A royal robber

Part I. (Vol. i) CHAPTER PAGE

i; Louis XIV and his Court 7 hi. A Day from the Life of a King 20

iv. “Nec Pluribus Imper” . ; 30

v. The Marquise De Montespan Louvois.... 49

vi. An Intrigue 69

vii. The Conjuration 83

viii. The Dream 98

ix. “A noble Friend” 107

x. The Chase and the Deer 119

XI. A DISTINGUISHED RASCAL 135

xii. “The Catastrophe” 148

Part VI

I. The Secret of the Bridge 421

II. The Gardener’s Wife 44g

in. Hannibal Ante Sortas 462

iv. A Sad Day 477

v. The Capitulation 485

vi. Dreams and Illusions 504

vii. A Withered Rose 519

vm. The Rule of Nemesis 529

ix. The Consecration of the Robbery 536

x. Joy and Sorrow 545

Chapter I

The peace of Nymwegen had strengthened anew the power of Louis XIV, King of France. He now stood before the world victorious and more powerful and greater than ever, while on the one hand his century greeted him with acclamations, and on the other curses and imprecations followed him. For more than half a century the predominating influence of this powerful and ambitious king was felt in European affairs. Louis XIV succeeded in crushing the opposition of the nobility, which had been the bane of the whole kingdom; in breaking the power of Parliament, and treading into the dust, with iron heel, every attempt made by the people for freedom. The nation obeyed; Parliament received laws from the monarch who did not hesitate to appear before it in a hunting-jacket, muddy boots, and riding-whip in hand. Even the leaders and heroes of the Fronde sunk to flattering, hypocritical courtiers. Louis had brought his kingdom to submit to the most absolute and unlimited sovereignty, and his bold motto, " L' etat c’est moi" rolled over a world trembling with astonishment and excitement. But above all the king knew, understood and comprehended France and the French. Civil war had nourished and increased the energy of the French people; now the crafty prince used this strength, for his chosen ends. Bold plans wake the ambition of the nation; conquests — just or unjust — strengthened it; heroes like Conde and Turenne excited the volatile and war-loving people to an almost fanatical desire for battle; while the brilliancy and magnificence of the court, the growth of giant buildings, the protection and support of the arts and sciences, filled the French nation with the contagious poetical intoxication of greatness. What was more natural than that the warlike, vain, easily excited French should now rush into the pathway of fame and greatness, which had been opened to them by their beloved monarch

At that time the stars of the first magnitude in France were Mazarin, Colbert, Louvois— Conde, Turenne, Luxemburg, Catinat, Vandome— Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Bayle, La Fontaine, Boileau, Fenelon, Bourdaloue, Bossuet, Saurin, Massilon— Mansard, Claude Lorraine, Poussin, Lebrun and man} 7 others.

Three things worked together to give to France an age of brilliancy such as she has never since seen; and these were: the increasing intellectual activity of the whole people— the rare individuality of the prom-

LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT inent men just mentioned— and the great interest and co-operation of the government. A new era dawned for France, an era which in many respects reminds one of the time of a Pericles, an Augustus, and the Medicis. And this brilliancy was so much the greater because the formerly dreaded rivals of France had fallen into inactivity and weakness.

The sun of Spain had gone down. The strength of Germany had long since faded, and the Emperor Leopold 1, son of the Emperor Ferdinand III and the Spanish Infanta Maria Anna, was not the man to rescue the German Empire from its disunion, lethargy and perversity. Managing the helm of state with a weak hand, he saw the Empire threatened by the Turks, Hungary in rebellion, his capital, Vienna, besieged, France at war, with Germany, and the north of the Empire growing strong as an independent government under Frederic Wilhelm, Elector of Brandenburg. The hopes of the once proud and dictatorial imperial crown now rested in the support of Holland and England. Denmark and Sweden, however, one or the other alternately allied to France or her enemy, annulled their influence, while at that period the voice of Russia was heard but little, and the Sultan was a friend to Louis the Fourteenth.

So, in two great wars against half Europe, Louis gained, through costly conquests, a brilliant, and richly rewarded victory.

