From the Memoirs of a Minister of France

FROM THE MEMOIRS OF A
MINISTER OF FRANCE
BY
STANLEY WEYMAN

CONTENTS.
I.--THE CLOCKMAKER OF POISSY
II.--THE TENNIS BALLS
III.--TWO MAYORS OF BOTTITORT
IV.--LA TOUSSAINT
V.--THE LOST CIPHER
VI.--THE MAN OF MONCEAUX
VII.--THE GOVERNOR OF GUERET
VIII.--THE OPEN SHUTTER
IX.--THE MAID OF HONOUR
X.--FARMING THE TAXES
XI.--THE CAT AND THE KING
XII.--AT FONTAINEBLEAU

I. THE CLOCKMAKER OF POISSY.
Foreseeing that some who do not love me will be swift to allege that in
the preparation of these memoirs I have set down only such things as
redound to my credit, and have suppressed the many experiences not so
propitious which fall to the lot of the most sagacious while in power, I
take this opportunity of refuting that calumny. For the truth stands so
far the other way that my respect for the King's person has led me to
omit many things creditable to me; and some, it may be, that place me
in a higher light than any I have set down. And not only that: but I
propose in this very place to narrate the curious details of an adventure
wherein I showed to less advantage than usual; and on which I should,
were I moved by the petty feelings imputed to me by malice, be
absolutely silent.
One day, about a fortnight after the quarrel between the King and the
Duchess of Beaufort, which I have described, and which arose, it will
be remembered, out of my refusal to pay the christening expenses of
her second son on the scale of a child of France, I was sitting in my
lodgings at St. Germains when Maignan announced that M. de Perrot
desired to see me. Knowing Perrot to be one of the most notorious
beggars about the court, with an insatiable maw of his own and an
endless train of nephews and nieces, I was at first for being employed;
but, reflecting that in the crisis in the King's affairs which I saw
approaching--and which must, if he pursued his expressed intention of
marrying the Duchess, be fraught with infinite danger to the State and
himself--the least help might be of the greatest moment, I bade them
admit him; privately determining to throw the odium of any refusal
upon the overweening influence of Madame de Sourdis, the Duchess's
aunt.
Accordingly I met him with civility, and was not surprised when, with
his second speech, he brought out the word FAVOUR. But I was
surprised--for, as I have said, I knew him to be the best practised
beggar in the world--to note in his manner some indications of
embarrassment and nervousness; which, when I did not immediately

assent, increased to a sensible extent.
"It is a very small thing, M. de Rosny," he said, breathing hard.
On that hint I declared my willingness to serve him. "But," I added,
shrugging my shoulders and speaking in a confidential tone, "no one
knows the Court better than you do, M. de Perrot. You are in all our
secrets, and you must be aware that at present--I say nothing of the
Duchess, she is a good woman, and devoted to his Majesty--but there
are others--"
"I know," he answered, with a flash of malevolence that did not escape
me. "But this is a private favour, M. de Rosny. It is nothing that
Madame de Sourdis can desire, either for herself or for others."
That aroused my curiosity. Only the week before, Madame de Sourdis
had obtained a Hat for her son, and the post of assistant Deputy
Comptroller of Buildings for her Groom of the Chambers. For her niece
the Duchess she meditated obtaining nothing less than a crown. I was at
pains, therefore, to think of any office, post, or pension that could be
beyond the pale of her desires; and in a fit of gaiety I bade M. de Perrot
speak out and explain his riddle.
"It is a small thing," he said, with ill-disguised nervousness. "The King
hunts to-morrow."
"Yes," I said.
"And very commonly he rides back in your company, M. le Marquis."
"Sometimes," I said; "or with M. d'Epernon. Or, if he is in a mood for
scandal, with M. la Varenne or Vitry."
"But with you, if you wish it, and care to contrive it so," he persisted,
with a cunning look.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Well?" I said, wondering more and more
what he would be at.

"I have a house on the farther side of Poissy," he continued. "And I
should take it as a favour, M. de Rosny, if you could induce the King to
dismount there to-morrow and take a cup of wine."
"That is a very small thing," I said bluntly, wondering much why he
had made so great a parade of the matter, and still more why he seemed
so ill