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enterprise caused his emotion； victory is often as perilous as battle。
He leaned against the balustrade； quivering with joy and saying to
himself：
〃By which chimney can I get to her？〃
He looked at them all。 With the instinct given by love； he went to all
and felt them to discover in which there had been a fire。 Having made
up his mind on that point； the daring young fellow stuck his dagger
securely in a joint between two stones； fastened a silken ladder to
it； threw the ladder down the chimney and risked himself upon it；
trusting to his good blade； and to the chance of not having mistaken
his mistress's room。 He knew not whether Saint…Vallier was asleep or
awake； but one thing he was resolved upon； he would hold the countess
in his arms if it cost the life of two men。
Presently his feet gently touched the warm embers； he bent more gently
still and saw the countess seated in an armchair； and she saw him。
Pale with joy and palpitating； the timid creature showed him； by the
light of the lamp； Saint…Vallier lying in a bed about ten feet from
her。 We may well believe their burning silent kisses echoed only in
their hearts。
CHAPTER III
THE ROBBERY OF THE JEWELS OF THE DUKE OF BAVARIA
The next day； about nine in the morning； as Louis XI。 was leaving his
chapel after hearing mass； he found Maitre Cornelius on his path。
〃Good luck to you； crony；〃 he said； shoving up his cap in his hasty
way。
〃Sire； I would willingly pay a thousand gold crowns if I could have a
moment's talk with you； I have found the thief who stole the rubies
and all the jewels of the Duke of〃
〃Let us hear about that；〃 said Louis XI。； going out into the courtyard
of Plessis； followed by his silversmith； Coyctier his physician；
Olivier de Daim； and the captain of his Scottish guard。 〃Tell me about
it。 Another man to hang for you！ Hola； Tristan！〃
The grand provost； who was walking up and down the courtyard； came
with slow steps； like a dog who exhibits his fidelity。 The group
paused under a tree。 The king sat down on a bench and the courtiers
made a circle about him。
〃Sire； a man who pretended to be a Fleming has got the better of me〃
began Cornelius。
〃He must be crafty indeed； that fellow！〃 exclaimed Louis； wagging his
head。
〃Oh； yes！〃 replied the silversmith； bitterly。 〃But methinks he'd have
snared you yourself。 How could I distrust a beggar recommended to me
by Oosterlinck； one hundred thousand francs of whose money I hold in
my hands。 I will wager the Jew's letter and seal were forged！ In
short； sire； I found myself this morning robbed of those jewels you
admired so much。 They have been ravished from me； sire！ To steal the
jewels of the Elector of Bavaria！ those scoundrels respect nothing！
they'll steal your kingdom if you don't take care。 As soon as I missed
the jewels I went up to the room of that apprentice； who is；
assuredly； a past…master in thieving。 This time we don't lack proof。
He had forced the lock of his door。 But when he got back to his room；
the moon was down and he couldn't find all the screws。 Happily； I felt
one under my feet when I entered the room。 He was sound asleep； the
beggar； tired out。 Just fancy； gentlemen； he got down into my strong…
room by the chimney。 To…morrow； or to…night； rather； I'll roast him
alive。 He had a silk ladder； and his clothes were covered with marks
of his clambering over the roof and down the chimney。 He meant to stay
with me； and ruin me； night after night； the bold wretch！ But where
are the jewels？ The country…folks coming into town early saw him on
the roof。 He must have had accomplices； who waited for him by that
embankment you have been making。 Ah； sire； you are the accomplice of
fellows who come in boats； crack！ they get off with everything； and
leave no traces！ But we hold this fellow as a key； the bold scoundrel！
ah！ a fine morsel he'll be for the gallows。 With a little bit of
QUESTIONING beforehand； we shall know all。 Why； the glory of your
reign is concerned in it！ there ought not to be robbers in the land
under so great a king。〃
The king was not listening。 He had fallen into one of those gloomy
meditations which became so frequent during the last years of his
life。 A deep silence reigned。
〃This is your business；〃 he said at length to Tristan； 〃take you hold
of it。〃
He rose； walked a few steps away； and the courtiers left him alone。
Presently he saw Cornelius； mounted on his mule； riding away in
