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he required to know whether I suspected that the Entragues family were
cognizant of this。 〃I cannot say； sire；〃 I answered； prudently。
〃But you suspect？〃
〃In your Majesty's cause I suspect all；〃 I replied。
He sighed； and seeing that my eyes wandered to the group of
gentlemen who had betaken themselves to the terrace steps； and were
thence watching us； he asked me if I would answer for them。 〃For Vitry；
who sleeps at my feet when I lie alone？ For Coquet？〃
〃For three of them I will； sire；〃 I answered； firmly。 〃The fourth I do not
know。〃
〃He is M。 Louis d'Entragues。〃
〃Ah！ the count of Auvergne's half…brother？〃 I muttered。 〃And lately
returned from service in Savoy？ I do not know him； your Majesty。 I will
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answer to…morrow。〃
〃And to…day？〃 the king asked； with impatience。
Thereupon I begged him to act as he had done each day since his
arrival at Fontainebleauto hunt in the morning； to take his midday meal
at Malesherbes； to talk to all as if he had no suspicion； only on his return
to take any road save that which passed the Rock of the Serpents。
The king turning to rejoin the others； I found that their attention was
no longer directed to us； but to a singular figure which had made its
appearance on the skirts of the group； and was seemingly prevented from
joining it outright only by the evident merriment with which three of the
four courtiers regarded it。 The fourth； M。 d'Entragues； did not seem to be
equally diverted with the stranger's quaint appearance； nor did I fail to
notice； being at the moment quick to perceive the slightest point in his
conduct； that； while the others were nudging one another； his countenance；
darkened by an Italian sun； gloomed on the new…comer with an aspect of
angry discomfiture。 On his side； M。 de Boisrosefor he it was； the aged
fashion of his dress more conspicuous than everstood eyeing the group
in mingled pride and resentment； until； aware of his Majesty's approach；
and seeing me in intimate converse with him； he joyfully stepped forward；
a look of relief taking place of all others on his countenance。
〃Ha； well met！〃 quoth the king in my ear。 〃It is your friend of
yesterday。 Now we will have some sport。〃
Accordingly； the old soldier approaching with many low bows； the
king spoke to him graciously； and bade him say what he sought。 It
happened then as I had expected。 Boisrose； after telling the king his name；
turned to me and humbly begged that I would explain his complaint；
which I consented to do； and did as follows：
〃This； sire；〃 I said； gravely； 〃is an old and brave soldier； who formerly
served your Majesty to good purpose in Normandy； but he has been
cheated out of the recompense which he there earned by the trickery and
chicanery of one of your Majesty's counsellors； the Baron de Rosny。〃
I could not continue； for the courtiers； on hearing this from my mouth；
and on discovering that the stranger's odd appearance was but a prelude to
the real diversion； could not restrain their mirth。 The king； concealing his
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own amusement； turned to them with an angry air； and bade them be silent；
and the Gascon； encouraged by this； and by the bold manner in which I
had stated his grievance； scowled at them gloriously。
〃He alleges； sire；〃 I continued； with the same gravity； 〃that the Baron
de Rosny； after promising him the government of Fecamp； bestowed it on
another； being bribed to do so； and has besides been guilty of many base
acts which make him unworthy of your Majesty's confidence。 That； I think；
is your complaint； M。 de Boisrose？〃 I concluded； turning to the soldier；
whom my deep seriousness so misled that he took up the story； and；
pouring out his wrongs； did not fail to threaten to trounce me； or to add
that I was a villain！
He might have said more； but at this the courtiers； perceiving that the
king broke into a smile； lost all control over themselves； and； giving vent
suddenly to loud peals of laughter； clasped one another by the shoulders；
and reeled to and fro in an ecstasy of enjoyment。 This led the king to give
way also； and he laughed heartily； clapping me again and again on the
back； so that； in fine； there were only two serious persons presentthe
poor Boisrose； who took all for lunatics； and myself； who began to think
that perhaps the jest had been carried far enough。
My master presently saw this； and； collecting himself； turned to the
amazed Gascon。
〃Your complaint is one；〃 he said； 〃which should not be lightly made。
Do you know the Baron de Rosny？〃
Boisrose； by this time vastly mystified； said he did not。
〃Then；〃 said the king； 〃I will give you an opportunity of becoming
acquainted with him。 I shall refer your complaint to him； and he will
decide upon it。 More；〃 he continued； raising his hand for silence as
Boisrose； starting forward； would have appealed to him； 〃I will introduce
you to him now。 This is the Baron de Rosny。〃
The old soldier glared at me for a moment with starting eyeballs； and a
dreadful despair seemed to settle on his face。 He threw himself on his
knees before the king。
〃Then； sire；〃 said he； in a heartrending voice； 〃am I ruined！ My six
children must starve； and my young wife die by the roadside！〃
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〃That；〃 answered the king； gravely； 〃must be for the Baron de Rosny
to decide。 I leave you to your audience。〃
He made a sign to the others； and； followed by them； walked slowly
along the terrace； the while Boisrose； who had risen to his feet； stood
looking after him like one demented； shaking； and muttering that it was a
cruel jest； and that he had bled for the king； and the king made sport of
him。
Presently I touched him on the arm。
〃Come； have you nothing to say to me； M。 de Boisrose？〃 I asked；
quietly。 〃You are a brave soldier； and have done France service； why then
need you fear？ The Baron de Rosny is one man； the king's minister is
another。 It is the latter who speaks to you now。 The office of lieutenant…
general of the ordnance in Normandy is empty。 It is worth twelve thousand
livres by the year。 I appoint you to it。〃
He answered that I mocked him； and that he was going mad； so that it
was long before I could persuade him that I was in earnest。 When I at last
succeeded； his gratitude knew no bounds； and he thanked me again and
again with the tears running down his face。
〃What I have done for you；〃 I said； modestly； 〃is the reward of your
bravery。 I ask only that you will not another time think that they who rule
kingdoms are as those gay popinjays yonder。〃
In a transport of delight he reiterated his offers of service； and； feeling
sure that I had now gained him completely； I asked him on a sudden where
he had seen Louis d'Entragues before。 In two words the truth came out。 He
had observed him on the previous day in conference at the forest inn with
the three bullies whom I had remarked there。 I was not surprised at this；
D'Entragues's near kinship to the Count of Auvergne； and the mingled
feelings with which I knew that the family regarded Henry； preparing me
to expect treachery in that quarter。 Moreover； the nature of the ambush
was proof that its author resided in the neighbourhood and was intimately
acquainted with the forest。 I should have carried this information at once
to my master； but I learned that he had already started； and thus baffled；
and believing that his affection for Mademoiselle d'Entragues； if not for
her sister； would lead him to act with undue leniency； I conceived and
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arranged a plan of my own。
About noon； therefore； I set out as if for a ride； attended by La