisite standlong and patient soothing.  He then ing ruff, which was gathered into a
could almost have owned that it was white satin bodice, with a skirt of the
well she was not like his own cherished  same material, over which swept a rich
type of womanhood, and the next day he black brocade train open in front, with
changed his opinion still more, even as an open body and half-sleeves with fallto her appearance.                   ing lace; and the hands, delicate and
There was a great gathering of favor- shapely as ever, if indeed a little tanned,
ers of the Huguenot cause on that day: held fan and handkerchief with as much
gentlemen came from all parts to consult courtly grace as though they had never
with Henry of Navarre, and Madame de stirred broth nor wrung out linen. Sir
Quinet had too much sense of the fitness Marmaduke really feared he had the
of things to allow Madame de Ribau- court madam on his hands after all, but
mont to appear at the ensuing banquet he forgot all about his fears, as she stood
in her shabby, rusty black serge, and laughing and talking, and by her pretty
tight white borderless cap. The whole airs and gestures, smiles and signs, makwardrobe of the poor young Duchesse ing him enter into her mirth with Philip,
de Quinet was placed at her service, and, almost as well as if she had not spoken
though with the thought of her adopted French.
father on her heart, she refused gay    Even Berenger started, when he came
colors, yet when, her toilette complete, up after the council to fetch her to the
she sailed into Philip's room, he almost banqleting-hall. She was more entirely
sprang up in delight, and Sir Marma- the Eustacie of the Louvre than he had
duke rose and ceremoniously bowed as ever realized seeing her, and yet so
to a stranger, and was only undeceived much more; and when the Duchess bewhen little Rayonette ran joyously to  held the sensation she produced among
Philip, asking if Maman was not si belle, the noblesse, it was with self-congratulasi belle.                            tion on having kept her in retirement
The effects of her most unrestful while it was still not known that she
nights had now passed away, and left was not a widow. The King of Navarre
her magnificent eyes in their full bril- had already found her the only lady
liancy and arch fire; the blooming glow  present possessed of the peculiar aroma




328                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
of high breeding which belonged to the which had been defeated by the Chevasociety in which both he and she had lier's own super-subtle machinations.
been most at home, and his attentions   At the conference of gentlemen held
were more than she liked from   one at Quinet, he had been startled by hearwhose epithet of Eurydice she had never ing the name of the Sieur de Bellaise,
quite forgiven; at least, that was the and had identified him with a grave,
only reason she could assign for her dis- thin, noble-looking man, with an air of
taste, but the Duchess understood her high-bred and patient poverty. He was a
better than did Berenger, nay, better Catholic but no Guisard, and supported
than she did herself, and kept her under the middle policy of the Montmorency
the maternal wings of double form and party, so far as he possessed any infiuceremony.                            ence, but his was only the weight of
Berenger, meanwhile, was in great personal character, for he had merely a
favor.  A command had been offered small property that had descended to
him by the King of Navarre, who had him through his grandmother, the wife
promised that if he would cast in his of the unfortunate Bellaise who had
lot with the Huguenots, his claims on pined to death in the dungeon at Loches,
all the lands of Ribaumont should be under Louis XI. Here, then, Berenger
enforced on the King of France when  saw the right means of ridding himself
terms were wrung from him, and Nar- and his family of the burthen that his
cisse's death removed all valid obstacle father had mourned over, and it only reto their recognition; but Berenger felt mained to convince Eustacie. Her first
himself bound by all home duties to feeling when she heard of the King's
return to England, nor had he clear con- offer, was that at last her ardent wish
victions as to the absolute right of the would be gratified: she should see her
war in which he had almost uncon- husband at the head of her vassals, and
sciously drawn his sword. Under the hear the war-cry motto, "A moi RibauTudors the divine right of kings was mont."  Then came the old representastrongly believed in, and it was with tion that the Vendeen peasants were
many genuine misgivings that the cause faithful Catholics who could hardly be
of Protestant revolt was favored by  asked to fight on the Calvinist side.
Elizabeth and her ministers; and Beren- The old spirit rose in a flush, a pout, a
ger, bred up in a strong sense of loyalty, half-uttered query why those creatures
as well as in doctrines that, as he had  should be allowed their opinions. Mareceived them, savored as little of Cal- dame la Baronne was resuming her
vinism as of Romanism, was not ready haughty temperament in the noblesse
to espouse the Huguenot case with all atmosphere; but in the midst came the
his heart; and, as he could by no means remembrance of having made that very
have fought on the side of King Henri speech in her Temple ruin-of the grave
III. or the Guises, felt thankful that the sad look of rebuke and shake of the
knot could be cut by renouncing France head with which the good old minister
altogether, according to the arrangement had received it-and how she had sulked