Nothing would have been wiser and more natural

IO than for all the allied European powers with the German Emperor at their head to oppose Louis in his plans for conquest, but the Elector Frederic of Brandenburg was almost the only one who recognized the importance of doing so.

He entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with Spain, the Emperor of Germany and Holland against France.

Louis, in consequence of this, was obliged to withdraw a portion of his troops under Turenne from Holland. Although there had been no great battles in the Netherlands, the French army had been very much reduced by skirmishes, sickness, etc.; while an attempt of the new general to invade the interior of Holland on the ice utterly failed.

The French were so luxurious that they would eat nothing but the tongues of cows, and buried the rest of the animal to avoid the stench. As soon as misfortune overtook them their wantoness quickly changed into wild vandalism; they committed so many frightful crimes, plundering, levying, burning, etc., that the worst days of the Thirty Years War seemed to have returned.

The troops of Louis the Fourteenth, were obliged to withdraw, but this retreat was graced by 3,000 wagons laden with plunder and booty.

The king of France had now, as before no further cause to continue the war or commence a new one, east of all with Germany which really wished for

LOUIS XIV AND HIS COURT

II peace. But since Louis XIV was convinced that his seizure of Holland had been a mis-step, his pride and insatiate desire for new conquest sought another means of bringing the conflict he had commenced to a victorious close.

The idea of a universal monarchy, which at a later day, intoxicated and led astray Napoleon I, haunted the mind of Louis. But as he was never accustomed to take justice into consideration with his desires, he now turned against the German Empire.

Under a mere pretext the Rhine-bridge near Strassburg, this pearl in the chain of German cities, was burnt; the other imperial cities in Alsace were captured, soldiers took possession of German provinces, taxes were unjustly levied, and within the boundaries of Germany the French committed many arbitrary acts which even their own rulers— the Emperor and Empire — would not have been justified in doing. But all this, so said Louis XIV, was in no way a violation of peace, but only kindly interference against the dangerous and powerful Emperor, although no one had asked for this assistance. Louis declared that the welfare of the German Empire was very dear to him, and his troops, under Turenne, had only invaded it to keep peace and order. Still he, with his whole army, was ready to withdraw from Germany, if the German Emperor would do the same.

Thus stood political affairs at the time of the beginning of this story. At the same time the brilliancy and magnificence of the court at Versailles and the apparent greatness of Louis XIV dazzled France and the whole world. Louis stood at the height of his power; he was possessed of the best armies, the greatest generals, a fine navy and still retained the affection of his subjects. Throughout France, arts, sciences, and commerce flourished better than ever before — the most brilliant society existed in Paris— nothing could be prouder and more magnificent than the court of Louis XIV. The most beautiful and intellectual women of France surrounded the throne of the king like a magnificent diadem of flowers. But Louis XIV knew how to appreciate this great charm of his court as his motto proves: “A court without women is a year without spring, and a spring without roses,” and verily; . . he plucked enough of these roses to sumptuously adorn his life.

Chapter II. Louis XIV

The scene in the great gallery in the palace of Versailles was a very animated one. Servants in glittering liveries, cavaliers in still more gorgeous court costumes, ladies dressed in satin, silk, or velvet, glistening in the colored rays of costly jewels, but still brighter in their own loveliness, filled the spacious room which Mansard had adorned with a wealth of mirrors, marble and gold bronzes, and Lebrun had decorated with his noble pictures. The palace of Versailles was then considered one of the new wonders of the world; as it will remain for all time one of the most remarkable monuments of the history of Art. At one time only a priory, a farm-house and a wind-mill stood on the eminence which now bears the crown of palaces. In the days of Louis XIII the farm house had disappeared, but the wind-mill still existed and often the sad and thoughtful monarch, returning from the chase, had slept in this miserable hut. He built a pavilion. Three years later the pavilion was converted into a small castle. Louis XIII made this little palace his toy. He passed the winter of 1632, the carnival of 1633 and the whole

T 4

autumn of the same year there. One morning when he was wandering about this residence — the only one which he regarded as his own property — he said in a moment of enthusiasm to the Duke of Grammont : “Marshal! do you remember having seen a wind-mill here?” “Yes, Sire” — answered the marshal — “the mill has disappeared, but the wind is still here."