company with the grand provost。
〃Where are those thousand gold crowns？〃 he called to him。
〃Ah！ sire； you are too great a king！ there is no sum that can pay for
your justice。〃
Louis XI。 smiled。 The courtiers envied the frank speech and privileges
of the old silversmith； who promptly disappeared down the avenue of
young mulberries which led from Tours to Plessis。
Exhausted with fatigue； the young seigneur had indeed fallen soundly
asleep。 Returning from his gallant adventure； he no longer felt the
same ardor and courage to defend himself against distant or imaginary
dangers with which he had rushed into the perils of the night。 He had
even postponed till the morrow the cleaning of his soiled garments； a
great blunder； in which all else conspired。 It was true that； lacking
the moonlight； he had missed finding all the screws of that cursed
lock； he had no patience to look for them。 With the 〃laisser…aller〃 of
a tired man； he trusted to his luck； which had so far served him well。
He did； however； make a sort of compact with himself to awake at
daybreak； but the events of the day and the agitations of the night
did not allow him to keep faith with himself。 Happiness is forgetful。
Cornelius no longer seemed formidable to the young man when he threw
himself on the pallet where so many poor wretches had wakened to their
doom； and this light…hearted heedlessness proved his ruin。 While the
king's silversmith rode back from Plessis； accompanied by the grand
provost and his redoubtable archers。 The false Goulenoire was being
watched by the old sister； seated on the corkscrew staircase oblivious
of the cold； and knitting socks for Cornelius。
The young man continued to dream of the secret delights of that
charming night； ignorant of the danger that was galloping towards him。
He saw himself on a cushion at the feet of the countess； his head on
her knees in the ardor of his love； he listened to the story of her
persecutions and the details of the count's tyranny； he grew pitiful
over the poor lady； who was； in truth； the best…loved natural daughter
of Louis XI。 He promised her to go on the morrow and reveal her wrongs
to that terrible father； everything； he assured her； should be settled
as they wished； the marriage broken off； the husband banished；and
all this within reach of that husband's sword； of which they might
both be the victims if the slightest noise awakened him。 But in the
young man's dream the gleam of the lamp； the flame of their eyes； the
colors of the stuffs and the tapestries were more vivid； more of love
was in the air； more fire about them； than there had been in the
actual scene。 The Marie of his sleep resisted far less than the living
Marie those adoring looks； those tender entreaties； those adroit
silences； those voluptuous solicitations； those false generosities；
which render the first moments of a passion so completely ardent； and
shed into the soul a fresh delirium at each new step in love。
Following the amorous jurisprudence of the period； Marie de Saint…
Vallier granted to her lover all the superficial rights of the tender
passion。 She willingly allowed him to kiss her foot； her robe； her
hands； her throat； she avowed her love； she accepted the devotion and
life of her lover； she permitted him to die for her； she yielded to an
intoxication which the sternness of her semi…chastity increased； but
farther than that she would not go； and she made her deliverance the
price of the highest rewards of his love。 In those days； in order to
dissolve a marriage it was necessary to go to Rome； to obtain the help
of certain cardinals； and to appear before the sovereign pontiff in
person armed with the approval of the king。 Marie was firm in
maintaining her liberty to love； that she might sacrifice it to him
later。 Nearly every woman in those days had sufficient power to
establish her empire over the heart of a man in a way to make that
passion the history of his whole life； the spring and principle of his
highest resolutions。 Women were a power in France； they were so many
sovereigns； they had forms of noble pride； their lovers belonged to
them far more than they gave themselves to their lovers； often their
love cost blood； and to be their lover it was necessary to incur great
dangers。 But the Marie of his dream made small defence against the
young seigneur's ardent entreaties。 Which of the two was the reality？
Did the false