“Impossible,” I said firmly. “Quite impossible, M. le Marquis.”
M. de Saintonge looked at me, frowning. “How?” he said arrogantly. “Have my services earned no better answer than that?”
“You forget,” I replied. “Let me remind you that less than a month ago you asked me not to interfere with St. Mesmin; and at your instance I refused to accede to M. de Clan’s request that I would confine him. You were then all for non-interference, M. de Saintonge, and I cannot blow hot and cold. Besides, to be plain with you,” I continued, “even if that were not the case, this young fellow is in a manner under my protection; which renders it impossible for me to move against him. If you like, however, I will speak to him.”
“Speak to him!” M. de Saintonge cried. He was breathless with rage. He could say no more. It may be imagined how unpalatable my answer was to him.
But I was not disposed to endure his presumption and ill-temper beyond a certain point; and feeling no sympathy with him in a difficulty which he had brought upon himself by his spitefulness, I answered him roundly. “Yes,” I said, “I will speak to him, if you please. But not otherwise. I can assure you, I should not do it for everyone.”
But M. de Saintonge’s chagrin and rage at finding himself thus rebuffed, in a quarter where his haughty temper had led him to expect an easy compliance, would not allow him to stoop to my offer. He flung away with expressions of the utmost resentment, and even in the hearing of my servants uttered so many foolish and violent things against me, that had my discretion been no greater than his I must have taken notice of them. As, however, I had other and more important affairs upon my hands, and it has never been my practice to humour such hot-heads by placing myself on a level with them, I was content to leave his punishment to St. Mesmin; assured that in him M. Saintonge would find an opponent more courageous and not less stubborn than himself.
The event bore me out, for within a week M. de St. Mesmin’s pretensions to the hand of Mademoiselle de Saintonge shared with the Biron affair the attention of all Paris. The young lady, whose reputation and the care which had been spent on her breeding, no less than her gifts of person and character, deserved a better fate, attained in a moment a notoriety far from enviable; rumour’s hundred tongues alleging, and probably with truth — for what father can vie with a gallant in a maiden’s eyes? — that her inclinations were all on the side of the pretender. At any rate, St. Mesmin had credit for them; there was talk of stolen meetings and a bribed waiting-woman; and though such tales were probably as false as those who gave them currency were fair, they obtained credence with the thoughtless, and being repeated from one to another, in time reached her father’s ears, and contributed with St. Mesmin’s persecution to render him almost beside himself.
Doubtless with a man of less dogged character, or one more amenable to reason, the Marquis would have known how to deal; but the success which had hitherto rewarded St. Mesmin’s course of action had confirmed the young man in his belief that everything was to be won by courage; so that the more the Marquis blustered and threatened the more persistent the suitor showed himself. Wherever Mademoiselle’s presence was to be expected, St. Mesmin appeared, dressed in the extreme of the fashion and wearing either a favour made of her colours or a glove which he asserted that she had given him. Throwing himself in her road on every occasion, he expressed his passion by the most extravagant looks and gestures; and protected from the shafts of ridicule alike by his self-esteem and his prowess, did a hundred things that rendered her conspicuous and must have covered another than himself with inextinguishable laughter.
In these circumstances M. de Saintonge began to find that the darts which glanced off his opponent’s armour were making him their butt; and that he, who had valued himself all his life on a stately dignity and a pride: almost Spanish, was rapidly becoming the laughing-stock of the Court. His rage may be better imagined than described, and doubtless his daughter did not go unscathed. But the ordinary contemptuous refusal which would have sent another suitor about his business was of no avail here; he had no son, while St. Mesmin’s recklessness rendered the boldest unwilling to engage him. Saintonge found himself therefore at his wits’ end, and in this emergency bethought him again of a LETTRE DE CACHET. But the King proved as obdurate as his minister; partly in accordance with a promise he had made me about a year before that he would not commonly grant what I had denied, and partly because Biron’s affair had now reached a stage in which Saintonge’s aid was no longer of importance.
