The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south. These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat. The floor was cumbered by but little furniture. A narrow table stood near the farther end with a few carved chairs surrounding it; a sacred picture or two, with a crucifix between, broke the dull flat of the walls; beyond these there was nothing of ornament3. A prosperous merchant in any of the larger cities would be better housed than was Louis of France in his private cabinet.
Beyond the table the eastern end of the room terminated in an apse partly cut off by curtains, a kind of oratory4 dimly visible by the aid of a single hanging lamp. Facing the table and with his back to the oratory sat the King, a litter of papers spread out before him. He was again dressed in scarlet5 satin heavily fringed with fur, and there was such a tinge6 of colour on his hollow cheeks that at first I thought he was in better health than at the time of his seizure7. But presently it was clear that this wholesomeness8 came not from within but from without, and was nothing more than the reflection of his clothing. It was a trivial thing, and yet its very triviality was significant of the King's thoroughness. Louis was as careful of his complexion9 as any faded coquette, but the deception10 was one of policy, not vanity. It was not well for France that men should know how ill was the King of France.
At his elbow stood Rochfort the Chancellor11, nor, though there was a swift upward glance of the King's eyes, did our entrance turn aside the flow of words.
"I repeat," he was saying, rustling12 his hand among the papers, "Spain will not trouble us. Her toy, the Kingdom of Naples, fills her mind for the present. What says the Scripture13?"—and he crossed himself, bowing with a duck of the head towards the table, and patting at a venture one of the leaden images hung about his person. In his opinion all the saints were on his side, and it did not matter very much which he invoked—"a fool's eyes are on the ends of the earth! Let Spain divide herself in Italy; Rome may be trusted to see she does not grow too strong; there are such things as Estates of the Church! Eh, Rochfort, eh? Well, what next?" again he glanced at us, still standing14 where we had entered. "England? I think not, I think not. Now that Edward has eaten himself to death—dear Edward—there is no need even to fling a sop15 to England. Peace in the south, peace in the north, there remains16 then our beloved—son! Our beloved fool!" he snarled17 suddenly, both his hands shivering amongst the papers like a wind in dry leaves, while he rocked to and fro on his seat, his head sunk between his shoulders like some painted image of malevolent18 death. "Oh that such a father should have such a son! Rochfort! It makes me—it makes me—well, well, well, even he has his uses; he reminds me of Flanders. Flanders!" he was gnawing19 his finger-tips now, his glaring eyes fixed20 on us, but vacantly, as though he saw us not.
Monsieur de Commines touched my elbow.
"There is a stroke coming, be on your guard," he said, without seeming to speak, "I know the symptoms!"
"Flanders!" went on the curiously21 roughened shrill22 voice that vibrated through me like the jarring of a tense chord, "there lies our business to-day. Let Spain grow weak in Italy, let England prey23 upon herself till only the picked bones are left, the policy of France is to widen her borders near home. Rochfort, we must have Flanders. The Dauphin, our beloved—fool! is contracted to that milk-mouthed Flemish princess of three and a half. That marriage will never come to pass, and we must make good our claim now."
As in the games with these playing-cards which His Majesty24 had introduced into court use there are certain well-defined rules, so also are there in the greater game of politics. When the King paused, with a challenge in his voice and attitude, Monsieur de Rochfort promptly25 responded to his lead, asking the question he was meant to ask.
"Flanders? Yes, Sire, but how make good our claim now? Nay26, if I might hint a doubt, have we a claim?"
"Yes, yes, yes," answered Louis, his voice rising clear above its common level of sharp huskiness. The Chancellor's astute27 second question went farther than the King had intended, but not too far, for a smile twitched28 his lips. "The claim of every just man to right the wrong, to free the oppressed, and bring intolerable disorder29 to an end. Flanders is in flames and I must quench30 the fire for my dear son's sake. It has been reported to me——"
Again his finger-tips were drawn31 in between the yellow teeth, and again Monseigneur nudged me. "Again I say, be on your guard," he whispered almost soundlessly.
"——reported on high authority that a certain Jan Meert holds the country in terror, burning, ravaging32, murdering, plundering33 where he pleases, and with none to check him. The peasantry he grinds, the lesser34 lords he crushes one by one. The subjects of the princess who is to be my beloved son's dear wife go in fear of their lives because of this Jan Meert, and I have a mind to make a sharp end of Jan Meert. Eh, Chancellor?"
"It would be bare justice, Sire," began Rochfort cautiously. This time the lead was not so clear, and Louis did not easily pardon blunders. "Indeed, a righteous act, but—but—"
"We are in Plessis and Flanders is far off? Splendour of God! Rochfort, are my fingers so weak or my arm so short that for the honour of God and the upholding of the law I cannot reach and crush a miserable35 plundering rogue36? By Saint Claude! I'll do it, I'll do it—if it be worth my while. Eh, Monsieur le Prince, whom have you there with you? Is it some private business? Perhaps some petition to present? Some news to tell? Chancellor, we will excuse you; de Talmont has something to say, and you know I am always greedy of secrets. Kings govern by hiding their knowledge. Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare. And your companion? Ah ha! ah ha! it is—Yes, yes, it is Monsieur Hellewyl. Well, Monsieur, do you still desire to serve France?"
