Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-04-20

Never had the position of king pre-
sented SO hopeless an aspect as that OF
Charles VII. of France, in the year 1857,
two years before his deliverance by Joan of
Arc. Almost all the ports and fortresses
in the hands of the English. an army
which it was difficult to maintain, with
out allies, an empty treasury, and no
prospect of soon again being able to fill
it-these were the circumstances in
which Charles found himself when one
day, during his sojourn Mt Bourges, he
received information that the last remains
of his army had, in the preceding night,
set ii 9 to their camp, and gone over to
the enemy. With detection of these
troops under the command of the Count de
Richemont, constable Of France, the cause
of Charles appeared to be irretrievably
lost.
Such disaster would have driven any
other monarch to despair; but Charles
who received the Intelligence of his mis-
fortune just as he WAS engaged with his
favorite Marquis dc Giac, in his darling 6
pastime of throwing the dice-merely
looked up with slight air of astonish-
ment ut the officer who had brSu ght him
the message, and asked:
"What! are they all gomez"
"All. sire"
"Well. Giac, that is good joke, said
the kirg, laughing, and turning to his ia
voritc.
Eyes, SIRE" answered Giac; ''and the
misfortune could not have befallen your
majesty at luckier moment
"Why so?"
"rhe men, sire, had arrears ofpay ow
ing to them, and the Treasury is empty
AT this moment page announced the
Count do Richemont, constable of France;
and the countenance of the marquis, which
had hitherto bOrne an expression of care
less gayety, instantly changed to one ol
extreme seriousness, and his face turned
deadly pale.
"My cousin is welcomed" cried the
king, at the same time looking towards the
officer, who was still waiting, and giving
him to understand, by motion of the
had, that. he was dismissed.
"Well, Giac?" said Charles, in tone
of wonderment, as his ia vorite, while ex
pecting the entrance of the constable, left
the dice-box standing untouched before
him; "The throw is with YOU"
"Sire'' Giac, he arose
in embarrassment from the table.
"What is the matter?"
your majesty is aware that the consta
BILE is not friendly toward me. AS you
treasurer, sire, he may think it my fault
that the deserving troops had not received
their arrears of pay, and l fear he may
wish to be revenged."
Nonsense, Giac! Do not give your
self any concern on that account. l, you
king, will protect you"
R,,k IL
niajesty''-said the marquis, trembling
"There is nothing to fear. You have
my royal word-'
Here the conversation was interrupted
by the entrance of the constable.
welcome, good cousin, to BourgesP
cried Charles. 81 have already heart
what has taken place at St. jacques d.
Beuvron. The wicked traitors! Blu
what brings you to me, worthy cousin?''
81 sm come, sire" }" answered the count
"to return to you my sword of Office, a
it is no longer able to res tore the lost con
dition of France"
"Not 80 hasty, cousin!" cried Charles
knitting his brows. cit is not my faul
that the cowardly mercenaries have lef
u.s."
alt is not mine, sire," answered tn,
constable, proudly and with emphasis.
81 know, know" said the king
You are faithful servant" The coun
bowed coldly.
"When received the constable's swort
from your majesty" said he, land assem-
bled an army to protect your throne,
did so upon one condition: l promised t.
support the troops atmy own cost during
a period of four weeks, at the end o
which time they were to be paid by you
majesty, and you promised to send me
hundred thousand dollars for that pur
pose"
:; Every true, cousin"