Thus repulsed, the Marquis made up his mind to carry his daughter into the country; but St. Mesmin meeting this with the confident assertion that he would abduct her within a week, wherever she was confined, Saintonge, desperate as a baited bull, and trembling with rage — for the threat was uttered at Zamet’s and was repeated everywhere — avowed equally publicly that since the King would give him no satisfaction he would take the law into his own hands, and serve this impudent braggart as Guise served St. Megrin. As M. le Marquis maintained a considerable household, including some who would not stick at a trifle, it was thought likely enough that he would carry out his threat; especially as the provocation seemed to many to justify it. St. Mesmin was warned, therefore; but his reckless character was so well known that odds were freely given that he would be caught tripping some night — and for the last time.
At this juncture, however, an unexpected ally, and one whose appearance increased Saintonge’s rage to an intolerable extent, took up St. Mesmin’s quarrel. This was young St. Germain, who, quitting his chamber, was to be seen everywhere on his antagonist’s arm. The old feud between the Saint Germains and Saintonges aggravated the new; and more than one brawl took place in the streets between the two parties. St. Germain never moved without four armed servants; he placed others at his friend’s disposal; and wherever he went he loudly proclaimed what he would do if a hair of St. Mesmin’s head were injured.
This seemed to place an effectual check on M. de Saintonge’s purpose; and my surprise was great when, about a week later, the younger St. Germain burst in upon me one morning, with his face inflamed with anger and his dress in disorder; and proclaimed, before I could rise or speak, that St. Mesmin had been murdered.
“How?” I said, somewhat startled. “And when?”
“By M. de Saintonge! Last night!” he answered furiously. “But I will have justice; I will have justice, M. de Rosny, or the King—”
I checked him as sternly as my surprise would let me; and when I had a little abashed him — which was not easy, for his temper vied in stubbornness with St. Mesmin’s — I learned the particulars. About ten o’clock on the previous night St. Mesmin had received a note, and, in spite of the remonstrances of his servants, had gone out alone. He had not returned nor been seen since, and his friends feared the worst.
“But on what grounds?” I said, astonished to find that that was all.
“What!” St. Germain cried, flaring up again. “Do you ask on what grounds? When M. de Saintonge has told a hundred what he would do to him! What he would do — do, I say? What he has done!”
“Pooh!” I said. “It is some assignation, and the rogue is late in returning.”
“An assignation, yes,” St. Germain retorted; “but one from which he will not return.”
“Well, if he does not, go to the Chevalier du Guet,” I answered, waving him off. “Go! do you hear? I am busy,” I continued. “Do you think that I am keeper of all the young sparks that bay the moon under the citizens’ windows? Be off, sir!”
He went reluctantly, muttering vengeance; and I, after rating Maignan soundly for admitting him, returned to my work, supposing that before night I should hear of St. Mesmin’s safety. But the matter took another turn, for while I was at dinner the Captain of the Watch came to speak to me. St. Mesmin’s cap had been found in a bye-street near the river, in a place where there were marks of a struggle; and his friends were furious. High words had already passed between the two factions, St. Germain
openly accusing Saintonge of the murder; plainly, unless something were done at once, a bloody fray was imminent.
“What do you think yourself, M. le Marchand?” I said, when I had heard him out.
He shrugged his shoulders. “What can I think, your Excellency?” he said. “What else was to be expected?”
“You take it for granted that M. de Saintonge is guilty?”
“The young man is gone,” he answered pithily.
In spite of this, I thought the conclusion hasty, and contented myself with bidding him see St. Germain and charge him to be quiet; promising that, if necessary, the matter should be investigated and justice done. I still had good hopes that St. Mesmin’s return would clear up the affair, and the whole turn out to be a freak on his part; but within a few hours tidings that Saintonge had taken steps to strengthen his house and was lying at home, refusing to show himself, placed a different and more serious aspect on the mystery. Before noon next day M. de Clan, whose interference surprised me not a little, was with me to support his son’s petition; and at the King’s LEVEE next day St. Germain accused his enemy to the King’s face, and caused an angry and indecent scene in the chamber.