THE QALLIMAFR1.                           329
at him till forced to throw herself on yielding up her claims on the estate to
him to hinder her separation from her the Sieur de Bellaise. The generosity of
child. She burst into tears, and as Ber- the deed struck her imagination, and if
enger, in some distress, began to assure Berenger would not lead her vassals to
her that he would and could do nothing battle, she did not want them. There
without her consent, she struggled to  was no difficulty with Sir Marmaduke:
recover voice to say, " No! no! I only he only vowed that he liked Berenger's
grieve that I am still as wicked as ever, wife all the better for being free of so
after these three years with that saint, many yards of French dirt tacked to her
my dear father. Do as you will, only petticoat, and Philip hated the remempardon me, the little fierce one!"   brance of those red sugar-loaf pinnacles
And then, when she was made to per- far too much not to wish his brother to
ceive that her husband would have to be rid of them.
fight alone, and could not take her with  M. de Bellaise, when once he underhim to share his triumphs or bind his stood that restitution was intended, aswounds, at least not except by bringing tonished Sir Marmaduke by launching
her in contact with Henri of Navarre himself on Berenger's neck with tears
and that atmosphere of the old court, of joy: and Henri of Navarre, though
she acquiesced the more readily. She sorry to lose such a partisan as the young
was a woman who could feel but not Baron, allowed that the Bellaise claims,
reason; and though she loved Nid-de- being those of a Catholic, might serve to
Merle, and had been proud of it, Ber- keep out some far more dangerous perenger's description of the ill-used Sieur son whom the Court partly might select
de Bellaise had the more effect on her in opposition to an outlaw and a Protesbecause she well remembered the tradi- tant like M. de Ribaumont.
tions whispered among the peasants      "So you leave us," he said in priwith whom   her childhood had been vate toBerenger, to whom he had taken
passed, that the village crones declared great liking. " I cannot blame you for
nothing had gone well with the place not casting your lot into such a witch's
since the Bellaises had been expelled, caldron as this poor country. My friends
with a piteous tale of the broken-hearted think I dallied at court like Rinaldo in
lady, that she had never till now under- Armida's garden. They do not understood.                               stand that when one bears the name of
For the flagrant injustice perpetrated Bourbon one does not willingly make
on her uncle and cousin in the settlement war with the Crown, still less that the
on Berenger and herself she cared little, good Calvin left a doctrine bitter to the
thinking they had pretty well repaid taste, and tough of digestion. May be,
themselves, and not entering into Ber- since I have been forced to add my
enger's deeper view, that this injustice spoon to stir the caldron, it may clear
was the more to be deplored as the occa- itself; if so, you will remember that you
sion of their guilt, but she had no doubt have rights in Normandy and Picardy."
or question as to the grand stroke of   This was the royal farewell. Henry




330                    THE CHAPLET OF PEARLS.
and his suite departed the next morning, with their old friend Berenger, or that
but the Duchess insisted on retaining notable little, lively, housewifely lady
her other guests till Philip's cure should his wife, whose broken English and
be complete. Meantime, Claude de M6- bright simplicity charmed every one.
ricour had written to his brother, and Sorely Philip needed something to do;
arranged a meeting   with  him.  He he might have been a gentleman penwas now no boy who could be coerced, sioner, but he had no notion, he said, of
but a staid, self-reliant, scholarly per- loitering after a lady to boat and hunt,
son, with a sword by his side and an  when such a king as Henry of Navarre
English passport to secure him, and his was in the field; and he agreed with
brother did not regard him as quite the Eustacie in her estimate of the Court,
disgrace to his family he had at first deemed that it was horribly dull, and wanting in
him. He was at least no rebel; and   all the sparkle and brilliancy that even
though the law seemed to French eyes he had perceived at Paris.
infinitely beneath the dignity of a scion  Eustacie gladly retreated to houseof nobility, still it was something not to wifery at Combe Walwyn, but a strenhave him a heretic preacher, and to be uous endeavor on Lady Thistlewood's
able at least to speak of him as betrothed part to marry her step-son to a Dorset
to the sister of the Baron de Ribau- knight's daughter, together with the
mont. Moreover, that Huguenot kins- tidings of the renewed war in France,
man, whose extreme Calvinist opin- spurred Philip into wringing permission
ions had so nearly revolted Mericour, had from his father to join the King of Nadied and left him all his means, as the varre as a volunteer.
only Protestant in the family; and      Years went by, and Philip was only
the amount, when Claude arranged mat- heard of in occasional letters, accomters with his brother, proved to be suffi- panied by presents to his sisters and to
cient to bear him through his expenses little Rayonette, and telling of marches,
handsomely as a student, with the hope exploits, and battles —how he had taken
of marriage so soon as he should have a standard of the Ligue at Coutras, and
kept his terms at the Temple.        how he had led a charge of pikemen at
And thus the good ship Throstle bore Ivry, for which he received the thanks
home the whole happy party to Wey- of Henri IV. But, though so near home,
mouth, and good Sir Marmaduke had he did not set foot on English ground
an unceasing cause for exultation in the till the throne of France was secured to
brilliant success of his mission to France. the hero of Navarre, and he had marched
After all, the first one to visit that into Paris in guise very unlike the mancountry was no other than the once ner he had left it.
homesick Philip. He wearied of inac-    Then home he came, a browned galtion, and thought his county neighbors lant-looking warrior, the pride of the
ineffably dull and lubberly, while they  country, ready for repose and for aid to
blamed him for being a fine Frenchified his father in his hearty old age, and beargentleman, even while finding no fault ing with him a pressing invitation from




THE GALLIMAFR].                           331
the King to Monsieur and Madame de could smile. The place rings with her
Ribaumont to resume their rank at Court. devotion, her charity, her penances, and
Berenger, who had for many years only truly her face is "-he could hardly speak
known himself as Lord Walwyn, shook  -" like that of a saint. She knew me at
his head. "I thank the King," he said, once, asked for you all, and bade me
" but I better am content to breed up my tell you that now she prays for you and
children as wholly English. He bade me yours continually, and blesses you for
to return when he should have stirred having opened to her the way of peace.
the witch's caldron into clearness. Alas! Ah! Berry, I always told you she had
all he has done is to make brilliant col- not her equal."
ors on the vapor thereof.  Nay, Phil;    " Think you so even now?"
I know your ardent love for him, and    "How   should I not, when I have
marvel not at it. Before he joined the seen what repentance has made of her? "
Catholic Church I trusted that he might  "So!" said Berenger, rather sorrowhave given truth to the one party, and fully, "our great Protestant champion
unity to the other; but when the clergy has still left his heart behind him in a
accepted him with all his private vices, French convent."
and he surrendered unconditionally, I   "Stay, Berenger! do you remember
lost hope. I fear there is worse in store. yonder villain conjurer's prediction that
Queen Catherine did her most fatal work  I should wed none but a lady whose cogof evil when she corrupted Henry of nizance was the leopard?"
Navarre."                                " And you seem bent on accomplish" If you say more, Berry, I shall be ing it," said Berenger.
ready to challenge you! " said Philip.   "Nay! but in another manner-that
"When you saw him, you little knew   which you devised on the spur of the
the true king'of souls that he is, his moment. Berenger, I knew the sorcerer
greatness, or his love for his country."  spake sooth when that little moonbeam
"Nay, I believe it; but tell me, child of yours brought me the flowers
Philip, did you not hint that you had  from the rampart. I had speech with
been among former friends-at Luqon, her last night. She has all the fair
you said, I think? "                 loveliness that belongs of right to your
Philip's face changed. " Yes. It was mother's grandchild, but her eye, blue
for that I wished to see you alone. My  as it is, has the Ribaumont spirit; the
troop had to occupy the place. I had to turn of the head and the smile are
visit the convent to arrange for quarter- what I loved long ago in yonder lady,
ing my men so as least to scandalize the  and, above all, she is her own sweet
sisters. The Abbess came to speak to me. self. Berenger, give me your daughter
I knew her only by her eyes! She is B6rangre, and I ask no portion with
changed —aged, wan, thin with their her but the silver bullet.  Keep the
discipline and fasts- but she once or pearls for your son's heirloom; all I want
twice smiled as she alone in old times with Rayonette is the silver bullet."
THE   END.








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2. THIE CLEVER WOMAN OF THE FAMILY. By Miss Yonge, author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," "Heartsease," etc.
3. JOSEPH II. AND HIS COURT. By Louisa Muhlbach.
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6. THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN. By Louisa Muhlbach.
7. FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS FAMILY. By Louisa
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8. HENRY VIII. AND CATHARINE PARR. By Louisa Muhlbach.
9. LOUISA OF PRUSSIA AND HER TIMES. By Louisa Muhlbach.
10. MARIE ANTOINETTE AND HER SON.* By Louisa Muhlbach.
11. THE DAUGHTER OF AN EMPRESS. By Louisa Muhlbach.
12. NAPOLEON AND THE QUEEN OF PRUSSIA. By Louisa Muhlbach.
13. THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. By Louisa Muhlbach.
14. NAPOLEON AND BLUCHER. An Historical Romance. By Louisa
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15. COUNT MIRABEAU. An Historical Novel. By Theodor Mundt.
16. A STORMY LIFE. A Novel. By Lady Georgiana Fullerton, author
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18. ANDREAS HOFER. By Louisa Muhlbach.
19. DORA. By Julia Kavanagh.
20. JOHN MILTON AND HIS TIMES. By Max Ring.
21. BEAUMARCHAIS. An Historical Tale. By A. E. Brachvogel.
22. GOETHE AND SCHILLER. By Louisa Muhlbach.
23. A CHAPLET OF PEARLS. By Miss Yonge.




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D. Appleton     & Company's Publications.                    3
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