At last — in the year 1683— Louis XIV determined to make a royal residence of Versailles. Mansard designed the plan, Lebrun sketched it, and now arose the magnificent building, which swallowed no less than one hundred and sixty-five million livres, and which by the unfortunate desire to imitate Louis XIV, for a long time — to the misery of nations and subjects — gave the example and pattern for a multitude of castles to European princes.

The courtiers and dignitaries of the kingdom were gathered together in the great gallery of this castle, to attend His Majesty according to their rank and title at " les grandes ou secondis entries" of the “ Lever " ; for Louis XIV was surrounded by a strict, almost incredible ceremony which reminded one of Eastern potentates. Louis XIV liked it to be so, . . . but Louis XIV was cunning enough to unite therewith diplomatic strategy. For him everything depended upon making an end of* the feudal system in his kingdom, bending the once proud and independent French nobility under the yoke of his scepter, and reducing them to an absolute dependence upon the crown.

LOUIS XIY

Two things materially aided him; the innate French vanity and extravagance, and the ambition of the nobility. Charmed and attracted by the splendor and magnificence of the court, the noblest families rushed into a rivalry in expenditure which only too soon, led them to bankruptcy, and thus to the most entire dependence upon the crown. But the crafty wearer of this crown gave them a good example of pompous show: for example, the value of the crown jewels, which at the death of King Louis XIII, amounted to 700,000 francs, in 1696, under Louis XIV, had increased to iL33°> 000 francs: At the same time, satin, silk, velvet, costly laces, jewels, gold and silver brocades, feathers and trinkets of all kinds decked the ladies and gentlemen of the court to excess; but if this was usually the case, how much more so to day, . . . the day on which the Persian ambassadors had been granted a ceremonious audience — in which they had begged to lay at the feet of the King of France the homage of their ruler. Everything therefore exhibited the greatest magnificence, which reached its summit in the toilettes of the Duchesses de Chatilion, de Rohan, de Montbazon, and de Beaufort, who passed through the gallery with the ladies of honor to the “ entrte du cabinet ”. As the resplendent suns of this court, they were surrounded and followed by other stars; and a long line of ladies and gentlemen of high rank. Merry conversation enlivened all, but the merriest among the crowd of courtiers was the Duc de Saint i6

Aignan, the favorite of the King, who, inexhaustible in spirit and wit, had won an important influence over Louis XIV. This Duc de Saint Aignan was a handsome man, the perfect representative of a true Frenchman, joyous as the day, changeable as quicksilver, slippery as an eel, and yet proud and chivalric in all his ways. His pale, rather thin, face, had fine features, intellect shone from his black eyes; the small delicate moustache, and beard a la Henri IV were finely traced. Boldly arched eyebrows, with the slightly aquiline nose, evinced courage and decision; while his black waving hair and a delicate allongenperuke, such as the King was accustomed to wear, harmonized admirably with the rest of his appearance.

The slight figure was very conspicuous in the dress of dark red velvet, whose texture was almost hidden under its gold embroidery, while the vest of gold brocade covered the body almost to the knees, like a glittering coat of mail. His handsomely formed legs were clothed in white silk stockings, fastened by. ruby clasps to the red velvet small clothes. Buttons and shoe -buckles were set. with the same stones: a large ostrich feather — white as new fallen snow — waved lightly from- the small three-cornered hat, while the sword hung with a defiant air, by the side of the cavalier, and pert and defiant, merry and easy — as was then the custom of Louis XIV’s Court — were the words of the Due. The Due’s frivolity in matters of religion was well known, but as ^the report had been spread among the courtier’s that Saint Aignan had taken off his hat before a crucifix, the Duchesse de Chatillon had just asked him if he had been converted and turned to the Lord.

Saint Aignan smiled and answered: — “We bow to each other, but are not on speaking terms."

“He is a perfect heathen! ” — exclaimed Saint Fargeau — “Do you know, ladies, what a heretical answer the Due lately gave me?”

“No!" exclaimed all.

“What was it Prince?” replied St. Aignan, laughing — “I have forgotten that crime.”