When a man is in trouble foes spring up, as the moisture rises through the stones before a thaw. I doubt if M. de Saintonge was not more completely surprised than any by the stir which ensued, and which was not confined to the St. Germains’ friends, though they headed the accusers. All whom he had ever offended, and all who had ever offended him, clamoured for justice; while St. Mesmin’s faults being forgotten and only his merits remembered, there were few who did not bow to the general indignation, which the young and gallant, who saw that at any moment his fate might be theirs, did all in their power to foment. Finally, the arrival of St. Mesmin the father, who came up almost broken-hearted, and would have flung himself at the King’s feet on the first opportunity, roused the storm to the wildest pitch; so that, in the fear lest M. de Biron’s friends should attempt something under cover of it, I saw the King and gave him my advice. This was to summon Saintonge, the St. Germains, and old St. Mesmin to his presence and effect a reconciliation; or, failing that, to refer the matter to the Parliament.
He agreed with me and chose to receive them next day at the Arsenal. I communicated his commands, and at the hour named we met, the King attended by Roquelaure and myself. But if I had flattered myself that the King’s presence would secure a degree of moderation and reasonableness I was soon undeceived; for though M. de St. Mesmin had only his trembling head and his tears to urge, Clan and his son fell upon Saintonge with so much violence — to which he responded by a fierce and resentful sullenness equally dangerous — that I feared that blows would be struck even before the King’s face. Lest this should happen and the worst traditions of old days of disorder be renewed, I interposed and managed at length to procure silence.
“For shame, gentlemen, for shame!” the King said, gnawing his moustachios after a fashion he had when in doubt. “I take Heaven to witness that I cannot say who is right! But this brawling does no good. The one fact we have is that St. Mesmin has disappeared.”
“Yes, sire; and that M. de Saintonge predicted his disappearance,” St. Germain cried, impulsively. “To the day and almost to the hour.”
“I gather, de Saintonge,” the King said, turning to him, mildly, “that you did use some expressions of that kind.”
“Yes, sire, and did nothing upon them,” he answered resentfully. But he trembled as he spoke. He was an older man than his antagonist, and the latter’s violence shook him.
“But does M. de Saintonge deny,” St. Germain broke out afresh before the King could speak, “that my friend had made him a proposal for his daughter? and that he rejected it?”
“I deny nothing!” Saintonge cried, fierce and trembling as a baited animal. “For that matter, I would to Heaven he had had her!” he continued bitterly.
“Ay, so you say now,” the irrepressible St. Germain retorted, “when you know that he is dead!”
“I do not know that he is dead,” Saintonge answered. “And, for that matter, if he were alive and here now he should have her. I am tired; I have suffered enough.”
“What! Do you tell the King,” the young fellow replied incredulously, “that if St. Mesmin were here you would give him your daughter?”
“I do — I do!” the other exclaimed passionately. “To be rid of him, and you, and all your crew!”
“Tut, tut!” the King said. “Whatever betides, I will answer for it, you shall have protection and justice, M. de Saintonge. And do you, young sir, be silent. Be silent, do you hear! We have had too much noise introduced into this already.”
He proceeded then to ask certain details, and particularly the hour at which St. Mesmin had been last seen. Notwithstanding that these facts were in the main matters of common agreement, some wrangling took place over them; which was only brought to an end at last in a manner sufficiently startling. The King with his usual thoughtfulness had bidden St. Mesmin be seated. On a sudden the old man rose; I heard him utter a cry of amazement, and following the direction of his eyes I looked towards the door. There stood his son!
At an appearance so unexpected a dozen exclamations filled the air; but to describe the scene which ensued or the various emotions that were evinced by this or that person, as surprise or interest or affection moved them, were a task on which I am not inclined to enter. Suffice it that the foremost and the loudest in these expressions of admiration was young St. Germain; and that the King, after glancing from face to face in puzzled perplexity, began to make a shrewd guess at the truth.
“This is a very timely return, M. de St. Mesmin,” he said drily.
“Yes, sire,” the young impertinent answered, not a whit abashed.
“Very timely, indeed.”
“Yes, sire. And the more as St. Germain tells me that M. de Saintonge in his clemency has reconsidered my claims; and has undertaken to use that influence with Mademoiselle which—”
But on that word M. de Saintonge, comprehending the RUSE by which he had been overcome, cut him short; crying out in a rage that he would see him in perdition first. However, we all immediately took the Marquis in hand, and made it our business to reconcile him to the notion; the King even making a special appeal to him, and promising that St. Mesmin should never want his good offices. Under this pressure, and confronted by his solemn undertaking, Saintonge at last and with reluctance gave way. At the King’s instance, he formally gave his consent to a match which effectually secured St. Mesmin’s fortunes, and was as much above anything the young fellow could reasonably expect as his audacity and coolness exceeded the common conceit of courtiers.
Many must still remember St. Mesmin; though an attack of the small-pox, which disfigured him beyond the ordinary, led him to leave Paris soon after his marriage. He was concerned, I believe, in the late ill-advised rising in the Vivarais; and at that time his wife still lived. But for some years past I have not heard his name, and only now recall it as that of one whose adventures, thrust on my attention, formed an amusing interlude in the more serious cares which now demand our notice.
V.
THE LOST CIPHER.
I might spend many hours in describing the impression which this great Sovereign made upon my mind; but if the part which she took in the conversation I have detailed does not sufficiently exhibit those qualities of will and intellect which made her the worthy compeer of the King my master, I should labour in vain. Moreover, my stay in her neighbourhood, though Raleigh and Griffin showed me every civility, was short. An hour after taking leave of her, on the 15th of August, 1601, I sailed from Dover, and crossing to Calais without mishap anticipated with pleasure the King’s satisfaction when he should hear the result of my mission, and learn from my mouth the just and friendly sentiments which Queen Elizabeth entertained towards him.
Unfortunately I was not able to impart these on the instant. During my absence a trifling matter had carried the King to
Dieppe, whence his anxiety on the queen’s account, who was shortly to be brought to bed, led him to take the road to Paris. He sent word to me to follow him, but necessarily some days elapsed before we met; an opportunity of which his enemies and mine were quick to take advantage, and that so insidiously and with so much success as to imperil not my reputation only but his happiness.
The time at their disposal was increased by the fact; that when I reached the Arsenal I found the Louvre vacant, the queen, who lay at Fontainebleau, having summoned the King thither. Ferret, his secretary, however, awaited me with a letter, in which Henry, after expressing his desire to see we, bade me nevertheless stay in Paris a day to transact some business. “Then,” he continued, “come to me, my friend, and we will discuss the matter of which you know. In the meantime send me your papers by Ferret, who will give you a receipt for them.”
Suspecting no danger in a course which was usual enough, I hastened to comply. Summoning Maignan, who, whenever I travelled, carried my portfolio, I unlocked it, and emptying the papers in a mass on the table, handed them in detail to Ferret. Presently, to my astonishment, I found that one, and this the most important, was missing. I went over the papers again, and again, and yet again. Still it was not to be found.
It will be remembered that whenever I travelled on a mission of importance I wrote my despatches in one of three modes, according as they were of little, great, or the first importance; in ordinary characters that is, in a cipher to which the council possessed the key, or in a cipher to which only the King and I held keys. This last, as it was seldom used, was rarely changed; but it was my duty, on my return from each mission, immediately to remit my key to the King, who deposited it in a safe place until another occasion for its use arose.
Complete Works of Stanley J Weyman Page 190