The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-26

unueE us COntrOi, anu IuAu6 ali Suuer VINO
crossed, or was believed to have crossed, his
path. Sprung from low Origin, he felt i'll at
ease in the presence of gentlemen; having strug-
gled slowly into place, he never felt secure, and
was forever anticipating trouble. Villeneuve
was gentleman, and admired by the Queen.
The Cardinal hated him for the one, and feared
him for the other. He was doomed man,
only waiting for overt act to justify his ruin.
1t came after while.
That the willy statesman had secured his po-
stion by secretly marrying Anne of Austria is
now admitted as an historical fact. Be that as
it may, certain it was that almost at any mo-
ment he could claim an audience with her Ma
jesty, and gain admittance to her presence in a
manner quite unknown to the great majority of
the Court. The gardens of the Palais Royale
lay between the apartments of the Cardinal and
the residence of the Queen Mother. They were
exclusively appropriated to the latter; and one
night, when the statesman was returning through
them to his rooms, he found to his consterna-
ton, he had lost or forgotten the key to the Sc
cret panel that would admit him to his apart.
ments. Here was n dilemma. He dare not re
turn--he dare not call for assistance. IL was a
chill evening In December, with the rain de-
scending in thick, penetrating mists, that made
way through garments nowise fitted for night
In the open air. The cunning Cardinal was
sorely puzzled. He clenched his hands in very
vexation. He walked hastily to and fro to warm
up his already chilling blood. He turned over
and over various suggestions, but none were
practical. He must do something, or freeze
A high fence of iron ratings crossed the gar
dens where now stands the gallery erected by
Louis Philippe, to swell with rents the private
Golfers of the State-and, seeking the corner
farthest from the sentry, the dignitary attempt
ed to climb. By the aid of small tree and a
window-shutter, he gained the top, but, although
said to be excellent at climbing, politically
speaking, he made bad business of this; for
when he found himself on the points of the rail-
ing, it was with so little strength left, that he
missed his hold, and, but for his gown catching
upon the points, would have tumbled to the
ground. AS it was, he hung dangling between
heaven and earth-without grace, comfort, or
dignity. The Cardinal shouted Justify, and the
two sentries ran to his assistance-not precise
ly to his assistance, for they believed him
thief-and one placed himself on guard, while
the other ran for aid. The sentinel, to amuse
himself, asked numerous impairment questions,
and, to hasten the replies, poked the unfortu-
nate with his musket In vain the poor man
asserted his postion-the stupid fellow only
laughed the more, and asked his highness
show he found the Queens kitchen" and other
questions equally absurd, such as whether he
was taking lesson in hanging, so as to be ready
for the halter. The return of the soldiers, with
an officer and guard, relieved his excellency
from his painful and awkward position.
Of course, so startling an adventure could not
be suppressed. 1t was whispered, with much
exaggeration, from salon to salon, and at last
shaped itself into an epigram, which the delca-
cy of the French language, and yet more the
delicacy of my own, will not permit me to trans.
late - 20 +l~k -
pointed-enough so to cause the shrewd Italian
to trace it to its author, the Count Philip de
Villeneuve. The sufferer was too wise to make
an example avowedly of the author; that would
be making bad worse; and Philip was seized
on a charge of high treason, and hurried to the
Bastille. He took the proceeding with his ac
customed grace and gentlemanly indifference.
On being conducted to his cell, he at first COM
planned of its accommodations-but immediate
ly added, that it was quite well enough for his
brief stay. Monsieur lie Compile relies upon
his influence at Court" said the Governor who
accompanied him to his cell. "By no MEANS"
coldly replied the Count; ~ shall escape"
The only answer to this was smile of derision.
But sure enough, the prisoner did escape. 1t
was the simplest thing in the world. He pur-
chased disguise of a guardian from one of the
guards-and pretending Madness would throw
his books, or stool, or pitcher, at the turnkey,
when he came in the evening with his dinner.
1t was very disagreeable procedure for the
keeper to have to jump out of the way of arti-
cles flying by so fercely and irregular, and &C.
cordingly the little ceremonies were hurried
through briefly as possible. One evening, he
found the Count asleep, and, not caring to ava
ken so troublesome a gentleman, he placed the
meal upon the table, and FASTENED away. 1t
was not necessary to take any precaution. A
great deal Of noise would not have disturbed
the occupant of the bed. In fact, the Count
had placed there very bad imitation of him
self, and, standing in the shadow of the door,
quietly walked out with the keeper, who, of
course, mistook him for one of the guard. He
continued a short time with them-dropped be-
hind and turned into the first passage and, by
the aid of a little money, and much selfposses-
sion, soon found himself outside of the hated
prison.
One would suppose, after this, the Count
would have concealed himself, or at least have
avoided observation, until his friends at Court
could have secured pardon. He did no such
thing-but returned to his hotel-donned his
best apparel, and, after hearty dinner, drove
to the palace, where the astonished Mazarin
found him gayly chatting with his friends, as if
nothing had occurred. Mazarin was not of
course in the best humor; he attributed this au-
and his venomous little nature was aroused.
That night, the Count was re-arrested and re-
turned to the Bastille before the wonder-stricken
Governor had discovered the trick that had
been played upon him.
The Count was placed in a room considered
the most secure in the prison. 1t was in one Of
the towers, and, while almost cut off from the
main body of the building, was at such great
height that no communication could be had
from without. The Governor said, ironically,
"that he hoped the Count would find the apart
ment sufficiently to his taste to remain in it?"
"By no MEANS" was the reply; az shall escape"
This was considered absurd, and so treated.
And really the brave gentleman was puzzled.
A large number of guards, great quantity of
huge doors, were between him and the entrance;
and one could not fy-at least, the attempt
would as likely free one from earth as from
prison. Fortunately, his friends kept him sup
piled with money from his estates, and he set
about corrupting the guard. But one came
near him, a grim old Cerberus, with as much
wickedness and cruelty in his one head, as that
celebrated dog could possibly have in three.
The first approaches were slow and painful.
The overtures were rejected with threats; but
the Count persevered. The enemy yielded slow
ly. At hrst he lent only an ear to the propo-
sals-then he received money, and the sums
grew larger and were given more frequently, as
various evidences appeared of willingness to as
sist. He secured a file to remove the bars from
his window, and lastly rope by which to descend
into the moat below. Once or twice the Counts
suspicious were aroused. The man was too
ready. He even went so far as to assist in re-
moving the iron bars which crossed the window.
But why hesitate-why suspect or quarrel with
the only chance of escape? He put aside his
susn;cions and carefully hid his rome waiting