As we moved forward, Rochfort retired37 by a door at the side of the oratory, leaving us alone with the King. But though the question asked was a direct one, I could only answer it by a bow. My mouth had suddenly gone dry, so that I dared not attempt words. But for Monsieur de Commines' hint I might have assumed that our overhearing of the King's reference to Jan Meert was coincidence, but Monseigneur's significance forbade that mistake. Louis was dangling38 his bribe39, but a bribe to what end? It was de Commines who replied for me.
"I can say Yes to that, Sire."
"So, so, but of all men, d'Argenton, you should know we can only employ servants who are faithful."
"I guarantee Monsieur de Helville's fidelity40, Sire."
"You guarantee? you! Of what use is that to me? Am I to hang you if this de Helville of yours breaks faith? And yet it is guarantees I want. Have you a father or a mother, Monsieur?"
"Neither, Sire," I replied, wetting my lips, "both are dead."
"That is unfortunate," he said, the sour sardonic41 smile twitching42 his mouth afresh, "for I have noticed that a man is sometimes faithful when I can hold and crush his mother, as I hold and crush this," and his fingers shut viciously over a sheet of the paper spread in front of him, rasping it into a crumpled43 mass, which he flung briskly aside. "But not all men, no! some are superior to such weakness and they mostly rise high—when they are not hung first! Sisters, then? brothers? None? Well, they would not be sufficient, especially if the brother were an elder one. What then? Solignac is burned, there are no lands to forfeit44; with you it is all to gain and nought45 to lose, and yet the fear of loss is a surer guarantee than the hope of gain. Suggest something, d'Argenton."
"There are other women in the world besides mothers, Sire."
Louis nodded and his cold eyes travelled over me thoughtfully. As once before he had searched my thoughts, he was now appraising46 my person as one would the points of a horse.
"Twenty-five, broad enough, tall enough, comely47 enough, and not altogether a fool. Who is the woman, Monsieur de Helville?"
Had I been more of a courtier I could have lied, warned by the King's cruel cynicism. But at the sudden question the blood rose to my face, and I stammered49:
"There is none, your Majesty, at least there is none worthy——"
"Oh ho! he is modest, this sucking envoy50 of yours, d'Argenton. Well, all the better. Come, Monsieur, her name and degree? The King speaks."
From mockery he passed into incisive51 demand, and though what I had already said was true enough in the sense he meant, I was constrained52 to answer. In five minutes he had dragged from me all there was to know concerning Brigitta and, in his cunning, inferred much more than the truth. With his elbows on the table, and one hand half-covering his mouth, he stared up at me until I ended, the sallow parchment of his face withered53 into wrinkles.
"A peasant! And he would marry her! What do you say to that, d'Argenton?"
"Only that Monsieur de Helville is a man of contradictory54 tastes, Sire; but, for my part, I prefer second thoughts."
"Pish! you talk riddles55, and I do not like what I do not understand," said Louis. Though he spoke56 to Commines, his gaze never left my face, and I was conscious that he played with me as a tolerant cat plays with a mouse. "So you would marry her, though she is only a peasant? Some would say, have you no droits de Seigneur in your parts! and cry Fie! on you for your honesty. But not I. Her limbs may be as white as any satin lady's, her cheeks as pink, her lips as red to kiss, her breath as sweet, and what more can five and twenty ask! eh?"
He paused, as if for an answer, but I, conscious of Monseigneur's veiled reference to Mademoiselle, and that I was practising at least half a lie, could do no more than stammer48 an inane57 something to the effect that he was very good, which was in itself a lie, and at which banality58 the grin broke out afresh.
"For my part," he went on, "I am well enough pleased. After all, you are a gentleman; the breed will be one degree nearer to the sod and all the better for the mixture. It is from the people that salvation59 must come to the nation, not from the nobles. Besides she is a hostage, and being a peasant, will be the easier handled. For her sake, be faithful, Monsieur, or by God!" and leaning aside, he shook his finger backwards60 and forwards at the dim shrine61 behind him, "by God! I say, those white limbs shall suffer, and those red lips scream, nor will all the love in the world keep a curse of Gaspard de Helville off them. The marriage bed with Solignac as your roof-tree, or the naked rack, Monsieur, and at your own choice."
"I have already promised, Sire——"
"No, Monsieur, no," he interrupted, "you have promised nothing. D'Argenton has promised for you, which is quite another thing. Promises? Bah! what are promises? I have known even kings break them! Give me an oath." Fumbling62 at his throat he loosed a collar of reliquaries which hung round his neck and spread it on the table before him with more real reverence63 than I had ever yet seen him display, even when taking the name of Christ in his mouth. "Now, Monsieur, lay your hand there. No, no, down on your knees, on your knees. What! you kneel to me, and yet dare stand upright in the presence of God Almighty64, before Whom you swear? Down on your knees, I say! when you call Christ and His saints to witness. Now, repeat: I Gaspard de Helville, otherwise, Hellewyl, swear by my honour in this life, and by my salvation in that to come, that I shall perform the King's service faithfully to the end, or, failing such performance, will return forthwith to Plessis to confess the failure and its cause, so help me God and His Saints."