“A few evenings since, as I was rising from the gaming table with the Due, he was polite enough to offer me his equipage.”

“He is always a perfect gentleman,” said the Duchesse de Montbazon.

“As I knew,” continued St. Fargeau — “that his horses had been in use all day, I refused his offer. What do you think he answered?”

“Well!” cried all laughing.

“ Morbleu!" said he — “if God had created my horses to rest, he would have made them chaplains to the sacred chapel.”

General hilarity followed this remark; but the Due received many delicate taps of the fan from the ladies, accompanied by “godless man!”

“I don’t really know whether I am godless,” ex- 2 Robber i8 claimed the Due — "but it was certainly godless that the Prince should have won three thousand pistoles from me on that same evening.”

"Why, what is that?" said the Duc de Hacqueville — "the Duchesse de Bourgoyne lost 12,000 Louis d’or last evening.

"Pah! 12,000 Louis d’or!” exclaimed Monsieur de Brissac scornfully — "a mere bagatelle, the Montespan understands that better. She lost four million livres at Bassette at one sitting, but compelled the bankers to continue playing till she won all back. The gentlemen hoped to compensate themselves another time, but they were bitterly deceived, for the next morning the Montespan wisely forbade the game of Bassette.”

"That she could easily do,” said the Duchesse de Sevigne merrily — "for the jeu d ’ amour still remained."

"And with it the six prizes,” * said Prince Conde laughing.

"And yet she has been supplanted by Madame de Soubise!" exclaimed St. Aignan carelessly.

"And how long will that color hold?” asked the Duc de Caumartin ironically;

"What is that to us,” said St. Aignan — "For my part I agree in this case with Her Majesty the Queen. A short time since, when the report was spread that Madame de Lüdre was the King’s mistress, one of the queen’s ladies had the audacity to inform Her Majesty, and added: ‘Your Majesty must oppose this new

* 1 he $ix children she bore to Louis XIV.

love!’ The Queen said quietly, Tt is nothing to me; that concerns Madame de Montespan.”

At this moment the voice of the first chamberlain called: “ L’entrie du cabinet!"

The faces of the noble company were immediately drawn into the lines demanded by etiquette; the Duchesse, ordered their brocade skirts to be smoothed out by their ladies in waiting; the gentlemen took off their hats, and the whole group entered the royal apartments. Those who remained in the large gallery replaced their hats for their hour.. ..the hour of the great audience, or the passing of His Majesty on the way to mass, had not yet struck.

There were about sixty; gentlemen and ladies, court and state officers, cavaliers, marquises, counts, barons, and officials of all grades. Many of them — who perhaps had not a sou in their pockets — gleamed and sparkled in magnificent costumes, costing more thaii their whole property. One fine looking young man, who stood modestly, almost with an air of embarrassment, fn a window-niche, formed an exception, by his simple dress, which marked him as a country nobleman. But how could the modesty of the youth and his plain costume escape the notice of the cortiers of Louis XIV? They whispered and jested about the youth, and were highly delighted to shorten the ‘ entre temps,' the tedious hour of waiting in the great gallery of Versailles, by witticisms about the new-comer. The young man, however, noticed nothing of this. The splendor and magnificence of the court at which he found himself to-day for the first time — the impression made by the palace and his present surroundings — the crowd of noisy courtiers, who moved about as easily and as much at home as if they were in their own chambers — the ardent glances of the ladies, who notwithstanding his old fashioned, plain dress, looked with pleasure at the handsome young man — the levity of their appearance, which allowed all their charms to be seen, so that there was scarcely anything to conceal .... all this perplexed the youth so much that he was incapable of quiet observation. But there were still more important things which made him thoughtful and depressed in heart and mind. Young Gauthier de Montferrand stood at one of the most important turning points of his life — for it was the intention of his uncle, — the worthy old captain of the royal guard, Monsieur de Torcy — to present his nephew to the King, and introduce him to the celebrated Court of Versailles. This was no trifle to do. Gauthier, who was only twenty-one years old, had lived till now in the most perfect retirement in the country, and had been brought up with the strictest principles.

Conflicting feelings raged in the breast of the youth. Once enrolled in the King’s body-guard, what a brilliant pathway might perhaps be opened to him! Generals and statesmen had gone forth from this body guard, which stood so near the monarch. Gauthier was Frenchman enough to place his aim high — young enough to dream of the easiest fulfillment of the boldest desires.

Gauthier felt that this was for him the birth-day of a new man and a new world. He felt that in this hour, he took the first step out of the boundaries of his childhood; but, he felt, too, that in this same hour the paradise of his childhood closed behind him, and yet the youth understood that he must break through the flowery chains of childhood, if he would be a man and gain a future. And yet in this decisive hour, the thoughts of the young man turned again with pain to the past. Who can bid adieu to an Eden without a last look of love, of sadness, and painful renunciation? And in this Eden still wandered for Gauthier, a lovely angel who had shared with him the plays of his childhood, the simple, but pure and noble joys of his youth. She was indeed a lovely maiden — a distant relation — Marie Angeline Scoraille de Rousille, Mademoiselle de Fontanges;— a vision of beauty, whose auburn hair, mild eyes, and dazzling whiteness of skin, gave an idea of the Madonna.

What joyous, happy hours Gauthier had passed with her where her little ancestral castle stood in charming Limagne, on the banks of the Allier.

The youth was lost in these sweet dreams, forgetful of his surroundings, thinking of this picture of his loved home, of the ancestral castle, of the faithful old mother, who now occupied it alone and of Angelitie, when a well-known voice fell upon his ear. It was that of his uncle, Captain de Torcy, just coming from the royal apartments into the gallery, who now approached his nephew:

“It is even so, Prince,” said de Torcey at this moment — "the Fontanges are connections of ours, but only a single brand of this old family remains. It is a very pretty and charming one, however.”

“And ’that is Mademoiselle Scoraille de Rousille?”

“At your service.”

“But how did you learn that the child is so beautiful, Monsieur de Torcy? You have not left the court these twenty years, and yet you say that Mademoiselle Angeline is only sixteen years old.”

“Where did I learn that?” — answered the captain with a proud, pleased smile — “I know it from yonder young fellow!” and he pointed toward his nephew, who still stood in the window niche, and at the approach of the Prince and his uncle, bowed respectfully, though rather awkwardly.

A scornful expression played round the corners of St. Aignan’s mouth; then he shrugged his shoulders and said: “The heart of a youth is a partial painter in such matters."

“And you, Prince” — interrupted the captain — “are a doubting Thomas. Look here!"

Torcy drew a miniature from his breast-pocket. But the Prince had scarcely cast a glance at the picture, when he exclaimed with astonishment. “That is indeed a charming creature! How did you get such a treasure, old swash-buckler?”

“Gautier brought it to me," - answered de Torcy with ill-concealed vanity, and at the same time introduced his nephew as Angeline’s young friend and playmate.

What thoughts rose in the mind of the Prince at this moment, neither the new-comer nor the old soldier could guess. Only one thing was plain; the Prince suddenly welcomed young Gauthier to the Court of Versailles, with great warmth and kindness. Indeed at parting he even offered his hand to him and said: “We shall be friends!”

But how this scene had suddenly changed the manner of all present towards the young man. The Due de St. Aignon, though a much younger man than the king, was one of his favorites. In a moment all jests, witticisms, and bon mots upon the new-comer ceased, and the scornful manner of the courtiers instantly became respectful now that the Prince, a favorite of the king, had honored him with so friendly a reception.

“You are a lucky fellow,” cried the Captain, as the Prince withdrew. “If he speaks a good word for you, you are secure. He is, to be sure, one of the wildest and most extravagant men at court, but certainly one of the most influential!”

“One of the wildest and most extravagant?” repeated Gauthier with astonishment — “and I must depend upon him?"

Monsieur de Torcy would have answered, but at that moment came the announcement that the great audience of ceremony was about to begin. The whole gallery was in motion, as if by magic, and all streamed toward the Audience Hall. Torcy and his nephew followed. Gautier’s heart beat audibly; now for the first time he was to see Louis XIV, surnamed “the great.” Grand and imposing was the Hall of Audience, upon which Mansard and Lebrun had lavished all the resources of art. Grand and imposing was the company collected here, for it comprised the high birth, intellect, and beauty of France. But what was all this in comparison to the moment in which the doors flew open and the grand-master of ceremonies appeared among them with the announcement — “the King" — all heads were uncovered, and the Sun of France, Louis XIV, followed by the Queen, the royal Prince, the Marquise de Montespan, Madame de Soubise, Madame de Lüdre, the whole Court and the ministers and officers, entered amid a flourish of trumpets. Every one bowed to the dust and a death-like silence followed the sound of the music. The king alone was covered. Slowly, proudly, and gravely he inclined his head and the bended backs dared to straighten themselves.

Louis XIV wore a dress ornamented with gold and precious stones worth twelve and a half million francs; his tall, noble, and powerful figure could scarcely stand upright beneath its weight.

And yet Gauthier did not see this dress, but only the king, only Louis XIV, whom the world called the Great and who indeed stood before him like a demi-god among men. Louis XIV throughout his long reign, knew how to represent in a masterly manner, the king. With him, everything, down to the slightest movement, the slightest word, was measured, majestic, grand, and yet unstudied and natural.

No man ever accomplished so much, or produced so profound an impression by such means. A glance from his eye, a gesture of his hand was sought and noticed, caused happiness or misery. And was he not at the same time one of the handsomest men in France? Though not tall, he was of good height, and knew how to place himself on a par with the tallest by his perfect bearing, as well as his high heels. His mouth was beautiful, his aquiline nose indicated firmness, there was an imperious expression in the glance of his blue eyes, while his slow, sharply accented manner of speech, lent a commanding earnestness to his words. In his whole bearing appeared the Spanish gravity, an inheritance from his mother, a gravity, however, most agreeably tempered by French grace. Gauthier was overpowered and enchanted, as every Frenchman must have been by such a king; but the formality almost depressed him, so that he breathed more freely and easily when the sovereign, and, following him, the Persian ambassadors, had retired. For him, there yet remained the most importt ant moment, that of his own presentation. But the hour had not yet struck; for at the Court of Louis XIV, everything moved according to the laws of an immutable, all-controlling etiquette. Gauthier’s presentation could only take place in the great gallery at the king’s progress to holy mass.

Chapter III. A Day From The Life Of A King

When Gauthier had returned to the gallery with his uncle — the whole court, with the exception of the princes and princesses of royal blood, did the same — Captain de Torcy asked his nephew what impression he had received. The youth, full of enthusiasm, disclosed his whole heart. He was, as is the custom of youth — fire and flame. Only this tedious ceremony; the fetters of etiquette were disagreeable to one who was accustomed to a free, happy life in the midst of nature. Torcy listened to him with smiles; but when Gauthier had finished, exclaimed: “O, ho, my young man! I see you think it is the same here as in Limagne! You cannot forget the beautiful mountains of Puy de Dome and Mount d’or; but Paris and Versailles, St. Germain and Marly are not on the charming banks of the Allier, and at the court of a great king things are different from the life in your ancestral castle. But that you may understand the manners of our court, I will describe a day from the life of the king, and thereby pass away the tedious hour of waiting.”

“How will that help me, uncle!” said Gauthier, 27

“surely each day brings its own affairs, its own changes!”

“Scarcely, my young friend!” answered the uncle; “one passes like another, at least so far as etiquette is concerned; and to this His Majesty clings, as to a sacred thing. So listen and impress what I say upon your mind, for any mis-step upon this smooth floor may deprive you of position and future prosperity. ”

The young man had not expected such constraint at the court of so powerful a king. His joyousness, youthful courage, and ideas of freedom, rose strongly against the yoke which was about to be laid upon him; but he could not turn back. He therefore yielded quietly, and —suppressing a deep sigh — lent an ear to his uncle, who stepping with his nephew into the window, continued: “At eight o’clock in the morning, if the king still sleeps the 'garcons de chambre ’ enter, if it is cold, make a fire, or if warm gently open the windows. Then they take the Ven-cas ,’ ‘the 4 mortier ’, and l lit de vielle ’ away."

Ven-cas , mortier , lit de vielle ?" repeated Gauthier, “what are they?”