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you。 Take courage。 She is going now to speak to the king about you。〃
Love had already given strength and wiliness to the countess。 Her
laughter was part of the heroism which women display in the great
crises of life。
In spite of the singular fancy which possessed the author of 〃Quentin
Durward〃 to place the royal castle of Plessis…lez…Tours upon a height；
we must content ourselves by leaving it where it really was； namely on
low land； protected on either side by the Cher and the Loire； also by
the canal Sainte…Anne； so named by Louis XI。 in honor of his beloved
daughter； Madame de Beaujeu。 By uniting the two rivers between the
city of Tours and Plessis this canal not only served as a formidable
protection to the castle； but it offered a most precious road to
commerce。 On the side towards Brehemont； a vast and fertile plain； the
park was defended by a moat； the remains of which still show its
enormous breadth and depth。 At a period when the power of artillery
was still in embryo； the position of Plessis； long since chosen by
Louis XI。 for his favorite retreat； might be considered impregnable。
The castle； built of brick and stone； had nothing remarkable about it；
but it was surrounded by noble trees； and from its windows could be
seen； through vistas cut in the park （plexitium）； the finest points of
view in the world。 No rival mansion rose near this solitary castle；
standing in the very centre of the little plain reserved for the king
and guarded by four streams of water。
If we may believe tradition； Louis XI。 occupied the west wing； and
from his chamber he could see； at a glance the course of the Loire；
the opposite bank of the river； the pretty valley which the Croisille
waters； and part of the slopes of Saint…Cyr。 Also； from the windows
that opened on the courtyard； he saw the entrance to his fortress and
the embankment by which he had connected his favorite residence with
the city of Tours。 If Louis XI。 had bestowed upon the building of his
castle the luxury of architecture which Francois I。 displayed
afterwards at Chambord； the dwelling of the kings of France would ever
have remained in Touraine。 It is enough to see this splendid position
and its magical effects to be convinced of its superiority over the
sites of all other royal residences。
Louis XI。； now in the fifty…seventh year of his age； had scarcely more
than three years longer to live； already he felt the coming on of
death in the attacks of his mortal malady。 Delivered from his enemies；
on the point of increasing the territory of France by the possessions
of the Dukes of Burgundy through the marriage of the Dauphin with
Marguerite； heiress of Burgundy （brought about by means of Desquerdes；
commander of his troops in Flanders）； having established his authority
everywhere； and now meditating ameliorations in his kingdom of all
kinds； he saw time slipping past him rapidly with no further troubles
than those of old age。 Deceived by every one； even by the minions
about him； experience had intensified his natural distrust。 The desire
to live became in him the egotism of a king who has incarnated himself
in his people； he wished to prolong his life in order to carry out his
vast designs。
All that the common…sense of publicists and the genius of revolutions
has since introduced of change in the character of monarchy； Louis XI。
had thought of and devised。 Unity of taxation； equality of subjects
before the law （the prince being then the law） were the objects of his
bold endeavors。 On All…Saints' eve he had gathered together the
learned goldsmiths of his kingdom for the purpose of establishing in
France a unity of weights and measures； as he had already established
the unity of power。 Thus； his vast spirit hovered like an eagle over
his empire； joining in a singular manner the prudence of a king to the
natural idiosyncracies of a man of lofty aims。 At no period in our
history has the great figure of Monarchy been finer or more poetic。
Amazing assemblages of contrasts！ a great power in a feeble body； a
spirit unbelieving as to all things here below； devoutly believing in
the practices of religion； a man struggling with two powers greater
than his ownthe present and the future； the future in which he
feared eternal punishment； a fear which led him to make so many
sacrifices to the Church； the present； namely his life itself； for the