Speaking from my knees, and with both hands spread over the little heap of holy things, I repeated the oath clause by clause. As I ended, and while still kneeling, Louis snatched the necklet from under my palms, and touching65 a spring in one of the reliquaries, pressed the little grey morsel66 it contained to my lips.
"Consummatum est!" he cried triumphantly67, "Now indeed we have you, have you body and soul, bound fast for this world and that which is to come. 'Tis the Cross of Saint Lo, Monsieur de Helville, whereon who forswears himself dies within the year and perishes eternally. The guarantees are complete. What a man will not do for a woman's sake he will for his life—if not for his soul. His soul!" he groaned68 complainingly, the unctuousness69 slipping out from his voice as suddenly as it had slipped in. "We spend so much time saving our souls that France suffers. Cannot the Saints save us and have done with it! But there's a thought there; d'Argenton, your arm."
Pushing back his chair, the King rose painfully to his feet, a meagre skeleton of a man, bent70 by more than the weight of years.
"On this occasion when we seek the peace of the world it would be a Christian71 duty to ask the blessing72 of Saint Eutropius."
Leaning on Monseigneur, Louis limped towards the oratory, dragging one foot rasping on the floor as he walked.
"It can do no harm," I heard him mutter. "It is always well to keep heaven on our side, eh, d'Argenton?"
"Yes, Sire, but is it wise that the priest should over-hear——?"
"Tut, tut; he never leaves Plessis. Besides, a priest has a neck between his frock and his shaven crown as well as another man."
"But, Sire, his office?"
Louis paused, looking round, so that I saw the profile of his wrinkled forehead and thin nose white against the gloom of the shrine.
"I am faithful to the Church, d'Argenton, no man more so, but, by God! the Church had better be faithful to me, for there's no benefit of clergy73 to traitors74! We desire your prayers, dear father," he went on loudly, "to the end that an enterprise of peace may have the blessing of Saint Eutropius upon it. Only, no Latin, pray in honest French so that I, as well as the good Saint, may understand what you say." Down on his knees he went by the rail, Monseigneur on a faltstool behind him, while I, apparently75 forgotten, knelt in turn on the bare floor. "To the point, and not too long," said Louis. "Like myself, he is busy in good works, and we must not waste his time."
Out from the deeper shadow at the side of the altar a black-frocked figure stole into view.
"Then you do not desire a special office, Sire?" said a soft voice.
Louis raised his head.
"Anything, man, so that you are quick, and to the point. If I could have spoken for myself, we would have done by this."
There was a brief silence, to allow, no doubt, for a collecting of thoughts. Where a man is accustomed to have prayers put into his mouth it is not always easy to draw them fresh from the heart upon an emergency. But at last the soft voice broke into a murmur76.
"Forasmuch, oh holy Saint Eutropius, as it has pleased thee to put into the heart of thy faithful servant purposes of blessed peace, grant, we humbly77 beseech78 thee, that the consummation he seeks may richly abound79 to—to—"
"The greatness of France," interrupted Louis in a loud voice; "make haste to the end."
"The greatness of France," went on the soft voice submissively, "and the furtherance of the Lord's eternal Kingdom. Grant, also, we pray thee, that upon the King, thy servant, may descend80 with great power refreshment81 and strength to body and soul——"
"There, there," said Louis, rising heavily to his feet, "cut it short at the body and leave the soul for another time. It is not well to importune82 the blessed saint by too many requests at once. The body will do for to-day." And once more taking Monseigneur's arm, he shuffled83 back to his seat.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
vein
|
|
| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ornament
|
|
| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
oratory
|
|
| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
seizure
|
|
| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
wholesomeness
|
|
| 卫生性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
9
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
deception
|
|
| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
chancellor
|
|
| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
rustling
|
|
| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sop
|
|
| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
malevolent
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
astute
|
|
| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
quench
|
|
| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ravaging
|
|
| 毁坏( ravage的现在分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
plundering
|
|
| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
lesser
|
|
| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
rogue
|
|
| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dangling
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
bribe
|
|
| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fidelity
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
sardonic
|
|
| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
crumpled
|
|
| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
forfeit
|
|
| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
nought
|
|
| n.／adj.无，零 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
appraising
|
|
| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
stammer
|
|
| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
envoy
|
|
| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
incisive
|
|
| adj.敏锐的，机敏的，锋利的，切入的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
constrained
|
|
| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
contradictory
|
|
| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
riddles
|
|
| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
inane
|
|
| adj.空虚的，愚蠢的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
banality
|
|
| n.陈腐；平庸；陈词滥调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
shrine
|
|
| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fumbling
|
|
| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
unctuousness
|
|
| 油性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
clergy
|
|
| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
traitors
|
|
| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
abound
|
|
| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
importune
|
|
| v.强求；不断请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |