The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-18
TILE nrOusaUETAIRE.

Wv, Henri Quatre! vIve &c rui valiant!
Ce diable quatre qui a lie triple talent,
n, bnire de battre ct de faire lie verd gallant
The taking orthe town ofSedan had glorious
lv terminated the campaign which Henry ~
made aOainst his reheous subjects IN tha' par'
orbis d9n,;nions. The war was over, and The
army expected that the king would depart
without delay for the capital; when he sudden
Iv announced his intention OF staying al buzan-
81. and this in such manner as led lhose Wh"
were nearest his person to believe tl'at nc
would moi soon quit il, IT happened moi u'i-
frequently that, in pursuance OF pohcy WHICH
the peculiar nature OF the times rendered eXPe-
dent. he purpuseIy misled some Oi his adiIe-
rents as TO his intentions;' and sometimes the
amours in which the good king indulged, and
which he was not fond OF making too pubic,
induced him Ia keep his movements secret
Upon the present occasion neither ol theSe
causes seemed to operate. Orders were gwen
to prepare the kings quarters; every thing
seemed 10 ensure a long occupation ot Them;
and the Marshal Bassomperre was summoned
to bear the kings dispatches TO Paris.
And now, Marshall said the king, when ne
hal delivered TO him the state missves. al which
he had selected him 10 be the bearer, that you
know exactly the purport OF this honorable
empIoyment Tor which have engaged your
GOOD services, must disclose to YOU another'
not less honorable To you, who are a true squire
of DANES. but somewhat more dellcale.
tThe delivery Of billet doux, Sre!' said Bas-
sompierre, who always pracised that familiar
ity which the king liked, but without ever abu.
sing ii.
Nav. Marshall said Henry; were that
commission to ntrust thee with: A iackey can
deliver one bjIIet-doux; but have two, and
L, Tod a
that neitiler of the fair ones may guess that the
other has received letter.
tYmr majesty may consider that they are
already in the hands Of the ladies', replied
BasSumpierre.
But remember, Marshal, that il is the en-
nlovment of all the smaller devils, whu are moi
vet biz enough to do notable msctnel. 10 lay
trans for in,riguers; and if. by any un!ucky ac-
cident these billets should miss their desna-
tion. il were worse work for US than to have 10
take Sedan over again.
but. nv good liege,' said Bassoppierre,
'this is not the first letter | ever delivered;
have not been bred in the court 0i France
since | was as tall as my sword, and u speak
il proudly in the daily contemplation OF your
grace's good example, without learning no" !"
conduct such an affair dexterousiy. lrus' me-
nv Iepe, the letters shall be kissed by The lar
lips to which they are destined IN as snori
time as post-horses can carry them To Parls'
AWAY with thee, good Marshal, then,' re-
piled the king: 4 do not urge thee To speed;
because. as know thou hast a mistress o! thy
own in Paris, can helieve thou wilt not olter
on the way.
Bassompierre needed not twice bidding, but
taking a he arty farewell Of the king, retired to
his quarters. A very short time sufficed TOR
his preparations to depart; and, accompanied
by his valet, Pierre, he was soon on the ROAD,
and performed his promiseilo the king by reach
inu the capital as fast as the best horses he
could get would carry him.
Pierre was, at the least, as glad TO visit Ia
ris as his master: he, too, had mistress there'
and one whom he loved with the utmost ten
derness. and WHO returned his passion with
equal ervour. He was as brave and as HON
est lad as any in all France; and would have
married his pretty Annette before. but that
they were both too poor: SO Pierre went ~
the wars with the Marshal Bassomperre; and
Annette lived with her old aunt, who wa
housekeeper TO the President Seguies. Pier
res fortune was marveousy improved since
he had lett his mistress. In the booty taken a.
Chamber his share had been considerable
He had formed one Of the squadron which had
brought off the king when his impetuosily hae
carried him into the midst Of the enemy:
troops. and when, but Tor prompt succour, III
must have been taken 1t was upon tins oc
casion that the king said he had, in all oihe
engaoements fought for victory; but that i
This he fought for his life. Pierre had not es
5 s,s,.sti i.yilliout some wounds; and that whIc
he had received ON the occasion last mentione
prevented his being presented to the king al
ter the battle The Marshal. his master, how
ever. took this occasion of recommending
servant for whom he had great regard, To U
kings bounty; and Pierre received an apponl
ment in The kings household, the services {
which were merely nominal. and which, WIN
il did not remove him from the service Oh u
AZ III