saving of which he blindly obeyed Coyctier。 This king； who crushed
down all about him； was himself crushed down by remorse； and by
disease in the midst of the great poem of defiant monarchy in which
all power was concentrated。 It was once more the gigantic and ever
magnificent combat of Man in the highest manifestation of his forces
tilting against Nature。
While awaiting his dinner； a repast which was taken in those days
between eleven o'clock and mid…day； Louis XI。； returning from a short
promenade； sat down in a huge tapestried chair near the fireplace in
his chamber。 Olivier de Daim； and his doctor； Coyctier； looked at each
other without a word； standing in the recess of a window and watching
their master； who presently seemed asleep。 The only sound that was
heard were the steps of the two chamberlains on service； the Sire de
Montresor； and Jean Dufou； Sire de Montbazon； who were walking up and
down the adjoining hall。 These two Tourainean seigneurs looked at the
captain of the Scottish guard； who was sleeping in his chair；
according to his usual custom。 The king himself appeared to be dozing。
His head had drooped upon his breast； his cap； pulled forward on his
forehead； hid his eyes。 Thus seated in his high chair； surmounted by
the royal crown； he seemed crouched together like a man who had fallen
asleep in the midst of some deep meditation。
At this moment Tristan and his cortege crossed the canal by the bridge
of Sainte…Anne； about two hundred feet from the entrance to Plessis。
〃Who is that？〃 said the king。
The two courtiers questioned each other with a look of surprise。
〃He is dreaming；〃 said Coyctier； in a low voice。
〃Pasques…Dieu！〃 cried Louis XI。； 〃do you think me mad？ People are
crossing the bridge。 It is true I am near the chimney； and I may hear
sounds more easily than you。 That effect of nature might be utilized；〃
he added thoughtfully。
〃What a man！〃 said de Daim。
Louis XI。 rose and went toward one of the windows that looked on the
town。 He saw the grand provost； and exclaimed：
〃Ha； ha！ here's my crony and his thief。 And here comes my little Marie
de Saint…Vallier； I'd forgotten all about it。 Olivier；〃 he said；
addressing the barber； 〃go and tell Monsieur de Montbazon to serve
some good Bourgeuil wine at dinner； and see that the cook doesn't
forget the lampreys； Madame le comtesse likes both those things。 Can I
eat lampreys？〃 he added； after a pause； looking anxiously at Coyctier。
For all answer the physician began to examine his master's face。 The
two men were a picture in themselves。
History and romance…writers have consecrated the brown camlet coat；
and the breeches of the same stuff； worn by Louis XI。 His cap；
decorated with leaden medallions； and his collar of the order of
Saint…Michel； are not less celebrated； but no writer； no painter has
represented the face of that terrible monarch in his last years；a
sickly； hollow； yellow and brown face； all the features of which
expressed a sour craftiness； a cold sarcasm。 In that mask was the
forehead of a great man； a brow furrowed with wrinkles； and weighty
with high thoughts； but in his cheeks and on his lips there was
something indescribably vulgar and common。 Looking at certain details
of that countenance you would have thought him a debauched husbandman；
or a miserly pedler； and yet； above these vague resemblances and the
decrepitude of a dying old man； the king； the man of power； rose
supreme。 His eyes； of a light yellow； seemed at first sight extinct；
but a spark of courage and of anger lurked there； and at the slightest
touch it could burst into flames and cast fire about him。 The doctor
was a stout burgher； with a florid face； dressed in black； peremptory；
greedy of gain； and self…important。 These two personages were framed；
as it were； in that panelled chamber； hung with high…warped tapestries
of Flanders； the ceiling of which； made of carved beams； was blackened
by smoke。 The furniture； the bed； all inlaid with arabesques in
pewter； would seem to…day more precious than they were at that period
when the arts were beginning to produce their choicest masterpieces。
〃Lampreys are not good for you；〃 replied the physician。
That title； recently substituted for the former term of 〃myrrh…
master；〃 is still applied to the faculty in England。 The name was at
this period given to doctors everywhere。
〃Then what may I eat？〃 asked the king； humbly。
〃Salt mackerel。 Otherwise； you have so much bile in motion that you
may die on